• grandMA2 User Manual
    • Introduction
      • About this manual
      • System requirements grandMA2 onPC
      • Installation of grandMA2 onPC
      • Help from MA technical support
    • Safety Information
      • Symbols used
      • Intended use
      • Dangers caused by electric current
      • General safety instructions
    • Device Overview
      • grandMA2 console
      • grandMA2 replay unit (RPU)
      • grandMA2 fader wing
      • MA onPC command wing
      • MA onPC fader wing
    • System Overview
      • Standalone systems
      • Network systems
        • What is the replay unit (RPU)
        • What is the network processing unit (NPU)
        • What is the MA video processing unit (VPU)
        • What is the network dimmer processor (NDP)
        • What is MA 3D
        • What are the MA nodes
      • Paramters vs. DMX channels
      • Parameter expansion
      • Big systems
      • Media systems and CITP
    • First Steps
      • Unpack the device
      • Check scope of delivery
      • Position the device
      • Connect power
      • Connect desk lamps
      • Connect external screens
      • Connect USB mouse and USB keyboad
      • Connect DMX
      • Connect sound
      • Connect SMPTE (LTC)
      • Connect Ethernet
      • Connect analog remote control
      • Connect grandMA2 fader wing
      • Setup your PC
      • Turn on the console the first time
    • Keys & Buttons on the Console
      • Key overview
      • >>> [GoFastForward]
      • <<< [GoFastBack]
      • . [Dot]
      • Align
      • Assign
      • At
      • Backg [Background]
      • Backup
      • Blind
      • Bt Pg +
      • Bt Pg -
      • B.O. [Blackout]
      • Channel
      • Ch Pg +
      • Ch Pg -
      • Clear
      • Copy
      • Cue
      • Del [Delete]
      • Down
      • Edit
      • Effect
      • [Encoder]
      • Esc
      • Exec [Executor]
      • Executor Buttons
      • Fd Pg +
      • Fd Pg -
      • Fix
      • Fixture
      • Freeze
      • Full
      • Go + [small]
      • Go + [large]
      • Go - [small]
      • Go - [large]
      • Goto
      • Group
      • Help
      • Highlt [Highlight]
      • If
      • Keyboard
      • Learn
      • List
      • MA
      • Macro
      • [Minus] -
      • Mouse
      • Move
      • Next
      • [Numeric]
      • Off
      • On
      • Oops
      • Page
      • Pause [small]
      • Pause [large]
      • Please
      • [Plus] +
      • Preset
      • Prev [Previous]
      • Prvw [Preview]
      • Select
      • Sequ [Sequence]
      • Set
      • Setup
      • Solo
      • Store
      • Temp
      • Thru
      • Time
      • Top
      • Tools
      • Up
      • Update
      • User 1
      • User 2
      • View
      • U1 - U4
      • V1 - V10
      • X1 - X20
    • Workspace
      • User interface
        • Screen layout
        • User-defined area
        • Command line
        • X-Key labels
        • View buttons
        • Master section
        • Time control
      • Encoder bar
        • Preset control bar
        • Encoder toolbar
      • Encoder settings
      • Command wing bar
      • Command section
      • Mini executor bar
      • Work with views
      • Touch gestures
      • Calculator
      • Info
      • Oops and undo
      • Colors
        • System
        • Marker
        • Cue
      • Text indicators and symbols
      • Icons
      • Keyboard shortcuts
        • Turn on or turn off the keyboard shortcuts
        • Edit keyboard shortcuts
        • Add or delete keyboard shortcuts
        • Export or import keyboard shortcuts
    • Windows in General
      • Create and manage basic windows
      • Clear the screen or delete windows
    • Command Syntax and Keywords
      • General syntax rules
        • Helping keywords
        • Object keywords
        • Function keywords
      • All keywords
        • Special characters
        • <<< [GoFastBack]
        • >>> [GoFastForward]
        • - [Minus]
        • + [Plus]
        • AddUserVar
        • AddVar
        • Agenda
        • Alert
        • Align
        • AlignFaderModules
        • All
        • AllButtonExecutors
        • AllChaseExecutors
        • AllFaderExecutors
        • AllRows
        • AllSequExecutors
        • And
        • Appearance
        • Asterisk *
        • Assign
        • At
        • At @
        • Attribute
        • AutoCreate
        • Backup
        • Black
        • Blackout
        • BlackScreen
        • Blind
        • BlindEdit
        • Block
        • ButtonPage
        • Call
        • Camera
        • ChangeDest
        • Channel
        • ChannelFader
        • ChannelLink
        • ChannelPage
        • Chat
        • CircularCopy
        • Clear
        • ClearActive
        • ClearAll
        • ClearSelection
        • Clone
        • CmdDelay
        • CmdHelp
        • Copy
        • CrashLogCopy
        • CrashLogDelete
        • CrashLogList
        • Crossfade
        • CrossfadeA
        • CrossfadeB
        • Cue
        • Cut
        • Default
        • DefGoBack
        • DefGoForward
        • DefGoPause
        • Delay
        • Delete
        • DeleteShow
        • DisconnectStation
        • Dmx
        • Dollar $
        • DmxUniverse
        • Dot .
        • DoubleRate
        • DoubleSpeed
        • Down
        • DropControl
        • Edit
        • Effect
        • EffectAttack
        • EffectBPM
        • EffectDecay
        • EffectDelay
        • EffectFade
        • EffectForm
        • EffectHigh
        • EffectHZ
        • EffectID
        • EffectLow
        • EffectPhase
        • EffectSec
        • EffectSpeedGroup
        • EffectWidth
        • Empty
        • EndIf
        • EndSession
        • Escape
        • ExecButton1
        • ExecButton2
        • ExecButton3
        • Executor
        • Exit
        • Export
        • Extract
        • Fade
        • FadePath
        • Fader
        • FaderPage
        • Feature
        • Filter
        • Fix
        • Fixture
        • FixtureType
        • Flash
        • FlashGo
        • FlashOn
        • Flip
        • Form
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • FullHighlight
        • Gel
        • Go
        • GoBack
        • Goto
        • Group
        • HalfRate
        • HalfSpeed
        • Help
        • Highlight
        • IdentifyFaderModule
        • If
        • IfActive
        • IfOutput
        • IfProg
        • Image
        • Import
        • Info
        • Insert
        • Interleave
        • Invert
        • InviteStation
        • Item3D
        • JoinSession
        • Kill
        • Label
        • Layer
        • Layout
        • Learn
        • LeaveSession
        • List
        • ListEffectLibrary
        • ListFaderModules
        • ListLibrary
        • ListMacroLibrary
        • ListOops
        • ListOwner
        • ListPluginLibrary
        • ListShows
        • ListUpdate
        • ListUserVar
        • ListVar
        • Load
        • LoadNext
        • LoadPrev
        • LoadShow
        • Locate
        • Lock
        • Login
        • Logout
        • Lua
        • Macro
        • ManualXFade
        • Mask
        • Master
        • MasterFade
        • MAtricks
        • MAtricksBlocks
        • MAtricksFilter
        • MAtricksGroups
        • MAtricksInterleave
        • MAtricksReset
        • MAtricksWings
        • MediaServer
        • Menu
        • Message
        • Messages
        • MidiControl
        • MidiNote
        • MidiProgram
        • Model
        • Move
        • Move3D
        • NetworkInfo
        • NetworkNodeInfo
        • NetworkNodeUpdate
        • NetworkSpeedTest
        • NewShow
        • Next
        • NextRow
        • Normal
        • Off
        • On
        • Oops
        • Or
        • OutDelay
        • OutFade
        • Page
        • Parentheses ( )
        • Park
        • Part
        • Paste
        • Pause
        • Plugin
        • PMArea
        • Preset
        • PresetType
        • Preview
        • PreviewEdit
        • PreviewExecutor
        • Previous
        • PrevRow
        • Profile
        • Protocol
        • PSR
        • PSRList
        • Quotation marks " "
        • PSRPrepare
        • Rate
        • Rate1
        • RdmAutomatch
        • RdmAutopatch
        • RdmFixtureType
        • RdmInfo
        • RdmList
        • RdmSetParameter
        • RdmSetpatch
        • RdmUnmatch
        • Reboot
        • Record
        • Release
        • ReloadPlugins
        • Remote
        • RemoteCommand
        • Remove
        • RemoveIndividuals
        • Replace
        • ResetDmxSelection
        • ResetGuid
        • Restart
        • Root
        • Rotate3D
        • SaveShow
        • Screen
        • Search
        • SearchResult
        • Select
        • SelectDrive
        • Selection
        • Semicolon ;
        • SelFix
        • Sequence
        • SetHostname
        • SetIP
        • SetNetworkSpeed
        • Setup
        • SetUserVar
        • SetVar
        • ShuffleSelection
        • ShuffleValues
        • Shutdown
        • SnapPercent
        • Slash /
        • Solo
        • SpecialMaster
        • Square brackets [ ]
        • Speed
        • StepFade
        • StepInFade
        • StepOutFade
        • Stomp
        • Store
        • StoreLook
        • Surface
        • Swop
        • SwopGo
        • SwopOn
        • SyncEffects
        • TakeControl
        • Telnet
        • Temp
        • TempFader
        • Thru
        • Timecode
        • TimecodeSlot
        • Timer
        • ToFull
        • Toggle
        • Tools
        • Top
        • ToZero
        • Unblock
        • Unlock
        • Unpark
        • Up
        • Update
        • UpdateFirmware
        • UpdateSoftware
        • UpdateThumbnails
        • User
        • UserProfile
        • Value
        • Version
        • View
        • ViewButton
        • ViewPage
        • WebRemoteProgOnly
        • With
        • World
        • Zero
      • Work with lists
        • Object list
        • Selection list
        • Executor list
        • Attribute list
        • Station list
    • Using the Backup Menu
      • New show
      • Load show
      • Save show
      • Save show as...
      • Delete shows
      • Using a USB stick
      • Setting up a file server
      • Partial show read
      • ASCII show read
    • Single User and Multi User Systems
      • The difference between a single user and a multi user system
      • Create user profiles and users
      • User settings
      • Login
    • Networking
      • What is networking
      • Set the IP address in the console
      • Set the IP address in the onPC
      • Using DHCP in MA devices
      • Session control
        • How to create a session
        • Protecting the session and station
        • Adding devices to the session
        • How to end or leave a session
        • Session collision
      • Getting DMX in and out of the system
        • Setting up DMX ports on MA devices
        • Network DMX protocols
        • What affects my DMX output?
      • Using CITP
        • Streaming CITP
        • Thumbnail exchange
      • PosiStageNet (PSN)
      • FTP connection to console and NPU
    • Patching, DMX, and Fixture Setup
      • What are channels & fixtures
        • Attributes
        • DMX break
      • What is 3D and stage setup
      • Adding fixtures to the show
      • Delete fixtures from the show
      • Working with layers
      • Multipatching
      • Live patching
      • DMX sheet
      • DMX testing
      • DMX and parameter lists
      • Universe pool
      • Stage view
      • Virtual 3D cameras
      • Position fixtures in the 3D stage
      • Auto calibrate fixture positions
    • Basic Fixture Types
      • What are attributes, features & preset types
      • ColorMix vs. MixColor
      • Different fixture types
        • Conventional
        • LED
        • Mirror
        • Moving lights
        • Media server
        • Virtual fixtures
    • Operate Fixtures
      • Channel sheet
      • Fixture sheet
      • Sheet options
        • Tools
        • Layer mask
        • Display
        • Title buttons
        • Assign executor
        • Mask (local)
      • Layers in sheets
        • Channel sheet and fixture sheet
        • Sequence content and sequence tracking sheet
      • What is the programmer
      • Encoder grouping
      • Using the color picker
      • Using the shaper dialog
      • Using the smart view
      • Edit a channel or fixture
    • Pools in General
      • Manage pool objects
      • Adjust pool options
      • Call modes
    • Groups
      • Create groups
      • Auto create groups
      • Using groups when programming
      • Choose copy method
      • Change specific group colors
      • Group masters
    • Presets
      • What are special modes
      • Preset pools
      • Preset pool "Dynamic"
      • Create presets
      • Preset pool options
      • Create preset reference
      • Auto create presets
      • Auto create additional presets
      • Embedded presets
      • Edit presets
      • Update presets
      • Delete presets
    • Cues and Sequences
      • What are cues and sequences
      • Looking at the cue sequence
      • Store cues
      • Store options and defaults
      • Cue timings
      • Renumber cues
      • Delete cues
      • Playing back cues
      • Looking at the cue content
      • Update cues
      • What is tracking
      • What is MIB
      • Sequence mini executor
      • Commands in cues
    • Executors
      • What are executors
      • Executors on the screens
      • Assign a function
      • Looking at the active executors
      • Common executor options
    • Advanced Sequence Functionality
      • Using different view sets in the sheets
      • Working with MIB
      • Using cue modes
      • Cue zero
      • Sequence info window
      • Looping cues
      • Cue path
    • Advanced Executor Functionality
      • Executor pages
      • Channel pages
      • Executor options
      • Masters window
      • Special masters
        • Default masters
        • Grand masters
        • Speed masters
        • Rate masters
        • Playback masters
    • Clone
      • Clone in user interface
      • Examples
      • Clone presets
    • Search and Replace
      • Search
      • Replace
    • Image Pool
      • Import images and videos
      • Image limitations & guidelines for symbols
      • Supported file formats
      • Delete images and videos
    • Layouts
      • Create a layout
      • Layout pool options
      • Edit layout
      • Layout view options
    • Worlds, Filters and Masks
      • What are worlds
      • Create worlds
      • Auto create worlds
      • Use worlds when programming
      • What are filters
      • Create filters
      • Use filters when programming
      • Use temporary filters
      • What are masks
      • Create masks
      • Use masks in the sheets
      • Apply worlds or filters to executors and sequences
    • MAtricks
      • MAtricks toolbar
      • MAtricks pool
      • MAtricks interleave
      • MAtricks blocks
      • MAtricks wings
      • MAtricks groups
    • Chasers
      • Create a chaser
      • Chaser settings
      • Chaser mini executor
    • Effects
      • Use predefined effects
      • Use template and selective effects
      • Create an effect in the programmer
      • Create an effect that uses presets
      • Create effect forms
      • Pool options
      • Effects in a cue
      • Assign effect to executor
      • Live edit an effect
      • Running effects
      • Update effects
      • Delete effects
    • Bitmap Fixture
      • Import bitmap fixture
      • Apply bitmap fixture in the layout
      • Control bitmap fixture
      • Edit bitmap fixture
      • Example
      • Priorities for bitmap effects
      • Disable bitmap for fixtures
    • XYZ
      • XYZ vs. pan/tilt
      • XYZ and pan/tilt in cues and sequences
      • Use stage markers
      • Link objects to stage markers in MA 3D
    • Remote Controlling the System
      • Remote input
      • MIDI show control (MSC)
      • Web remote
      • Telnet remote
      • Decimal – hex table
    • Timecode
      • What is timecode and timecode shows
      • Record a timecode show
      • Edit a timecode show
      • Playing back a timecode show
      • Organize the show with multiple timecode shows
    • Timer
      • Timer pool
      • Timer pool options
    • Agenda
      • What is agenda
      • Create an appointment in the agenda
    • Macros
      • What are macros
      • Manually create a macro
        • Use variables
        • Create pop-ups
        • Conditional expressions
        • Macro timing
      • Record a macro
      • Edit a macro
      • Command line interaction
      • Assign a macro to a key
      • Example macros
    • Plugins
      • What is Lua
      • Edit plugins
    • Partial Show Read
      • What is partial show read (PSR)
      • How to do a PSR
    • RDM
      • Turn RDM on
      • Match RDM devices
      • Auto patch RDM devices
      • Work with RDM parameters
      • Work with RDM sensors
      • Configure RDM notifications
      • Use the RDM sheet
      • Unmatch RDM devices
      • Splitters and mergers that support RDM
      • Turn RDM off
      • RDM specific keywords
    • DMX Profiles
    • Other System Tools
      • Message center
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        • Views
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        • Edit properties of a rack
        • Edit a module
      • Desk status
      • Performance window
      • System monitor
    • Export and Import
      • Export by using command line
      • Export by using user interface
      • Import by using command line
      • Import by using user interface
      • Import predefined objects
    • Update the Software
      • Update via setup
      • Format a USB stick for Linux
      • Update or factory reset via boot menu
      • Restart from Linux
    • Advanced Fixture Types
      • Anatomy of a fixture type
        • Module manager
        • Instance manager
        • Wheel manager
      • Attribute & Encoder Grouping
    • grandMA2 onPC Details
    • Control the MA NDPs
      • Add the MA NDPs
      • Configure the MA NDPs
      • Delete the MA NDPs
    • Control the MA Network Switch
      • Add MA Network Switch
      • Change IP address
      • Enable DHCP client
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      • Configure ports
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      • Edit LAGs
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      • Reset to factory defaults
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    • Control the MA xPort Nodes
      • Add the MA xPort Nodes
      • Configure the MA xPort Nodes in the console
      • Configure the MA xPort Nodes in a browser
      • Configure the MA xPort Nodes as splitters or mergers
      • Delete the MA xPort Nodes
    • Console Settings
      • Adjust the intensity of desk lights
      • Change screen options
      • Local settings
      • Wing & monitor setup
      • Date & time
    • Shut Down the System
    • Error Messages
    • Technical Data
    • Glossary
  • grandMA2 Quick Start Guide
  • MA 3D
  • MA VPU
  • Release Notes
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Version 3.3

Playing back Cues

Cues are played back from the sequence.

Sequences can be played back from two different locations.

They can be assigned to an executor and run from there or they can be played back from the Sequence Pool.

You can always see the actively running playbacks in the Running Playbacks window.

 

Sequence assigned to an Executor

When a sequence is assigned to an executor, then it can easily be played back. This is the most common way to run the sequence.

There are many commands related to running the cues. The most used ones can be assigned to the keys associated with the executor.

The default for an executor with an sequence is that one of the keys has the "Go" command assigned. Pressing this key will run the cues using the Cue Timing.

If the executor has a fader then the default function for this fader is "Master". A master fader works as an intensity master, meaning that it effects the dimmer values.

A fader can also have the CrossFade function. If a CrossFader is moved from one of the outer positions (top or bottom) towards the other then the movement is used to fade from the current cue to the next. This will disregard any cue timings and simply use the movement of the fader as the time. It is even possible to go backwards. When the fader reaches the other outer position then it becomes the new normal position and moving the fader again will start the manual cross fade to the next cue.

Any command related to playing back the cues can be used with the executor.

For instance if you run the following command:

[Channel]> Goto Cue 4 Executor 8

Then cue number will be played back on executor number 8 on your currently active page - if there is a cue number 4.

Using the command input makes it possible to overwrite the stored cue timing.

If you for instance wanted to run cue number 4 on executor number 8 on executor page 1 using 5 seconds fade you could type the following command:

[Channel]> Goto Cue 4 Executor 1.8 Fade 5

Using the keys you would need to press the following:

Goto Cue 4 Exec 1 . 8 Time 5 Please

This will overwrite any cue and individual timing and use the time specified in the command.

 

For details about the executors and the related commands, please read the Executor section. also have a look at the Sequence Mini Executor topic.

 

Sequence running in the Sequence Pool

It is possible to play the sequence directly from the sequence pool.

Pressing the small Go+ key followed by any of the sequences in the pool will run the first cue in the sequence. Repeating this will continue to run the next cues just as if the same go command was run on an executor. In fact any of the commands regarding playing back cues works in the sequence pool.

For instance if you run the following command:

[Channel]> Goto Cue 4 Sequence 8

then cue number 4 will be actively playing back from the sequence pool.

It can be hard to see this in the sequence pool, but the Call Mode can be changed to "Pool Playback". Then the sequence sheet could look like this:

Sequence Pool - playing back cues in sequence 8

Making it a lot easier to see that sequence number 8 is actually running cue number 4.

If "Direct Action" is active then tapping the pool objects is the same as pressing Go+ followed by the pool object.

 

Trigger

Each cue has an assigned trigger. This can be seen and edited in the Trig column in the Sequence Executor Sheet.

Some trigger are connected to a time. This can be edited in the Trig Time column - also in the Sequence Executor Sheet.

The Trig defines what actually triggers the execution of the cue. Editing the cell will open the Select Trig pop-up. It looks like this:

Select Trig pop-up

The options here are:

  • Go:
    This is the factory default. It requires a Go action to active the cue.
  • Time:
    This is a countdown timer that starts the count down when the previous cue is triggered. If you have cue 1 and 2 and cue 2 has a Time trigger set to 2 seconds, then the countdown starts when cue 1 is triggered. The time is set in the Trig Time column.
  • Follow:
    This trigger will activate when the previous cue has completed all fades and delays - including individual times. The Trig Time column can be used to add an additional delay between the completion of the fade in the previous cue and the triggering of the cue.
  • Sound:
    This will trigger the cue using a sound peak as the trigger. It is possible to choose one of 11 different frequency areas in the Trig Time column.
  • BPM:
    This will trigger the cue using the beats in the sound input. This can become useful with several cues being triggered by the BPM (Beats Per Minute).
  • Timecode:
    A cue can have a timecode time as a trigger. The sequence is connected to a Timecode Slot. When the sequence is active and the specified time (in the Trig Time column) is received, then the cue is triggered. Read more about it in the Record a Timecode Show topic.
Important
When a cue is triggered by timecode, then it always Asserts. Read more about assert in the Using Cue Modes topic.

The default trigger can be changed in the Setup -> User -> Defaults -> Sequence Defaults. This is a setting that follows the User Profile.

 

Priority

When several sequences are affecting the same fixtures then priorities become important. The priority setting is actually an option to the executor.

These options can be opened by pressing the Assign key and then one of the executors keys where there is a sequence you want to change. This opens the Assign Menu. On the right side of the menu there are some buttons. Please press Options button. This is all the options available for a sequence assigned to an executor. These options are discussed in the Executor Options topic.

The top button in the second column sets the priority. Tapping it will open a small select pop-up like this:

Small Select Priority pop-up

This is the list of possible priorities. This is a short explanation of the priorities:

  • Super:
    This priority is the LTP priority above any other playbacks and even above the programmer.
  • Swp (Swap):
    Intensity is working as LTP with higher priority than HTP.
  • HTP (Highest Takes Precedence):
    The highest intensity value will be used. Other parameters will use LTP.
  • High:
    High LTP priority - like LTP but a higher priority than normal LTP.
  • LTP (Latest Takes Precedence):
    This is the normal LTP priority. The newest attribute value is prioritized over the the old value.
  • Low:
    Low LTP - This is a lower LTP priority.

 

Soft LTP

This option is related to how intensities change from one executor to the other.

When it is active then the intensity will fade from the old intensity to the new, when the fixture is "transferred" from one executor to the other.

When it is deactivated, the intensity will snap to the new value, then starting the new (higher priority) executor.


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