Practical Problems With Multiple Interface Standards

lNTRODUCTlONIt must have been a manufacturer who said that the most convenient aspect of adopting standard is that there are so many to choose from.Contractors, on the other hand have to interpret clients or consultants specifications and work; with whatever interfaces the various manufacturers deem appropriate.This paper introduces the concept of Show Control for entertainment systems and surveys some of the more popular interface standards from a Contractor's point of view. SHOW CONTROL SVSTEMSThe origins of Show Control Systems date back to the early multimedia presentations where 1kHz audio pulses from a multitraclt tape player initiated a dissolve between two 35mm slide projector in synchronism with the soundtrack.A similar technique was used for Son-et-Lumiere shows where the similar 1kHz tone sequenced a rudimentary lighting control system.