Richard Cadena
Entertainment lighting is interesting and fun. I've been fortunate to make a living at it for 30+ years starting with High End, Martin, and Hubbell, before freelancing as a designer, consultant, electrician, technician, author, teacher, and writing for Lighting&Sound America, Lighting&Sound International, and Protocol. I've enjoyed involvement in shows from Dire Straits and SNL to the NBA. I still love working on shows and I take calls through IATSE Local 205 as well as other clients.
Biography
Richard Cadena is an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician and an ETCP Recognized Trainer with 30 years of experience in the entertainment lighting industry. He is the author of:“Electricity for Entertainment Electricians & Technicians, 2nd Edition”
“Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving Light, 2nd Edition”
“Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship”
“Focus on Lighting Technology”
He is also the technical editor for PLASA Media and a columnist for Lighting & Sound America, Lighting & Sound International, and Protocol magazines. As a freelance lighting designer and lighting consultant he has worked on concert tours, television, theatre, motion picture productions, and he has designed dozens of lighting systems for permanent installations. He is a member of IATSE Local 205 in good standing.
Related Web Sites:
www.rcad.me
www.entertainmentelectricity.com
www.APTXL.com
www.lightingandsoundamerica.com
www.lsionline.co.uk
www.esta.org/Protocol/protocol.html
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
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ETCP Recognized Trainer
Automated and LED Lighting
Lighting Control Systems
Programming
Personal Interests
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Yoga
Bicylcing
Websites
Books
Articles
Light Metering in the LED Age
Published: Feb 09, 2018 by Lighting & Sound International
Authors: Richard Cadena
Subjects:
Film and Video
There is a vast difference between the human visual system and a mechanical visual system, and that difference is amplified with discontinuous light sources like LEDs. Most luminaires being produced today have either an LED or an arc lamp source; both are discontinuous sources, which means that it might be time to look at getting a new light meter.
Fractional-Load Transceivers Are a Thing, But Are They a Good Thing?
Published: Jan 15, 2018 by Protocol Magazine
Authors: Richard Cadena
Subjects:
Film and Video
The DMX standard says that the total load permitted on a DMX data link is 32 “unit loads.” But there are some lights that have transceiver chips that are built to only load the line a fraction of a unit, that allows more than 32 devices to be connected on a single DMX data link. But there are valid reasons to limit that number to less than 32, even if you can physically connect more.
Mapping Matter Projection Mapping Software
Published: Dec 08, 2017 by Lighting&Sound America
Authors: Richard Cadena
Subjects:
Theater
Mapping Matter is one of a new breed of applications popping up across our industry and it looks to be a winner. The web-based application, which runs in the Chrome browser, allows you to plan, design, test, tweak, and evaluate your multi-projector installations.
Product Review: High End Systems SolaFrame Theatre
Published: Dec 07, 2017 by Lighting & Sound America
Authors: Richard Cadena
Over the years, manufacturers experimented with features like fan speed control, noise baffles, and convection-cooling to better control automated lighting noise. Judging by the number of automated lights in the theatre today, the effort has been fairly successful. But there’s always room for improvement, which is what High End Systems has recently focused on with the new SolaFrame Theatre.
Photos
News
Book Signing at USITT 208
By: Richard Cadena
Author, ETCP Recognized Trainer, and lighting consultant Richard Cadena will participate in a book signing during the USITT Conference and Stage Expo to be held in Fort Lauderdale on March 15 to March 17, 2018. The third edition of his book, "Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving and Color-Changing Light" was published in December, 2017 on the Focal Press imprint. The original edition was published in 2003, and the new edition has extensive updates including LEDs, switch-mode power supplies, new optics, electronics, console programming workflow, media servers, and more. For more information, visit www.usittshow.com.