Control/Dimming Color Scrollers with a ETC Expression 3

[willbb123]

I've searched but I can not find an answer for my question.

What is the best way to control Forerunner color scrollers on an Expression 3?
I have tried it multiple ways and am not happy with any of them...

First - Had them all assigned to a submaster. So if I wanted the color in the 3rd frame I would pull the slider to 14%, for frame 14 submaster to 88%. This way was a pain, because the submasters are so small it was really difficult to get a exact number. It was fine for theatrical shows, but took way too long for live shows.

Second - I assigned the scrollers to groups. Group 1 = All, Group 2 = Second Electric, Group 3 = Third Electric. Then each stroller got its own group number so I could do them individually if I wanted. To bring up frame 14 I would hit [Group] [1] [at] [8][8]. This way it is really easy to bring up the exact level (color). But it is alot of buttons to hit....

I've played around with the moving light personalities, but it only has one attribute (color), and then I'm back to my first way, except I'm turning a knob instead of pushing a submaster.

I thought about creating a Macro but the channel numbers do not go up by constant number. The first few go up by 7% then it is 8% then 5% then back to 7%. I am reading the levels out of the forerunner so I know its the right numbers. I can post the levels if someone whats to see them.

I would really like an easier way to change colors. How does everyone else control scrollers?

 

[Pie4Weebl]

I always have used a level cheat sheet next to the board, but you might try using focus points for different colors so you don't have to memorize channel values?

 

[willbb123]

I always have used a level cheat sheet next to the board, but you might try using focus points for different colors so you don't have to memorize channel values?

I'm not familiar with focus points. I've read the summery in the manual, but didn't see how they would be useful. Can you tell me how they would work for this purpose?

 

[mbroughton02]

It's true, memorizing the percentages for each frame or having a cheat sheet can get annoying. I do what pie4weebl suggested- take the time to record the levels into focus points- put all the scrollers in the first frame, then hit "record, focus point, 1", put them all in the second frame, hit "record, focus point, 2", etc.

Still make your groups with 1st elec, 2nd elec, all, etc. Then what you can do it hit "group, x, focus point, x, enter" and all the scrollers in that group go to whichever frame the focus point you selected specifies. So far this is the same number of keystrokes (only macros will help you there, but you would need a lot of them), but the shortcut comes when you are looking through colors- once the channels are captured and set to a focus point, you can just push "focus point, +, enter" to step through the frames.

This is the best I know to do. Still slightly annoying but it takes the cheat sheet and memorization out of the game.

 

[Capi]

Well, if you can spare the subs, you can program each frame (or just the frames you will use) into separate subs. Put the scroller at the frame you want, record it into a submaster, then, when you want that color, take the sub up to full. Depending on how many colors you are using, it can be a lot of subs, but you always have multiple sub pages to play with. You just have to remember it's usually HTP, so a lot of the time you will have to take the sub out before you bring the next color in.

 

[willbb123]

thanks for the ideas so far.
I am defiantly going to give the focus points another look.
Unfortunately I do not have enough submasters to give each color its own. I thought about it though. I can do more then one page, but its a pain to switch between them.