"Hard patch" refers to plugging a circuit into a dimmer, with some type of patch panel. Dimmer Per Circuit systems do not have this. Inserting a fixture's plug into a circuit's receptacle is known as "plugging."
"Soft patch" refers to assigning, on the control console, one or more dimmers (now called "outputs" to account for devices other than dimmers) to a control channel.
"Proportional patch" is assigning dimmer(s) at a specific maximum level to a channel. (Also known as "Scaling Factor" on some Strand consoles.)
"Pin patch" refers to patching a multi-cable circuit into a dimmer of a Touring Rack, and happens inside the rack's Patch Bay. [On old R&R Analog consoles, dimmer-to-channel or channel-to-submaster assignments were often made with small pins, which was known as a Matrix Patch or Battleship (ala the "you sunk my Battleship" game) patch.]
"Fixture Patch" is assigning automated lights to the proper DMX address in the console.
"Repatch" is the process of replugging a dimmer or circuit during a performance. This is done to maximize the use of available dimmers.
Example: Unit A is used only in cue 4, unit B is used in cue 10.
Upon completion of cue 5 unit A is manually unpatched and unit B is patched.
Thus one dimmer may be used for multiple specials.
"Hot patch" may be a verb meaning to plug live, while the circuit is energized; or a special receptacle on a retractable-cord patch panel or dimmer rack that is always live. Not to be confused with the similar but different hot pocket.
"Soft patch" refers to assigning, on the control console, one or more dimmers (now called "outputs" to account for devices other than dimmers) to a control channel.
"Proportional patch" is assigning dimmer(s) at a specific maximum level to a channel. (Also known as "Scaling Factor" on some Strand consoles.)
"Pin patch" refers to patching a multi-cable circuit into a dimmer of a Touring Rack, and happens inside the rack's Patch Bay. [On old R&R Analog consoles, dimmer-to-channel or channel-to-submaster assignments were often made with small pins, which was known as a Matrix Patch or Battleship (ala the "you sunk my Battleship" game) patch.]
"Fixture Patch" is assigning automated lights to the proper DMX address in the console.
"Repatch" is the process of replugging a dimmer or circuit during a performance. This is done to maximize the use of available dimmers.
Example: Unit A is used only in cue 4, unit B is used in cue 10.
Upon completion of cue 5 unit A is manually unpatched and unit B is patched.
Thus one dimmer may be used for multiple specials.
"Hot patch" may be a verb meaning to plug live, while the circuit is energized; or a special receptacle on a retractable-cord patch panel or dimmer rack that is always live. Not to be confused with the similar but different hot pocket.
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