Permanent Specifications

This section covers aspects of the space which are used for all shows, at all times.

Patch Bay Color Code

The Patch bay uses a color-coding scheme to signify different uses for a patch point. Colors in this table are shown in order from most permanent to least permanent.

Note that labelled patch cables are the exception to the color code below. Before removing or changing a patch cable, always double check that it doesn’t have a labelled purpose on either end.

Cable Type	Purpose	Notes
${\color{green}\text{Green}}$	Permanent Patch	These cables should be left connected at all times. Any changes made to green connections must be documented and reported to the Operations Manager.
${\color{blue}\text{Blue}}$	Season Patch	These cables are for connections that last for multiple shows in a row, such as for the entire dance season.
${\color{red}\text{Red}}$	Show Patch	These cables are for connections used during the current show only.
${\color{#DAA520}\text{Yellow}}$	Tech Patch	Use these cables for connections that will need to change during the current show’s production. This is most commonly used to connect to temporary tables during technical rehearsals, which are struck upon a show’s opening.

Please strike patch cables as described below:

After technical rehearsals

Remove/move all ${\color{#DAA520}\text{yellow}}$ patch cables, as needed.

When striking any show

Remove all ${\color{red}\text{red}}$ cables and any remaining ${\color{#DAA520}\text{yellow}}$ cables.

When striking a rep plot

Remove all ${\color{blue}\text{blue}}$ cables and any remaining ${\color{#DAA520}\text{yellow}}$ or ${\color{red}\text{red}}$ cables.

TODO let’s get an annotated photo of the blank patch bay, green/permanent only

Permanent Patch Points

The following patch points should always be connected, to at least one side.

Purpose	From	To	Notes
Room Mics LR	M57-58	TF IN 1-2	for backstage feed
Network Cam	D88	Campus Network	for lobby video feed
SM Video Camera	D89	`CAM 1`	Camera feed into distributor
SM VIDEO OUT	SM Out (unlabelled?)	D107 (default)	DEFAULT to SM video monitor. This can be moved for shows but should return here.

Audio Control to Mezzanine	Control Switch	D102	If you need to use the sound console elsewhere, do not strike this cable. Just patch an additional PTP into the control network switch.
Audio Control to Booth	Control Switch	D108	Typically connects to ETC Ion’s Port 2 for OSC control.

Backstage Audio Monitoring (Tesira/Crestron/TF)

The backstage monitoring system can be used to pass audio into most rooms around the building. Reference the system diagram below, but generally:

Use the TF-RACK to prepare backstage feeds; you can mix together room mics and page mics with other sources as needed.

Use the Crestron Touch Panel to choose which feed goes to which room.

System Diagram

backstage system flow diagram

The only two sources used by default are the permanently-installed room mics, and the SM VOG microphone. (Those are both green analog patches, so make sure they’re plugged in.)

Backstage zones

Audio can be routed to various locations throughout the building using the installed AV system (Crestron/Tesira). The system is divided into the following zones:

Zone A: Main Lobby
Zone B: Lobby Left Side (by the theater entrance door)
Zone C: Bathrooms
Zone C2: Front Offices
Zone D1: Green Room - only the green room itself.
Zone D2: Production Support. This includes:
- Tech booth (mezzanine)
- Dressing rooms
- Green room hallway
- Conditioning lab
- Costume shop
- Student tech office (mezzanine level)

Controlling the backstage system with QLab

The base QLab template has a cue list for controlling the backstage system. (Download the template here)

You can either fire these directly, or you can create Start cues that target them and then use those in your own cue list.

backstage on/off

Running these cues will turn on/off the room mics in the backstage feed, and anywhere else you have routed them.

lobby on/off

Running these cues will turn on/off the lobby feed.

TF Rack

picture of TF-RACK

Recall the TF BASE scene to return the TF to default settings.

The default includes:

The SM Page mic is patched to all backstage zones.
The room mics are patched to all backstage zones, but turned off by default.
You’ll usually want to turn them on/off using QLab cues.

TF input channels

Input	Purpose	Patch Type	Signal From	Notes
1	XY Mic Pair (L)	Physical	M57
2	XY Mic Pair (R)	Physical	M58
3	Mix from QL5	Dante	QL5
4	Mix from QL5	Dante	QL5
5	SM Announce Mic	Physical	A107 (default)	Patch to wherever the stage manager is located.
6	SM Page Mic	Physical	A108 (default)	Patch to wherever the stage manager is located.

TF output channels

Output	Purpose	Patch Type	Signal To	Notes
1	Backstage Feed	Dante	Tesira Monitor_Sys_1	Dante 1 (Crestron)
2	ALS System	Physical	`ALS IN` patch port
3	Lobby Feed	Dante	Tesira Monitor_Sys_2	Dante 2 (Crestron)

SM VOG/God Mic/Paging Microphone System

The SM Voice of God system allows the stage manager to either announce messages directly backstage, or into the theatre and backstage.

The roaming system is made up of three primary components:

Shure PGA god mic - leave its switch turned on.
ROLLS push to talk button - use this to talk through the system.
Radial A/B switcher - choose between output locations.

SM VOG Setup

The Radial switcher has 2 XLR outputs, both of which need to be connected to the backstage TF-RACK.

Connect outputs A and B to a nearby wall panel, and then use the patch bay to connect them to TF Inputs 5 and 6.

In the patch bay, this connection uses dedicated, labelled patch bay cables.

Listening through the mains

When on Channel A, signal will be sent into the QL5 on channel 64 for distribution to the theatre sound system. In the SLOAN BASE files (dance rep), this will work automatically. If you are running a SLOAN BLANK show, you’ll need to route channel 64 to wherever you need it.

SM Video Monitor

The stage management video system allows the SM to monitor up to 4 live camera feeds in the space. The primary camera supports infrared view during blackouts.

Basic setup

By default, the camera output should be routed to wall port D108. Plugging the SM video monitor into this wall port is usually all you need to get up and running.

System overview

Up to 4 live camera feeds (1 permanently installed) are routed over ethernet lines into the central Reolink box shown below. It can be found in the patch bay rack on the right side.

The stage management video signal comes out of the patch bay from the ethernet port marked CAM OUT. Use an HDMI ethernet receiver at the monitor to show the signal.

Reolink video system

Frozen video feed?

See troubleshooting.

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