Can universe 2 on the Element be assigned to the same output channels as universe one as can be done in the Express console? I use U2 for special fixtures like LED and ML's with u1 driving the house dimmer rack. I cannot find any reference to this assignmnt in the manual although it does tell me how to address for th esecond universe, a process I find cumbersom.
Yes, you can tell the console to output Universe 1 on both of the DMX connectors.However, I don't think that's actually what you want to do.
If you generally use Universe 2 to control your special fixtures like LED and MLs, then it's probably easier to leave the DMX port settings at the default and patch the Desk Channels to Universe 2.
PatchingWithin the Patch screens there are two ways to patch - either by Channel or by DMX Address.The one you choose really depends on which you feel more comfortable with. If your paperwork for the show is sorted by Dimmers, then the "Address" format may be better, and vice-versa.
Secondly, in Element, unlike in Express, a special fixture only takes up one Desk Channel.So while in Express you'd have each moving light take up several channels on your display, in Element that light is a single channel 'tombstone'.
This simplifies things, as it means you can always think "One desk channel, one icon, one light" - regardless of whether that light is a Source Four or the latest all-singing-all-dancing moving light.
When you are patching special fixtures, you'll need to tell Element what kind of light you have. If you don't, it assumes it's a simple dimmer.
In Patch by Channel, there is a 'Type' button that you can click to give menus of recently-used fixtures, or the full library of every fixture we've ever heard of.
Having chosen what kind of fixture it is, to patch channel 5 to the first DMX address on Universe 2 you type "[5] [@] [2] [/] [1] [Enter]"- You will see "Channel 5 @ 2/1" on the command line, so you can see what you are doing.
The number before the slash is the Universe, the number after the slash is the Address in that Universe.
If you prefer, you could type "513" like you did on Express instead of "2/1" and Element will work it out for you.
I hope this new patching system is easier to understand than the previous Express method, but please ask (or call us) if there's anything that's not clear.
The DMX port output settings are found in the 'Shell', or startup menu. To access this menu, either click on the countdown timer during boot, or choose "Exit Element" in the Browser.
You'll get a button menu. Choose "Settings", and look under the Element section for the Local DMX Port settings.This allows you to set a start address for the two ports - by default, they are "1" and "513" to output Universes 1 and 2 respectively, but you can change that to both being 1 if you would like both physical ports to output the same Universe 1 of DMX.
Keep on trying till you run out of cake.