macro use

[visigoth]

I would like to know what everyones favorite use of the macro.

[porkchop]

If Icewolf is lurking I'm sure this will be one of his since it's off his console but he had a macro that was "cue [0] time [2] GO." We always had cue 0 be a B/O. SOOOOoooo useful when you're like I have no idea what's on but I want it out now. Past that if it's Rep plot or something like that that has constant addresses of multiple moving light fixtures a macro to destrike them all at once is very useful.

[derekleffew]

visigoth, best to state what console you're using when asking for advice on Macros. See this post for some of my favorites, on an Express(ion) desk.

[thommyboy]

Working with a limited intelligent fixture set I have a set of macro's I use constantly. I have a Strand 300 board, and while it shares the software with the 500 series the hardware is not as simple to program our fixtures. I have macros to select parameters on each fixture, macros for commonly used colors, each gobo etc, and to return them to their home position. Essentially I have used the macros to create easily accessible pallets.

[Footer]

I have 3 or 4 disks laying around that are just full of macros I have built for all kinds of consoles. My 500 series disk alone has around 50 or so on it.

[visigoth]

Im using a Innovator 48/96 and have pages of macros but I tend to use about a dozen or so, I was looking to for more creative ways for there use. I run about 8 different intelligent lights some scanners ,hazer and chase lights.

[Serendipity]

My personal favorite is the boldly labeled "Next" and "Last" macros so that way if you have to have someone inept running board (yay educational theater! This happens a ton when the LD isn't there, and in the small space the ME is the LBO, so someone on deck has to learn to punch buttons) they can do channel/dim check from the booth, while you are onstage.
Simple, yes. But it makes my life easier.

[SteveB]

Our most used macro on the Express/Emphasis is the Macro 1 Channel Check. It's on Macro 1 as that't the only dedicated macro key on an Express/ion RFU. The macro is "At, 0, 0, +, Full".

40 or 50 more always ready in the console.

SB

[Ross]

On both my expression and OB2 I have a Patch Macro because I need to run my hang and focus via remote. But for programming purposes, I have a macro to preset scroller levels into the cue prior. Saves a little time.

[Serendipity]

Last year we had a save to disk macro on our Expresses. However, when I mentioned this to another technician, they were disturbed by the thought of saving a show without going through the keystrokes (I believe they thought there would be a chance to mess it up using the macro). So, I'm curious, are there reasons why one should not have, or use a record to disk macro?

We record three disks normally (unnaturally precautious, definitely. However, I understand why we have this practice.), so should one be recorded manually, the others by macro? It didn't seem to be that big of a deal before, but now I'm concerned.