SD2 Factory Chases resetting presets and channel values... Please Help

gabeparmleyMember

When ever I run a factory chase it always resets my presets or previous channel settings. For example: I setup the focus and iris to a specific setting I want (Tried this with presets and manual channel levels both before running the FC and after)and then run the FC, but the FC changes the values from 0-1 every step... Why? This makes the Factory Chases almost completely useless. Is there a way to fix this?

I have been using the Show Designer 2 for about 3 years now and haven't ever used the factory presets or chases, but I am trying to figure out how to use them now.

I need to figure this out soon because I will be starting running shows again this fall and would like to be able to use the "effects engine".

Thank you!

9/9/118:54 AM

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gabeparmleyMember

Alright so... I just realized it actually wasn't the FC causing the problem. For some reason the board is glitching the Iris, Focus and many of the channels up and down 1 or 2 steps. And I think it is because I had audio going into the board, but the audio switch wasn't on. Why would audio be affecting the channel values if it isn't even on? Not to mention it shouldn't be affecting channel values at all, only chase/beats

9/9/119:05 AM

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sdmanMember

Try moving all the faders to the bottom and see if the problem goes away. You can also power up the SD2 in test mode. Hold down button 1 while turning on power. There will be activity on the LCD if the faders are jittery. Also, the faders will only jitter the channels if there are fixtures selected. If it's not the faders, then something else is going on. As far as the audio connection, it could be adding ground noise to the system.

9/9/119:32 AM

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gabeparmleyMember

Alright good things to know. I believe it was the audio adding ground noise. As soon as I turned the audio off, the jittering was gone. Thank you!

Second Question, is possible to constrain the Factor Chases to a certain area? I have adjusted the Factory Chases Offset and that is working, but the chases are too big and go everywhere...

9/9/1110:12 AM

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sdmanMember

Another source of noise on the DMX line can be eliminated by using a terminator at the end of the chain. This sometimes causes jitter, when the DMX line is left open.

For the SD2, the factory chases come in several sizes. Try them all to find the closest to what you need then adjust the center.

9/9/1111:05 AM

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gabeparmleyMember

Alright. What are the Head Cir. chases? What does that title mean and what does it do... There are like 25 of these and it takes a lot of time to program the offsets for every single one. Not sure what they do and if it's worth it

9/9/1111:50 AM

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gabeparmleyMember

Also, sorry for so many questions, but I have another one... Why do some chases say 000% Fade time or another percentage on the LCD, but are actually set to 100% or another percentage?

9/9/1112:24 PM

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sdmanMember

The head chases are for moving head in yoke type fixtures. They use smaller circles than mirrors. I would try each chase to see if it works for you before editing. The chases have default fade times but you can change them to something else and then save them with a scene.

9/9/111:38 PM

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gabeparmleyMember

I know they have default fade times, but they don't actually show up. So for instance sometimes they display as 000% even though it really is 100%

9/9/111:48 PM

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gabeparmleyMember

Could it be that I need to update the firmware on the SD2? What have been all the software changes from the original release and what was fixed?

9/9/112:02 PM

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sdmanMember

The updates fixed small things and added features over the years. You can download the latest manual and see the features. The fixes are small internal things that don't show up very often.

9/9/112:43 PM

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gabeparmleyMember

Alright, thank you so much for your help. One more question: Does this desk actually contain an effects engine? Is it possible to create movements/shapes that the positions can be offset? Kinda like the factory chases... Is it possible to create a chase that just records a movement and not actual positions?

9/9/115:44 PM

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sdmanMember

Movements are made by stringing together positions.

9/9/117:20 PM

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gabeparmleyMember

Yes I do realize that technically they are positions... What I'm trying to achieve is being able to create a movement and then being able to offset or re-position that movement without having to edit every chase step.

Bigger desks such as High End Hog's or GrandMA's I know can do this through Effects Engines, but I wanted to know if the "Effects Engine" on the Show Designer 2 is the same way.

9/9/118:12 PM

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sdmanMember

The short answer is no. But at 10-20 times the price you would expect more from those others.

9/9/1111:14 PM

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gabeparmleyMember

Yes that makes sense I guess... Alright well looks like I'm back to programming positions for movements manually again

9/10/1110:58 AM

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