Tool Safety Videos

Here are some pretty thorough safety videos made by the Power Tool Institute. They may feel a little long, but they have important information.

Please remember that these tools can be dangerous. Even if you have had previous experience with tools, these safety precautions are essential. A Yale University student was killed a few years ago when her hair was caught in a lathe.

Table Saw
Miter Saw
Circular Saw

Stagecraft students need to watch these videos before they use tools in class. Scene shop employees need to watch them once each year.

Sculpting Foam Balusters

I built a hot wire cutter to sculpt some balusters out of EPS foam.

Here's a video to see it in action. The sound is muffled since we're wearing respirators.

And here they are in use for Much Ado About Nothing

Thanks to Jacobs Online for helping me figure out what transformer to use.

Converting Audio File Formats in Apple Music

MP3 files sometimes have timing issues and can skip or hang up, especially on large files. It is always better to use WAV files or AIFF files.

If you have an MP3 file that you want to use for a show, you'll want to convert it to a WAV file.

Here's how you do this using Apple Music:

  1. Launch Apple Music. Make sure your Apple Music import settings are set to wav by going to the Music menu > Preferences > Files > Import Settings > select create using WAV Encoder.
  2. Back in your music list, highlight your desired sound file and go to File > Convert > Create WAV Version.
  3. Drag the new version from your music list to your desktop or show folder.


Note: If you purchased the file online, it may be restricted and you may not be able to change the format.

QLab Transferring Files - Bundle and Zip


When you are transferring your workspace from your designer computer to the show machine (or to upload for an assignment), you want to make sure you're grabbing all of your content files as well as the workspace. The best way to do this is to bundle your project. This video from class walks you through how to do that.

GarageBand Tutorial


Here is a step-by-step tutorial for GarageBand that walks you through the same process we do in class with Audacity or ProTools.

Vectorworks Set Design Workflow

PART 1: BUILDING THE THEATRE

1. Setting Up your Document
"

2. Building 3D Theatre Architecture
"

3. Setting up a Camera and Saved Views
"

4. Adding 2D Fill for Architecture
"

5. Adding Masking
"


PART 2: BUILDING THE 3D SET
6. Adding a Figure
"

7. Building Platforms
"

8. Building Walls, Doors and Windows
"

9. Adding 3D Render Textures for Walls, Platforms, Doors and Windows
"

10. Adding Cornice using Extrude Along Path
"

11. Adding Furniture
"

12. Adding a Backdrop using Image Prop
"


PART 3: GENERATING A 2D DRAFTED GROUND PLAN
13. Creating a Ground Plan - Viewport on Sheet Layer
"

14. Adding a Plate Border and Title Block
"

15. Cropping a Viewport
"

16. Labeling Your Ground Plan - Viewport Annotations
"

17. Adding a CL, PL, SP, and Notes
"


PART 4: GENERATING 2D DRAFTED SECTIONS AND ELEVATIONS
18. Creating a CL Section View
"

19. Creating Wall Elevations
"

20. Dimensioning Wall Elevations
"

21. Drawing Details and Final Touches
"

Patching QLab Audio and Video Devices

For presenting your image and sound stories, you'll need to patch different audio and video devices.

Step 1. Go to your QLab Workspace Settings by selecting the gear icon in the bottom right of the QLab window.


Step 2. Select the Audio Tab.


Step 3. Set Audio Patch.


Step 4. Select the Video Tab.


Step 5. Edit Surface.


Step 6. Replace Screen.


Step 7. Select Done.

QLab Tutorials - Basic Audio Functions

1. Setting Up your Workspace
"

2. Creating and Deleting Audio Cues
"

3. Setting Audio Levels
"

4. Looping and Trimming a Sound
"

5. Adjusting the Speed of a Sound
"

6. Fading Up a Sound on Both Channels
"

7. Fading Channels Separately and Panning a Sound
"

8. Following Cues
"