Lighting Infrastructure - MediaVerse Construction Guide

Zone Lighting Overview

Lighting across the MediaVerse Studio Complex is divided into four dedicated AV circuits plus one house circuit for emergency lighting. Each room has purpose-specific colour temperature, dimming protocol, and fixture selection to serve both production quality and occupant comfort.

Circuit Distribution Summary

Room	Fixtures	Circuit	Colour Temp	Max Wattage	Control
VO Live	1x overhead LED panel + 1x clip light	`AV-02`	2700K ambient	205W	Dimmer switch
Control Room	1x overhead LED panel (bias lighting)	`AV-01`	3200K	40W	Dimmer switch
Video Studio	3x Godox LE300Bi + 2x LE200Bi + softboxes + 2x surface-mount LED downlight (30W each, 3200K, 0-10V dimmable)	`AV-03`	3200–5600K bi-colour Ambient: 3200K	960W	DMX controller + dimmer switch (ambient)
Editing Suite	2x overhead LED panel (task lighting)	`AV-04`	4000K daylight	60W	Switch + dimmer
Buffer Spine	Emergency LED strip (battery-backed)	House	4000K	5W	Automatic
Total Zone Lighting Load				1,270W	—

NOTE Lighting loads share AV circuits with production equipment. The wattage figures above are lighting-only maximums. Refer to Electrical Infrastructure for total per-circuit load budgets including audio/video gear. All circuits remain well within the IEC 80% continuous rule.

Zone Floor Plan — All Fixture Positions

VO Live Lighting

The VO Live room requires warm, low-intensity ambient lighting that does not create audible electrical noise (no buzzing ballasts). All fixtures are dimmable to allow talent comfort adjustments between takes. During recording, lights may be dimmed to near-zero if the tally light provides sufficient orientation.

Ceiling Plan

Fixture Specifications

LED
PNL

Overhead LED Panel

Flat-panel LED, 600x400mm, 200W max, 2700K warm white, CRI 95+.
Beam angle: 120° wide flood. Mount: ceiling grid clips on T-grid at 2.75m AFF.
Dimming: 0-10V protocol, flicker-free driver required (critical for VO recording).

200W max

CLIP

Music Stand Clip Light

Gooseneck LED clip-on, 5W, 2700K warm white, CRI 90+.
Mount: clips directly to Manhasset M48 music stand. Battery or mains powered.
Purpose: script illumination without spilling light into microphone pickup zone.

ACOUSTIC NOTE All LED drivers in the VO Live room must be rated silent (<20 dBA at 1m). Magnetic ballasts and transformer-based dimmers are prohibited — they produce audible hum that will be captured by condenser microphones. Use electronic LED drivers with 0-10V dimming only.

Control Room Lighting

The Control Room uses a single low-wattage bias lighting panel behind the monitoring position. The colour temperature of 3200K provides a warm neutral reference that does not interfere with monitor colour accuracy. Primary visual work is done under monitor illumination; the overhead panel fills ambient light only.

Ceiling Plan

Fixture Specifications

BIAS
LED

Overhead LED Bias Panel

Slim LED panel, 600x300mm, ~40W, 3200K warm white, CRI 93+.
Beam angle: 120° wide flood. Mount: ceiling grid clips on T-grid at 2.75m AFF.
Positioned behind the listener to avoid reflections on monitor screens.
Dimming: 0-10V protocol, flicker-free. Must not produce visible flicker at any dimming level.

~40W

DESIGN INTENT Bias lighting reduces eye strain during long editing/mixing sessions by providing low-level ambient fill behind the monitors. The 3200K colour temperature is chosen to sit between daylight (5600K) and tungsten (2700K), offering a neutral reference that does not shift perceived monitor colour balance.

Video Studio Lighting

The Video Studio has the most complex lighting setup: five bi-colour LED fixtures on C-stands and ceiling-mounted boom arms, all controlled via DMX512 for precise scene-by-scene adjustment, plus two ambient LED downlights on a separate dimmer for general room illumination. Total peak draw is 960W, the highest of any room.

Ceiling Plan

Fixture Specifications

KEY
300

Godox LE300Bi (x3) — Key Lights

300W bi-colour LED, 3200–5600K adjustable, CRI 97+, TLCI 98+.
Beam angle: 120° (native), shaped with included reflector and softbox.
Mount: C-stand with boom arm, 2.0–2.5m height. Softbox: 60x90cm.
Control: DMX512 (5-pin), on-unit controls, or Godox RC-A6 remote.

300W each

FILL
200

Godox LE200Bi (x2) — Fill Lights

200W bi-colour LED, 3200–5600K adjustable, CRI 96+, TLCI 97+.
Beam angle: 120° (native), with 90x60cm softbox for wrap-around fill.
Mount: C-stand at 1.5–2.0m height, angled 45° from subject.
Control: DMX512 (5-pin), daisy-chained from key lights.

200W each

Ambient Room Lighting

When production DMX lights are off (during setup, cleanup, meetings, or general use), the room would be completely dark. Two surface-mount LED downlights provide general room illumination on a separate 0-10V dimmer switch, independent of the DMX production lighting system.

AMB
DL

Surface-Mount LED Downlights (x2) — Ambient Room Lighting

30W each (60W total), 3200K warm white, CRI 90+.
Dimming: 0-10V protocol (NOT phase-cut — phase-cut dimmers produce EMI that interferes with audio equipment).
Mount: surface-mount to ceiling at 2.75m AFF, centered on ceiling, evenly spaced for uniform room wash.
Position: NOT aimed at green screen area or into camera positions — ambient fill only.
Control: separate 0-10V rotary dimmer switch mounted near door D4.
Circuit: AV-03 (adds 60W to existing 1,100W load — 1,160W total, well within 16A/3,840W breaker capacity).

30W each

PURPOSE The ambient downlights serve as general room illumination for non-production use. They allow safe movement, equipment setup, and casual meetings without powering up the full DMX production rig. The 3200K colour temperature matches the warm end of the bi-colour production fixtures for visual consistency.

CABLE ROUTING All power cables to C-stand lights must maintain 600mm minimum separation from audio XLR/TRS runs on the floor. Use cable ramps or gaffer-taped separate lanes. DMX data cables may run alongside power (same protocol family) but must stay 600mm from audio signal cables. Dimmed lighting circuits must be in separate conduit from non-dimmed circuits.

Editing Suite Lighting

The Editing Suite uses two overhead LED panels providing 4000K daylight-balanced task lighting. This colour temperature supports accurate colour grading on editing monitors and reduces fatigue during long post-production sessions.

Ceiling Plan

Fixture Specifications

TASK
LED

Overhead LED Task Panels (x2)

Slim LED panel, 600x300mm, ~30W each (60W total), 4000K daylight, CRI 90+.
Beam angle: 120° wide flood. Mount: ceiling grid clips on T-grid at 2.75m AFF.
Dimming: 0-10V protocol with on/off wall switch and rotary dimmer.
Positioned directly above desk rows for even task illumination.

30W each

Buffer Spine Lighting

The buffer spine is a narrow acoustic partition corridor, not a habitable room. It receives only a battery-backed emergency LED strip for fire-life-safety compliance. This strip operates automatically and draws from the building house circuit, independent of the AV power distribution.

Strip Position

Fixture Specifications

EMRG
LED

Emergency LED Strip

Low-profile LED strip, IP20, 5W, 4000K neutral white, battery-backed NiMH (3-hour autonomy).
Mount: adhesive + mechanical clips along buffer spine ceiling centreline.
Power: house circuit (not AV circuits). Automatic activation on mains failure.
Provides minimum 1 lux at floor level for emergency egress orientation.

Mounting Methods

Three primary mounting methods are used across the studio complex: ceiling grid clips for overhead panels, C-stands for studio production lights, and wall brackets for tally lights and emergency signage.

Ceiling Grid Clips (VO Live, Control Room, Editing Suite)

Verify T-grid is installed level at 2.75m AFF and capable of supporting fixture weight plus above-tile insulation.
Use spring-loaded T-grid clips rated for the fixture weight (typically 2–5 kg per panel). Do not drill or screw into ceiling tiles.
Route power cable above the T-grid, through the plenum, maintaining 600mm separation from any audio cable runs. LED drivers mounted remotely (not in plenum — audible buzz).
Connect to 0-10V dimmer controller via low-voltage control wire run alongside power (same conduit is acceptable for power + 0-10V).
Ensure the fixture does not penetrate the acoustic ceiling plane — surface mount or recess into grid only. No through-ceiling mounting that breaks the acoustic seal.

C-Stand Positions (Video Studio)

Mark three key light positions along the north half of the studio at 100cm, 250cm, and 400cm from the west wall, 70cm from the north wall.
Place C-stands with wide-leg bases. Sandbag each leg (minimum 5kg per bag) to prevent tipping.
Extend boom arm to position fixture at 2.0–2.5m height. Counterweight the boom arm.
Attach softbox to fixture head before raising to height — never adjust softbox on a raised fixture without support.
Route power cables along the floor in dedicated cable ramps, maintaining 600mm from audio signal cables.
Daisy-chain DMX cables between fixtures using 5-pin DMX connectors. Terminate the chain with a 120-ohm DMX terminator plug.

Wall Brackets (Tally Lights, Emergency Signs)

Mount tally light housing above door frame using surface-mount L-brackets. Do NOT drill through the acoustic wall — mount to the door frame timber head only.
Route 12V DC power cable through a sealed conduit penetration or along the wall surface in mini-trunking.
Emergency exit signage mounts on surface-mount brackets per local fire code (typically 2.1m AFF minimum).
All wall-mounted fixtures must be surface-mount only — no recessed boxes in STC-rated walls for lighting purposes.

Dimming Protocols

Two dimming protocols are used across the studio. The choice is driven by the number of fixtures per room and the need for scene recall capability.

0-10V Analogue Dimming

Used in: VO Live, Control Room, Editing Suite

How it works: A low-voltage DC signal (0–10V) controls LED driver output. 0V = full off (or minimum), 10V = full brightness. Signal carried on a 2-conductor low-voltage wire from wall-mounted rotary dimmer to LED driver.

Advantages:

Simple single-fixture control
No addressing or programming required
Silent operation (no digital switching noise)
Low cost per circuit

Wire spec: 2C x 0.5mm² shielded, max run 50m.

IMPORTANT Do NOT use leading-edge (TRIAC) or trailing-edge phase-cut dimmers with LED panels. These cause flicker and audible buzz. Only use 0-10V compatible LED drivers with 0-10V wall dimmers.

DMX512 Digital Control

Used in: Video Studio

How it works: DMX512 is a serial protocol carrying 512 channels of 8-bit brightness data over a shielded 5-pin XLR cable. Each fixture is assigned a DMX start address. A controller sends scene data at 44 times per second.

Advantages:

Individual control of multiple fixtures from one controller
Scene preset recall (key light + fill + backlight scenes)
Bi-colour temperature control (2 channels per fixture: intensity + CCT)
Industry standard for video/film production lighting

Cable spec: DMX512 5-pin XLR, 110-ohm shielded twisted pair. Max daisy chain: 300m (32 devices).

Termination: 120-ohm resistor in a 5-pin XLR male plug at the last fixture in the chain. Prevents signal reflections.

Addressing:

Fixture	Start Address	Channels Used
Key 1 (LE300Bi)	001	2 (dimmer + CCT)
Key 2 (LE300Bi)	003	2
Key 3 (LE300Bi)	005	2
Fill L (LE200Bi)	007	2
Fill R (LE200Bi)	009	2

Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting is mandated by fire-life-safety requirements. The MediaVerse studio zone, being a windowless interior space, requires battery-backed emergency illumination to ensure safe egress during power failure.

Requirements

Parameter	Requirement
Minimum illumination at floor	1 lux along escape routes
Battery autonomy	3 hours minimum (per local fire code)
Activation	Automatic on mains power failure
Location	Buffer Spine (primary egress corridor)
Fixture type	Self-contained LED strip with integral NiMH battery pack
Testing	Monthly function test (30s), annual duration test (3hr) — log results
Circuit	House circuit (independent of AV-01 through AV-04)

FIRE CODE Emergency lighting is not optional. The buffer spine serves as the internal circulation corridor between all four production rooms. Failure to maintain battery backup or obstruction of the emergency strip with stored equipment violates occupancy permit conditions. Refer to Fire-Life-Safety guide for full compliance requirements.

Exit Signage

Self-illuminated "EXIT" signs (or local equivalent) must be installed above D1 (main entry) and at each end of the buffer spine, facing into the rooms they serve. These signs are on the house circuit with integral battery backup and must remain illuminated at all times during occupancy.

Recording Tally Lights

Two red "RECORDING" tally lights indicate active recording sessions to prevent accidental door openings and noise intrusion during takes.

Tally Light Schedule

ID	Location	Type	Power	Control
TALLY-01	Above D2 (Control Room, buffer side)	LED "RECORDING" sign, red, 12V DC, 5W	12V DC PSU from `AV-01`	Momentary toggle inside Control Room + DAW MIDI macro
TALLY-02	Above D4 (Video Studio, buffer side)	LED "RECORDING" sign, red, 12V DC, 5W	12V DC PSU from `AV-03`	Momentary toggle inside Video Studio

Wiring Detail

TALLY-01: Control Room Recording Indicator

Mount LED sign housing above D2 door frame on buffer spine side. Visible from Editing Suite corridor approach.
Run 12V DC cable (2C x 0.75mm²) from a 12V/1A PSU plugged into AV-01 circuit inside Control Room.
Wire through a momentary toggle switch mounted at the engineer's desk position (within arm's reach).
Optional: connect toggle switch in parallel with a DAW-triggered MIDI relay (USB MIDI → relay board → tally power). When DAW transport enters record mode, tally activates automatically.
Test: verify tally illuminates when switch is toggled and extinguishes when released. Confirm no audible hum from PSU inside the Control Room.

TALLY-02: Video Studio Recording Indicator

Mount LED sign housing above D4 door frame on buffer spine side. Visible from Editing Suite corridor approach.
Run 12V DC cable from a 12V/1A PSU plugged into AV-03 circuit inside Video Studio.
Wire through a momentary toggle switch mounted near the studio director/camera operator position.
Test: verify tally illuminates when switch is toggled. No DAW integration required for this tally (video sessions are typically manually controlled).

DESIGN INTENT Tally lights are mounted on the buffer spine side of doors, not inside the recording rooms. This ensures that people approaching from the Editing Suite (the primary circulation space) see the warning before opening a door into an active session.

Cable Separation

Maintaining a minimum 600mm physical separation between power/lighting cables and audio signal cables is a fundamental requirement throughout the studio (studio standard — 4× the TIA-569 commercial minimum). Studio microphones operate at -60 to -40 dBu (millivolts) — 1,000× more sensitive to induced noise than office data equipment. Dimmers are the worst EMI source; use 0-10V or DALI dimming instead of phase-cut to minimize interference.

Cross-Section Diagram

Separation Rules

Rule	Requirement
Power/Audio parallel	600mm minimum separation between power/lighting and audio cables at all points (studio standard)
Power/Data parallel	300mm minimum separation between power/lighting and data cables (Cat6A S/FTP in EMT)
Crossings	90° perpendicular crossings only, 75mm clearance — no angled or parallel crossings within separation distance
Conduit type (power)	25mm EMT (steel) conduit for all lighting power runs — EMT provides EMI shielding
Conduit type (audio)	25mm EMT (steel, grounded) for audio signal cables — dedicated conduit, never shared with digital or power
Dimmed vs non-dimmed	Separate conduits for dimmed and non-dimmed lighting circuits — switching noise couples between them
DMX data cable	Use proper 120Ω DMX cable (Belden 9841). May share conduit with ethernet but 600mm from audio signal cables
0-10V dimmer wire	18 AWG shielded, may share conduit with power feed to same fixture (low voltage, same source)
LED driver placement	Mount remotely (electrical closet or chase), NOT in ceiling plenum — drivers emit audible buzz that transmits into rooms
Floor cable ramps	Separate ramp channels for power and audio — never in the same channel
Cable tray	If shared tray is used, install a metallic divider maintaining 600mm separation

CRITICAL The 600mm audio separation and 300mm data separation rules are derived from ACOUSTIC-CONSTANTS.js (MEDIAVERSE.electrical.dataCabling.separation_audio_from_power_mm and separation_from_power_mm). These apply to all power cables including lighting, not just the main AV circuits. A single parallel run violation can introduce audible 50Hz hum into sensitive microphone channels. Studio microphones are 1,000× more sensitive than office data equipment — standard commercial TIA-569 separations (127mm) are insufficient.