Chapter 6 System Default Settings

This chapter deals with customizing system settings to suit programming styles.

The following is covered in this chapter:

6.1 Editing

System Settings defaults are accessed by selecting {System Settings} from the {Vibe} menu or by tapping the {System Status} area at the far right side of the controller displays.

Editing Properties - Editing Section

Default Stage Value:

  • Home Value - When released, fixtures parameters will return to their home values as specified in the device’s definition or user Home Scene.

  • Maintain Last Value - When released, fixture parameters will remain at their current position but dimmer will go out.

Auto Parameter Grouping:

  • When on, parameters are grouped as follows:

Clear Editor After Store:

  • Default editor behavior when in Compulite Mode - After storing a cue, values remain in the editor until [RESET] or [VIBE]+[RESET] is pressed.

Editor Flash:

  • Sets default values for toolbar {FLASH} feature.

  • {Base} = Start point (low value) {Time} = Flash duration {Size} = Amplitude (high values)

  • Defaults - {Base} 0.2 (20%) {Time} 2 seconds {Size} 0.6 (80%)

Apply Compulite Mode: - Sets a number of defaults to emulate traditional nontracking Compulite Mode.

  • Default Stage Values = {Maintain Last Value}

  • {Clear Editor After Store} = Off

  • {Advance To Cue After Store} = Off

  • Qlist Behavior = {Non-Tracking}


Editing Properties: - Cueing Section

Tracking - Non-Tracking:

  • Tracking On:

◾ Values track forward. The stage look is made up of a combination of hard and tracked values.

  • Non-Tracking:

◾ Only hard values are recorded and zero dimmer values is treated as a hard zero.

In Non-Tracking mode, parameter values that are not given values will still output to the stage where they were last left. This can accidentally lead to mistakes where when played back, the cue does not look the same as it did when it was recorded. It is suggested that the Store Options {All Parameters if Active} or {All Parameters if Selected} are used whenever possible to avoid errors.

Clear Editor on Master GO:

  • The editor will be reset when GO on the Master Controller is pressed.

Store Scene by Default:

  • By default [STORE] [HERE] (press any controller button) will create and assign the first available Scene to the controller instead of a Qlist and Cue.

  • Qlists may then be stored by using the syntax [STORE] [CUE] [HERE] (press any controller button).

Next Cue Increment:

  • When [Store] [Here], [STORE] [STORE], or [STORE] [ENTER] are used to append a new cue to the end of a Qlist, the specified spacing will be used.

E.g. If the increment is 1 and the last cue is 10, the new cue would be 11. If the increment is 10, then the new cue would be 20.

Editing Properties: - ON Value

  • Virtual wheel sets the default editor value for the dimmer parameter when the [ON] key is pressed.

  • {First ON Recalls Last} - Pressing [ON] the first time will copy the last dimmer value set for a fixture into the next selected fixture. Pressing again will set the dimmer value to the ON default.

Restore and Save Defaults:

  • {Restore Popup Positions} - Currently redundant.

  • {Restore Defaults} - Restores settings changes to the last time {Apply to Defaults} was set.

  • {Restore Factory} - Restores console to “read only” defaults.

  • {Apply to Defaults} -Updates system setting changes to show specific defaults without exiting the pop-up.

6.2 Timing

Timing Properties - Cue Section

Default Back Time:

  • Timing is used when the [Back] or [Hold Back] Buttons are pressed.

Default Assert:

  • Timing is used when a controller’s parameters are reasserted with the [ASSERT] [HERE] command.

  • Use Cue Time - As the Assert command is basically a GOTO command to the same cue that is active, the cue time for the cue being reasserted may be used instead of the Default Assert time.

Default GOTO Time:

  • Default timing when the GOTO command is used. GOTO time can be overridden using command [GOTO] [CUE] [#] [TIME] [Value]Press or [ENTER].

Default Release Time:

  • Default Fade out time for parameters being released from the editor using the [RESET], parameter [RELEASE] keys, or Controllers being released from the stage (turned off) using the controller [RELEASE] button.

Look Ahead Section:

  • Set all controllers on will enable the Look Ahead function for all controllers.

  • Set all controllers off will disable the Look Ahead function for all controllers.

Once all is set on, individual controllers may disable Look Ahead at any time. Once all off, individual controllers may be enabled Look Ahead at any time.

Timing Properties - Snap Section:

  • Default fade time for all controllers being initiated by the Snap.

Timing Properties - System Time Section:

  • System Time (Editor Time) is applied to values being introduced into the editor and other miscellaneous features that do not otherwise have their own timing settings.

6.3 Network

Network Properties - Local

Local:

  • Option to set the local information of the console such as IP and name.

Console State:

  • There are 2 possible individual states:
    • Stand Alone (Default) – Console is not in a session but networking for outputs, remotes and external connections is active.
    • Local (Offline) – Same as Stand Alone but disables the DMX over ethernet.

User ID:

  • Not yet implemented.

Start Session:

  • The console becomes a Master console, meaning it’s hosting a session. Later on this in the Master-Slave and Multiuser chapters.

Online IP Devises:

  • Displays all Valid IP based devices active on the network.

Delete Selected / Clear Device IP History

  • Can either select a device to remove from the list or clear the whole list.

To clear Device IP History

  1. Open System Settings.

  2. Go to Network tab.

  3. Tap Clear IP Devices.

Connect As … / Disconnect:

  • Related to starting or ending a session with a master console. Later on this in the Master-Slave and Multiuser chapters.

6.4 Hardware

Hardware Properties - Panel Backlight

Inactive keys:

  • Adjusts the LED backlight level of keys that are not valid in the current operational state.

  • Adjusts the LED backlight level of controllers that are unassigned.

Active Keys:

  • Adjusts the LED backlight level of keys that may be used in the current operational state.

  • Adjusts the LED backlight level of controllers that are assigned objects.

Operation System:

  • Opens relevant Windows setting screen.

6.5 Defaults

Defaults - Initial settings for most system objects.

See:

6.5.1 Controller Settings

Defaults - Controller Settings

Flash behavior:

  • Release On Release - While a Flash button is depressed, the controller will assert its values, when released the controller will be released from affecting the stage.

  • Pure LTP - Pressing a Flash key reasserts overridden LTP values from another controller but does not release them when the flash key is released.

  • Go On Flash - If a slider is down it will flash the intensity to full and advance the Qlist in cue time with every press of the Flash key.

  • Latch - Flash key toggles ON/OFF.

Slider behavior:

  • Intensity Only - Slider only controls the intensity.

  • Go + Fade Parameters - Moving the slider off zero will initiate a GO command. All parameters except intensity will fade to their recorded values using cue time. Intensity will remain under the control of the slider.

  • Go + Jump Parameters - Parameters Jump to their values as soon as the slider moves off zero. Intensity will remain under the control of the slider.

  • Release At Bottom - The controller will be released from affecting the stage when the slider reaches zero. Default System Release Time or Qlist Release Time will be used.

Defaults - Controller Settings: Properties

  • Exclude from Snap - The controller will not be recorded in Snapshots.

  • Exclude from (Snap) Override - Snap commands will be ignored even if the controller was initially recorded in a snap.

  • Exclude from Free All - The controller will not be unloaded with a global [VIBE]+[FREE] command. It may only be unloaded with [FREE] [HERE].

  • Exclude from Release All - The controller will not be released with a global [VIBE]+[RELEASE] command. It may only be unloaded with [RELEASE] [HERE].

  • Prevent from Paging - Locks a Qlist or Scene to the current page. Paging ⤴ or ⤵ will not affect the Qlist or Scene on the controller.

  • Prevent from Grab - The Grab command will not capture the controller’s active parameters.

Defaults - Controller Settings: Priority

  • Virtual Priority Wheel - Sets the controller’s LTP group number. Controllers assigned higher numbers cannot be overridden by lower numbers. Controllers assigned the same number will be LTP among themselves. Values may be entered using the virtual wheel or directly by taping the middle of the centre area of the wheel and typing a value from the keypad.

Defaults - Controller Settings: Restore defaults

  • Restores settings - Resets Controller settings to their last stored configuration.

6.5.2 Controller Actions

Defaults - Controller Default Actions

Qlists and Scenes:

Bottom Controller Button for Submaster

The default behavior for submaster’s assignment on the bottom button is Flash

Submasters (Group Submasters) - When a Scene is configured as a Submaster it has a unique set of functions and button options.

6.5.3 Qlist Properties

6.5.3. Qlist Properties

Defaults - Qlist Properties

Qlist Mode:

  • Normal - Cues do not auto loop and all normal time functions are calculated.

  • Chaser - Cues auto-loop from one to another. Only In-Time, and Delay-In Time are calculated. Parameter time is still valid.

Qlist Direction:

  • Backward - Chasers and Qlists transition highest to lowest.

  • Forward - Chases and Qlists transition lowest to highest.

Tracking (Default):

  • ON - Normal tracking logic will be used.

  • OFF (NOT QONLY) - Tracking is not calculated and dimmer at zero is treated as a hard zero (Compulite Mode).

Defaults - Qlist Properties: Preferences

  • Back to top on release - After a controller is released, it will reset to the first cue in the Qlist.

  • Sequence - If toggled on, pressing GO will advance the Qlist.

  • Mark cue at top of the list.

  • Loop back to first - If toggled on, a Qlist will loop from the end of the list to the beginning of the list when GO is pressed.

  • Trigger - Toggles on/off the execution of Macros and Snaps that are attached to cues.

  • Look Ahead - Enable/Disable the Look Ahead function.


Defaults - Qlist Properties: Loop GO Behavior


Defaults - Release time

  • Virtual Wheel:

    • Wheel at Default - System Default Release time is referenced.

    • Using virtual wheel - Rotate the wheel to set a Qlist specific time that a controller references to fade to off.

    • Using keypad - Tap the inside of the virtual wheel until it turns red. Set a release value from the keypad.

  • Button under wheel: Toggles between Milliseconds, Seconds, Minutes, Hours.

Defaults - Qlist Properties:

Restore default - Resets Qlist properties to their last stored configuration.

6.5.4 Chaser Properties

Defaults - Chase Properties

Chase pattern:

  • Normal - Cues loop from one to another in order.

  • Build - Cues are added on to each other until the end of the Qlist and then the build is repeated. (Normal tracking behavior).

  • Bounce - Cues transition from lowest cue number to highest, then reverse and transition from highest to lowest.

  • Bounce Build - Cues are added on to each other lowest to highest are added to each other highest to lowest.

  • Random - Cue Order is randomized.

Time:

  • Chase Time: Independence in-time for dimmer when a chase is started.

  • Units Button - Sets the units for time settings.

  • Loop count: Repeats the chase loop the specified count and stops on the last cue.

Properties:

  • Int Limit: Proportionately limits the intensity output of the cues assigned to a controller.

  • X-fade: Proportionately adjusts the crossfade curve of a chase from full crossfade to jump.


Defaults - Properties:

Restore default:

  • Restores default - Resets Chase properties to their last stored configuration.

6.5.5 Cue Settings

Default - Cue Settings

See:

Update Popup

The default for the New Values is Master PB Only

6.5.6 Cue Store Options

Default - Cue Store Options

See: 9.7. Cue Store Options

6.5.7 Scene Settings

Defaults - Scene Settings

  • Time In - Sets the default in-time for Scenes. The default value may be changed using:

    • Virtual wheel

    • Tapping in the centre of the wheel until it turns red then entering a value using the keypad

  • Units Button - Sets the time units (H/M/S/Mil)

6.5.8 Scene Store Options

Default - Cue Store Options

Similar to Cue Store Options. See: 9.7. Cue Store Options

6.5.9 Bank Library Options

Default - Lib Options

Options are the same for the following:

  • Intensity
  • Position
  • Color
  • Beam
  • Image
  • Shape

See:

11.2. Store and Modify Bank Libraries

Options for Effect include an additional option:

  • Include Base - If toggled on, the start points of parameters will be stored with the Effect making them “Absolute Effects”.

6.5.10 Snap Settings

Default - Snap Settings

Load Pages:

  • Snap will change the current page to the page the Snap was stored in.

Load Master Controller:

  • Snap will change the [Select] to to the controller that was Master Controller at the time of the Snap.

Snap Time:

  • Default fade time for all controllers being initiated by the Snap.

Units Button:

  • Sets the time units. (H/M/S/Mil)

See: 16. Snaps

6.5.11 Effects

When using pre-built effects on Pan & Tilt parameters, the default size of the effect is 20%.

6.6 System

Default - System

Vibe is made up of four modules:

  1. GUI - Graphic User Interface - The windows app with the Vibe graphics.

  2. LPU - Lighting Processing Unit - Calculates and outputs the show data.

  3. HAL - Hardware Access Layer - Connects the panels and devices to the Vibe.

  4. SQL DataBase - Data management.

Auto Save

The show file can be automatically saved at predefined time intervals.

Auto save function can be enabled or disabled in the system settings tab, with the option to assign saving time intervals.

To configure Auto Save

  1. Open system settings popup

  2. Select the System tab

  3. Enable Auto Save in the top left corner

  4. Choose between the auto save interval options

Auto Recover:

  • In the case of an unexpected halt, the toggled on modules will attempt a restart.

  • There is no option to Auto Recover the database as it is always up to date.

Lock Screen Image

The Lock Screen Image can be customized.

Lock screen is shown when system is locked or when Vibe is waiting for the Fixture Builder to be exit.

To load a lock screen image

  1. Open system settings popup

  2. Select the System tab

  3. Press Load Image button in the top right corner

  4. Load the image to be visualized when Vibe screens are locked

LPU and HAL Status

LPU and HAL Status leds are on the status box, in the down right corner of the screen.