With the new Worship Center in place to showcase the performance, Taylor needed the lighting to be perfect. The decision was made to install the Wybron Autopilot II system with 22 x.Spots in the ceiling and four on the floor, plus eight High End Systems 575 Studio series in the ceiling, for a total of 34 automated lights programmed to follow the pastor or other performers as they move about the stage, wearing only a small beltpack. Taylor decided on four sensor beltpacks, enabling the system to track up to four different people at one time.
The Autopilot II (APII) turns moving lights into automated followspots, eliminating the need for followspot operators. What makes the installation at New Life Church even more exciting, say Wybron, is the plan to tie in their Panasonic video cameras with the Autopilot II, enabling them to create a seamless tape of the presenter.
When asked about his design choices, Taylor said: "Our goal for our lighting system is two-fold: One, to create an exciting worship environment and Two, to have a setup that meets our needs for our Easter and Christmas time events. Autopilot ll is being used for our Sunday services on our pastor as he speaks. Autopilot gives us a very nice, consistent lighting look for our cameras. It will be used extensively for The Thorn on our flying angels, for spotlighting main characters etc . . . I'm really looking forward to our Easter season and really utilizing Autopilot to its fullest."
In addition to the Autopilot II, he also added 36 Wybron Forerunner colour scrollers in preparation for The Thorn. (Lee Baldock)
