High End Systems Power Cue DMX - Manual (Page 21)

16
SET UP CHANNEL TYPES
Just as each channel may be named, it may also be given certain characteristics to determine how it will
respond to a control signal:
•what function is assigned to it.
•whether the channel may be faded, switched or snapped.
•whether it works HTP, LTP or is permanently on.
•whether it responds to the DBO switch, the Master fader, both or neither.
When the Power Cue DMX is first switched on, all channels are set by default to type = dimmer/DBO,
mode = fade and output = HTP.
The Attributes
All channels are of the type DIMMER by default. DIMMER channels are subject to the MASTER FADER and to
the blackout switch. When you set up intelligent lights (fixtures), this type will be changed automatically to
MIRROR X, COLOR, GOBO, etc., as appropriate. These channels are not subject to the master but the dimmer
channel of an intelligent light will remain typed as a DIMMER.
•TRUE/INVERT
You will usually require a channel to be fully off at DMX value 0 and fully on at 255. By selecting ‘Invert’ you can
reverse the channel’s functionality, so that DMX value 0 is fully on and 255 is off. Note that some intelligent
lights have their shutter fully closed at 255. The Power Cue DMX sets shutters to 0 at the end of a chase: in
such a case you would set the channel type True/Invert to Invert.
•DBO/No DBO
An HTP dimmer channel which is DBO is subject to the master slider and the DBO switch.
An HTP dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to the Master slider only.
An HTP non-dimmer channel which is DBO will respond to the DBO switch only.
An HTP non-dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to neither the Master slider nor the DBO switch.
An LTP dimmer channel which is DBO is subject to the DBO switch only.
An LTP dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to neither the Master slider nor the DBO switch.
An LTP non-dimmer channel which is DBO will respond to the DBO switch only.
An LTP non-dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to neither the Master slider nor the DBO switch.
To understand why the above is important, consider this situation. The Power Cue DMX has the facilities to pro-
gram 16 moving lights by refering to their pre-installed personalities and picking up each attribute in turn from
the alphanumeric keypad. You can install additional moving lights and program them channel by channel, as
you would have to do on a less-advanced desk.
Let us imagine that a fixture you are installing by this method has no dimmer channel and that dimming is effect-
ed by means of the shutter channel. The correct output type for most moving light channels is LTP (and the
mode should be fade or snap) but if the shutter channel is left as LTP, the shutters will not come down at the
end of a chase. To cure this problem the shutter channel therefore needs to be set to HTP. It also needs to be
set to dimmer/DBO, in order that the shutter responds to the DBO switch and the Master slider.
•MODE
The channel mode is either FADEing, SWITCHing or SNAPping. FADE channels may move from any one level
to another at any speed that you set. An example of FADE channels would be intelligent fixture mirror channels.
SNAP channels may move from any one level to another but at the maximum speed allowed by the fixture.
Intelligent fixture color/gobo wheels are normally SNAP channels. SWITCH channels are either on or off. Chan-
nels connected to a switching power pack would be set to SWITCH mode.