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Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Creating an Effect in Stage in Express

Build an effect in Stage while viewing the results with captured channels. You can work with individual channels or with channels in cues, groups or focus points.

Channels may be added to steps in any of the following ways:

  • directly, either individually or in a range
  • in groups or focus points
  • linked to a focus point88
  • in grouped cues or submasters

Notes on working with steps in Stage

  • You may only add channels to one step at a time.
  • Steps may be specified in any order but always default to the next highest one in order. To specify a step number, Press [S7], More Softkeys, until [S8] reads Step. Then press [S8] and enter the step number
  • If a channel is added to a step more than once, its level will be the last one assigned.

Adding channels directly

The procedure for creating an effect in Stage and adding channels to its steps is shown below.

Keystrokes: Actions:
1. Press [Stage] [Cue] [5]. Specifies cue 5
Prompt reads:
Select cue number
To select cue type, press TYPE
2. Press [Type] [3]. Defines the cue as an effect type
Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
3. Press [1] [Thru] [9] [Full]. Selects channels to add and assigns them a level
Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
4. Press [Record] [Enter].a Records the step and advances the step indicator to the next in sequence
Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
5. Repeat steps 3-4 to create other steps.b  

a  Specify the step number after [Record] if you do not want to create the next step in order. See Notes on working with steps in Stage.
b  You may also use either of the other two methods discussed in this section to create additional steps.
88  The level of a channel linked to a focus point automatically changes in the step if the level changes in the focus point.

Adding groups or focus points

The procedure for creating an effect in Stage and adding one or more recorded groups or focus points to its steps is shown below.89

Keystrokes: Actions:
1. Press [Stage] [Cue] [6]. Specifies cue 6
Prompt reads:
Select cue number
To select cue type, press TYPE
2. Press [Type] [3]. Defines the cue as an effect type
Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
3. Press [Group] [5] [And] [8] [Full].a Captures groups 5 and 8 at full on stage
Prompt reads:
Group mode - Press AT or use wheel or trackpad to alter levels, or select channels numbers to edit
4. Press [Record] [Enter].b Records the step and advances the step indicator to the next in sequence
Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
5. Repeat steps 3-4 to create other steps.c  

a  Substitute [Focus Point] for [Group] to add one or more focus points.
b  Specify the step number after [Record] if you do not want to create the next step in order. See Notes on working with steps in Stage.
c  You may also use either of the other two methods discussed in this section to create additional steps.
89  Channels added in Stage in focus points do not update in the effect whenever the focus point changes.

Adding grouped channels

The procedure for creating steps in the Stage by adding channels grouped from cues or submasters is shown below.

Keystrokes: Actions:
1. Press [Stage] [Cue] [7]. Specifies cue 7
Prompt reads:
Select cue number
To select cue type, press TYPE
2. Press [Type] [3]. Defines the cue as an effect type
Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
3. Press [Group] [Cue] [1] [And] [2] [Full].a Captures the channels of cues 1 and 2, setting all to full
Prompt reads:
Group mode - Press AT or use wheel or trackpad to alter levels, or select channels numbers to edit
4. Press [Record] [Enter].b Records the step and advances the step indicator to the next in sequence channels to the effect step
Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
5. Repeat steps 3-4 to create other steps.c  

a  To add grouped submasters rather than grouped cues, press [Submaster] rather than [Cue] in this step.
b  Specify the step number after [Record] if you do not want to create the next step in order. See Notes on working with steps in Stage.
c  You may also use either of the other two methods discussed in this section to create additional steps.

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