Chase in a static cue?

[zac850]

My schools musical is called 1940's Radio Hour. It is the set of a radio show that takes place in the 1940's (hence the title). In this show I have an applause sign that I want to flash at the end of songs, in an otherwise static cue. I want the sign to flash on and off 3 to 5 times and then go out, preferably without me needing to press the "go" button.

What would be the best way to do this? Could I link part of the cue to a submaster and have the sub programed with the cue?

I'm running an ETC Express 125.

I want this to be as easy and painless so that I don't spend 5 minutes per cue I want in tech...

Thanks guys!

[cutlunch]

Hi from a quick look at the manual there seems to be a lot of answers with varying degrees of success. There are effects. Links to subs etc. The one that caught my eye seems to be the simplest that is "follow cues".

All this does is wait a set time once a cue has started then runs the next cue. So it makes it fairly simple. The basic steps would be 1) Cue to turn sign on, 2) Cue to sign off, 3) Cue to sign on , 4) Cue to turn sign off etc as many times you want it to flash. Then you edit each cue to set it as a follow type with the time of how long from the start of the cue until the next cues starts. Unless you change anything else at the end of the applause sign all the cues just need to be is a copy of the stage lighting for the song and add in/ take out the applause sign. The last cue where you take out the applause sign for the last time in the sequence doesn't need a follow cue if the rest of the scene statys the same. If the scene does change then use a follow cue on it to enter the next cue automaticaly.

Depending on how you want it too look you could put a zero fade in/out time on the sign cues for a sharp look, where the sign snaps on and off.

The guys who have these boards may come up with a simpler method but this one should work reasonably well and will not take to long once you get the hang of it.

Hope this helps as a starting point.

[wolf825]

Originally Posted by zac850

My schools musical is called 1940's Radio Hour. It is the set of a radio show that takes place in the 1940's (hence the title). In this show I have an applause sign that I want to flash at the end of songs, in an otherwise static cue. I want the sign to flash on and off 3 to 5 times and then go out, preferably without me needing to press the "go" button.

What would be the best way to do this? Could I link part of the cue to a submaster and have the sub programed with the cue?

I'm running an ETC Express 125.

I want this to be as easy and painless so that I don't spend 5 minutes per cue I want in tech...

Thanks guys!

Easy Quick and Painless....just program the light into a submaster and use the bump button as manual flash on and off..each time you press the button the light will pop on and when you release it will go off. Cue you are in then does not matter--sub master will always work to activate the light... You have 10 pages of 24 subs if I remember right on that console..so piece of cake...

Here is how you do it.. Bring up the light and ONLY that light on Stage live--press RECORD and then SUB and then press the button under the submaster you want to assign that light to--the little light will pop on on that button..or even faster just press RECORD and the Submaster button you want it in..and poof you are done..instant flashing light that you operate and will be more realistic--since most of those old style applause lights were operated by an on/off swicth manually...you can blink faster or slower or whatever you want...

cheerios....
-w

[zac850]

Yes, I was thinking of programing a chase into a sub (I forget how, but I did it once and it wasn't hard). However, last year I ran a show half on cue's and half off subs, and I missed a few cues each show because I forgot to run the subs.

I think there is a way to create a macro to link to a sub, and you can include a marco in a cue. I'm going to look into that.

[SuperCow]

Yes, you can create a link to a sub. Just record it into a sub, and then link the sub to the cue.

[zac850]

What do you mean?

I tried to have a chase in the sub and running the chase as i recorded the cue, but instead it recorded the look of the instant I recorded the cue, not the chase. What kind of link do you mean? A link to a sub or a macro that links to a sub?

[SuperCow]

No, it's a link to the sub. Look in your manual for "link submaster." I'm too tired and jet-lagged to find you the page right now, sorry!

[zac850]

Its fine, I have the PDF manual saved on my computer, I wasn't aware of this. I'll check now. Thanks

EDIT: I just checked the manual and didn't see anything about linking to a sub, I'm loading up virtual PC and the offline editor to try it out and see if it will let me.

EDIT 2: I tried it on the offline editor and could not see a way to link to a sub as part of a static cue. I think I will end up creating a macro and just linking to the macro.

[LDSFX]

Heres my best idea: First create the effect that flashes your sign. Then record that effect to a sub (for example well use sub 5). Now, write a macro, not by using the LEARN function, but by going into macro editing in the setup menu. Create a macro that bumps macro 5, then insert a macro wait of hoever long you want the flashing to continue, then bump sub 5 again. Now when you want to create the cue that executes the effect, press LINK, then ENTER MACRO then 5.

[SteveB]

Skip the effects section, PITA, IMO, same with Subs, Macros, etc...

How 'bout the following:

Q 25 (as example) is the static cue

Q25.1 is the static look PLUS the first channel for the first light to flash, 0 count. Make 25.1 a follow of 25 with delay of however long you want to wait in the Q before the flash takes place, or no follow, just press GO according to the action/song

Q 25.2 is the same static look, plus the next flashing light to full and the first flash to 0, autofollow, 1/2 second delay or whatever

Q25.3 - ditto Q25.2, just the next flash channel

Infinite control of when the first flash takes place, how long it stays on, how long between, etc... easier to understand compared to an effect.

If you really want to get fancy, write the effect, load to a sub, create a macro in the static cue to fire the sub after a defined delay....


SB