Kathy, how exciting!
The big caveat to combining conventional incandescent fixtures and LED fixtures in the same system is being sure that they are powered differently. LED fixtures need constant (or relay) power - you should not use a dimmed circuit to control these. Your conventional fixtures will need dimming control, so they either need to connect to a dimmed circuit or an external dimmer between the power circuit and the fixture. (There are dimmers made specifically for this purpose that can be DMX-controlled.) Many venues have hybrid systems - a combination of both - so this is a great thing to teach your students.
The basics of lighting design are very similar between incandescent and LED fixtures. Principles about the angle of light remain the same. On the technical side, however, these are different. LED systems use more data than conventional systems, so training new technicians on DMX and the control system can be very valuable. How to "dim" a light and change color is very different between the two. Depending on your program, you may want to have a lesson specifically about how program these feature-rich fixtures into a show.
You can also delve more into color theory, since LEDs are very spectrum-specific rather than full-body as conventional fixtures are. The light from a LED set to Rosco 80 can be different from that of a standard Source Four with an R80 gel in front of it, for example, especially on multi-colored surfaces. There's opportunity to have a lot of fun experimenting with this with your students.
Does the Studio need a new lighting system because it's at or past its useful life or because you want to match the auditorium?
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Kimberly Corbett Oates, ASTC
Schuler Shook Theatre Planners
Dallas, TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-11-2019 07:30
From: Michael Johnson
Subject: Need stage lighting advice
Not really sure you have to change your studio system and or your lesson plans as the principles in design and in many ways the operation of the instruments remain the same. Perhaps adding some information with regard to color temperature and control of LEDs would be helpful and I would suggest maybe just taking an LED from the larger space to use in the studio space for demonstration and learning purposes. Same with the larger space, stick a "conventional" elips in there so students can see the differences. Color correction filters are available, they could see first hand the differences in both intensity, control and temp.
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Michael Johnson
Trinity NC
Original Message:
Sent: 02-10-2019 20:59
From: Kathy Siler
Subject: Need stage lighting advice
Our auditorium was recently retrofitted with LED stage lights. I need to change my lesson plans to accomodate such. Ideas? My Studio Theater needs a new lighting system. Do anybody out there have a system where both LED and the old tri-pin system are used together in the same theater?
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Kathy Siler
Theatre Director
Longhorn Theatre
Payson High School