If you use this tip right, you can make your display rival displays that are much larger – the key is to…. (watch the video for more!)

Sequencing and the layout of your display are two of the biggest factors when it comes to putting together an amazing, dynamic show.

Dynamic Range

The concept of dynamic range actually stems from the world of audio. In audio what is means is the difference between the quietest part of a song or show, and the loudest part. This is usually measured in number of decibels.

When you take this concept and introduce it into the world of lighting the meaning shifts a bit as well, becoming the difference between how many lights are on during a slow part of the display versus the most upbeat part and intricate part. The difference between the two is the total dynamic range.

When making use of dynamic range in a lighting show it is imperative to consider that the bigger you make this range, the better the bigger parts of the show will look by comparison. When you properly make use of this concept you will find that it does not actually matter how big or small your actual display is, the contrast itself will make all the difference.

Making Use of Dynamic Range

In your display you will notice that your ability to make the best use of dynamic range with your lighting is actually closely tied to the songs you choose. If you have a song with minimal range, you will not be able to make quite as big of an impact with your lighting range because it would not suit the music. However, if you have a song with a lot of range to work with you can also make a bigger impact with your lighting. You won’t be able to have a huge range with every single song, but when you get the opportunity to use the concept, its beneficial to work with it to the fullest.

Making It Interesting

There is two ways to really make use of dynamic range in the most interesting way possible. One is turning on more lights versus less lights. You can go from minimal lighting in the verse to having all the lights on during the chorus.

The other thing you will use is the amount of movement. During the slower parts of the music you may find that using very slow movements and making use of more black space suits well, and then amping everything up with faster movements and more lighting to match the crescendo of your song. This allows you to make the most use of your range between different parts of the song and create a more dynamic display.

Movement

Another important aspect of dynamic range is to group your lighting into alternate matrixes that can shift the viewers eye from one location to another throughout different parts of your songs. You can use the different beats to create visuals in different areas, allowing for movement that follows the music.

As well as using up, down, side to side, you can also make use of the movement aspect with the depth of your property moving the lighting from closer to farther away. This of course will depend more on your land and how things lay out to decide what type of movement works best for your display.

Closing

When you use dynamic range in your show, making the best use of your props and lighting and property available for your display it will create an engaging and exciting show for your audience because of the unique variety. Taking the time to be creative and make the best use of the slower and softer parts of music as well as the louder, faster sections helps to really make the absolute best use of the bigger parts of your show, making it seem all the more exciting from start to finish.