Adam Knapp Systems
LLC
Product Design Consulting Services
About Me
I am an innovative end-to-end product developer with over a decade of experience creating successful, easy to use electronic devices for the entertainment industry.
My specialities are product concept creation, system architecture, UX/UI, design for manufacture, and regulatory compliance.
As director of R&D at Ratpac, and later operating as Adam Knapp Systems LLC, I collaborate with an experienced team of developers to pioneer dozens of solutions for manufacturers in the film and TV industry, leading to products which have fundamentally changed the way movies, TV shows, commercials, and music videos are produced.
My clients and collaborators include the top names in film production equipment.
Below are some of the projects I've worked on in recent years.
Ratpac AKS
I created the AKS (Adam Knapp System) in collaboration with Santoro Systems for Ratpac Controls to address the need for an easy-to-use portable network bridge that can reliably communicate with wireless lighting fixtures on a film or TV stage. Software updates have added a multitude of new features and substantial performance increases, even for first generation units!
The AKS is now a common sight on most major motion picture, commercial, and music video sets, and continues to be a best-seller nearly 6 years later.
Ratpac Constellation
Constellation is a browser-based platform which allows multiple AKS and Satellite units to be used and configured simultaneously on a single network. I created it to allow the AKS and Satellite to fulfill the market need for higher throughput, distributed data transmission on set without the hassle of individual configuration and setup. Constellation is now an integral part of the AKS ecosystem.
StudioBox
StudioBox, true to its name, is a whole virtually-controlled studio in a box, complete with camera, lighting, sound and motorized control.
As Director of R&D, I created a product strategy and brought in a team of specialists to create a working prototype of the main control console for public demonstration. We are currently developing a new generation of the product.
Ratpac Cintenna
I developed the Cintenna to be the first professional, reliable wireless DMX system specifically for film production environments, earning a patent along the way.
The Cintenna is widely credited with bringing about the wireless revolution in modern set lighting, as previous systems were too unreliable and unwieldy to use.
Thousands of Cintennas are in use on set today, including the Cintenna Battery, and its successor, the Cintenna 2.
ARRI SkyLink
Following the success of the Ratpac AKS, I spearheaded a partnership with ARRI - known for its industry-defining lighting and camera products, and LumenRadio to create ARRI SkyLink, a wireless network bridge similar to the AKS but designed to wirelessly control ARRI lighting fixtures. ARRI SkyLink debuted on an international stage at Amsterdam's IBC show, featured as ARRI's 100th anniversary product.
Technicolor AR Lighting Link
I was hired by Technicolor TEC for the film Call of the Wild to help them overcome several challenges in their augmented reality system, which dynamically replicated the lighting conditions from virtual set environments in a real space. My team formed a bridge protocol and several tools which allowed the Unity game engine to directly control a DMX lighting array, complete with color correction values.
Ratpac Unity
Ratpac Unity was created as a grand successor to both the PDB and traditional silent dimmers they produce. I initially conceptualized the product as PDB2, creating dozens of mockups, layouts, and potential system architecture options before we settled on a final design.
Unity is by far the most advanced product produced by Ratpac Controls.
Westcott FLEX Cine LED System
The Westcott FLEX Cine system is one of the only RGBW fixtures that can provide custom colored light for high-speed filming. Teaming up with Santoro Systems again, I developed the dimming methodology, wireless linking system, and many aspects of the form factor and user experience for the product. The Westcott Flex Cine system is currently for sale at several prominent professional video and photo equipment outlets.
Hero Car Dimmer (Baby Driver)
I created the Hero Car Dimmer for the movie Baby Driver based on the need to precisely control low-wattage LED fixtures in the film's various cars. The product features a custom "night mode" feature I designed to handle the low levels, along with wireless control, custom address chip, and dual battery/line power options.
Several units were created for the film, and continue to be used for other movies.
Ratpac PDB
I developed the PDB (Power Data Box) concept with Ratpac CEO Craig Brink as a solution for powering and controlling modern, data-driven lighting fixtures that no longer require dimming but still require remote power switching from time to time. After the success of the 8 channel PDB, we created 10 and 12 channel versions in several connector options. The PDB is found on nearly every movie set in the USA.
ETL 508A Panel Shop Listing
ETL/UL certification is a legal necessity for all electrical products sold in the USA and Canada, and every variant of every product is required to be tested - usually for a large, 5-figure fee.
I directed a project in partnership with Intertek USA to have Ratpac's factory trained and registered as a 508A panel shop, which allows many new products to be certified in-house, saving millions of dollars and unlocking entirely new markets.
Ratpac 24 x 12kW Dimmer
One of the most powerful incandescent dimming racks ever created, I produced the plans for the 24 x 12kW dimmer for Ratpac after a customer request for a gigantic dimmer pack capable of controlling 24 of the industry's most demanding fixtures on two stages at once.
Almost twenty units were built, and all are still in service to this day.
