Modifying Effect Attributes in Express
Attributes control how the effect plays its steps. Set effect attributes by pressing [S7], More Softkeys, [S8], Attribute. Except for setting a random rate, make one or more softkey selections. Each softkey toggles the effect attribute, so pressing it can either add or remove the selection.
Effect attributes are defined as follows:
- Positive/Negative - Softkey [S1] toggles between the positive and negative attributes. Steps in a positive effect set their channels to their High Level and set the channels of the previous step to their Low Level. Steps in a negative effect set their channels to their Low Level and set the channels of the previous step to their High Level.
- Alternate - Sets the effect to alternate between positive and negative chases through its steps. The first pass is positive if the effect is positive, negative if the effect is negative.
- Reverse - Effect steps run in reverse numerical order.
- Bounce - Steps run first in forward, then in reverse order. Subsequent passes alternate between forward and reverse.
- Build - All channels are set to their Low Level at the beginning of the chase. Each step turns its channels to their High Level and leaves the previous step at the High Level. At the end of the chase, all channels are at the High Level. They are all set at their Low Levels to start the next pass. In a negative effect, all steps are at their High Levels at the beginning of the chase. Each step turns its channels to the Low Level and leaves previous channels at the Low Level. At the end of the chase, all channels are at the Low Level. They are all set at their High Levels to start the next pass.
- Random - A Random effect plays steps back in random order. An effect with a random rate runs at varying speeds, changing at random, within a range that you select. The console applies a random rate to the assigned step time and to the step fade times. Random is ideal for creating lightning and fire effects.
The rules for assigning effect attributes are as follows.
- All effects are either Positive or Negative. An effect is initially positive when it is created.
- Alternate, Reverse, Bounce, and Build can be applied in any combination to a Positive or a Negative effect.
- Random can be applied to any Positive or Negative effect. Random may not be combined with Alternate, Reverse, Bounce, or Build.