Circuit and Gear

Kody, Mike, Christian, and Gareth are back with plenty to share! After spending some time getting hands-on with Vantis, they dive into what the future might hold. From making interfaces simple and intuitive for facility users to keeping powerful control options for live performance pros, they explore how to balance it all. Plus, they chat about some cool custom projects and brainstorm what a new Stagehand FX could look like.

You might have heard the big news that Creative Conners was acquired by Wenger Corporation in April, and this month Kody, Christian, Mike, and Gareth get to chat with their new boss Dave Thomas.

Kody, Mike, Christian, and Gareth are back to talk about a “quick” install in NYC that turned out to be not so quick. They also talk about some of the work that's being done on the dual servo chain lift and some cool new features in Off The Shelf. They've also got some cool new Surface Laptops!

Kody, Christian, Mike, and Gareth are back talking about another quick turn around LED video wall project as well as the new Spikemark Console. They also dive into some new Cable and Chain Motor improvements.

Gareth, Mike, Christian, and Kody are back and boy do they have a lot to say. Turns out a lot happened in January. Everything from custom machines to internal processes to new toys and so much more.

Mike, Kody, Christian, and Gareth are back chatting about a few different dual motor projects, Canadian tech support, LDI, a few different tangents, and recapping 2024.

There were some quick projects this month and some extended on site trips. Everything from SNL to residential art spinners to Hawaii (again), and Mike, Kody, Christian, and Gareth are back to chat about all of them.

Turns out there has been more than just the Hawaii job happening in the shop. Mike, Christian, Kody, and Gareth chat about some of the other projects that have been going on at the shop. Everything from retrofitting controls in NYC, to building the new four post chain hoist lift, to Slushi machines and new cameras.

The episode may be a little bit late (what is 16 days really) but it finally happened! The project Mike, Kody, Christian, and Gareth have been talking about for months got installed! On this episode they dive deep on all the ups, downs, and bumps along the way.

We are just wrapping up™️ development the next version of Spikemark. Besides changing how cues are written, how many GO buttons are available, live speed adjustment mid-move, and a new authorization model, not much has changed

The gang is back to chat about a big project heading to Hawaii (sshh… it's secret, just between you and us). We've been tackling woes of absolute encoders and precision load cells. Laugh along as we cry.

Gareth, Kody, and Christian got the chance to sit down and chat with Joe Jeremy! They started with Joe's impressive career starting as a carpenter all the way through founding Niscon. Along the way they also got to talk about some of the cool projects Joe's worked on all around the world.

Mike, Kody, Christian, and Gareth have been squashing lots of bugs over the last month and have lots to say about them. In the midst of bug squashing Gareth also built a 6-axis show and Kody designed a new Stagehand.

Mike, Kody, Christian, and Gareth get together to chat about CAT1 stopping and brake sequencing for an upcoming job in Hawaii. Kody and Mike also recount some of the fun from USITT this year, all of which leads to an impromptu discussion about our headphones.

Gareth, Mike, Kody, and Christian are back discussing some of the ever-green tech support issues and some of the new products that were proposed during Creative Conners' annual product summit. All of this set to the dulcet tones of general contractors renovating the new offices.

Gareth, Mike, Christian, and Kody are back discussing bringing New features to old controllers, big New Spikemark features, and the New ways they're looking at the company and what they do.

Kody, Christian, Mike, and Gareth are here to look back on 2023 in this very special bonus episode.

Kody, Christian, Mike, and Gareth chat for 4 hours about the Geffen Vortek retrofit that Kody and Christian were just on site for, and even in this abridged version they follow all the tangents.

Mike, Kody, Christian, Harry, and Gareth are back at it introducing some new service offerings from Creative Conners. In the midst of all the new they(Kody) experience some technical difficulties and really lean into the “other cool tech” part of the show with some tangents about Windows and cameras. Finally they say farewell to Harry as he moves on to new and exciting things.

The gang's all here! Kody, Christian, Harry, Mike, and Gareth are back this time discussing the upcoming improvements to Spikemark groups, the brand new Spotline Mini, and some cool new features in Fusion 360. Along the way they get distracted with Christian's impeccable naming skills as well as a few other things.

Gareth's back on the podcast with Christian, Kody, Harry, and Mike. They have lots to say about some custom jobs, new products, cool sensors, and much more.

On this episode Kody, Christian, and Harry talk about the influx of custom projects. From building lifts in the parking lot to tricky servo installs. Oh yah and on top of all that we're moving shops!

Kody, Christian, and Harry are back talking about the myriad of custom design and stock product design going on in July. In between all the design talk they also squeeze in some Spikemark feature teasers and a really really really cool Spikemark pro tip. Additionally they get another perspective on how to name a four post lift and a book recommendation from a listener.

The Stagehand Pro 5 is officially released! With the Pro 5 out in the wild Harry, Kody, and Christian talk about the last push of development and testing on it. As well as some of the custom projects working through the shop right now.

Mike, Kody, and Christian chat through how Spikemark and the Stagehand convert the encoder feedback into usable distances and then how the Stagehand remembers that position. They also explore how target tolerance, max position error, and position lag time all play a role in motion.

Kody, Harry, Mike, and Christian continue the series of peer interviews this time with Brian Fauska. Brian recently joined the team at Creative Conners but before that he worked for Seattle Rep for over a decade, and he recounts some of the cool effects he's done as well as some unfortunate baths in hydraulic fluid.

Mike, Kody, Christian, and Harry talk about a couple quick turn around projects, recount USITT 2023, and then dive deep into the top tools to bring onto site.

Mike, Kody, and Christian talk about how the development of Spotline v2 and Stagehand Pro 5 are coming along, and Mike shares some insights from installing some of the gear on site. They also tease some new features in Spikemark and new swag that will be shown off at USITT both 339.

Kody, Harry, Mike, and Christian continue our peer interview series with Bo Bogaev. Bo recently joined our merry band of automation misfits, settling here in Rhode Island after nearly a decade on the road as head carpenter for numerous Broadway tours.

Kody and Christian dive deep on some exciting Spotline and Stagehand developments while Mike recounts some of the big tech support woes from last month.

We are trying something new! Kody, Harry, and Christian kick off a new series where we invite peers in the industry to chat about automation. This time we talk to Ben Clark, Assoc. Professor at SDSU and freelance Technical Designer. We talk about how he got his start in automation, why he wrote a book and some of the cool stuff he's worked on over the years.Links from the episodeBen's Book https://www.modernstagecraft.com/Angels in America http://www.showmotion.com/angels-in-america

Kody, Mike, Harry, and Christian talk about some new Spikemark UI updates coming soon, check in on how the development of Stagehand vNext is coming along, and talk through some troubleshooting pro tips learned this month from tech support.

Mike, Christian, and Harry talk about some cool product iterations, training happening for us and for you, and then round out the episode with our most favorite segment camera talk.

Kody, Mike, and Christian get together to talk about some cool Spotline vNext accessories, some Spikemark wishlist features, and lots of tech support. Also Mike and Kody finally did it. Did what? Well listen and find out.

Kody, Mike, Christian, and special guest Gareth chat about the happenings around the shop and chat a bit about the company turning 18 in this svelte one and a half hour episode.

Kody, Mike, Christian, and Harry are back at it talking about all the recent VFD and Stagehand vNext development going on. In addition Harry and Mike talk about the new free turntable template now available for download.

Listen along to Mike and Kody talk about doing an upfront in New York and Christian ramble on about VFD parameters.

Kody, Mike, Christian, and Harry are all in Rhode Island and chatting about this month's onsite work as well as some new cool product development with a hint of lasers thrown in for good measure.

The guys talk about the new four post lift design as well as the new pivot. Mike and Kody also recap USITT and talk about all the job openings at Creative Conners.

Kody digs deep on the custom lift for a Las Vegas spectacle. Christian gives the update on Stagehand vNext. Mike is still mired in turntable troubles. And the gang is heading to USITT!

Mike stops by to walk through 8 turntable stories from the fall. Kody & Christian get new cameras.

The guys wrap up 2021 with a discussion of lifting safely with Stagehand control, a recap of LDI 2021, Kody's camera quest, and gear for next year. • Lifting safely with Stagehand control • LDI recap • Kody's camera quest continues • Black Friday buys • Christmas gear

Kody, Christian, and Gareth are back to chat about: Split accel/decel and Stagehand vNext Modbus improvements on the horizon Crazy component shortages Product Summit 2022 New cameras!

Christian, Kody, and Gareth are back with our second episode of 2021 (yeah, yeah, we know…). But we had a lot of fun chatting about a giant donut for a game show, a not-a-Floorpocket lift for a show in Las Vegas, and waffling about buying new Macs. [Warning] We get a little salty in this one.

This episode is best watched on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GDdG7WlW6O8 Christian and Gareth have a video podcast treat: a tour of Spikemark 5! Watch to see the new Spikemark 5 features in all their glory.

Christian is back on the show to talk about big new features that are coming to both the next iteration of Stagehand motion controllers and Spikemark software. And then we talk a lot about cameras too. Fixing the Cue Grid in Big Show Mode Extending the Stagehand motion controller for load cells Adding dedicated cross-groove detection inputs to the Stagehand Improved jogging Addressable E-Stops Falling down the camera rabbit hole Mirrorless vs DSLR Nikon, Sony, Fuji options Full-frame or APS-C

Mike is back joining Gareth to talk about: Training with the Trainee Mike’s new video training series Austerity measures in the shop to conserve costs and carry on This one gets a little salty in spots, especially in the blooper reel. You’ve been warned.

Kody and Gareth get excited about the launch of Trainee (a new educational kit for scenic automation) and discuss its genesis in detail.

Kody & Gareth dive deep, really deep, on new development work inside Spikemark to make it better to use on large shows with many axes. Problems: - Cue grid side-scrolling - Slow loading - Jogging - Facility vs production needs Solutions - New cue sheet - Jog screen - Filtering and tagging - Theatre vs Show

Bridget Katzanek joins Gareth this month to chat about her new role heading up the Creative Conners West Coast Rental Office. Though we’re still bumbling around amidst the COVID pandemic shutdown, listen in to meet Bridget and learn about our Los Angeles rental operation!

We’ve got a gaggle of automation junkies this month on the show. Join Steve, Zep, Mike, Harry, Christian, and Gareth as we talk about how we’ve been bumbling through the pandemic work-wise. The past 4 months have been adventures in broadening horizons as the live events have been shut down. We’ve been working on new designs for the eventual re-opening, and new products for new markets. What have y’all been up to?