Odd submaster / keyboard control issue

[JeffHague]

I have made pretty good progress setting up the fixtures for my show but have been struggling a bit trying to wrap my head around how to actually operate it. Its a pretty straight forward rock and roll light show so the main functionality I need is to be able to swap back and forth between maybe 3 different washes, add some flashes and chases on the smaller fixtures and add in some effects with a laser, a couple scanners and a fogger. The washes in particular were giving me fits. I want to be able to hit 1 button to bring up a wash, hit another button to bring up another wash, etc. I am currently using keyboard shortcut keys but they may be replaced with a MIDI controller at some point. The initial problem I had either running it from the cue list or from a submaster was that the "next" wash wouldn't turn off the first one. So I redid my sequences to include a "snap all values to 0" as the first step. That seemed to work in the cue list but did not work exactly as planned in the submasters. I added a different colored wash to each of the 1s 3 submasters and found that in order for the "next" wash to turn off the 1st one, I had to start a wash using the run button and then hit the stop button for that wash before starting another wash with the run button of another submaster. This seemed really awkward from an operational standpoint but I assigned a seperate keyboard shortcut for each submaster run and the same keyboard shortcut (the ESC key) to all submaster stops. Still a bit awkward to have to hit 2 keys for each scene but that seemed like the only way to make it work.
So then I decided to show a friend of mine what I was dealing with. I turned on my laptop, loaded Freestyler, hit the shortcut to start a red wash and then hit ESC. The wash went dark - it didnt do that when I hit the stop key on screeen with my mouse but it did when I hit the shortcut key assigned to stop. I then noticed that if I hit the shortcut key to turn on the red wash and then hit the shortcut key to turn on the blue wash (without hitting ESC in between) it turned off the reds and brought up the blues - all with just 1 key. This is exactly what I want it to do but it wouldn't do it WITH THE SUBMASTER TOOL OPEN - thats the trick... If the submaster tool is open in Freestyler, I have to run and then stop a submaster before running another submaster. If I dont hit stop on the first one it keeps running alongside the next one. If I dont have the submaster tool open, I dont have to manually stop the 1st submaster before starting the next one....
I guess its fine that it works that way but; is that by design? Why does it work that way? Also, does that mean that I need to be real careful about editing things during an actual performance? If I decide to change a submaster for instance, will I have to run and stop each scene while I have the submaster tool open but not when I close it?
I hope this makes sense and I appreciate any help - thanks!

Jeff

[Spirit]

Oke it sound realy strange.

Never seens that if you have the Submaster tool closed that it react differnt then when it open..
i also tried it with Keyshortcuts and Submaster open and close, but it just does the same.

maby you can uplaod your backup file so i can take a closer look at it.

/spirit

[JeffHague]

Here is a backup. FYI - this is a test location with just 3 fixtures that I am using until I get a better grasp of how to run things. I had to zip it so I could upload it... The full show will have 10 washes, 18 splashes, 2 scanners, a laser, a fogger and 2 dimmer packs to run some pin spots and incandescent par56s for front lights.
Thanks for taking a look!

Jeff

[dmxlighting]

Oke it sound realy strange.

Never seens that if you have the Submaster tool closed that it react differnt then when it open..
i also tried it with Keyshortcuts and Submaster open and close, but it just does the same.

maby you can uplaod your backup file so i can take a closer look at it.

/spirit

I agree it does seem odd. One thing though, maybe try building cuesheets with subs and adding them to cue list buttons and operate FS that way. You can then add in fog and other auxillery controls via submasters as you want them during a show. Also you will benifit from using a midi controller like a BFC2000.

You will find the right way for you !

[Spirit]

Oke i have taken a look, Thats indeed not realy the idea..

like Dmx lighting says the submasters are realy nice to work with but there is a Idea behind everything

So i would recomend as for the Wide64-3 (Ledpar)
i Would use one Submaster (SM) For the Dimmer
and you make a sequence with ONE step that only says Dimmer 255 Fade.
Now put that in a Cue like you did with the other sequences.
now put that cue in to a Submaster en like you allready Noticed there is a Slider next to the Submaster.
And with freestyler you can control a Dimmer channel with that Slider. Static and Chases.
So pull up the slider and the Dimmer should go up.

Now for the Second submaster you add all your Chases and static colors to ONE cue file.

I also made a new backup for you so you can get a idea.
Look at SM 19 and 20, Drag both sliders up and run a Sequence.
Also look realy carefull to the programming i did because this way you never have problems durring playback.

And for Scan you do.
Sm1: intensitie
Sm2:Color
sm3:Gobos
Sm4:pan
sm5:Tilt
En if the Fixture gots more channels you use more submaster. i also use the overidebuttons allot, it works like a Button Toggle or flash .

/spirit

[JeffHague]

Very cool! Ill have a look at it tonight!
The truss for this rig is due in today, I hope to have it all in the air by Thursday and the 1st show is New Years Eve so hopefully Ill have it all together - thanks!

Jeff