No more GrandMasters on ETC consoles

Can anyone tell me why ETC has decided to do away with physical GrandMaster faders?
I don't have an official reason from ETC, but I imagine it is to standardize the facepanel layout and eliminate one physical fader that doesn't get used often by most people.
You can make any fader (real or virtual) into a Grandmaster by using the Fader Configuration tab (tab 36). If you make a physical fader into a GM, note that you have to push BOTH buttons under the fader to activate the Blackout key function.
-Todd
 
As is, I am sure, not uncommon, I don't need it often, but when I need it, I need it BADLY, and having to a) figure out which fader to grab and b) remember to hit both buttons is a non-starter.

I don't buy a lot of boards, and what's in their used market will serve me fine, so I don't expect to change their mind, but...
 
As is, I am sure, not uncommon, I don't need it often, but when I need it, I need it BADLY, and having to a) figure out which fader to grab and b) remember to hit both buttons is a non-starter.

I don't buy a lot of boards, and what's in their used market will serve me fine, so I don't expect to change their mind, but...

You’re only hitting both buttons if you need a blackout button push. My legacy Ions all have their BO buttons disabled as it’s about as fast to just slam the fader to zero. And I’d have to check but usually you can configure in Fader Configuration what the buttons do so I think you can set it for one of the buttons.
 
That helps a *little*, but the ballistics of the buttons on the wing are noticeably different from the Master Blackout button too, which can affect how easily I can use it for what I do...

And what do people *with no wings* do, pray tell?
 
That helps a *little*, but the ballistics of the buttons on the wing are noticeably different from the Master Blackout button too, which can affect how easily I can use it for what I do...

And what do people *with no wings* do, pray tell?

Chances are if you are the type of person who utilizes a grandmaster, you're also using lots of other faders and as such will have a console with them. Alternatively, you can use all of the nice touch friendly soft faders on screen.

How often do you use the blackout button?
 
That helps a *little*, but the ballistics of the buttons on the wing are noticeably different from the Master Blackout button too, which can affect how easily I can use it for what I do...

And what do people *with no wings* do, pray tell?

One of the Ion XE models has no faders, I’d want a fader wing if I purchased that model. The other desks in the Eos line have faders.

I have mixed feelings about no GM. I can seen needing it but cannot recall the last time I used it.
 
As long as we are going down this rabbit hole, does anyone else miss split crossfaders?
 
As long as we are going down this rabbit hole, does anyone else miss split crossfaders?
As a matter of fact, No! Today's consoles have evolved to the point where every light, infact, every parameter of every light, can have its own unique time. No longer are we limited just to one time for raising intensities and one for lowering.

Likewise re: Grand Master. Does one really desire a Fader that controls the level of every DMX value--I think not. Maybe one needs/wants an Intensity Master, but the operator can choose any fader on the desk to be that.

Go to the light Carol Anne.
 
As a matter of fact, No! Today's consoles have evolved to the point where every light, infact, every parameter of every light, can have its own unique time. No longer are we limited just to one time for raising intensities and one for lowering.

Likewise re: Grand Master. Does one really desire a Fader that controls the level of every DMX value--I think not. Maybe one needs/wants an Intensity Master, but the operator can choose any fader on the desk to be that.

Go to the light Carol Anne.

That said ( and I do agree with Derek ) - I wish there was an easier / obvious way on modern consoles for the operator to control the overall time of a cue. I don't believe this is easy to grok on an EOS family. Not sure about other boards.
 
That said ( and I do agree with Derek ) - I wish there was an easier / obvious way on modern consoles for the operator to control the overall time of a cue. I don't believe this is easy to grok on an EOS family. Not sure about other boards.
The EOS family has at least two ways on many consoles: the Rate wheel and the master split fader pair. What time control on a cue are you looking for?
-Todd
 
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