Two separate programmers?

[jonslilbro]

So I've been using the remote via iPad and Android a lot lately and I've noticed something that I'm not sure if it's a bug or just the way things are supposed to work. When I use the remote and manually set a position/color/gobo/whatever, if I then go back to the console and attempt to record what I just did into a palette(let's say I wanted to mask the palette so I couldn't do it from the remote) or if I tried recording by channel, nothing will record because there appears to be a separate programmer for the remote and the console. Even though I can see in the bottom corner over the attributes the light blue color telling me they have values in the programmer, it isn't the same programmer the console uses. So for example, patch a light, then grab your remote, locate the light, tilt it up, and then go back to the console and record by channel to a cue, if you view the cue or try to play it back, you'll see there is no data in the cue. I've found this an issue a lot when I update palettes and I want to go back to my console to do the merging/saving of those palettes and I can't do that until I either manually dial each attribute up or down a little bit to put it into the consoles programmer, or I record by fixture and then advanced include the values I want back into the fixture and then save them that way. Any work-around that goes quicker would be much appreciated or Avo chiming in with a way to fix this. Thanks!


Gary

[Gregory]

Yes, the remote has its own programmer, in fact there is a separate programmer for each connected remote. This is done deliberately to prevent actions on the remote from effecting someone on the console and vice versa. Although there is an option when holding down the Clear button to Clear All Programmers there is not currently a way to Include the information from one programmer to another. The best option would be to record the looks you have into palettes using the remote then on the console you can select those palettes to pull them into the programmer of the console. From that point you can adjust them, set masks and record them into playbacks.

[jonslilbro]

While I appreciate the clear all programmers suggestion, I was not aware of that and it makes at least clearing things easier. I'm not sure how others feel, but I personally would much rather have one single programmer that everything operates from. Having multiple programmers just means there are more points of failure if you go to record something and part of it is saved in the other programmer and you don't realize it at the time, just takes time to undo if you've cleared, then grab the fixture, move the attribute a little so it's in the console programmer then record again. I don't think the preventing actions on the remote from affecting console should even be something to worry about since the remote programmer over rides the playback from the console anyways, so all that having multiple programmers does is allow two people to record things at the same time without affecting each other and I can't see at all anyone having a point where they are recording palettes or cues with one part of the rig on the remote while someone else is recording palettes or cues with another part of the rig on the console, which is the only time two separate programmers would be useful. Is there anyway in future updates that we can at least make this an option to set a master programmer or have multiple programmers for each connected device? Because even trying to set a light from the remote and record it to a palette from the remote and use a console to pull what I wanted into the consoles programmer would take 3 palettes (position, colour, gobo and beam) since you can't mask all attributes from the remote to be able to easily store what you were working on into just a single palette and pull what you want back into the programmer at the console. Thanks again, glad to be talking to someone that knows there is a different between the programmers.

[niclights]

I would suggest the solution is not to change the multiple programmer arrangement but to improve the remote functionality so that you can do all these things without having to return to the console. After all, having to keep moving between console and stage seems to rather defeat some of the purpose of the remote, although I can see how this is working.

[jonslilbro]

You know what, you are correct niclights, instead of changing it to make it work that way, it would definitely be much more convenient to add the ability to mask from the remote. Or even to add quick merge to the remote, because right now when I attempt to merge all I get is a replace or merge option and I'm not sure if I'm accidentally merging in things I don't want and since I can't mask or quick merge just what is already in the palette, that is where my problem comes in. So definitely, a vote for adding masking/quick merging to the remote.

[StijnS]

What do you guys think about an option on the console to "include" the contents from remote programmers into your own programmer? Just press include, and the console shows you all connected devices which have something in their programmer.

[Olie]

Having separate programmers in the remote is the most amazing thing. I have used it many times now on different shows and it can save so much time to have someone programming position palettes on the remote while someone else is on the console. When we designed the remote we did not expect people to be going between the remote and the console as it pretty much undermines the point of it being a remote. So I am keen to resolve your issue purely by making the remote do what you want.

Or even to add quick merge to the remote

This is already the way the remote merges palettes in fact quick merge is the only option available. You can also get to quick merge by holding down on an existing palette.

In V8 we will be expanding on the multi programmer philosophy in a big way so I think you will be able to handle this situation allot better.

[randzchaggar]

hi ,

in the updated version will there be a version designed better for use with an ipad , i find it not to be as responsive as a phone but when walking about on certain jobs people tend to think im texting lol

im also having issues with the playbacks not highlighting when pressed then even if you hold down the clear button and 'kill all programmers ' the playbacks wont release?

and as mentioned before a mirroring feature that directly links to the desk so you can select fixtures and see that on the desk too would be great , a few clubs im doing have me stuck behind the dj where i cant see anything!

thanks in advance

[Quidam]

- To "Kill" a programmer is like pressing the Clear button ; it does not kill playbacks and this is normal behaviour.
'Kill all programmers' means emptying the programmer (which basically is "the attributes you have changed since you last pressed
Clear") of the remote and the programmer of the console.

If you need more clarification on this topic, you should read sections 6.2 (page 28) and 13.3 (page 56) of this document.

- I don't know how the app behave on an Ipad but as it does work perfectly on my (android) tablet, I guess there's hope... I cannot help more on that topic, sorry.

[Ric]

You can use the app on an iPad, in the app store select the iPhone only option.