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Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Recording cues on Express consoles

The console has two record functions: Record and Track.

Record saves all channels as they appear on the screen (what you see is what you get) in the cue, group or submaster you specify. When you use Record to record a cue, levels are recorded in only one cue.

Track is a record function that works only with cues. It allows you to build a new cue from the previous cue’s channel settings. Tracked channels are channels whose levels do not change from one cue to the next. A track often runs through several cues for the length of a scene or an act.

Track also allows you to add tracked channels through existing cues. For example, if you have created all cues for a scene, and then decide to add a few new channels to all cues, or adjust the level of a channel throughout the cues, Track lets you do so with one short record command. To do the same thing with Record would require you to add the new channels to each cue individually.

Note-Icon-new.png Note: When a channel level that tracks through a series of cues reaches an Allfade cue, the track ends.

We use the standard Record function for all cues in this chapter. Instructions for using the Track function are included in Track record in Express consoles.

In Stage mode

When recording in Stage, such as to record a cue, group or submaster, you will commonly want to start without any live channels. For instance, you may want to create a new cue without using any of the lights placed on stage from a previous fade or channel selection.

To clear lighting from the stage, use one or all of the following procedures:

  • If the lights are from a cue in a fader, press the fader’s [Clear] key one or more times.
  • If the lights are captured, press [Rel] two or more times.
  • If from a submaster, lower the slider to zero.
  • If from channels running in the background, press [S3], Background Overrides, [Enter] [Enter].

There are several ways you can create a cue from a look on stage. If you have several cues already stored, you may want to base a new cue on the look already recorded for another cue. You would do that by playing the cue in the faders and then modifying the resulting look on stage.

In other circumstances, you may want to enter all channel levels manually. That is the procedure used below. When creating this cue, you will only set channel levels. Default settings will determine all other attributes of the cue. You can change most default settings from the System Settings menu. See Fade time default settings in Express consoles, for information about setting and changing defaults.

Follow these steps to record cue 1:44

Keystrokes: Action:
1. Press [Stage]. Selects Stage display mode Prompt reads:
2. Press [1] [Thru] [1][0]. Selects channels 1 through 10
3. Press [At]. Prompt reads: Enter intensity
4. Press [5][0]. Sets a level of 50 percent for channels 1 through 10
5. Press [Record]. Prompt reads:
To record cue, select number and press ENTER
To cancel, press CLEAR
6. Press [1] Selects cue 1
7. Press [Enter]. Records cue 1 containing channels 1 through 10 at 50 percent
8. Press [Rel]. Releases captured channels

44 Note that the keypad defaults to cue mode when you press [Record]. 

In Blind mode

Blind mode allows you to create, preview or modify cues without affecting the current look on stage. If you prefer to work with live looks, you should work in Stage mode.

Recording a cue in Blind

Keystrokes: Action:
1. Press [Blind]. Selects Blind display mode Prompt reads:
Select cue number To select cue type, press TYPE
2. Press [2]. Selects cue 2
3. Press [Channel] [1][3] [And] [1][5]. Selects channels 13 and 15 Prompt reads:
Select channel numbers
4. Press [Full].a Sets channels at full intensity level
5. Press [Record]. Prompt reads:
To record cue, select number and press ENTER To cancel, press CLEAR
6. Press [Enter]. Records cue 2 with channels 13 and 15 at Full

Note that when using [Full], you do not have to press [At] first.

When you record the cue, channel levels set by a fader change from red (indicating a channel level set on the keypad) to colors based on the channels’ level movements from cue to cue. 

45 See Data colors in Express consoles, for more information on what channel level colors mean.

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