24 Part 1 · An Introduction tralized, unified control systems can end up being lowest common denominator solutions-- functional for all departments but optimized for none. Distributed Systems A distributed system is generally made up of intelligent "sub- systems," each optimized for its task and connected together into a larger system. Each subsystem decides, or is told by another system, when and how to execute its tasks. This approach is often desirable in entertainment control applications, since a lighting console's inter- face and operation can be optimized for lighting, a machinery con- sole for machinery, and so on. Such systems can still be linked to a single master controller, but the low-level control work is still dis- tributed throughout the system. With the distributed control load, if one controller stops working, the show could continue on with the other elements. All else being equal, I generally prefer distributed systems for this reason. Lighting Console Sound Console Automation Console Video Console AB Go Stop Back S YSTEM C ONTROL A RCHITECTURES For a system to work, all the connected devices have to agree on a management scheme or pro- AB Show Control Console