Control/Dimming ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

[MarcusL]

Hello CB,

In my space, we have several simple control dimmer boxes spread around the space to easily turn on and off all of the lights. The main reason for this is so that people don't trip and die (always a good thing) on their way to the booth from the stage, but they also serve the somewhat undesirable function of allowing just about anyone to turn on every instrument I have hung and burn out all of my gels/lamps. This said, I'm working on getting some scoops purchased for work lighting, but even before that I would like to minimize the number of lights that turn on from the charmingly dubbed "idiot boxes."

I'm not really sure if these are standard pieces of equipment in other theaters, and I have not been able to find any information on them online. I've been trying to avoid taking them apart to find a model number and producer, but it very well seems to be coming to that.

So I have two questions:

1. Does anyone know who produces these pieces of equipment? The ones we have currently installed are beige boxes with a dozen sliders and four preset buttons. The boxes are about five inches high and about ten inches long.

2. Would anyone like to hazard a guess as to how these boxes are programmed? They seem to interact with the board on a control scheme that favors the piece of equipment that was turned on last or has instruments at a higher level. Not exactly sure how this works.

Pretty much any information CB has on these mysterious boxes would be greatly appreciated.

-Marcus

 

[soundman]

re: ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

A picture would be worth a 1,000 words on this one. Sounds like down the chain it merges with a system that merges the feed from your idiot box and your light board on an LTP basis.

 

[MarcusL]

re: ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it. I'll also try to see if there are any identifiable markings on them that I have missed.

 

[derekleffew]

re: ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

What make and model is the dimmer rack in your venue? Post pictures of both the dimmer rack and the "idiot boxes" and we'll help you identify them.
EDI, ETC, Lehigh, Leviton, Strand and virtually all stage lighting control manufacturers make "entry stations" or "architectural lighting control stations" and each is set up differently. But all can be programmed, some quite easily by the end-user, others rather difficultly involving a visit from a factory service technician.

Example of one manufacturer's offerings:

Lighting solutions for Theatre, Film & Television Studios and Architectural spaces : ETC

 

[MarcusL]

re: ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

I was about to say, our dimmer racks are ETC Sensor+ (stage lights) and ETC Unison (house lights) and those pictures you posted are exactly the boxes we have.

 

[MarcusL]

re: ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

Okay, so according to the ETC site I have Unison Heritage Button and Fader stations. Now I'm trying to deduce how exactly they can be programmed.

 

[ccm1495]

re: ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

The way i program my presets on those boxes is threw our etc sensor rack, we set up the lights that we want on with our board or computer. then go to the etc sensor rack and set the presets there by taking a snapshot of the lights that are on. then turn them off on the board then try out the preset.
If you have an etc sensor rack this might work for you i have posted a link to the manual for the ETC Sensor ( Pages 14 and 15 should help with programing presets)

Here is the link your the manual:
http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Sensor+_Dimming_System_v1.0.x_User_Manual.pdf

 

[MarcusL]

re: ETC Unison "Idiot Box" Programming

Great, thank you. I'll give that a try tomorrow. So the presets on the rack are the same as the presets on the boxes?

Also, I have sliders on mine. Are these programmable through the rack also or do I need to use the design software that ETC has and connect to the ETCNet port on my Sensor?

 

[Footer]

Great, thank you. I'll give that a try tomorrow. So the presets on the rack are the same as the presets on the boxes?

Also, I have sliders on mine. Are these programmable through the rack also or do I need to use the design software that ETC has and connect to the ETCNet port on my Sensor?

It really all depends on how the unison system was programmed. Some systems are very flexible and easy to change, others are locked down. Give etc a call and they can pull your buildings file and configuration and get you set up.

ETC Tech Services 1-800-688-4116.



sent from my HTC Incredible

 

[ccm1495]

Ya.. if you don't know how it is configured i would defiantly give etc a call ! Ya just as footer said it all depends on the configuration.

 

[MarcusL]

Okay. Thanks again everyone for the help.

 

[derekleffew]

... i would defiantly give etc a call ! ...

ETC Tech Services loves to be called defiantly. It breaks the tedium from always being called obediently.

 

[MarcusL]

Spelling humor never gets old x)

 

[starksk]

The way i program my presets on those boxes is threw our etc sensor rack, we set up the lights that we want on with our board or computer. then go to the etc sensor rack and set the presets there by taking a snapshot of the lights that are on. then turn them off on the board then try out the preset.
If you have an etc sensor rack this might work for you i have posted a link to the manual for the ETC Sensor ( Pages 14 and 15 should help with programing presets)

Here is the link your the manual:
http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Sensor+_Dimming_System_v1.0.x_User_Manual.pdf

This method is not likely to work with your Unison System. Presets stored in a Sensor+ Rack (or more specifically the CEM+ in that rack) are a part of the SmartLink Architectural system not a part of Unison (Legacy or Paradigm). SmartLink stations look just like Unison stations with the exception that there are no fader stations and there are limitations to what functionality can be used.

From your statement that you have at least one fader station and a Unison rack, we know that you have a Unison system.

As Footer says:

It really all depends on how the Unison system was programmed. Some systems are very flexible and easy to change, others are locked down. Give ETC a call and they can pull your buildings file and configuration and get you set up.

ETC Tech Services 1-800-688-4116.

The most common way to reprogram presets is by using the "Record" button on the station itself. It is usually the bottom button on the left of the faders (just under the "Manual" button). To record a preset, set the desired look (either by the faders or a console), press the record button and press the button of the preset you wish to record.

Another solution for your issue is to have a lockout programmed into one of your stations (usually the one nearest the console) to prevent the buttons on the other stations from working while you are running a show. This is something that is commonly done, but will require the services of an ETC Certified Technician.

If you give us a call, we can explore what options are available in your specific case.

Finally,

ETC Tech Services loves to be called defiantly. It breaks the tedium from always being called obediently.

... and yet we love when you are able to follow our instructions on how to solve your problem. Oh, what a tangled web we weave...

 

[MNicolai]

I'd also like to point out that just by identifying stations does not distinguish which Unison system you have. If it's older than a couple years, it's the discontinued Legacy Unison, not the current Unison Paradigm. What you have may look like Heritage stations, but Heritage is new and is distinctly different from the Legacy stations on a hardware level. While it looks exactly the same, Legacy and Heritage stations are not interchangeable. Either way, programming for Paradigm or Legacy can be done by an ETC service tech.

Depending on how your system is configured, you may even be able to use the Record button on a fader station to do that on your own. As Kirk mentioned, if you want to record to buttons, you turn the lights on that you want controlled and press Record, and then the corresponding button you'd like that preset to record to. You can also record to faders by doing the same process, but instead of pressing the corresponding button, you run the fader up to full and back down again.

If that does not work for you, then all is not lost. Sometimes record buttons are disabled or only affect some things and not others. For example, if you have houselight On/Off buttons, you wouldn't want to be able to accidentally record over that with your work lights' preset. Should that be the case, your config can be updated either to enable this button or to permanently alter those buttons such that they cannot be recorded over. We try to keep pretty good records, so if you give us a call someone can likely find your existing config file in our database and point you in the right direction. The person who answers the phone very well might be Kirk, or at the very least is one our other awesome tech services specialists.

Mike Nicolai
ETC, Inc.

 

[MarcusL]

I was playing around a bit yesterday with the record buttons and I was able to get pretty much everything that I wanted to set up. Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[admhtsiv]

I'm glad this thread is still here... someone screwed up my Unison stations at work. They're supposed to be used for houselight and worklight control for non-show situations, but suddenly they're only controlling parts of my electrics. I'll try this in the morning, and report back!

 

[lwinters630]

http://www.controlbooth.com/members/marcusl.10453/

ETC usually has your system information on record. They can program your system remotely. Find or download the current version of your unison. The older models have a floppy disk. Save the program on a few disks. Have a list of your stations, dimmer addresses, and an idea of what you want each button to do. IE button one turns dimmers 60-85 the house lights at 50%. And so on.

Then call etc, they may need a copy of the disk files.

If you don't have a lock out button in the booth, they will help with that.