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HOW-TO: Setup "Theater-stack" faders for individual groups using RGB LED PAR cans

I've been sweeping through these forums looking for the answer to how I can control individual groups of lights using their own fader, finding basically only "Yes, it can be done with submasters, follow this SM tutorial." The problem is, it isn't very clear for using simple PAR-can fader methods. But, I managed to figure it out, and now I'm writing a step-by-step instruction sheet on how to get this done. So, without further ado, let's try this.

STEP 1: Setting up the light groups
I'm assuming that whatever RGB PAR can you're using has already been setup in Fixture Creator, or is already on the list, so I won't go into that detail here. However, what you will start with is the number of light groups you want to control with faders. So,

1. start by clicking "Setup - Add/Remove fixtures."

2. Find the light you are using in the list on the left, then click the ">" button.

3. The list should already be set for "Start at row 1." But, since the number of lights seems irrelevant (all lights in group 1 will be addressed at 1, lights in group 2 will address at 4, and so on) you won't need to mess with "No. of fixtures to add." (That is, unless you really want to.)

4. The important choice here is to select "Auto. Create Group." Select that, then click the "Add" button.

5. Now, do the same for all other lights you need. Just be sure to select the "Auto. Create Group" each time.

STEP 2: Programming the MIDI controls
What I'm using for a faderboard is an iCON iControls faderboard, because it is small but not tiny, and it was cheap ($84.00). But, whatever MIDI board you use shouldn't make a difference here. So, let's start assigning MIDI functions:

1. Click "Setup - FreeStyler Setup."

2. Click on "Midi control." A list will appear, and at the very top of the window are two dropdowns that you use to choose your faderboard. Now, since I'm only using one universe for this, I selected my faderboard in the first dropdown, and left the second dropdown set to "No output."

3. There are different selections you can use in this list. The choices that are highlighted in blue are variable, meaning you can use faders or knobs for these. The un-highlighted ones are static, meaning you use a button to work them. Very handy for the right items, like selecting all groups or selecting individual groups, clearing the "panic attack" (that triangle with the ! in it), or toggling a particular color.

4. Scroll down in the list until you find the "Subm. Intensity" choices (these are blue, so they're variable.)

-- SIDE NOTE: When you need to edit, make sure you hit the "Start" button, then click the Edit button, work your fader or press your button, then click the Edit button again. IMPORTANT! DO NOT CLICK STOP! Otherwise, nothing on the board will work. the Stop button stops ALL MIDI function edits, until you click Start again. --

5. Click the Start button, then click the Note column next to Subm. Intensity 1, click the Edit button, then move the fader you want to use to control SM 1. Then click the Edit button again (this sets the MIDI function.) Remember, DO NOT click Stop!

6. Click the Note column next to Subm. Intensity 2, click Edit, work the fader for that channel, click Edit, and repeat for the rest of the faders.

7. Once you have all the faders setup, click Save. (Remember, DO NOT click Stop!) The window will close, and we're on to the next step.

STEP 3: Setting up the Submasters
This gets rather intense and tedious, but once you have it programmed in, you'll be happy with the results, trust me.

1. You need to create a single-step sequence. First, select Light Group 1 by clicking on the light, or on the group sidebar. Now, bring up the Macro and Sequence Editor windows, and also the Submaster and Cuelist
windows.

2. If you have a white box in the macro window, click that (it colors your lights white.) Now, click "Save As" on the Sequence Editor window. I suggest naming this file "Fader 1." Also, select the "Add to Cue" checkbox, then click Save.

3. Now, close the Sequence Editor window. This keeps the editor from recording other things that you didn't intend to record.

4. Notice that the sequence you created is now in the cuelist. At the top of Cuelist window is an icon that says "Save Cue." click that, and I suggest naming the file "Group 1," then click the Save button.

5. Now, Click the "cog" icon on the Submaster window. In that list, if they aren't already selected, select the "Fader Start/Stop Control" and "RGB in LTP." Now, click on "Insert Cue." A list will appear.

6. Drag and drop "Group 1" into the first SM list. Now, test your fader you chose for that group. the light should fade in when raised, and fade out when lowered. Also, you'll notice that the SM list turns blue-
this is good, this means that the fader is also turning the Group 1 SM on and off when used.

-- SIDE NOTE: I also right-clicked on the SM lists and selected "SM Group 1" (and 2 for the second list, 3 for third, and so on.) I also selected "Unlink SM Group Intensity" for each list. Not sure it was necessary, but it didn't hurt. --

7. Now, go back to the Cuelist window, click the cog, and select "Clear List." This is important for the next sequences.

8. Deselect all the light groups by clicking on a clear spot on the main background, then select Light Group 2.

9. Open the macro window again, if necessary, and the Sequence Editor. You're making another sequence for Light Group 2. Yes, it's identical to the first one you did, but it's still necessary. Click the white color on the macro window, then click "Save As" on the Sequence Editor. Name this one "Fader 2," select "Add to Cuelist," then click the Save button. Once again, close the Sequence Editor.

10. Notice that the new sequence is in the Cuelist. (NOTE: there may be more than one. It might not matter, but you can right-click on the sequence that you don't want in the list and remove it.) Click the Save Cue icon, and name this one "Group 2."

11. Click the cog on the SM window, and click Insert Cue. Drag and drop "Group 2" into the second SM list, then test your fader. then test the first fader to see if it is separate from the second, as it should be.

12. Go back to the Cuelist window, click the cog, and then select "Clear List." Repeat the above steps for all remaining fader controls for the rest of the light groups.

Then, sit back with your favorite adult beverage and smile! You now have full fader control of your light groups!

Hope this helps, and possibly gets a sticky somewhere...

hi
i'm a beta tester for the last 5 years. and i also made the Freestyler wiki with Jan_k.

your tutorial seems nice but its not global enough.
what you talk about is realy only with your RGB led par.

1) because the Macro's are differnt for ALL fixtures.
2) groups can be set later on.
3) createing a CUE file for the Submasters can be done easyer.

for creating Cue's follow this tutorial.

1) Open seq creator
2) select fixtures, that need to be controlled by the seq.
3) change channels.
4) press save as
5) "enable" ADD to new cuelist
6) give a name to the Seq and give a name to the CUE. and SAVE!
7) close everything
8) open submasters
9) press the Folder ( on the submaster that says "insert cue"
10) drag cue to submaster.

but still this is a realy simpel version there are many differnt thing to think about that i did not add to the list. it all depant on the fixture and channel "atribute" your useing.
its not that easy as you like to describe above,

and if you do it like this (YES also you can edit the Wiki)
http://www.freestylersupport.com/wiki/c ... d_tutorial
its more clear for people.

Exactly. This thread wasn't written to be so global that all you care about is moving heads. Some of us need to use fader controls for specific groups of LED PARs in an actual theater for specific scenes in an act. And there have been many threads asking how to do this, and the answers of which, in my opinion, were about as clear as 50 lbs. of mud on a truck windshield. That's why I wrote this- not to get global for every light available to man, but more specific to controlling simple PARs in a theater setting. Plus, I was taking notes as I was trying to figure it all out, and that was the translation of how I did it.

Also, if I'm reading your list correctly, you're implying that it can be done as an "all-groups-at-once" (for lack of a better term) programming. Believe it or not, I actually tried it that way, and one fader was controlling ALL groups at once (like the Master Intensity control), instead of the desired individual faders per group, which I achieved.

Also, since I have your attention, why is it that, in DMX400, you can expand up to 12 channels, but you can only effectively use only the first 4?

with more global i mean, you only talk about your ledpar so your tutorial will be unclear for other ledpars.
because you talk about a white sqaure on the marco's tab. and as i sad the macro tab is custom made so only your ledpar will have this white square.
its better to say to put the RGB channels to 255 to get white. as each ledpar will have a RGB channel.

Also, if I'm reading your list correctly, you're implying that it can be done as an "all-groups-at-once" (for lack of a better term) programming. Believe it or not, I actually tried it that way, and one fader was controlling ALL groups at once (like the Master Intensity control), instead of the desired individual faders per group, which I achieved.

i wrote "select fixtures, that need to be controlled by the seq." so i did not say select ALL fixtures.

Also, since I have your attention, why is it that, in DMX400, you can expand up to 12 channels, but you can only effectively use only the first 4?

i dont know never use it, i allways create my own sequences.