How to perform a Deep Clear And Self Tests On SmartFade ML Consoles
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The self tests on a SmartFade console are great tools for troubleshooting common ailments of the console. At the end of the self tests you can perform a deep clear which wipes out all of the show memory and restores the console to factory defaults, including a 1 to 1 patch. Sometimes a deep clear is used as a troubleshooting step if you have inexplicable behavior on the console. Before performing a deep clear it is imperative that you save your show file to a SD card if you do not want to lose your show data. There is no way to recover show data after a deep clear if it hasn't been backed up to SD card.
Begin with your console powered off.
Deep Clear, bypassing self-tests
The easy way to Deep Clear the console, skipping all self-tests, is to follow steps 1-4 below, then press the [✔] button about once per second until the console enters the memory test. Once the memory test is complete, press the [✔] button two more times, and the console will shut down.
When you next power up, the console will likely have put itself in an empty stack. Press the [Stack] button once to return to the normal display.
Deep Clear with Self-Tests Included
- Press and hold the [✔] key. This key is the button that allows progression through the deep clear. Continue holding [✔] and turn on your console using the Mode (power) button
- Your console will flash its LED lights and, eventually, the screen will show the message "Entering Test Mode Release Buttons"
- Your control buttons should be lit up. When you push a button, the screen should show "value:down" and when you release it, "value:up"
- When you are done testing any control buttons, press [✔] to advance to the next step
- Press [✔]; the screen should read 'All Bumps Red". All fader buttons should be lit in green.
- Press [✔]; the screen should read 'All Bumps Green". All fader buttons should be lit in red.
- Press [✔]; the screen should read 'Control Buttons". All control buttons on the right of the console should be lit in various colors.
- Press [✔]; numbers and symbols will start changing on your screen. So, you may have a screen full of 7s. Press [✔] without waiting for it to stop advancing through symbols. It loops continuously until the [✔] button is depressed.
- DMX Test: If you are able to loop a DMX cable from the console's DMX OUT into its DMX IN for the SmartFade or from DMX 1 to DMX 2 for the SmartFade ML, you can test whether you have a DMX port failure. If you do not connect a cable, the test will automatically fail; that is expected behavior. Press [✔]
- MIDI Test: If you are able to loop a MIDI cable from one MIDI port to the other, you can test whether you have a MIDI failure. If you do not connect a cable, the test will automatically fail; that is expected behavior. Press [✔]
- Your screen should display "USB chip test passed". If it doesn't, you may need to take your console to an ETC Dealer or Service Technician. Press [✔]
- Your screen should display "Insert Memory card Write Protect:on". Press [✔], it will say you've failed, then press [✔] again.
- Your screen should display "System ID test Pins:001".
STOP HERE. IF YOU PRESS THE CHECKMARK [✔], YOUR CONSOLE WILL LOSE ANY INFORMATION STORED ON IT.
- If you wish to avoid losing information, pull the power out from the back of the console to force it off. This will not deep-clear the information.
- If you wish for your console to clear its memory, press [✔].
- The screen will show some changing numbers, then it will say "Memory test passed." If it fails the memory test, try to deep-clear one more time. If it still fails, please call ETC Tech Support and have your console's serial number ready.
- Press [✔]. Your screen should display "Firmware Upgrade Are You Sure? [NO]". Press [✔]. Your console will shut itself down.
- When you next power up, the console will likely have put itself in an empty stack. Press the [Stack] button once to return to the normal display.