SmartFade ML

Express Manual

About Channel in Express consoles

About Dimmer in Express consoles

About Show in Express consoles

Alphanumeric Keyboard in Express

The Express console does not support an alphanumeric keyboard. However, if you have either a Remote Interface Unit or a Remote Video Interface unit attached to your console, you can attach an alphanumeric keyboard to that peripheral device and achieve the same results.

Attribute Setup menu on Express consoles

Blackout key settings in Express consoles

Blind Effects Display in Express

Effects may be created or edited in the Blind Effects display. You enter the Blind Effects display from Blind as soon as you specify the effect type for a new cue or submaster.

Bump button settings in Express consoles

Captured channels in Patch on Express consoles

Changing submaster types on Express consoles

Channel Attributes display in Express consoles

Channel check in Express consoles

Channel modes in Express consoles

Clearing Macros in Express

You must be in Macro display mode to clear individual macros.

Clearing submasters on Express consoles

Clear and Reset Options in Express

Following is a list of all 14 options on the Clear Functions menu and an explanation of the function of each.

Clear and Reset Procedure in Express

Follow the procedure below for all clears and resets. This example shows the prompts for the Clear Show option from the Clear Functions menu.

Clear Functions in Express

Each option on the Clear Functions menu erases information regarding a console function from the console’s memory. If that information is saved in a show on a diskette, it can be restored to the console. Otherwise, the information is lost permanently.

Clock settings in Express consoles

Configuration Settings in Express

Configuring the DMX512 ports in Express

Once your console is installed, you may need to reset some hardware configuration settings. The Output Configuration screen allows you to reset the starting dimmer numbers for your DMX512 ports, set your ports for dimmer doubling and adjust the DMX512 signal speed if your dimming system requires a slower signal.

Connecting Dimmers to the Express Console

These instructions explain how to connect DMX512 outputs and provide DMX512 connector pinout specifications. The console provides two DMX512 output ports for a total capacity of 1,024 outputs.

Console Lights or Littlelites in Express

Express provides two 3-pin female XLR type connectors at the top rear of the console for the attachment of optional Littlite gooseneck console lights. Littlites come in 6-inch (6X-HI), 12-inch (12X-HI), and 18-inch (18X-HI) lengths. They are available from ETC or from your dealer.

Contents of the Showfile on Diskette in Express

When you write to diskette, everything that you programmed into your show and everything that you set in the console to make that show happen are stored in a single showfile. Show and configuration information, however, may be read separately from the showfile.

Controlling fades manually on Express consoles

Converting a standard cue to a multipart cue on an Express console

Copying cues on Express consoles

Copying cues or groups to submasters on Express consoles

Copying focus points on Express consoles

Copying Macros in Express

You may want to copy a macro or use macros as building blocks for new macros.

Copying submasters on Express consoles

Creating an Effect in Blind in Express

The first step in creating an effect is the same for Stage or Blind.

Creating an Effect in Stage in Express

Build an effect in Stage while viewing the results with captured channels. You can work with individual channels or with channels in cues, groups or focus points.

Creating Macros in Express

There are two ways to create a macro. You can create it in Macro Editing mode, entering and editing keystrokes without actually executing the instructions, or you can use the console’s macro Learn mode to record a sequence of keystrokes as you perform the operation.

Creating Subroutines in Express

Create subroutines in the Blind display. A subroutine can have up to 100 steps. Each step lists a cue or a style.

Cues and cue types in Express consoles

Cue List displays in Express consoles

Cue List in Express

The Cue List allows editing of upfade, downfade and wait times; link and follow settings; rate; and cue label. This list also allows you to delete cues from your show.

Data colors in Express consoles

Deleting a Link in Express

Use [S6], Delete Link, to remove a link from the Link List. All subsequent links will be renumbered.

Deleting a Step from a Subroutine in Express

Deleting cues on Express consoles

Deleting focus points on Express consoles

Dimmer check on Express consoles

Dimmer doubling setup in Express consoles

Dimmer profiles on Express consoles

Diskette Error Messages in Express

Diskette Management in Express

The console lets you save one show on a double-sided, high density (1.44 MB) 3.5-inch diskette. This feature allows you to back up your shows for safety. It also allows you to transfer your shows to other consoles, work on more than one show at a time and use more than 600 cues in a show by loading a second show into memory.

Display features in Express consoles

Editing a multipart cue on an Express console

Editing a Subroutine in Express

To edit a subroutine, select the step you wish to change by pressing [S1], Step, and entering the step number. Use [And] and [Thru] to select multiple steps. You can either use softkeys to find your way around the Step Display or navigate with other console controls, as shown in the following table.

Editing focus points in Blind on Express consoles

Editing groups on Express consoles

Effect Fade Times in Express

Each effect has an overall upfade, dwell and downfade time.

Enabling ETCLink in Express

Before using ETCLink functions, you must enable your console to work with the ETCLink network.

Encoder setup on Express consoles

Error Messages via ETCLink in Express

ETCLink provides messages for a wide variety of conditions, including information regarding your dimmers, racks, system, data, ports, and loads. These messages fall into two categories, fatal messages and secondary messages.

ETCLink Displays in Express

ETCLink Errors in Express

ETCLink is the communications software that serves the Dimmer Monitoring System.

ETCLink Functions in Express

Go to the ETCLink Functions menu by pressing [Setup] [9] [Enter]. Make selections from this menu to branch to the variety of options available in your dimmer monitoring system.

Expression Off-Line

When you want to create or modify a program but are not near your console, consider working off-line with Expression Off-Line. This handy program runs on a pc computer and emulates the function of Express consoles running version 3.03 system software.

Express Console Specifications and Functions

Express Console’s Back Panel

Fader clear time default settings in Express consoles

Fader keys on Express consoles

Fade time default settings in Express consoles

Flexichannel in Express consoles

Flexichannel settings in Express consoles

Focus points in Stage on Express consoles

Focus Point List in Express

The Focus Point list shows all the focus points in the show by number and label. The list can be paged if there are more than 54 focus points in the show (18 focus points shown per column). Focus points may be labeled in the Focus Point List or deleted there from the show, either individually or in ranges.

Focus point spreadsheet in Express

Formatting Diskettes in Express

Before you can use a diskette in the console, you must format it on either the console or an IBM-compatible personal computer.

Grandmaster type in Express consoles

Group List in Express

The Group list shows all the recorded groups in the show by number and label. The list can be paged if there are more than 54 groups in the show (18 groups shown per column). Groups may be labeled in the Group list or deleted there from the show, either individually or in ranges.

How Can Dimmers Be Monitored from Express?

Inhibitive submasters on Express consoles

Inserting a Link in Express

Use the edit features softkey [S5], Insert Link, to insert an empty link number ahead of the selected or specified link. All subsequent links will be renumbered.

Inserting a Step into a Subroutine in Express

Inserting cues on Express consoles

Installing an Alphanumeric Keyboard in Express RVI or RIU

Although your console does not support an alphanumeric keyboard, you can connect a keyboard to a Remote Interface Unit or Remote Video Interface. Use the optional keyboard to assign labels to many features of your shows, such as to name the show and the cues, submasters, groups, timed events and programs within it.

Installing a Printer in Express

The console supports parallel printers, including most laser printers.

Installing Console Lights or Littlelites in Express

Plug the two Littlites into the connectors at the top rear of the console. Bend the gooseneck of each to suit your needs.

Installing MIDI to Express

Connect the console to any MIDI equipment using a standard MIDI cable.

Installing Remote Focus Unit in Express

The Remote Focus Unit (RFU) allows you to set channel levels, check dimmers or run cues from remote locations.

Installing Remote Macros in Express

The console provides four remote macro inputs through the 15-pin connector on the back panel labeled Remote Macro.

Installing the Express Console and Monitor

Labeling cues on Express consoles

Labeling focus points on Express consoles

Labeling submasters on Express consoles

Level key default settings in Express consoles

Link List Overview in Express

Console channels can control devices that have more than one controllable feature, such as a color scroller. By linking channels using the console’s Link List, you can link channels together for simultaneous control on the trackpad. Any channel not used in ML Fixture Patch may be linked.

Loading cues or groups to submasters on Express consoles

Merging Two Links in Express

If you move a link to a space on the Link List which already contains a link, the channels in the moved link are added to the existing link.

MIDI in Express

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a digital communication protocol that allows you to interconnect musical instruments and digital electronic equipment, such as lighting control consoles.

MIDI Time Code in Express

You can create and run shows that respond to programming based on a standardized time code protocol. The console responds to the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) time code.

Modifying an Effect in Express

You can set channel levels or add channels to steps with Update in Stage. In Blind, however, you can do these and many more editing functions, such as deleting channels from steps, inserting or deleting steps and modifying the attributes of the effect. The first procedure, below, applies to Stage, and all the rest in this section apply only to Blind.

Modifying a recorded cue live on Express consoles

Modifying Effect Attributes in Express

Attributes control how the effect plays its steps. Set effect attributes by pressing [S7], More Softkeys, [S8], Attribute. Except for setting a random rate, make one or more softkey selections. Each softkey toggles the effect attribute, so pressing it can either add or remove the selection.

Modifying Macros in Express

Modifying Step Timing and Levels of Effects in Express

Once all steps are defined for an effect, you can either accept the defaults or you can change one or more settings in a single operation.

Modifying submasters in Blind on Express consoles

Modifying submasters in Stage on Express consoles

Monitoring Dimmers via ETCLink in Express

When used in conjunction with Sensor Advanced Feature dimming equipment, the console allows you to monitor individual dimmer loads in your system. This can greatly simplify troubleshooting by identifying such things as burned out lamps, and incorrectly lamped or unplugged fixtures.

Moving a Link in Express

Use [S7], Move Link, to renumber a link or a group of links. All links in a group will be renumbered sequentially.

Moving Light Functions menu on Express consoles

Moving light Personality setup on Express consoles

Multipart cues in Express consoles

Number of channels in Express console settings

Number of dimmers in Express console settings

Output level conventions in Express consoles

Out of Memory Error Messages in Express

Oversized shows on Express consoles

Parking Channels in Express

Park a channel by specifying the channel number and level. You may park multiple channels at once. Set the level using the keyboard or with reference to a preset focus point. When channels are parked, a yellow alert appears near the top of the command display that reads Park Enabled.

Parking Dimmers in Express

Park a dimmer by specifying the dimmer number and level. You may park multiple dimmers at once. When dimmers are parked, the message Park Enabled appears near the top of the Stage display.

Parking Fixtures in Express

You can park fixtures, one at a time or in ranges, either at levels set from the keypad or at a focus point. When you park a fixture, all channels patched to the fixture are parked whether you select them to set levels or not.

Parking Recorded Channels in Express

Cues, submasters, groups and focus points may all be parked, either at the levels recorded for their channels or at a proportional level. For example, if all your worklights are recorded in a group, you could park that group at once, rather than park the worklight channels individually.

Patching a Strand CD80 dimmer rack on an Express console

Patching channels on Express consoles

Patching moving lights on Express consoles

Patching one-to-one on Express consoles

Patch display in Express consoles

Playing cues on Express consoles

Playing Macros in Express

As a macro runs, the LED in the macro’s key flashes. Only one macro may run at a time.

Powerup Macro in Express

You may run a macro automatically each time you turn on your console, such as to turn on lights or load a show.

Printer Options in Express

Before you begin printing, verify that your printer is installed correctly and that it is turned on.

Printing Procedure in Express

Follow the procedure below for all printouts. This example shows the prompts for the Print Stage Display option on the Print Functions menu. Use this procedure for all printout options, varying as directed by the onscreen prompts.

Printouts Available in Express

Following is a list of all 17 options on the Print Functions menu and an explanation of the printout each will produce.

Proportional patching on Express consoles

Quickstep on Express consoles

Reading from Diskette in Express

You can read either the show or the system configuration contents of a showfile, or you can read both together. See Appendix D Showfile, for a breakdown of what components are stored in each.

Real Time Programs in Express

The console allows you to create up to 500 real time programs that can run automatically when you’re not there. For example, you may wish to turn on the work lights for a choir rehearsal between 7 PM and 9 PM on Monday and Wednesday. Or, warm the filaments of your studio instruments 15 minutes prior to your news program.

Recording a cue using Solo on Express consoles

Recording a cue with a single fade time on Express consoles

Recording a cue with split fade times on an Express console

Recording a multipart cue on an Express console

Recording cues on Express consoles

Recording cues with Link and Follow on Express consoles

Recording cues with wait times on Express consoles

Recording focus points on Express consoles

Recording focus points using Solo on Express consoles

Recording groups on Express consoles

Recording submasters on Express consoles

Record Loads Procedure via ETCLink in Express

Perform a Record Loads any time you relamp your fixtures, change the type of fixtures you are using, change the dimmer numbering scheme, or make any other significant changes to your system. In general, Record Loads should be the last step in setting up your system.

Record lockout in Express consoles

Remote Focus Unit (RFU) for Express

The Remote Focus Unit (RFU) is a small, portable control panel you can use from a remote location, such as in the house, on your studio set or from backstage, with or without a remote monitor. You can control most console functions (not submasters) with an RFU. The console keypad and RFU are able to operate simultaneously. Changes made from both console and RFU are displayed immediately on both the console monitor and the RFU.

Remote Interface Devices for Express

Until the appearance of ETC’s ETCNet2 devices, the only way you couId perform remote network operations was with ETC’s Remote Interface Unit (RIU) and the Remote Video Interface (RVI). ETC continues to support the RIU and RVI devices but no longer sells them.

Remote Macros in Express

The remote macro feature provides the ability to control up to 4 console macros from locations up to 1,000 feet away. Typically the Remote Macro control device is a four button control station.

Remote Trigger in Express

The remote trigger function allows you to program a macro to send an On or Off signal to any external device that responds to a remote contact closure. This signal can control any external event (for example, a sound machine or a bubble machine).

Running an Effect Cue in Express

Play back effects recorded as cues on the console’s A/B or C/D faders, just as you would any other cue. The effect will run, using the cue’s Up, Dwell and Down times to determine how long the cue lasts. To run the cue, press [Stage] [Cue], enter the effect cue number, and press [Go].

Sample Macros for Express

To create these sample macros, go to Macro display mode ([Setup] [8] [Enter]), select a macro and enter the keystroke sequences as shown below.

Selecting channels on Express consoles

Serial Interface in Express

Please disregard option 13, Serial Protocol Baud Rate, on the Options Settings menu as well as the associated softkey in that menu, [S2], ESP Baud Rate.

Setting and Unsetting Dimmers via ETCLink in Express

If your console is connected to an ETC Sensor dimming system by an ETCLink network, you may use your console to set and unset dimmers at the dimmer rack.

Setting a Random Effect Rate in Express

An effect runs at a rate set by the submaster or cue in which the effect is recorded. It can also run at a random rate within minimum and maximum parameters.

Setting channels / submasters 1-to-1 in Express consoles

Setting channel levels on Express consoles

Setting levels with focus points on Express consoles

Setting Up a Link in Express

To set up a link, you must assign at least one channel to the X channel list and one channel to the Y channel list. In the following example, two color scrollers are linked so that their color settings are controlled by the trackpad. For the two scrollers, color is controlled by channels 1 and 11, respectively.

Show File Contents in Express

Sneak in Express consoles

Sneak time default settings in Express consoles

Softkeys in Express

Steps in Subroutines in Express

All subroutine steps are either cue steps or style steps. A cue step contains an existing recorded cue, which may be an effect cue. The subroutine lets you change levels and fade rates for the cue step without changing the original cues.

Submasters on Express consoles

Submaster bump buttons on Express consoles

Submaster List in Express

The Submaster List allows editing of bump button status; upfade, downfade and dwell times; type; rate and label. This list also allows you to delete submasters from your show.

Submaster pages on Express consoles

Submaster timing on Express consoles

Submaster types on Express consoles

Subroutine Attributes in Express

Track record in Express consoles

Understanding ETCNet in Express

The console is capable of operating with other devices in local area networks. ETC has two such networks, ETCNet and ETCNet2, and both operate using Ethernet protocols.

Unparking Channels in Express

Unpark one channel at a time as follows:

Unparking Dimmers in Express

Unpark one dimmer at a time as follows:

Unparking Fixtures in Express

When you unpark a fixture, all channels patched to that fixture are unparked.

Unparking Recorded Channels in Express

You can unpark all channels that are recorded into a cue, submaster, group or focus point.

Unpatching individual dimmers on Express consoles

Upgrading Software in Express

Using an Effect Submaster in Express

An effect recorded to a submaster interacts with cues and other submasters on a pile-on basis. Bring up the effect by pressing the submaster’s bump button or raising the slider.

Using a Link in Express

Once you have linked the color control channels for the two color scrollers, the console allows you to control them simultaneously on the trackpad. If you move in just the X or Y direction only, the color will change only on the corresponding scroller.

Using cues and submasters with groups on Express consoles

Using the Only command with Express consoles

Using the trackpad on Express consoles

Using thinnet with Older Express Consoles

Older model Express consoles supported thinnet as well as twisted pair wiring for networking. The thinnet option is no longer available for Express consoles or Express Lighting Playback Controllers. If you are using one of those older models and wiring with thinnet, however, follow the instructions below.

Using Update to modify fade rate on Express consoles

Viewing cues on Express consoles

Wait times in multipart cues in Express consoles

What is an Effect in Express?

An effect is a cue or a submaster that can run in a variety of patterns called chases.

What is a Macro in Express?

What is a Subroutine in Express?

A subroutine is a cue that controls the playback of a series of recorded cues. Subroutines are similar to linked cues, except that they have more playback options.

What is Park in Express?

Working in Spreadsheet Views on Express

Cues, submasters, groups and focus points each have their own spreadsheets. You can modify or delete in all spreadsheets and create in all but the submaster spreadsheet. Channels and groups may be added to all spreadsheets singly or in multiples or ranges. Channels may be set at focus points and focus points may be added, singly and in multiples or ranges, in all but the focus point spreadsheet.

Working with groups in Blind on Express consoles

Working with groups in Stage on Express consoles

Working with moving lights on Express consoles

Working with Sensor Backup Looks via ETCLink in Express

A backup look is a recording of a selected look on stage stored in the Sensor CEM. The Sensor system allows you to use either your console or any CEM to bring that look up on stage. You may save and use up to 32 backup looks.

Writing to Diskette in Express

Write a showfile to diskette with the following procedure.

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