ETC Ion - Change channel twice in a 2-part cue

[Stan Longhofer]

I'm using an ETC Ion and I'd like to program a "pulse" cue where, say, channel 1 goes to 100, holds for a beat and then automatically fades back to 50. I can easily write this as two cues with a follow:

• Cue 1: 1 @ 100 [Time] 3 [Follow] 4
• Cue 2: 1 @ 50 [Time] 5

But I'd like to program this all into cue 1 as 2 parts:

• Cue 1 Part 1: 1 @ 100 [Time] 3
• Cue 1 Part 2: 1 @ 50 [Delay] 4 [Time] 5

When I try to program this, however, Part 1 never gets executed. More precisely, all cue information about channel 1 is moved to Part 2 of the cue, so part 1 executes without affecting channel 1.

I take it from this that a channel can be affected by one and only one part of a cue. Does this sound correct?

 

[sk8rsdad]

Parts don't work that way. It is not possible to program multiple move instructions for the same parameter in the same cue. It may be more accurate to say that the same parameter cannot be affected by different parts of a cue.

If you don't want to use a follow, then another option is write a one-shot effect (cycles=1) and have the cue execute it.

 

[Amiers]

Alternatively you could just make it an effect cue with steps or put it on a bump button.

 

[Stan Longhofer]

Thanks so much. I thought this was the case, but I wanted to confirm. I'm sure there's a technical reason for this, but it eludes me. I would have thought a multi-part cue was functionally no different from multiple connect cues, but this is clearly not the case. In any event, the alternative suggested are easy enough to use. Thanks again.

 

[ScottT]

Think of parts as an organizational tool for cues.

 

[sk8rsdad]

A cue is a single move instruction.

That's a fundamental design concept. You can control the timing of any element of the move right down to an individual fixture parameter but it is not possible to move a parameter to multiple destinations in the same cue.

Parts are used to manage the visibility of the data in the move but they cannot make any element in a cue do more than one move.

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[lwinters630]

I think of it as a pie (a cmplete look). 8 peices. Whatever you put in part onen, the rest stay in part 8.
An example is a vocalist on stage. part 1 fade front light. pt 2 fade back light. pt 3 fade color and the rest. You end up in a black out. That is the complete look.

 

[theatricalmatt]

Thanks so much. I thought this was the case, but I wanted to confirm. I'm sure there's a technical reason for this, but it eludes me. I would have thought a multi-part cue was functionally no different from multiple connect cues, but this is clearly not the case. In any event, the alternative suggested are easy enough to use. Thanks again.

They're generally called "autofollows" (or "follow cues") rather than "multiple connect cues."

 

[RonHebbard]

They're generally called "autofollows" (or "follow cues") rather than "multiple connect cues."

@theatricalmatt In the days of the Strand LP90. I often linked cues with time zero "waits" (auto follows) to effectively run several things simultaneously with differing starting delays and running times rather than having to deal with "parts" as several of the designers our theater was hiring found this easier to wrap their minds around. Please let's avoid the various variations in precise syntax between Strand and ETC. [What's a "wait" Vs. what's a "delay" Vs. what's an "Auto-follow" and let's definitely NOT talk about the joys of working with SM's who insist upon calling go's for your auto-follows as they think you may forget the "auto-follows" and then are surprised when you're suddenly in the final blackout when they're sure you've still got several LXQ's to go.] (Arrrrgh!)
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.

 

[Captain Audio]

I would probably just go with cue 1 with an autofollow to cue 1.1

 

[Amiers]

Personally I would put it on a sub and set It to 50 @ 0 and 100 @ FL. This will be a fade pulse. If you want it more to strobe pulse just slap it on a sub and tap and hold the bump button.

 

[soundtech193746]

I'm using an ETC Ion and I'd like to program a "pulse" cue where, say, channel 1 goes to 100, holds for a beat and then automatically fades back to 50. I can easily write this as two cues with a follow:

• Cue 1: 1 @ 100 [Time] 3 [Follow] 4
• Cue 2: 1 @ 50 [Time] 5

But I'd like to program this all into cue 1 as 2 parts:

• Cue 1 Part 1: 1 @ 100 [Time] 3
• Cue 1 Part 2: 1 @ 50 [Delay] 4 [Time] 5

When I try to program this, however, Part 1 never gets executed. More precisely, all cue information about channel 1 is moved to Part 2 of the cue, so part 1 executes without affecting channel 1.

I take it from this that a channel can be affected by one and only one part of a cue. Does this sound correct?

Program your pulse effect with the [Effect] screen.

Record that effect in to a cue.

I think there is a effect built in that already accomplishes this.

 

[John Palmer]

Could you create a custom curve and apply it to the cue?
A curve that fades from 0-100 in 30%, holds at 100% until 45%, and then goes from 100-50, from 45%-100%.
I would build it as two cues or an effect, but this might also work.
John

 

[RonHebbard]

Could you create a custom curve and apply it to the cue?
A curve that fades from 0-100 in 30%, holds at 100% until 45%, and then goes from 100-50, from 45%-100%.
I would build it as two cues or an effect, but this might also work.
John

@John Palmer @baileypl @Amiers This "custom curve" / custom profile concept is quite similar to a trick used to momentarily toggle solenoid operated pneumatic valves in SMPTE controlled synchronized dancing water fountain control systems. Often it takes the air compressor(s) 10 minutes between shows to fill a large volume air tank with enough pressurized air to carry the system through a performance. When you want to toggle a solenoid operated pneumatic valve to fire a shot you don't want to leave it open any longer than necessary as that needlessly wastes air and prematurely depletes the pressurized tanks. If you use the technique of one cue to fire the pneumatic valve and a second cue to re-close it, you run the risk of forgetting, or inadvertently deleting the second cue thus leaving the valve open to waste precious pressurized air. On a fountain control project in a provincial casino in Windsor, Ontario @Rob put my mind at ease with the following custom profile reducing the reliable momentary operation of all solenoid operated pneumatic and water valves to a single cue:
Board channel at 0% = DMX output level at 0% = solenoid valve fully closed.
Board channel at 1% = DMX output level at 100% = solenoid valve fully open.
Board channel at 99% = DMX output level at 100% = solenoid valve fully open.
Board channel at 100% = DMX output level at 0% = solenoid valve once again fully closed and automatically ALL WITHIN THE SAME LX CUE.
In essence, this equates to the run time of the cue equaling the time the valve is momentarily open. Later in life I used @Rob 's same profile to create one step effects to fire strobes for brief pulses in theatrical productions for lightning strikes.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.