Preparing for a new show

In preparation we need to clear the desk of all its pre-stored memories.

1. Turn the key to presets only.

2. Hold down the effects + and - buttons

3. Whilst still holding down turn key to program

4. Let go of FX + and - buttons

5. The display now reads SUPER USER

6. Use the memory (not FX) plus and minus buttons to find the display CLEAR ALL

7. Press the PROGRAM MEMORY button

8. Display now reads: Are You Sure?

9. Press the PROGRAM MEMORY button again

10. The display will read Clearing

11. When it is finished the display will read CLEAR ALL again. (If you have just deleted someone's whole show it is now to late so run.

To Erase a card you have to follow a different set of instructions but don't worry about that just now.

NOTE: Be sure to check that what is saved on the desk is used and no longer needed before deleting it.

Programming a memory.

Next we learn how to program a memories on the board.

Note: Make sure the GRANDMASTER is at 10 the whole time through programming and running the show.

1. Turn the Key to Program

2. Press the MEMORY section PREVIEW button

3. Select the Memory you wish to program by pressing + or -

List of e.g. Memories:

1. House Lights Up

2. House lights down

3. Opening Scene

4. Set up lighting scene as requires use the blue presets (B presets), [by this new mean set the lights you want at the correct levels]

5. To this by pressing the PROGRAM MEMORY button.

6. Use the memory + or - buttons to select next memory to be programmed

7. Repeat Steps 4,5 & 6.

 Autofade Times

Autofade times are the times you program your lighting memories to fade up and down. You can do many clever things with Autofade Times like create Crosssfades.

1. Turn the Key to program (If it is not already there)

2. Press the Memory section PREVIEW button.

3. Select the memory you are going to add the memory to e.g. Memory 1 (House Lights up.)

Add fade up time

1. Press the FADE TIME button until the LED (small light) next to UP illuminates.

2. Input the fade time using the Minutes, Seconds and Tenth Buttons. (Usually if you just want the lights to go on with hardly any fade but it on at about 2.5 seconds)

3. Press the PROGRAM TIME button.

Add fade down time

1. Press the FADE TIME button until the LED (Small light) next to DOWN illuminates. (Note: After programming fade UP time then it automatically moves onto DOWN)

2. Input the fade time using the minutes, Seconds and Tenths buttons.

3. Press the PROGRAM TIME button

Add a Crossfade.

To create a Crossfade simply make the two fade up and down times the same for the two adjacent memories. E.g. If you want to Crossfade memories 66 and 67 set both fade up and down times to 5 seconds

Running Memories

As you can probably guess on the night of the performance you have to run the memories. It is not a very hard skill to learn but nether the less one of the most important. The first part is about the actual running of the desk and the second part is understanding cues.

Running the Desk

1. Turn Key to Run

2. Select the first memory you wish to run by using the + or - buttons.

3. Press the GO Button to make the memory will then fade into the scene programmed.

Note: Before running any memories make sure the Preset masters are set to 0 before commencing.

Taking Cues.

The Stage Manager always gives cues to tell any aspect of the backstage crew what to do. This includes Lighting, Sound, AV/VT and the Setting of Actors. For each cue i.e. a lighting state change the SM will give two cues. A standby and a GO cue. The standby will be given a few seconds before the cue and for lighting may sound something like: " LX21 Standby". As the LX (lighting) operator you must reply to this as follows: "LX standing by". The next Cue will be the GO Cue. On this you press the go button and the Lighting state will Change. Tip: If you go a cdue to early (press go before the cue is given there is a knob on the board called Manual override. This normally stays in the middle but if you do GO a cue to early then take this down to 0 and wait for the real cue until taking it back up to the mid point.

Also remember all cues are given over the Can's even if the SM is sitting right next to the LX operator. This is to allow the rest of the cue to also hear the cue.

If cues are given in groups .For Instance if Sound is going to go on at the same time as the Lighting State changes and VT start playing a Slide Show then the SM will group the cues and call them something like Group 6. On this occasion when the SM says: Standby Group 6 all the departments in the crew will take it in turns to answer the SM. Look at this example:

"SM: Group 6 Standby"

"Lighting Operator: LX Standing By"

"VT/AV Operator: VT Standing By"

"Sound Operator: Sound Standing By"

Editing and Adding in new memories:

At some point after programming the show you are very likely to need to Edit or add in a new memory so here is another set of simple step by step instructions:

Editing a Memory:

1. Turn Key to Program

2. Select the Memory you want to edit using the memory +/- buttons.

3. Put Blue (/preset B) Masters up to 10.

4. Put the faders to the modified positions.

5. Press the FLASH button of the channels you have changed.

Inserting a Memory

1. Sometimes memories are left out at the programming stage so you may later on in the production process need to insert a new one. Note: These new memories will all be numbered 0.1, 0.2 etc. so it you all the memories from that point forward DON'T get moved up 1 number. This will be confusing for you and even worse mess up the SM's Prompt Book!

2. Turn the Key to Program.

3. Press the Memory Section PREVIEW button.

4. Select the memory before the place you want to insert the new memory.

5. The display will now read 0.1, providing it is the first Point Memory you have inserted.

6. Now program the memory exactly the same way you normally would.

Deleting a Memory

You may at some point in the production realise that you have programmed an unnecessary Lighting State or actors lines may be cut and so you will need to delete some memories.

Turn key to Program

Press Memory Section PREVIEW Button

Select the Memory you want to delete by pressing the memory + or minus buttons.

Put Master B to 0

Press and hold the PROGRAM MEMORY button until a small dot appears in the bottom right of the display.

Helpful Hint: Setting the Desk to Recovery mode

By setting the desk to recovery mode it means that if the power fails or power to the desk is cut then when power is returned the desk will automatically scene and setup at which it was when power failed.

Turn key to PRESETS ONLY

Enter Super User mode: To do this press and hold the Effects + and - buttons and turn the key to PROGRAM

Release the + and - Buttons

Find on screen Other Things by using memory + and - keys. Press the Program Memory button

On the screen it will probably say NO RECOVERY

Press the Program Memory Key again.

The Screen will now read: RECOVERY ON.

Turn Key to Presets Only

It is Now set in Recovery mode. Before performing this operation please check with your Teacher or Stage Manager.

When using the Board do not do anything you are unsure about just ask Your Teacher, SM or someone with reasonable Lighting Know How.

The equipment is very expensive so don't be to Heavy Handed.

Before touching the board make sure there is not a show programmed on there which you might mess about with.