The Avolites Discussion Forum

Hey,
I've had this issue for quite a while... but because its so easy to solve i've never really thought about it - but there must be a reason!

Usually when busking in take over mode, and using flash buttons to move between lights, as well as selecting them to change colours, (usually by recalling groups, etc), at some points taking my fingers off the flash keys, all the lights will remain on (or go off, even if some faders are up).

Hitting clear brings the desk back to the current fader configuration.

I assume this has something to do with selecting lights whilst doing... something else?

At any rate, would be useful to know why!

Cheers,
Dan

Which console?

It's happened on both Pearl 2004 and Expert

In your question, you imply that you select fixtures, palettes AND use the flash buttons to bump up dimmer levels - which then stay on. Or am I misunderstanding?

Take Over mode doesn't let you bump up levels, only select fixtures. That's why I'm confused.

A common reason for the problem you describe is Intensity levels accidentally recorded into a palette. It's easy to do and I have found it on a number of desks that I have "guested" on. Using the "default" dimmer attribute mask, like you do when busking.

Like you say, I just go "doh" and press clear.

You can use Add button for intensity flash on playbacks in Takeover, which I assume is what was meant.

If it is HTP intensity recorded into palette then it will be easily repeatable. Note that this can include zero % intensity which would override raised faders until [clear].

If not, then I'm unsure.

The reason I asked about console was that there is a known problem on the Expert where extensive use of playback flash can result in a 'slowdown' where symptoms might include sticking values where [clear] does have an immediate effect. However, this is not true for 2004 and it would not operate normally after.

So I doubt it's that. But I often find myself selecting/recalling palettes etc. while operating on playbacks with both fader and flash and have never seen any such problem (on Expert).

Can you please clarify exactly what you are doing when this occurs?

It's not the Expert swop/slowdown issue - i've had that too!

This is the kind of setup I usually have when this problem occurs.

Say, 4 playbacks, each for a different group of lights.
These playbacks (in record by channel mode) have stuff related to intensity only. (Depending on the show requirements, they may also have iris/shutter to make sure when I bring the fader up the light actually comes on).

Standard would be, i'm using one hand on the flash buttons, say, going between these 4 groups, flashing on and off... will use other hand to select a group of lights, hit a palette to change a colour (this palette will ONLY have colour stored in it).
Will probably do this a couple of times, selecting different lights (all the while, maintaining some sort of rhythm with the playback flash buttons).

Then, I may want to go to a blackout, so i'll take my fingers off the playback flash keys.

The lights will stay on until I hit clear.

This can happen a bit randomly though, so say in the middle of my moving between the 4 playback flash keys, 1 playback may get stuck on - so all the other lights respond to my pressing of the flash keys, but the stuck one just stays on until I hit clear...

Ok. That's pretty much how I understood it before.

It sounds like sometimes the console is confused between the playback flash and the palette recall. I'm just surprised I haven't noticed it although I do operate more by fader than flash.

I would guess it is specific to a hold and release order & it may well be a known bug I just haven't experienced. I'll have a go at reproducing.

Dan,

My most immediate thought is you accidentally touch the Intensity wheel with the hand you're using to operate the last couple of playback faders. If you have a group of lights selected, just brushing against the dimmer encoder will load the current level (plus or minus a little bit) those lamps are at into the programmer. so if the lamps are off, they will remain off, or at about 1%, and if they're a a certain level originally dictated by the playbacks, they will stay there until you clear, at which point the playback faders will take over again. the programmer has priority over the playbacks.

could that be it?

Interesting thought! Hadn't even considered that...

I will try and check next time to see if that's what's happening! Certainly sounds possible though...

That's the case. I have had the same problem and found the accidental wheel nudge to be the culprit!

Hmm, i've been testing a bit with both our 2000 and Expert... it does seem that this is the case!

The wheels on our 2000 are VERY easy to nudge, whereas the Expert is a bit more difficult... explains why it seems to happen more on the 2000.

I feel a bit silly now!

Glad to hear it!

Best way to avoid this is to not select fixtures at all. Use quick palettes.

Yeah, quick palettes are definitely something i'm going to start using more.

The venue i'm currently working in everyone else that occasonally busks the desk has a certain method they've been taught, so I have to change it a bit at a time! Only just managed to get the seperate groups of lights onto different intensity faders etc, so it will come in time!

Anyway, cheers guys!