ETC Express 24/48 User manual
Lighting Control Console
Quick Guide
Version 3.1
Copyright © Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
All Rights reserved.
Product information and specifications subject to change.
Part Number:
4110M1300-3.1
Rev A
Released: November 2002
ETC
®
, Emphasis™, Expression
®
, Insight™, Imagine™, Focus™, Express™, Unison
®
,
Obsession
®
II, ETCNet2™, EDMX™, Sensor
®
, and WYSILink™ are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Express v3.1 Quick Guide i
Table of Contents
Console Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Keypad Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Introduction to Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Patching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Working with Channels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Two-scene Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Playback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Disk Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Working with Moving Light (ML) Fixtures . . . . . . . 18
ii Table of Contents
Console Panels 1
Console Panels
Back panel
Face Panel (Express 125/250)
Pr
oduct:
Electronic Theatre Controls
,
Inc
.
Lamps 12V
1. Desk Light Dimmer
2. RFU fuse (T2.5A)
3. RFU
4. DMX512 Out (2 universes)
5. ETCLink
6. Disk Drive (side)
7. Power switch
8. Power input connector
9. Command Display output
10. Parallel Printer
11. Remote Macros
12. MIDI In/Out/Thru
13. ETCNet (newer facepanels do
not have Thin-net connector)
1
0
9
8
0
4
3
2
1
PUS
H
1. Desk Light connectors
2. Disk Drive (side)
3. Submaster faders
4. Blackout key
5. Grandmaster
6. AB Fader pair
7. CD Fader pair
8. Keypad
9. Trackpad
2Express v3.1 Quick Guide
Face Panel (Express 24/48)
Face Panel (Express 48/96, Express 72/144 is similar)
1. Desk Light connectors
2. Disk Drive (side)
3. Channel faders (Scene A)
4. Channel/Submaster faders
(Scene B)
5. Blackout key
6. Grandmaster
7. AB Fader pair
8. CD Fader pair
9. Keypad
10. Trackpad
C
h
a
1. Desk Light connectors
2. Disk Drive (side)
3. Channel faders (Scene A)
4. Channel faders (Scene B)
5. Submaster faders
6. Blackout key
7. Grandmaster
8. AB Fader pair
9. CD Fader pair
10. Keypad
11. Trackpad
Keypad Features 3
Keypad Features
Display Keys
•The[Stage] display is where most editing of channel levels happens. In Stage, any
changes you make are ‘live‘ and will take immediate effect.
•The[Blind] display is used when you want to edit channel levels or cues but don’t need
or want a ‘live‘ result. For example, if you are running a show and decide that you would
like to add a channel at 50% to a cue, you can make the change in Blind and it won’t
affect the look currently on stage. The next time you play back your cue, the change
takes effect.
•The[Patch] is used to assign dimmers to channels, and to modify dimmer attributes.
View and edit your channel patch in this display.
•The[Setup] display is where you can edit the system settings for your console.
Macro Keys
Macro keys are used to program macro
functions and start macros. Macro keys
[M1]–[M3] access the first three
macros directly; [M*] allows you to
specify any one of the 2,000 macros
available and must be followed by a
number. [Macro Enter] is used when
programming macros.
A macro is a recorded series of keystrokes to be replayed later. Macros can execute any
console command (including softkeys and submaster bumps) and be linked to cues. For
example, if you record [Setup] [3] [Enter] [1] [Enter] [Enter] [Stage] into a macro, with
one keystroke you can save your show to disk and return to the Stage display. See your
user manual for more information on recording macros.
Blind
Stage Setup
Patch M2M1 M*M3
About Learn En
ter
M
ac
r
o
Hel
p
S1
S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8
Tim
e
Grou
p
W
a
i
t
Link
Typ
e
Pa
ge
Sub
Cue
RecordTrack Clear Enter
1
4
7
0
2
5
8
3
6
9
An
d
Thru
Chan
L
e
v
el
F
u
l
l
At
Dim
R
el
F
ocus
P
o
in
t
Display Keys Macro Keys
Cluster A
Cluster B
Cluster C
Navigation Keys
Numeric Keypad
Softkeys
Blin
d
Sta
ge
A
bout
L
ea
r
n
Setu
p
P
atch
M2
M1
En
ter
M
ac
r
o
S1
S2
M*
M
3
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
M2
M1
En
t
e
r
M
ac
r
o
M*
M
3
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
Blin
d
Sta
ge
Setu
p
P
atch
A
bout
L
ea
r
n
4Express v3.1 Quick Guide
Cluster A
•The[About] key opens a window
containing information about a
channel, dimmer, or the show
according to which key you press
after pressing [About]. For
example, [About] [Chan] [3]
[Enter] will display information
about channel 3.
•The[Learn] key enables you to record keystrokes in real time into macros as an
alternative to using editing screens.
•The[Help] key provides context-sensitive assistance online. Press [Help] followed by
a second key (including softkeys) to open a window explaining the function of the
second key.
Navigation Keys
Use navigation keys to get around in
displays, move through menus, move
through fields in the Fixture Patch
display, or move to different attributes
or pages in the Fixture Box window.
Softkeys
Softkeys are found in many console
displays. They are identified for that
display at the bottom of the screen. You
activate a display’s softkeys by
pressing [S1]–[S8]. When softkey [S7 -
More Softkeys] is available, there are
more pages of softkeys for that display.
Press [S7 - More Softkeys] to access those additional pages.
Cluster B
In general, the keys in this cluster
pinpoint the elements that make up
the structure of your show. You will
use these keys when recording or
editing groups, cues or submasters.
Some allow you to change the
properties of recorded elements, such
as playback timing and relationships
with other elements.
Blin
d
Sta
ge
A
bout
Le
a
r
n
Setu
p
P
atch
M2
M1
En
ter
M
ac
r
o
S1
S2
M*
M
3
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
Sta
ge
Setu
p
M1
M*
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
A
bout
En
ter
M
ac
r
o
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
Blin
d
Sta
ge
Setu
p
P
atch
M2
M1
M*
M
3
A
bout
Le
a
r
n
En
ter
M
ac
r
o
RecordTrack
Time
Group
Wait
Link
Type
Page
Sub
Cue
Clea
r
Ente
r
1
4
7
0
2
5
8
3
6
9
R
el
Exce
pt
An
d
Thr
u
C
h
an
L
e
v
el
F
u
l
l
A
t
D
i
m
Focu
s
P
o
in
t
Keypad Features 5
Numeric Keypad
The Numeric keypad is for numerical
entry. This grouping also includes the
[Enter] and [Clear] keys. Press
[Enter] to complete operations. Press
[Clear] to cancel operations.
Cluster C
• Use these keys when editing
channel levels and lists.
•Usethe[Thru], [And] and
[Except] keys to work with
multiple selections and ranges.
• Use [At] when making
assignments, such as when
setting channel levels.
• Use the [Full] and [Level] keys to
assign pre-defined levels (there is
no need to precede with [At] or
follow with [Enter]).
• Use [Rel] to release selected, captured and independent channels. Selected channels
may be edited in any display. Channels may be captured in the Stage or Fader displays
and cannot be controlled by cues or submasters. Independent channels are unaffected
by Grandmaster, Flash, Solo and Blackout controls. Press [Rel] 1–3 times to release
channels in the following order: first selected channels, then captured channels, then
independent channels.
•Usethe[Focus Point] key to set levels by reference.
Clea
r
Ente
r
1
4
7
0
2
5
8
3
6
9
R
el
Exce
pt
An
d
Thr
u
C
h
an
L
e
v
el
F
u
l
l
A
t
D
i
m
Focu
s
P
o
in
t
R
eco
r
d
Tr
ack
Tim
e
Grou
p
W
a
i
t
Link
T
y
p
e
Pa
ge
Sub
Cue
R
el
Exce
pt
An
d
Thr
u
C
h
an
L
e
v
el
F
u
l
l
A
t
D
i
m
Focu
s
P
o
in
t
R
eco
r
d
Tr
ack
Tim
e
Grou
p
W
a
i
t
Link
T
y
p
e
Pa
ge
Sub
Cue
Clea
r
Ente
r
1
4
7
0
2
5
8
3
6
9
6Express v3.1 Quick Guide
Introduction to Programming
The procedures explained in this introductory guide are grouped under the following
categories:
•Patching ~ What it means and how to do it.
•Working with Channels ~ Select and set channel levels.
•Two-scene Operation ~ Using the manual playback features.
•Recording ~ Steps to follow to record cues, groups, submasters, focus points and
effects (chases).
•Playback ~ See the results of your recordings.
•Disk Operations ~ Save and retrieve showfiles.
•Working with Moving Light (ML) Fixtures ~ Patch, select and set attribute levels.
Text Conventions
Many procedures are identified and explained by example on the following pages. To keep
things simple and concise, we’ve adopted the following notations in this document.
•[At], [Cue] Keys (sometimes called buttons) found on the
keyboard are shown with square brackets.
•[S1 - Select Cue] Softkeys in displays are shown with the softkey
number and label bracketed in bold type. If a
designated softkey is not visible in your display, you
may need to press [S7 - More Softkeys] to scroll
through the available pages.
• {Cue} Keys that are optional in a procedure are shown in
curly brackets.
•[#] The numerical label of one or more elements, such as
the number of a cue or the numbers of all channels in
a selection list.
•[x]Values other than numerical labels, such as levels or
times, are shown as an italicized “x” in square
brackets. What “x” stands for will be defined in that
step.
•Channel Selection, page 8 References to instructions provided elsewhere in the
Quick Guide are indicated in italics. When viewing this
document electronically, click the reference to jump to
that section.
Display Assistance
You will find context-sensitive assistance in two places on Command monitor screens. In
the upper right corner the console tells you what entry is expected next. In red text just
above the softkeys, the console gives you instructions and identifies your options.
Setup Display
Your console comes with default settings that can be changed in the Setup display. These
settings have an overall affect on your shows and on the programming environment. Enter
the Setup display by pressing [Setup] on the console keypad. Navigate to a Setup menu,
and through subsequent menus, by pressing the menu’s number followed by [Enter].
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2
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