Using Plackback Add buttons to restore a look

[independentLD]

Hi All

I have a question that has puzzled me for a few years that I have never really solved. Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere.

During award shows you often trigger a ballyhoo or sweep and then need to return to the fixed Stage look at the end of a sting or walk up. I have often successfully done this by firing the moving cue while leaving the orignal fixed cue fader UP and then pressing the fixed cue add button to re iterate the LTP values while pulling the movement shape out. All the heads then ping back to their fixed position in the set LTP time. ( All this has to be done in Normal Run mode, of course.)

Using a number of different Pearls both 2000 and 2004 that belong to others, I have found this tactic does not ALWAYS work and pressing the Add button does not seem to re send the cue. Over a few years I have not found out why this is or narrowed it down to a particular set of criteria. When I hit this problem ( usually the first cue of the show ) I fumble about with the faders and try to remember to be ready for it on the next cue. Only pulling down the fixed state fader and pushing it up again seems to work which causes a less than seamless changeover.

I am a pretty experienced Pearl Op and usually these things can be put down to my stupidity but I still have not figured this one out yet.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

[CoenCo]

Have you tried using mode2 memories to achieve the effect you're after??
It has some limitations, which I have described elsewhere, but It could do exactly what you want.

[niclights]

Yes, I would suggest the same or use Mode 1.

Use Mode 1 in conjunction with LTP fade time. Shape will fade in/out over set time. Note that this follows the 'timed' rules from Playback Parameters menu. ie. if both size & speed are static then LTP fades are ignored. To have a neat fade you need at least size set to timed.

Use Mode 2 to control fade by fader. Again this is dependent on the parameters rules.

Note that these and your original solution should work in Takeover or Normal mode as far as I can see.

[CoenCo]

Note that if you use mode2, that ALL parameters are "released" when lowering the fader, and thus return to their previous position (and only if they are set to fading and not to instant).
If you use mode1, you can set a fade time for parameters, but only the shape will be "released" on lowering the fader, and all parameters stay in the position of that memory untill you trigger something else.

You can still set fade-times in the set-time-menu if you're using mode2.

[independentLD]

Thanks for all suggestions. I will take more notice of how I set the memory modes tonight. It might be that some default to 0 as I did not set a time and some Mode 1 when I did. As I understand it the modes have more effect on the Shape fader which I dont' really have a problem with. I also often use timed sizes and speed to 'get out' of a running shape smoothly.

I think that what I am trying to understand is why I can seem to use the Add button as a GO for all atts. ( the HTP are still at full via the fader ) which results in the LTP info being re sent and fixtures returning to the state ( providing the other shape has been released) but this does seem to work with all Pearls ( different sofwares etc - not sure ) . BTW if this works on one desk it always does - it is not a problem that comes and goes. The other changing factor is the recorded show. I very rarely use a show disk from a previous show except on tours.

Thanks again.