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B
BACKLIGHT / BACK LIGHT
Light coming from upstage, behind scenery or actors, to sculpt and separate
them from the background
BAFFLE
1) A sheet of material used to prevent a spill of light in a lantern or in
part of a set.
2) A panel in a loudspeaker cabinet designed to reduce back interference
noise by isolating the front and rear of the loudspeaker diaphragm.
3) A panel in an auditorium positioned so as to reduce sound reflections and
improve the acoustics of the space.
4) What most of this jargon will do to any non-technical theatrical type.
BAKELITE
Early type of thermosetting plastic often used for electrical plugs and
sockets. Has a distinctive fishy (ammonia) smell when burning.
BALLAST
A unit used in conjunction with discharge lamps containing capacitors,
inductors and other start-up circuitry. The inductor is initially used to
develop a high potential (voltage) to strike the discharge and is then used
to limit the current flow while the lamp is lit.
BALLYHOO
(US) Swinging a followspot beam around in a figure of eight pattern. A more
random effect is sometimes known as an RKO (after the searchlights used in
the RKO Pictures movie logo.
BAR
The horizontal metal (steel or alloy) tube (usually 48mm in external
diameter, but can be up to 60mm) hung from flying lines (or forming part of
a grid) from which lighting equipment and scenery etc. may be suspended.
Also known as a BARREL. When vertical, known as a BOOM. Sometimes known as a
PIPE in the US.
BARE ENDS
Term to describe an electrical cable which has no connector at one end (for
example, a SPEAKON to BARE ENDS cable is used to connect the terminals of a
speaker cabinet to a speakon socket, and a 63A socket to bare ends might be
used to wire in a temporary supply from a power distribution board before
connecting equipment. Any installation work of this sort should only be
carried out by a qualified electrician, and should never be done "live".
BARNDOORS
A rotatable attachment consisting of two or four metal flaps (hinged) which
is fixed to the front of a Fresnel or PC type lantern to cut off the beam in
a particular direction(s). Profile lanterns use SHUTTERS to achieve a
greater degree of control and accuracy. Barndoors are also available for
parcans and birdies. BLACKWRAP can be used to reduce additional light spill
where barndoors aren't doing the job.
BASE PLATE
A metal plate which prevents damage to floors when using scaffolding or
trussing.
BATTENS
1) Timber at the top and bottom of a cloth. A Sandwich batten is used to
carry a hanging cloth. It comprises two flat pieces of timber screwed
together with the edge of the cloth between them.
2) Timber used for joining flats together for flying.
3) Compartmentalized floodlights set up so as to allow color mixing. Low
voltage battens are commonly used as light curtains & for color washes.
Known in the US as a STRIPLIGHT.
4) US term interchangable with PIPE for a flying bar.
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