How to perform a Deep Clear And Self Tests On SmartFade 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.