For addressing the fixtures the Technobeams will only know
DMX channels 1-512 on the
fixture since they only hook up to one
universe. Since they are on the second
universe the board has though the board will see them as
DMX channels 513-1024. With that the case we'll say that
fixture one occupies 18 channels as you said. One the board it will be channels 1-18 on
universe two correct. To find the
DMX channel the board wants for the second
fixture (19-36 on
universe 2) simply add 512 to the starting
channel for that
fixture. 512+19=531 The addresses for your Technobeams on the board should be..
513
531
549
567
and on the fixtures you should have
1
19
37
55
assuming 18 is the correct number for channels.
In terms of control via submasters I would suggest having the pan, fine pan, tilt, and fine tilt not on the submasters. If one were to do so all fixtures would be aimed identically. The focus also can change from
fixture to
fixture. Probably the best way to use submasters would be to position the lights like you need them, then turn the
dimmer channel down all the way. Use one more
submaster for all the
dimmer channels so you have something like this with the submasters..
1) Blue in place
2) Yellow in place
3) Rotating triangle in place
...
16) Dimmers
For operation you would turn up the needed
submaster so that the light goes into place then turn up the
dimmer so it fades up in place. If the
dimmer were with the submasters the light would
fade up as it moved into place with the color wheel spinning and what not.
If you have never used moving lights before there are some things that can be difficult to figure out. When you first start running them it is good to figure out the
bulb is in fact on before you start getting annoyed because you don't see light and can't quite figure it out. Make sure the
bulb is on. I'm not to familiar with running Technobeams on an
Express, heck I'm not too familiar with an
Express even but I think playing with the
dimmer and
shutter is the approach to take about getting light first.
Getting gobos to rotate can be a trick. I believe with the Technobeam the way to do it is to change the rotate
channel so it has some value then use the
gobo function
channel to start it rotating then the rotation
channel controls speed, the
gobo function
channel controls direction. I know there is a way to get the
gobo, and the color wheels to
roll continiously, but I don't recall what that is. Also the Technobeam has a pretty good effects wheel in my opinion so you may want to look at that.
Good luck and feel free to come back here with questions!