Pyrotechnic Choreography 101 · Digital Music Editing How do you do it? 1. Install audio edit software (e.g. Cool Edit). 2. Create WAV files from your music CDs. 3. Paste the WAV

© 2004, 2005 William Cook

Pyrotechnic Choreography 101

Bill CookWestern Winter Blast

February 19, 2005


Introduction

• Bill Cook• 13 years experience

producing pyro musicals• Pyro licenses in CA and NV• WPA member since 1992• CA native now living in

fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada


Overview

• The Audience “Thrill Ride”• Selecting the Right Music• Digital Music Editing• Creating a Firing Track• Choreography Basics• Choreography Video Samples

An introductory course in Pyro Choreography…


Pyro MusicalsA Video Overview


The Thrill Ride

• Audiences are the most sensitive at the beginning of the show

• They become “de-sensitized” as the show progresses

• Sustained intensity ‹ sensory saturation ‹ less enjoyment

• Therefore you MUST vary the pace!• Slow things down to clear the smoke

and “re-sensitize” the audience

Some Basics:


The Thrill Ride

FasterSlower

False Finale

Encore

Grand Finale

2nd Open

Show Timeline

Open

• It’s like a roller coaster• Music is the coaster track, so

avoid “klunks” between songs• Many recipes, but there

are some basic formulas

Open

• 2nd option for a show open

Inte

nsity


Selecting Music

• Music (even by itself) can be moving• Music combined with the right fireworks

can create an intense, fully involved sensory experience for the audience

• Pre-show music can build anticipation

Some Tips• Recognizable music is best, but

obscure songs can work• Audibly interesting • Gut feel – do you “see” fireworks?

In General


Selecting Music

• Emotional (e.g. suspense & mystery, slow & heartfelt, upbeat & happy) TV, movies

• Musical punctuation – good spots for shells• Be brief – the music piece needs to “get

where it’s going” within :45 or 1:30 (digital editing can work miracles)

• Final show should be 15 minutes or less• Strive for variety – use different music

eras for multi-generational appeal• Vary the pace – too many fast songs can

burn out the audience and the budget!

Some Tips (continued)


Let’s Practice!

• Option 1:Mountain - “Mississippi Queen”• What do you see in the sky?• Is there enough “space” for fireworks?• Does it sound “bloated”?

• Option 2:Hollies - “Long Cool Woman”• Is the song start a good dark sky opportunity?• Do you feel more “space” for fireworks?• How about the pace of the rhythm and vocals? Is

the pace good for rising tails and shell breaks?

Southern Rock Example


Digital Music Editing

In General• Digital editing allows you to create a

smooth track for the coaster ride• A long song can be chopped down to a

minute or so – without obvious detection

Some Tips• You really don’t need to spend a lot of

money on software to get started• Do spend enough on hardware:

• 1 GHz CPU (or better)• 512 MB RAM (or more)• CD burner is a must



How do you do it?1. Install audio edit software (e.g. Cool Edit).2. Create WAV files from your music CDs.3. Paste the WAV files together to make one

large WAV file of your entire show.4. Indicate shell burst cues on music track.5. Input burst cues to a spreadsheet to

calculate firing cues based on shell size.6. Copy and paste firing cue WAV files into

the second audio track with the “beep”precisely aligned with the firing time.



How do you do it? (cont.)

FoxFanfare.wavLetsRumble.wav

Music CDs

ShowFinal.wav

Burst Cue Times

Spreadsheet

Firing Cue Times



Creating the Music Track



Creating a Firing Track

3” = 3.0 Sec4” = 3.5 Sec5” = 4.5 Sec6” = 5.0 Sec8” = 5.5 Sec10” = 6.0 Sec12” = 7.0 Sec

3” = 3.0 Sec4” = 3.5 Sec5” = 4.5 Sec6” = 5.0 Sec8” = 5.5 Sec10” = 6.0 Sec12” = 7.0 Sec


Creating a Firing Track

• Copy and Paste Firing Cues• Burn to a CD

• Left channel = music track• Right channel = firing track


Let’s Practice!

1. Edit two songs together to begin a music track.

2. Determine the burst cue times using F8 key (Cool Edit).

3. Calculate the firing cue times using my Firing Track Creator spreadsheet.

4. Copy and paste firing cue WAVsonto final music track.

Clip 1 Clip 2 Final Clip Sheet Cue WAV


Free Tools!

1. Go to:www.WilliamCraigCook.com/fireworks

2. Click on:“Western Winter Blast Seminar”

3. You’ll find:- A download of Cool Edit shareware- My Firing Track Creator spreadsheet- Firing cue WAV files (A1, A2, etc.)- A PDF version of this presentation

Show Me


Choreography Basics

• Use your imagination. In your mind’s eye, what do you visualize with the music?

• Lyrics can suggest effects, but they’re often too subtle for the audience

• Put your creative energy into more obvious connections between music and fireworks

• Audience enjoyment comes before “artistic expression”… just ask the sponsor!

• Videotape all of your shows – for future enjoyment and for “lessons learned”

• Learn from every show you see – there’s a lot of pyrotechnic talent here in the WPA

In General


Choreography Basics

• Remember, audience sensitivity is highest at the start of the show – use it wisely

• As early as possible, demonstrate a choreographed show through use of tightly synchronized zero lift time effects (e.g. comets, mines, and indoor pyro devices)

• Create “looks” on the canvas using multiples of the same shell

• Angling mortars adds interest and helps fill the canvas, but also expands fallout zone

• Avoid “stepping on” long duration shells –try to let them develop fully with the music

Some Tips


Choreography Basics

• Don’t forget to account for rising tails!• Consider bright shells with bright passages

and soft shells with soft passages• Avoid bright effects (e.g. titanium, silver)

with soft colors (e.g. blue, purple)• Vary the pace. Don’t saturate with

prolonged intensity – give a “breather”• False finales can be effective encores, but

don’t “cry wolf” more than once!

Some Tips (continued)


Choreography Basics

• Giving the audience little “surprises” during the show can work, but it can backfire too

A couple of my blunders:Grand finale confetti mortar incident“Born to be wild” fireball incident

• Lead the audience’s eyes to where you want them – avoid effects that compete for their visual attention

• Trick: pretend you’re in the audience with a video camera... where would the camera be pointed just before your proposed effect?

And finally…


Choreography Video ExamplesPreshow

Audio Only (1:04 sample, 15:00 total)

OpenNeil Diamond “America” (0:49)

Slow PaceEagles “New York Minute” (2:02)Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” (1:04)

Medium PaceLenny Kravitz “Fly Away” (0:48)Stevie Nicks “Edge of Seventeen” (0:34)

Fast PaceBuster Poindexter “Hot Hot Hot” (0:30)

E-mail: [email protected]

Thank You!

Documents

Pyrotechnic Choreography 101 · Digital Music Editing How do you do it? 1. Install audio edit software (e.g. Cool Edit). 2. Create WAV files from your music CDs. 3. Paste the WAV