Live Design International (LDI) 2024

This one-day hands-on seminar provides a solid introduction to using Vectorworks. If you are new to Vectorworks, this class will introduce you to the workspace, tools, and commands that are the foundations of using Vectorworks.
Topics for this course include CAD drafting basics and designing on-screen with a combination of 2D and 3D modeling tools.

Target audience: This is a beginner class, for anyone interested in learning the basics of Vectorworks.

Prerequisites: Attendees must know how to use a computer and the basics of drafting or have experience with another CAD system. We also recommend taking the Getting Started seminar.

Must bring your own computer for this course. System requirements have been updated to Vectorworks 2025 here: https://www.vectorworks.net/sysreq

Beginner Laser Technician Course
This course is designed for users completely new to lasers and Pangolin control and brings
them up to speed so they can do shows for themselves. This course covers Projectors and
how they work, show setups and cabling requirements, creating Laser content and shows,
controlling your show from DMX consoles, and much more. Go from zero to hero with awardwinning
Lyra Letourneau as she teaches you how to operate a laser show from no production
experience to being able to do shows.

This course is for complete beginners to lasers, pangolin software and even show production
itself. No experience is needed, and absolute beginners are encouraged to take this course.
Those who have some production experience or come from different disciplines in the show
production industry should consider this course. This course will not focus on detailed
content creation, but touch on how you can start creating content for yourself and is more
focused on getting the gig done.

What is covered in major categories:
• History, safety, and operation of laser projectors
• Show rigging, cabling, and networking of lasers
• Software overview, Laser Projector settings, and Show operation
• Laser content creation for live, and timecoded shows References and content

There is a lot of content within this course that is linked to recourses on YouTube, the
pangolin wiki and other locations. This is done to allow the document to live longer than the
course itself, and if information is updated, users can still access up to date information.

Some external content is linked to 3rd party publications and may expire. These links are not
required for the course but provided as a courtesy for extra information related to each
chapter.

Recommended course preparation
It is recommended for students to bring their own windows computer and have BEYOND
installed beforehand, 1 Month licenses will be provided free for all students to follow along
with the course but is not required for participation.

No formal knowledge of lasers, its control systems is necessary. In fact, it’s best for those
taking this course to be complete beginners.

Design around video and media has changed tremendously in the last 5 years with many platforms and tools leaning towards real-time design and creation of content, environments, and control systems. TouchDesigner is often at the centre of these systems with its ability to connect anything to everything and because of its intuitive node-based environment built for artists.

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles of TouchDesigner, a node-based programming environment, including an in-depth study of each operator family. Along with the basics, students will learn how to create audio-reactive generative content, design generative lighting, process live video inputs and effects, and build custom user interfaces. Furthermore, the course will equip participants with the necessary skills to connect and interface with external hardware, broadening their understanding and application of digital design and interactive media.

This Dataton Academy focuses on WATCHOUT version 7, released in 2024. The two-day class is appropriate for beginners to the WATCHOUT multi-display show composer system, as well as current users looking to explore new features in WATCHOUT 7.

This WATCHOUT training covers basic and more advanced topics and is designed to give attendees a clear understanding of WATCHOUT – its strengths, key features, applications, and possibilities. In this hands-on class, you will be able to hone previous skills while learning new ones, workflow solutions, and common trouble-shooting practices.

1. Show set-up, including asset workflow
2. Effects and compositions
3. Virtual displays
4. Workflow for mapping on 3D models

*Participants are expected to bring their own laptop PC.

Used from Broadway to Britain’s West End, QLab is a powerful tool for audio, video, lighting, and show control. With the advent of QLab 5, even more tools have been added into the mix, making QLab a versatile program of choice for numerous applications. This course is designed to give participants with little to no experience with QLab working knowledge of how to use it in a professional setting. Taught by Jeromy Hopgood, USA829 designer and the author of QLab 4 and The Projection Designer’s Toolkit, this course covers QLab 5 software, audio control, cue carts, and network functions. Learn through hands-on projects and benefit from tips and shortcuts to develop your own workflow for designing in QLab.

• Must bring your own Mac laptop with the most current version of QLab 5 (Audio Bundle).

Session Highlights
· Introduction to QLab 5
· Audio features (slices, audio effects, fades, and devamping)
· Cue Carts
· Networking and Show Control (MIDI, OSC, QLab)

Target audience: Designers and technicians who want to learn QLab basics; stagehands and creative staff of professional venues / houses of worship; educators.

This Dataton Academy focuses on WATCHOUT version 7, released in 2024. The two-day class is appropriate for beginners to the WATCHOUT multi-display show composer system, as well as current users looking to explore new features in WATCHOUT 7.

This WATCHOUT training covers basic and more advanced topics and is designed to give attendees a clear understanding of WATCHOUT – its strengths, key features, applications, and possibilities. In this hands-on class, you will be able to hone previous skills while learning new ones, workflow solutions, and common trouble-shooting practices.

1. Show set-up, including asset workflow
2. Effects and compositions
3. Virtual displays
4. Workflow for mapping on 3D models

*Participants are expected to bring their own laptop PC.

Used from Broadway to Britain’s West End, QLab is a powerful tool for audio, video, lighting, and show control. With the advent of QLab 5, the QLab video engine has been rebuilt from the ground up, offering many new tools and methods for dealing with video. This course is designed to give participants with little to no experience with QLab working knowledge of how to use it in a professional setting. Taught by Jeromy Hopgood, USA829 designer and the author of QLab 4 and The Projection Designer’s Toolkit, this course covers QLab 5 video functions and workflow. Learn through hands-on projects and benefit from tips and shortcuts to develop your own workflow for designing in QLab.

• Must bring your own Mac laptop with the most current version of QLab 4 (Pro Bundle).
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Session Highlights
· Introduction to QLab 5 video engine
· Video features (video cues, video effects, camera cues, Syphon / NDI integration, projection mapping, edge blending)
· Cue Carts
· Network Functions (integrating OSC and MIDI into a network for control)
Target audience: Projection / media designers; Installation / Trade Show designers; Stagehands and creative staff of professional venues / houses of worship; educators.