ETC Expression 3 "Backward" Submaster

[DHSLXOP]

Hi Everyone -

I've been using the ETC Expression 3 at my school's theatre for the past couple years now, and, while a great board, I have been having one frustration with it lately - once I finish using submasters for a cueing session, and I take them back to zero, I have to individually type in the channel # of every light in order to lower the level if I want to make a change lower than the current light level. Is there a way to make a submaster go "backwards" so that I can change the level of all of the lights programmed into that sub?

Thanks in advance.

[icewolf08]

While I personally don't mind keying in channels (I find it faster in the long run), what you are looking for is an inhibitive submaster. When you record a sub on Expression you should be presented with as list of options. I don't remember the option numbers, but one will let you make the sub inhibitive, which means that when the fader is at full the channels are up, when you bring the fader down, the channels start to come down. I think you can change the mode of a sub after it is recorded, but I can't remember how. The only other way you might be able to do this is to make the sub LTP instead of HTP, but I don't know if you can do that on Expression.

You might try a search for inhibitive submasters as I know that there are a couple threads about them. If you do choose to go the Inhibit route, you might want to make two subs for each group of lights one that functions normally and one that is inhibitive, that will give the most flexibility.

[derekleffew]

From page 159 of Expression_3_v3.1_User_Manual.pdf:

Changing type
You can change a submaster’s type by using the [Type] key. When you
change a submaster type, levels recorded in the submaster are retained.
This means that you can change a submaster from pile-on to inhibitive and
back without losing any level or timing information. If you change the type
to effect, channel and level information is erased.
To change a submaster’s type, follow these steps:
Type changes do not take effect while the submaster is active. An active
submaster’s bump button LED blinks after you change its type. To
deactivate it, move its slider to zero if the green LED blinks, or to 10 if the
red LED blinks.1

Keystrokes: Action:
1. Press [Blind]. Selects Blind display
2. Press [Sub] [#]. Prompt reads: Select submaster number
3. Press [Type]. Prompt reads: Select submaster type
(1 = Pile-on, 2 = Inhibitive, 3 = Effect)
4. Press [1], [2] or [3] to select type. New type is entered in submaster status bar
Type changes do not take effect while the submaster is active. An active
submaster’s bump button LED blinks after you change its type. To
deactivate it, move its slider to zero if the green LED blinks, or to 10 if the
red LED blinks.1

Note that channels in an inhibitive sub have no level (displayed level is "IN"), and can only be assigned to one inhibitive sub at a time.

[doctrjohn]

If you are in the cue you want to tweak, using the keypad to enter [Group][Sub][whatever sub you need to tweak][At] will give you the ability to adjust just those channels recorded in that particular sub.

Hope this helps.

Best,
John

[willbb123]

If you select mutable channels that have different intensities (Select all front light and blue is at 75, pink is at 50) and scroll down on the wheel it will bring down in the same proportion. (bring it down so blue was at 50, then pink would be at 25.)

[coolbeam]

Originally Posted by willbb123

If you select mutable channels that have different intensities (Select all front light and blue is at 75, pink is at 50) and scroll down on the wheel it will bring down in the same proportion. (bring it down so blue was at 50, then pink would be at 25.)

If the blue level is reduced by 33% (from 75 to 50), why is the pink reduced by 50% (from 50 to 25), instead of 33% also?

[SteveB]

Originally Posted by coolbeam

If the blue level is reduced by 33% (from 75 to 50), why is the pink reduced by 50% (from 50 to 25), instead of 33% also?

Because it JUST IS !, OK, NO reason, it just IS , Jeez, can't you just learn to accept it ?.

(Grin)

SB

[LightStud]

Originally Posted by DHSLXOP

Is there a way to make a submaster go "backwards" so that I can change the level of all of the lights programmed into that sub?

What you are looking for cannot be done with HTP masters. Inhibitive masters are not exactly the answer either. The problem you are experiencing is inherent in all consoles prior to the ETC Element/Ion/Eos, and is a good reason to use the keypad and wheel when setting (and editing, as it's the ONLY way to decrease) levels.

See the Sarah Claussen demo of the Element video for the explanation of LTP masters.

[willbb123]

Originally Posted by coolbeam

If the blue level is reduced by 33% (from 75 to 50), why is the pink reduced by 50% (from 50 to 25), instead of 33% also?

psh... well if you have to be technical... Yea.. I had just woke up, and my math made sense in my head.

[coolbeam]

Originally Posted by willbb123

and my math made sense in my head.

No, your explanation was entirely accurate regarding the actions of the level wheel. However, if you were to use the grandmaster instead, you would get a different result. Try it!