LSC Clarity Operation Manual

Clarity
Lighting and Media Control
OPERATOR MANUAL
Issue 1.4
Covering software Version 1.4 June 2011 Document number: CT00-T01U-A4
Powered By
LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd.

ABN 21 090 801 675 Building 3, 66-74 Micro Circuit Dandenong South, Victoria 3175 Australia Tel: +61 3 9702 8000 Fax:+61 3 9702 8466 email: [email protected] web: www.lsclighting.com
DISCLAIMER
Both LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. and OpenClear Pty. Ltd. have a corporate policy of continuous improvement, covering areas such as product design and documentation. To achieve this goal, we undertake to release software updates for all products on a regular basis. In light of this policy, some detail contained in this manual may not match the exact operation of your product. Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice. In any event, neither LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. nor OpenClear Pty. Ltd. can be held liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages or loss whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, business interruption, or other pecuniary loss) arising out the use or the inability to use this product for its intended purpose as expressed by the manufacturer and in conjunction with this operating manual. Servicing of this product is recommended to be carried out by LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. or its authorized service agents. No liability will be accepted whatsoever for any loss or damage caused by service, maintenance or repair by unauthorized personnel. In addition servicing by unauthorized personnel may void your warranty. LSC Lighting Systems products must only be used for the purpose for which they were intended. Clarity, QX Nodes and VX wing products are manufactured in Australia and are registered with the Australian Made, Australian Grown Campaign as Products of Australia.
LSC Clarity Operator Manual V1.4
Contents
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Overview _________________________ Operating Systems _________________ Features __________________________ Shortcuts _________________________ Components_______________________
Software __________________________ Clarity License Dongle________________ Demo Mode ________________________ Free Mode _________________________ DMX Output________________________ VX10 Playback Wing _________________ VX20 Programming & Playback Wing ____
1
1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 3 3
2.5.5 Values 2.5.6 2.5.7 2.5.8 2.5.9
Add Dynamic Presets/Freesets without Base __________________________________ 9 Drag and Drop Cuelists _______________ 9 Timeline View When Editing Cuelists. ____ 9 Wing Page Selection Enhanced _________ 9 Minor Changes ______________________ 9
1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 1.5.4 1.5.5 1.5.6 1.5.7
3 Installation and Connection

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6
3.2.1
10
Installing Clarity on a PC ____________ 10 Installing Clarity on a Mac ___________ 11

HASP Installation for Mac_____________ 12
HASP Diagnostics __________________ 13 DMX Output ______________________ 13

QX1 & QX2 DMX Interfaces ___________ 13
1.6
1.6.1 1.6.2 1.6.3
Peripherals ________________________ 3
Multiple Monitors____________________ 3 Touch Screens______________________ 3 Tablets ___________________________ 3
3.4.1
2 Latest Features
2.1 2.2
2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.2.5 2.2.6 2.2.7 2.2.8 2.2.9 2.2.10 2.2.11 2.2.12 2.2.13 Tracking Backup ____________________ Group Masters______________________ User Preferences ____________________ Cuelist Playback Defaults _____________ Programmer Intensities Tab ___________ Remainder Dim _____________________ Record Cue Only ____________________ VX20 Wing Soft Menus _______________ External inputs _____________________ MIDI _____________________________ Edit Undo options ___________________ Improved Command Line availability ____ Palette Options Enhanced _____________ Clarity for Mac______________________ Show File Associations _______________ Custom Fixture Management __________ Intensity Channels on a Matrix _________ Copy/Move Options __________________ MIDI Time Code ____________________ Save User Preference ________________ Export Patch List ____________________ Spin Box Rollers ____________________ Tap-tempo for Chases________________ Live Time Presets ___________________ Control Booth Layout Manager _________ Palette Window Colour Presets _________ Palette Window Gobo Picker ___________ Palette Window FX rate/amp Controls. ___ Palette Window Dynamic Pane IPCB _____ Live Times For Presets _______________ Build mode ________________________ Live FX Override ____________________ Audio Playback _____________________ Simple SCRIPT language (Macros) ______ Learn new cuelist ___________________ Extended Wing Controls ______________ Minor Changes _____________________ QX1 Node _________________________ Free Version No Longer Supported ______ Patch Spreadsheet View ______________ Keypad Patching ____________________ Multi-patch ________________________ Intensity Fade Profiles________________
4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 9 8
Overview _________________________ 4 Version 1.1________________________ 4
3.6.1 3.6.2 3.6.3 3.6.4 3.6.5
VX10 Wing _______________________ 13 VX20 Wing _______________________ 14

USB Indicator ______________________ 14 DMX Indicators_____________________ 14 Desklamp _________________________ 14 Kensington Lock Slot ________________ 14 USB Slot __________________________ 14
3.7
Upgrading ________________________ 15
4 Starting LSC Clarity

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5
16
Starting Clarity ____________________ 16 Loading a Show ___________________ 16 Show Tab ________________________ 16 Standard Default Settings ___________ 16 Show files ________________________ 16
5 Quick Tour
5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4
17
2.3
Version 1.2________________________ 5
2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.3.6 2.3.7
Basic Steps _______________________ 17 Top Toolbar _______________________ 17 Patching _________________________ 18 Programming _____________________ 18
Attribute Controls___________________ 19 Attribute Quick Menus _______________ 19 Universal Controller _________________ 20 Creating a Lighting Look _____________ 20 Control Booth ______________________ 20 Performance Window ________________ 21
5.4.1 5.4.2 5.4.3 5.4.4
5.5
2.4
2.4.1 2.4.2 2.4.3 2.4.4 2.4.5 2.4.6 2.4.7 2.4.8 2.4.9 2.4.10 2.4.11 2.4.12 2.4.13 2.4.14 2.4.15 2.4.16 2.4.17 2.4.18 2.4.19 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4
Version 1.3________________________ 6
5.5.1 5.5.2
Playback _________________________ 20
6 Customizing Clarity
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5
22
Overview _________________________ 22 Dockable Windows _________________ 22 Resizing Panes ____________________ 22 Attribute Control Size _______________ 22 Preferences _______________________ 23
7 Patching Fixtures
7.1 7.2 7.3
24
7.3.1 7.3.2 7.3.3 7.4.1 7.5.1
Overview _________________________ 24 Spreadsheet View __________________ 24 Patching Fixtures __________________ 25

Drag and Drop Patching ______________ 25 Patching Dimmers __________________ 25 Clarity Universes ___________________ 25 Cloning Example ___________________ 26
7.4 7.5 7.6
Clone from other fixture(s)___________ 26 Keypad Patching ___________________ 26

Patching Commands: ________________ 27 Keypad Multi-Patch _________________ 27
2.5
Version 1.4________________________ 8
9 9 9 9
7.6.1
Multi-Patch _______________________ 27 Page i
Contents
LSC Clarity Operator Manual V1.4 Copy Multi-Patch___________________ 27 Removing Multi-Patches _____________ 27
7.6.2 7.6.3
7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14
Selecting Fixtures __________________ 27 Inverting/Swapping Attributes ________ 28 Intensity Fade Profiles ______________ 28 Minimum and Maximum Intensity _____ 29 Custom Fixtures ___________________ 30 Connecting Output Devices___________ 30 Configuring ArtNet Outputs __________ 31 Editing the Patch___________________ 31
Editing a Fixtures Address ___________ Editing a Fixtures Name or Number ____ Deleting Fixtures___________________ Exporting the Patch ________________ 31 31 31 31
9.1 9.2 9.3
9.3.1 9.3.2 9.3.3 9.3.4 9.4.1 9.4.2 9.4.3
Overview ________________________ 46 Universal Control Panel _____________ 46 Attribute Controls _________________ 46

Attribute Quick Menus _______________ 47 Fixture Quick Menus ________________ 47 Attribute Control Size _______________ 47 Attribute Control Order ______________ 47 Offset Fanning _____________________ 48 Fanning Selection Order _____________ 49 Fanning in the Universal Control Panel __ 49
9.4
Fanning Attributes _________________ 48
7.14.1 7.14.2 7.14.3 7.14.4
10
10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5
Command Line Programming 50

Overview ________________________ Fixture Selection __________________ Intensity Entry ____________________ Fade Time Entry___________________ Fixture Numbering for Keypad Entry ___ 50 50 50 51 51
8 Programmer
8.1 8.2 8.3
32
8.3.1 8.3.2 8.3.3 8.3.4 8.3.5 8.3.6
Overview _________________________ 32 Selection Sidebar __________________ 33 Selecting Fixtures __________________ 33

Selection phase vs. Programming phase Selecting Multiple Types of Fixtures ____ Deselecting Fixtures ________________ Selection Order ____________________ Attribute Quick Menus ______________ Programmer Toolbar Fixture Buttons ___ 33 33 33 34 34 34
10.5.1
Changing Fixture Unit Numbers________ 51
11
11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6
Timing
Overview ________________________ Times ___________________________ Setting Times with the Mouse ________ Setting Times by Direct Entry ________ Paths ___________________________ Filtering Times ____________________
52
52 52 52 53 53 54
8.4 8.5
8.5.1 8.5.2 8.5.3 8.5.4 8.5.5 8.5.6 8.5.7 8.6.1 8.6.2 8.6.3 8.6.4 8.6.5
Individual Fixture Control ____________ 35 Groups __________________________ 35

Editing Groups ____________________ Sort_____________________________ Subgroups _______________________ Buddying_________________________ Ctrl Tab__________________________ Intensity and Colour Icons ___________ Position Icons _____________________ 35 35 36 36 37 37 37
11.6.1 11.6.2
Combining Filters___________________ 55 Complex Timing____________________ 55
8.6
Session Control ____________________ 37

Altered Fixture Indication ____________ Blind Programming _________________ Clearing a Programmer______________ Clearing a Fixture from a Programmer __ Clearing an Attribute from a Programmer Undo / Redo ______________________ None, Prev, All, Next _______________ Grab ____________________________ Preview __________________________ To Preset ________________________ Record/Save ______________________ Append last/Save As________________ Update __________________________ Highlight _________________________ Highlight and Lowlight settings________ Blind ____________________________ Clear/Close _______________________ 38 38 38 39 39
11.7 Wait Time________________________ 11.8 Previewing Times __________________ 11.9 Recording Times __________________ 11.10 Reset Timing _____________________ 11.11 Time Presets _____________________
11.11.1 Recording Time Presets ______________ 56 11.11.2 Applying Time Presets _______________ 57
55 56 56 56 56
8.7
8.7.1 8.7.2 8.7.3 8.7.4 8.7.5 8.7.6 8.7.7 8.7.8 8.7.9 8.7.10 8.7.11 8.7.12 8.8.1 8.8.2 8.8.3 8.8.4 8.8.5 8.8.6 8.8.7 8.8.8 8.8.9 8.8.10
Programmer Toolbar ________________ 39

39 39 39 39 40 40 40 40 41 42 42 42
12
Dynamics (real time effects) 58
12.1 Overview ________________________ 58 12.2 Applying Dynamics ________________ 58 12.3 Controlling Dynamics _______________ 59
12.3.1 12.3.2 12.4.1 12.4.2 12.4.3 Waveform Control __________________ 59 Dynamics Attribute Controls __________ 60 Stopping Dynamics _________________ 61 Resync ___________________________ 61 Attribute Control Dynamics Indicators___ 61
12.4 Multiple Attribute Dynamics__________ 61
13
13.2.1 13.2.2
Intensities
62
8.8
Programmer Toolbox _______________ 42

Show Undo View ___________________ Trim (knock out remainder) __________ Remainder Dim ____________________ Controls _________________________ Renumber Fixtures _________________ Grab DMX ________________________ Copy ____________________________ Paste____________________________ Flip _____________________________ Personalizing the Toolbar ____________ 42 42 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43
13.1 Overview ________________________ 62 13.2 Channel Controller Mode ____________ 62

Settings for Channel Controller Mode ___ 63 Operating in Channel Controller Mode___ 63
14
14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9
Matrix
Overview ________________________ Terminology ______________________ Patching a LED Matrix ______________ Creating a Matrix __________________ Editing a Matrix ___________________ Matrix Control ____________________ Transforms_______________________ Adding Media to a Pixel Source _______ Selecting Media in a Pixel Source _____
64
64 64 64 64 65
8.9 8.10 8.11 8.12
Editing Recorded Cues ______________ 43 Keyboard Shortcuts ________________ 43 DMX Input________________________ 44 Parking Fixtures ___________________ 45
14.5.1
Deleting a Matrix ___________________ 65
9 Attributes
Page ii
46
66 66 67 68
Contents
14.10 Adding and Deleting Pixel Sources ____ 14.11 Viewer __________________________ 14.12 Activating a PixelSource ____________ 14.13 Activating Selected Cells ____________ 14.14 Pixel Source Layering and Transparency 14.15 PixelSource Transitions _____________ 14.16 Dynamics ________________________ 14.17 Recording Matrix Settings ___________
68 68 68 69 69 69 70 70
17.16 Recording Cues with Presets & Freesets. 87 17.17 Updating a Preset During Programming _ 87 17.18 Updating a Preset During Playback_____ 87 17.19 Live Times________________________ 87 17.20 Build Mode _______________________ 88
18
Control Booth
89
15
15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4
Media Servers
Overview ________________________ Patching Media servers _____________ Network Connection________________ Configuration _____________________
71
71 71 71 71
18.1 Overview _________________________ 89 18.2 Playback Control Panel ______________ 90 18.3 Cuelist Playback Settings ____________ 90
18.3.1 18.3.2 18.3.3 18.4.1 18.4.2 18.4.3 18.4.4 Cuelist Chase Options _______________ 91 Cuelist Playback Options _____________ 92 Cuelist Tempo Options _______________ 94 Copying and Merging Cues____________ 94 Copy Full State_____________________ 95 Undo Redo ________________________ 96 Cue Notes_________________________ 96
18.4 Manipulating cues and cuelists ________ 94
15.4.1 15.5.1 15.5.2
Reload ___________________________ 71
15.5 Media Server Operation _____________ 71

Browser __________________________ 72 Controls__________________________ 72
15.6 Recording Cues ___________________ 73 15.7 Supported Media Servers____________ 73
16
16.2.1 16.2.2 16.2.3 16.2.4 16.2.5 16.2.6 16.2.7 16.2.8 16.2.9 16.2.10
Record
74
74 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 77 77
16.1 Overview ________________________ 74 16.2 Recording a Cue___________________ 74

Cuelist Playback Options _____________ Adding Cues to a Cuelist _____________ Naming a Cuelist and Cues ___________ Wait / Follow ______________________ Cue Only _________________________ Merging a Cue Only cue _____________ Editing a Cue to be Cue Only ________ Record Cue Contents Options _________ Keep Settings _____________________ Clear recorded values _______________
18.5 Sync FX __________________________ 96 18.6 Mark Cues (Move in Black) ___________ 97 18.7 Audio Playback ____________________ 97 18.8 Simple SCRIPT language (Macros) _____ 97 18.9 Learn new cuelist __________________ 99 18.10 Playbacks ________________________ 99
18.10.1 Playback Go Buttons _______________ 100 18.10.2 Playback Page Control ______________ 100
18.11 Group Masters____________________ 101
19
Editing Cues and Cuelists
103
19.1 Overview ________________________ 103 19.2 Changing Playback Settings _________ 103 19.3 Editing Cues _____________________ 103
19.3.1 19.3.2 19.4.1 19.5.1 Cue Settings______________________ 103 Cue Contents _____________________ 103 Saving the Edit____________________ 105 Cue Only Indication_______________ 106
16.3 Append Last ______________________ 77 16.4 Editing Cues ______________________ 77

16.4.1 Undo Redo________________________ 78
19.4 Editing Follow or Wait Times_________ 104 19.5 Editing Channels to be Cue Only ____ 105 19.6 19.7 19.8 19.9 Live Edit Indication ________________ 106 Block Cue _______________________ 106 Undo Redo Edits __________________ 106 Exporting a Cue to the Programmer ___ 106
17
17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7
Palettes
Overview ________________________ Arranging Palettes and Groups _______ Groups __________________________ Colour Presets ____________________ Beam Presets _____________________ Favourites _______________________ Presets __________________________
79
79 80 80 80 80 80 81
20
20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4
Performance Window
107
17.7.1 17.7.2 17.8.1 17.8.2
Fixture Specific Presets ______________ 81 Fixture Type Presets ________________ 81 Permutating Freesets _______________ 82 Scaling Freesets ___________________ 82
17.8 Freesets _________________________ 81 17.9 Dynamic Presets __________________ 82 17.10 Recording a Preset or Freeset ________ 82 17.11 Palette Icons _____________________ 83
17.11.1 Group Icons ______________________ 83 17.11.2 Preset & Freeset Icons ______________ 83 17.11.3 Preset and Freeset Shortcuts _________ 84
20.4.1 20.5.1 20.5.2 20.6.1
Overview ________________________ 107 Previewing Cuelists ________________ 107 The Grid ________________________ 108 Adapting Existing Programming ______ 108
Sync FX _________________________ 108 Copying Active Cells to a Common Row_ 109 Cell Properties ____________________ 109 Metronome Settings ________________ 112
20.5 Managing the Grid ________________ 109 20.6 The Metronome___________________ 111 20.7 Performance Freesets/Groups _______ 112
17.12 Applying Presets and Freesets ________ 84

17.12.1 Apply in the Programmer window ______ 84 17.12.2 Apply in the Palettes window _________ 84 17.12.3 Masking __________________________ 85
21
21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7
Levels Window
113
17.13 Applying Dynamic Presets ___________ 85

17.13.1 Masking Dynamic Presets ____________ 85 17.13.2 Base ____________________________ 85 17.13.3 Preserve Dynamics _________________ 86
17.14 Controlling Dynamics _______________ 86 17.15 Removing a Preset or Freeset ________ 86
Overview ________________________ 113 DMX Values______________________ 113 Output Values ____________________ 113 Programmer Values _______________ 114 Cue List Values ___________________ 114 Customizing The Display____________ 114 New Window _____________________ 114
Page iii
Contents
22
VX10 & VX20 Wings
115
25.1.1
New Show Preferences _____________ 134
22.1 Overview ________________________ 115 22.2 Wing Connections _________________ 115 22.3 Adding a Virtual Wing ______________ 115
22.3.1 Selecting a Virtual Wing ____________ 115
25.2 About Clarity ____________________ 135
26
Fixture Editor
136
22.4 Adding a Cuelist to a Wing __________ 116 22.5 Wing Playback Pages ______________ 116
22.5.1 Locking a Playback ________________ 117
26.1 Overview _______________________ 136 26.2 Fixture Request Service ____________ 136 26.3 Fixture Editor ____________________ 136
22.6 22.7 22.8 22.9
Wing Playbacks ___________________ 117 Wing Group Masters _______________ 118 Extended Wing Controls ____________ 119 Programming with the VX20 Wing ____ 121
Trackball ________________________ 121 Programmer Buttons ______________ 121 VX20 Soft Menus _________________ 122
27
27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7
Operating Concepts and Terminology

Overview _______________________ Programmer / Playback ____________ Priority Control___________________ Attribute Default Values____________ Programmer Control ______________ Playback Control _________________ Recording and Playback Concepts ____
137
137 137 137 137 137 138 138
22.9.1 22.9.2 22.9.3
22.10 External Control Inputs_____________ 122 22.11 VX20 MIDI ______________________ 123 22.12 Desklamp Intensity ________________ 123
23
23.2.1 23.2.2 23.2.3 23.2.4 23.2.5
MIDI
124
124 124 124 125 125
23.1 Overview ________________________ 124 23.2 MIDI Control of Selected VX20 Playback124
MIDI Settings ____________________ MIDI Channel ____________________ MIDI Note On Messages ____________ MIDI Control Function______________ Learn Midi _______________________
27.7.1 27.7.2 27.7.3 27.7.4 27.7.5 27.8.1 27.8.2 27.8.3
Tracking Playback _________________ 138 Typical Tracking Operations _________ 138 Advantages of Tracking _____________ 139 Disadvantages of Tracking __________ 139 Cue Only Playback _________________ 140
27.8 Recording Cues __________________ 140
Content Options___________________ 141 Cue Only (recording) _______________ 142 Mark Cues (Move in Black) __________ 142
23.3 MIDI Timecode ___________________ 125

23.3.1 23.3.2 23.3.3 23.3.4 23.3.5 23.3.6 23.3.7 23.3.8 23.3.9 23.3.10 Automatic Entry of Events __________ Manual Entry of Events_____________ Editing Events____________________ Managing Playlists ________________ MIDI Timecode Playback ___________ Recede _________________________ Skip Intervening Events ____________ MIDI Timecode Input ______________ Big Time ________________________ Simulator _______________________ 126 126 127 127 127 127 127 127 128 128
27.9 DMX 512 _______________________ 143 27.10 DMX Universes___________________ 143

27.10.1 DMX Slot ________________________ 143 27.10.2 Attribute. ________________________ 143
27.11 HTP (HIGHEST TAKES PRECEDENCE) _ 143 27.12 LTP (LATEST TAKES PRECEDENCE) ___ 143 27.13 RDM ___________________________ 143
28
28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 wing
Hints and Tips
145
24
24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4
Tracking Backup
129
Overview ________________________ 129 Setting up Tracking Backup _________ 129 Automatic Slave Backup ____________ 130 Operating From The Slave __________ 131
Simple Cue Playback ______________ 145 Parked channels__________________ 145 One Shot Chase __________________ 145 Performance Window Tips __________ 145 Flashing a cue ___________________ 146 Quick Record ____________________ 146 Snapping Forwards or Backwards on a VX 146
25
Preferences and About
132
29
COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS
147
25.1 User Preferences __________________ 132
Page iv
Introduction
Conventions Used in this Manual

Throughout this manual, certain conventions have been used to make the meaning clearer. 1) A word in Bold test represents a button, a Tab, an area or label on the GUI 2) A word or words enclosed in square brackets represent keys on the computer keyboard or VX wing or functions on the mouse. 3) Emphasis is indicated by underlining. 4) Notes or Hints are displayed in italic font
Copyright Notices
Clarity application software is developed by OpenClear Pty. Ltd. www.openclear.com.au Copyright 2009-2011 OpenClear Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved. USB and RDM software modules, QX and VX products are developed by LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. www.lsclighting.com Copyright 2009-2011 LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents of this manual, Copyright 2011 OpenClear Pty. Ltd. and LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Page v
Introduction
1
1.1 OVERVIEW
Introduction
LSC Clarity is a powerful and full featured computer based lighting control system that is intuitive and easy to use. It has many features for improvisational use, especially for musical applications, yet it still preserves the functions necessary for structured applications such as theatre, TV, corporate, etc. 1.2 OPERATING SYSTEMS
Clarity is available in versions for both PC and Apple Mac operating systems. On PC installations, LSC recommends the use of Windows Vista or Windows 7 . 1.3 FEATURES TOTAL FLEXIBILITY. Work the way you want. Command Line, Graphical User Interface, or optional Hardware Wings. Graphical timing or traditional timed sequences. EXTENSIVE FEATURE SET. Dynamic Effects Engine, LED Pixel Mapping, full Media Server integration. SEAMLESS FIXTURE SUBSTITUTION. Brand to brand, model to model, type to type, etc, from the world's most comprehensive Fixture Library. FREESETS. The next generation in Presets. PERFORMANCE GRID. Very powerful ad-lib playback matrix grid. TRULY SCALABLE. Free fully functional Demo download (random blackouts on the output). Licenses for 512, 1024, 2048 or unlimited DMX channels all across 128 DMX universes. A range of USB playback/programming smart wings and USB to DMX interfaces. SHORTCUTS
1.4
Being a software focused controller, Clarity uses many of the standard functions such as [Ctrl] (PC), [Cmd] (Mac), [Shift] or mouse right-click etc for quick access to additional functions. This enables Clarity to present maximum information without cluttering the screen with excessive icons and buttons. If you can't quickly see a function you are looking for on a screen, try a right-click, or hold the [Shift] or [Ctrl](PC) / [Cmd](Mac) keys down. You might be pleasantly surprised. Hovering the mouse over a button will often bring up an on screen tip to assist you. 1.5 COMPONENTS
Clarity consists of a software application and optional control surfaces and interfaces. In its simplest form, Clarity can be run with just a computer where control is via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) or Command Line input and output is via ArtNet (DMX over Ethernet).
Hardware can be added in the form of USB to DMX adaptors and USB Playback and Programming wings that also include DMX outputs.
2011 LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. & OpenClear Pty. Ltd.
Page 1
Introduction
1.5.1
Software
The Clarity software contained on the Clarity CD is also available as a download from the LSC website, www.lsclighting.com. Both the CD and downloaded versions are identical although both LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. and OpenClear Pty. Ltd. have a corporate policy of continuous improvement. To achieve this goal, we undertake to release software updates for all products on a regular basis. In light of this policy, the website might contain a later version of Clarity than the version on your CD. Please check the web site for the latest version of Clarity software. 1.5.2 Clarity License Dongle Purchased versions of Clarity include a USB dongle (HASP) that you plug into a USB port of the same computer that is running Clarity or into the secure compartment in the rear of a VX10 or VX20 wing. When you start Clarity, it reads the license from the dongle and automatically enables the DMX channel capability that you have purchased. Multiple dongles can be plugged in at the same time to increase your available DMX channels. Your Clarity USB Hasp Dongle is a valuable item. Without it, Clarity will operate in Demo Mode as described below. Therefore you should care for it as you would any other valuable piece of equipment. LSC recommends that you insure your USB Hasp Dongle against loss, theft or damage as LSC cannot supply a replacement in these circumstances. 1.5.3 Demo Mode If Clarity is run without a USB dongle it will run in Demo mode. Demo mode has full functionality but the intensity of all fixtures will black out for a short period on a regular basis. It is therefore not suitable for running a show, however it is ideal for training and demonstrations or to create off line shows that can be run on a purchased version of Clarity. 1.5.4 Free Mode Clarity will only run in free mode if it was downloaded as version 1.3 or earlier and registered for free mode prior to April 8, 2011. To continue running the free version it must be upgraded to version 1.3.2 and cannot be upgraded further. The following restrictions are applied to the free mode of Clarity: Limited to a single universe output of 32 fixtures and 128 channels. The VX10 and VX20 wings have the front panel controls (LCDs, faders and buttons) and the remote trigger inputs disabled. However the DMX outputs on the rear and the USB port on the top still work. MIDI functionality is disabled. Media Servers functionality is disabled. Matrix functionality is disabled. RDM functionality is disabled. Tracking Backup is disabled. The template request service is not provided to users of the free version, however Clarity does have a built-in fixture editor which can be used instead. Technical support for the free version is via the user forums only. For more information see section 2.4.18 1.5.5 DMX Output Two models of USB to DMX512 converters are available:
QX1 Provides 1 universe of DMX output
QX2 Provides 2 universes of DMX output
Page 2
Introduction
1.5.6
VX10 Playback Wing
Control of Playback can be augmented by adding an LSC Clarity VX10 playback wing. This provides 10 fader Playbacks with LCD displays and multiple page selection, a Grand Master and DBO (Dead Black Out), two DMX512 universe outputs, remote trigger inputs and a secure compartment for installing your license dongle and a front panel USB port. 1.5.7 VX20 Programming & Playback Wing
Programming controls can be augmented by adding an LSC Clarity VX20 wing. This has all of the features of the VX10 but adds 10 button Playbacks with LCD displays and multiple page selection, Programmer controls (including trackball), MIDI in and out and includes four DMX512 universe outputs. Multiple VX10 and VX20 wings can be connected to your computer. 1.6 PERIPHERALS 1.6.1 Multiple Monitors
We recommend the use of multiple monitors for Clarity installations. Claritys windows can be undocked (double click) and dragged to another monitor. This allows windows such as Palettes and Control Booth to be always at hand. 1.6.2 1.6.3 Touch Screens Tablets Touch screens allow quick and easy operation of windows such as Palettes and Performance. Using a tablet and pen on your computer makes operating Clarity a breeze.
Page 3
Latest Features
2
2.1 OVERVIEW
Latest Features
Both LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. and OpenClear Pty. Ltd. have a corporate policy of continuous improvement covering areas such as product design and documentation. To achieve this goal, we undertake to release software updates for all products on a regular basis. The latest features to be added to each version of Clarity are listed below. 2.2 VERSION 1.1 2.2.1 Tracking Backup
Clarity Version 1.1 contains the following new or enhanced features. Tracking Backup allows a second computer running Clarity to track a master instance of Clarity so that the playback state and show contents are kept in sync on both computers. If the master fails for any reason then the slave can be used to keep the show running. See section 24 for more details. 2.2.2 Group Masters You can configure Control Booth virtual playbacks or VX wing fader playbacks as fixture group level masters that are either Additive, Scaling, Inhibitive or Limiting. See section 22.7 for more details. 2.2.3 User Preferences Selecting, Show, Preferences, allows you to customize the operation and feel of Clarity. See section 25 for more details. 2.2.4 Cuelist Playback Defaults In the Control Booth window, right clicking on a cuelist allows its playback options to be quickly set to the standard settings or the current settings of a cuelist can be used as the default for all new cuelists. See section 18.3 for more details. 2.2.5 Programmer Intensities Tab The Programmer window now has a new tab called Intensities. The intensity channel of every patched fixture is represented by two separate vertical bars that show the programmer level on the left and the output level on the right. Click and drag vertically on the bar area to change the intensity level in the programmer. This tab can be used in conjunction with several User Preference settings to provide a channel controller mode of operation. See section 13 for more details. 2.2.6 Remainder Dim The Programmers Toolbox now has a Remainder Dim function. When Remainder Dim is clicked, all unselected fixtures that are currently grabbed in the programmer have their intensity in the programmer set to zero. To reverse the Remainder Dim command, use the Undo button. See section 8.8.3 for more details. 2.2.7 Record Cue Only You can designate individual cues as cue-only cues when you record them or change (edit) existing cues or channels within a cue to cue only from either the programmer or the control booth windows. See section 16.2.5 for details. 2.2.8 VX20 Wing Soft Menus Additional functions have been added to the VX20 wing by using the top row of playback buttons as shortcuts for some common operations. To switch the buttons between normal playback operation and soft functions, right-click on the VX20s virtual wing display and select Toggle soft menus. There is only a single row of functions, and both buttons above each label will trigger the same function as shown on the LCD display. See section 22.9.3 for more details.
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Latest Features
2.2.9
External inputs
The Ext Inputs connector on the back of the VX10 and VX20 wings provide inputs for 6 remote Go buttons. See section 22.10 for more details. 2.2.10 MIDI This allows simple MIDI control of the main (selected) playback on a VX20 wing. See section 23.2 for details. 2.2.11 2.2.12 Edit Undo options Improved Command Line availability Changes made whilst editing a cuelist are now undo-able via the control booth. Command Line programming is now available in all windows. See section 10 for details. 2.2.13 Palette Options Enhanced In the Palettes page, right clicking on a dynamic preset and selecting Combine Dynamics allows that dynamic preset to be combined with existing effects that have already been applied. The resulting combined effect can then be recorded as another preset. This new preset can be combined and recorded again. The combinations are endless. See section 17.11.2 for details. A Preserve Dynamics option has been added to the Palettes window allowing you to preserve any existing dynamics when non-dynamic presets or freesets are applied. This allows you to run a dynamic effect and then position that effect using presets. See section 17.13.3 for details. 2.3 VERSION 1.2 2.3.1 2.3.2 Clarity for Mac Show File Associations
Clarity Version 1.2 contains the following new or enhanced features. Clarity is now available in versions for both the PC and Mac operating systems. You can now launch Clarity or change shows by double-clicking on a show file in explorer/finder. 2.3.3 Custom Fixture Management The Patch window now has a Manage Custom Fixtures button that brings up a dialog box allowing you to add or delete custom fixtures and to backup or restore the user fixture library. See section 7.11 for details 2.3.4 Intensity Channels on a Matrix Previously only RGB(A/W) fixtures could be used on a matrix. Now any fixtures with intensity channels can also be mapped to a matrix by using the new Intensity tab. See section 14 for details. 2.3.5 Copy/Move Options When you drag and drop a cue to a new position in a cuelist or to another cuelist a new dialog box offers you many options on how to treat the operation. See section 18.4 for details. 2.3.6 MIDI Time Code MIDI time code can be used to trigger cues at specific times allowing Clarity to be accurately synchronized to other MIDI controlled elements. See section 23.3 for details. 2.3.7 Save User Preference User preferences were previously always saved globally as part of the Clarity program. A new option has been provided to allow user preferences to be saved and recalled as part of a show. See section 25.1 for details.
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Latest Features
2.4
VERSION 1.3 2.4.1 Export Patch List
Clarity Versions 1.3, 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 contain the following new or enhanced features. An Export Patch button in the Patch Window allows you to save the patch information and then open it in a spreadsheet program. See section 7.14.4 for details. 2.4.2 Spin Box Rollers Various controls that have buttons to increment or decrement their value now also have a Spin Box Roller beside them. These provide smooth variable control of parameters such as the speed and fading of Chases, Cuelists rates and the amplitude and rate of Dynamics.
Click for Spin Box Roller Spin Roller
Reset
Just click and drag with the mouse on these to activate a temporary virtual spin roller wheel that adjusts the spin box values. When adjusting the value, you can drag over the entire height of the screen. If you hold [Ctrl] and click and drag, then when your mouse pointer moves above or below the virtual wheel it continues to spin with inertia. Where appropriate, there is an associated reset button to quickly reset the spin box back to its default value. 2.4.3 Tap-tempo for Chases Tapping the play button for a chase now allows you to set the chase speed to the beat of the music (once the chase is running). The first time you press the play button for the playback it starts the chase. Then if you keep tapping it in time with the beat of the music it becomes a Tap To Tempo control and automatically adjusts the chase speed. This works on all play buttons including virtual playbacks and wings. 2.4.4 Live Time Presets It is now possible to record Time Presets and Freesets. This allows you to create building blocks of timing patterns for use in programming or to use them in live playback from the Palettes window. See section 11.11 for details. 2.4.5 Control Booth Layout Manager The Control Booth layout manager has been improved to allow for a smaller screen size. The virtual playback pane at the bottom of the screen automatically moves to the right of the Control pane when the height is insufficient. 2.4.6 Palette Window Colour Presets The Colour Presets pane in the Palette window now has a configurable standard swatch colour picker. See section 17.4 for details. 2.4.7 Palette Window Gobo Picker The Beam Presets pane in the Palette window now shows the currently selected fixtures
gobos.
See section 17.5 for details. 2.4.8 Palette Window FX rate/amp Controls. In the Palette windows Dynamic Preset pane, there are new controls (that incorporate Spin Box Rollers) which allow instant control of the rate and amplitude of any selected dynamic preset. See section 17.9 for details.
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Latest Features
2.4.9
Palette Window Dynamic Pane IPCB
The Dynamics pane in the Palette window is now divided into I, P, C and B (Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam). See section 17.9 for details. 2.4.10 Live Times For Presets Presets and Freesets are usually recalled instantly. If you a busking or ad-libbing a show, this feature allows them to be recalled with a time and hence the changes can be as fast or as slow as you choose. See section 17.19 for details. 2.4.11 Build mode In the Palette window, Build allows you to select combinations of groups/preset/freesets (with individual live timing) and then trigger them all in one go. See section 17.20 for details. 2.4.12 Live FX Override In the Control Booth windows Control pane there are two new controls (that incorporate Spin Box Rollers). An Fx Rate/Amp box allows you to adjust the rate and/or amplitude of any dynamic effects in the current running cue. The adjustments are all a percentage change value. See section 18.2 for details. 2.4.13 Audio Playback There is now the ability to playback an MP3 file when a cue is triggered. See section 18.7 for details. 2.4.14 Simple SCRIPT language (Macros) Scripts are instructions that you can insert in each step of a cuelist. When that cue is played, the instructions in the script are automatically executed. This allows a cue to do things such as trigger other cues or chases and playback audio files. See section 18.8 for details. 2.4.15 Learn new cuelist In the Control Booth window, the Learn Master cuelist function allows you to capture (and time stamp) the button presses that you make when you playback cues over time. This can be in time with an audio track that you can optionally select. When you playback your Master cuelist, your cues will be automatically played back exactly as you played them. See section 18.9 for details. 2.4.16 Extended Wing Controls Unused playbacks on a VX10 or VX20 wing can be used as extra control buttons and faders for another playback on that wing that contains a cuelist. This gives you instant control of parameters such as the chase rate, playback rate, effects rate and effects amplitude. See section 22.8 for details. 2.4.17 Minor Changes A "Set as Favourite" option has been added in the dialog box when recording Groups and Presets. A Preserve existing timing option has been added when merging cues in the Record Cue dialog. A loop at end option has been added to the Cuelist Playback More options to allow loop at end to be disabled. When a playback on a VX wing has been programmed as a Group master, its (Go) and II I buttons now act as Group select and Group deselect buttons. Therefore, pressing the button of that Group Master on the VX wing will select all of the fixtures in that group in the Programmer.
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Latest Features
A playback on a VX wing can be locked so it is unaffected by page changes. On the virtual wing, right click on the playback and select Lock this playback. If multiple wings are connected, the GM (Grand Master) and DBO (Dead Black Out) functions operate on a lowest takes precedence basis. In the In the Programmer window, the following changes have been made: The positions of the Next & Prev buttons have been swapped. A Mir (Mirror) selection button has been added to the sort tab In the Dynamics tab, Cycles/min has been renamed to Rate and is measured in bpm (beats per minute). Patch window, the following changes have been made: Next & Prev buttons have been added to the fixture properties dialog. A Flow onto empty/new universes option has been added to the Add Devices dialog. The 'Current activity' area of the ArtNet dialogue now shows any detected external ArtNet traffic and any detected nodes. Empty universes can now be connected to an output.
The following User Preference options have been added. Only allow Rel All together with Function. The Rel All button an a VX wing can be set to only work in combination with the wings Function button. This prevents you from inadvertently releasing all playbacks. Default lamp Ctrl hold time. This sets the duration of the Lamp on command that is sent when using the Ctrl button on the Programmers Selection window. The default time is 4 seconds. Clear Time. This sets a fade time for the Programmers Clear function. Deactivate Group masters whilst paged out. Group masters on a wing can be deactivated if they are not on the current page. Auto-enter commandline after 2nd digit after AT. When using command line programming, this alleviates the need to press [Enter] after entering an 2-digit intensity value. Ignore GM/DBO (Grand Master/ Dead Black Out) levels. This option disables the Grand Master and Dead Black Out. "Number of audio streams". The maximum number of audio streams that can be running at one time can be set. The default is 16. 2.4.18 Free Version No Longer Supported Since its release, Clarity has been available as a free version, limited to controlling just 128 channels and with many of the advanced features disabled. The free version had to be registered with LSC and the registration had to be renewed every six months. On April 8, 2011 the free registration/renewal system was disabled. If you want to keep using the free version then you must upgrade to version 1.3.2. This version of Clarity will still run as a free version but never needs to have the registration renewed. When version 1.3.2 is loaded it will detect if a previous free version is installed on the computer and if so it will upgrade it as a free version of Clarity with no time limit. If version 1.3.2 is installed on a computer without an existing Free version of Clarity then it will only run in Demo or Licensed mode and will not run as a Free version. To continue using the Free version you must remain at version 1.3.2. To upgrade beyond version 1.3.2 and experience the benefits of the latest versions of Clarity you will need to purchase a licence. Clarity will still run in Demo mode if no license dongle is detected. See section 1.5.3 for more details on Demo mode. 2.5 VERSION 1.4
Clarity Version 1.4 contains the following new or enhanced features.

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Latest Features
2.5.1
QX1 Node
The QX1 USB to DMX interface is now available. It provides 1 universe of DMX output and only works with Clarity V1.4 or greater. 2.5.2 Patch Spreadsheet View In the Patch window you can display the patch information in a Spreadsheet View as well as the Universe View. The spreadsheet view is sort-able on any column by clicking on the columns name. See section 7.2 for details. 2.5.3 Keypad Patching In the Patch window you can now use your computer keyboard to patch fixtures to DMX slots. See section 7.5 for details. 2.5.4 Multi-patch In the Patch window you can now patch the same fixture unit number to multiple DMX slots. See section 7.6 for details. 2.5.5 Intensity Fade Profiles In the Patch window you can select an Intensity Fade curve and also set minimum and maximum intensity values (proportional patching) for each fixture. See sections 7.9 and 7.10 for details. 2.5.6 Add Dynamic Presets/Freesets without Base Values When you add a Dynamic Preset or Freeset you can now choose to apply the effect to your existing programming. See section 17.13.2 for details. 2.5.7 Drag and Drop Cuelists It is now possible to re-arrange cuelists in the Control Booth window by using drag and drop. See section 18.4 for details. 2.5.8 Timeline View When Editing Cuelists. When you edit a cuelist, any follow-on or wait cues now display with a timeline in the programmer window allowing you to click and drag to change the timing values. See section 19.4 for details. 2.5.9 Wing Page Selection Enhanced On a VX10 or VX20 wing it is now possible to go to any playback page number by direct numeric entry and to rapidly change page numbers, ten at a time. See section 22.5 for details. 2.5.10 Minor Changes In the Patch window you can now select all fixtures of the same type by right clicking on a fixture and choosing Select all of this type. In the Control Booth window you can now delete multiple cues in the one operation. Select the cues by holding [Ctrl] on a PC or [Cmd] on a Mac and clicking on the cues. Right click then choose Delete Cues. The Auto-update function now has a Preserve existing timing (trackback only) option (ticked by default). In previous versions it would always overwrite existing timing of a cue. The Play buttons in the Performance window have been enlarged making them easier to use with a touch screen and in the Control Booth window the spacing between main Play button and the Release button has been increased.
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Installation and Connection
3
3.1
INSTALLING CLARITY ON A PC
LSC recommends running Clarity on Windows 7 or Windows Vista operating systems. Note: The Clarity software and device drivers must be installed before connecting any QX DMX nodes or VX wings to your computer. Install the software by double-clicking on the Clarity installation file supplied on the CD or downloaded from the LSC website (www.lsclighting.com). Note: The name of the Clarity installation file will be different depending on which version of software you are loading but will be of the form Clarity-PC-x.y.z.exe where x.y.z is the version number of the software. Windows will ask you if you want to allow Clarity to make changes to your computer. Click Yes and the LSC Clarity Setup dialog box appears.
Components are selected for installation by checking there box. Position your mouse over a component to see its description. A new installation of Clarity requires all 3 components to be installed. Clarity LSC QX/VX USB Driver Aladdin HASP SRM The Aladdin HASP SRM software is for the USB Dongle that contains your Clarity license. An upgrade to a new version of Clarity only requires 2 components to be installed. Clarity LSC QX/VX USB Driver Continue the installation by clicking Next, then follow the on screen instructions. The QX/VX drivers are certified 64 bit drivers, however you may be asked to confirm their installation. Installation of the Aladdin HASP SRM software can take several minutes. You can check the operation as described in HASP Diagnostics below. When the installation is complete, click Close. If you accept the defaults, Clarity will be installed in C:\Program Files\LSC\Clarity. You can now plug in a QX DMX node, VX wing or USB license dongle (Hasp). The first time that you do this, windows automatically installs their device drivers. This takes a few moments and windows will inform you that Your device is ready to use.
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To run Clarity, click on Start\All Programs\LSC\Clarity where you will see all of the installed files.
Click on Clarity to run the program. The above steps are for installation on Windows 7. The process for Windows Vista is similar. 3.2 INSTALLING CLARITY ON A MAC
Note that Clarity will only operate on Intel based Processor systems with a software version of 10.5 or later. It will not install on PowerPC based Macs. To mount the installation package, double click on Clarity-Mac.x.y.z.dmg. Note: The name of the Clarity installation file will be different depending on which version of software you are loading but will be of the form Clarity-Mac-x.y.z.dmg where x.y.z is the version number of the software.
Double click LSC Clarity.mpkg to install the Clarity application.
Click Continue.
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LSC highly recommends that you do not change the install location. The amount of space that will be taken on your computer depends on whether you are installing or upgrading Clarity. Click Install. You might be required to enter your password to allow the installer to continue. Once the installation is complete you will get a successful confirmation.
3.2.1
HASP Installation for Mac
If you have purchased a Clarity license you will need to install the HASP SRM Runtime.
Double click HASP SRM RTE Installer.pkg
Follow the on screen instructions to install the HASP SRM Runtime. If you have previously installed the HASP SRM Runtime (possibly from a previous version of Clarity) then you might see an error message telling you that the software cannot be installed.
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This only means that the version already on your computer is the same as the version you tried to install so it was not required. Click Close. 3.3 HASP DIAGNOSTICS
You can verify that the HASP SRM Runtime is correctly installed by navigating to http://localhost:1947 to view the HASP SRM Admin Control Centre. Make sure you USB license dongle is plugged into a USB port then click on HASP Keys to verify that your key is recognized. You might have to refresh the page if you are too quick.
3.4
DMX OUTPUT
DMX512 output is obtained by connecting any of the following devices to the USB port of your computer. Multiple devices can be connected. LSC Clarity QX1 interface provides 1 universe of DMX output. LSC Clarity QX2 interface provides up to 2 universes of DMX output. LSC Clarity VX10 wing provides up to 2 universes of DMX output. LSC Clarity VX20 wing provides up to 4 universes of DMX output. Note: The QX and VX products are designed to be powered from the USB port on our computer. However due to the design of some computers or your particular configuration, there may not be enough power to operate the VX products. If you experience problems in the installation process, first try a different USB port on your computer or try powering the VX10 with an external power supply or if you have a VX20, plug it into the mains supply. If you still experience problems, check the LSC website or contact your local dealer. 3.4.1 QX1 & QX2 DMX Interfaces Connect the QX1 and QX2 interfaces to a USB port of your computer using the cable provided. They are powered directly from the computers USB connector. Connect your DMX controlled equipment to the relevant DMX universe connectors. The DMX outputs are fully isolated from the USB input. Note that the DMX output has to be patched in Clarity before it will work. 3.5 VX10 WING
Connect the VX10 wing to a USB port of your computer using the cable provided. The VX10 is powered directly from the computers USB connector. A separate power supply is required when your computers USB connector cannot supply sufficient power for the VX10.
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2 DMX Universe Outputs
LED Desk Lamp Socket
USB to Computer
Power Input
Kensington Lock slot
VX10 Rear Panel

USB dongle compartment
Remote Trigger Inputs
3.6
VX20 WING
Connect the VX20 wing to a USB port of your computer using the cable provided. The VX20 is designed to operate off USB power, however for some computers and when using a LED gooseneck light, there may be insufficient USB power to operate the VX20. To cater for this, the VX20 is fitted with an internal universal mains power supply. We recommend connecting the VX20 using the supplied IEC cable to a source of 85 to 264 Volts AC mains power wherever possible. The backlight for the LCD screen only works when external power is connected.
Mains Input 4 DMX Universe Outputs LED Desk Lamp Socket USB to Computer Remote Trigger Inputs
Kensington Lock slot
MIDI In MIDI Out
DMX Indicator
USB dongle compartment
USB Indicator
VX20 Rear Panel 3.6.1 USB Indicator The LED beside the USB connector shows the status: Flashing RED = No USB connected. (The DBO button also flashes) Steady RED = USB connected but Clarity not running on computer. Green = USB data is OK. 3.6.2 DMX Indicators The LED beside each DMX connector shows the status: Green = DMX data is OK. 3.6.3 Desklamp The Desklamp socket provides 12volts power for a LED across Pins 1+2. The brightness control is accessed by holding down [Function] and [Select] together. 3.6.4 Kensington Lock Slot The Kensington Lock slot allows you to secure your VX10 or VX20 wing using a commercially available tethering device. 3.6.5 USB Slot The top panel of the VX10 and VX20 wings has a standard USB connector allowing you to connect other USB devices such as memory devices to store your shows.
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3.7
UPGRADING
Both LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd. and OpenClear Pty. Ltd. have a corporate policy of continuous improvement, covering areas such as product design and documentation. To achieve this goal, we undertake to release software updates for all products on a regular basis. Upgrades can be downloaded from the LSC website www.lsclighting.com/help-centre/downloads/Clarity/LSC-Clarity-Software/ This site contains: Clarity software. Clarity Manuals. VX/QX Up-grader tool. VX/QX firmware. Installation of the Clarity upgrade is similar to installing Clarity as described above with the exception that you do not need to re-install the Aladdin HASP SRM (USB Dongle). Note: The name of the Clarity installation file will be different depending on which version of software you are loading but will be of the form Clarity-PC-x.y.z.exe (for PC) or Clarity-Macx.y.z.dmg (for Mac) where x.y.z is the version number of the software.
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Starting Clarity
4
4.1 STARTING CLARITY
Starting LSC Clarity
If you are running a purchased copy of Clarity, please ensure that your USB license dongle is plugged into a USB port on the PC or in the secure rear port your VX10 or VX20 wing before you start Clarity. To start Clarity, double click on the Clarity icon on your desktop or browse to the LSC menu from your Start button. 4.2 LOADING A SHOW
When you start Clarity, it prompts you to load a show.
4.3
Clicking Clicking Clicking Clicking
Last Show loads the last show to be saved. Open shows a standard file navigator allowing you to select any show. Recent opens a drop down box containing your most recent shows. Close starts a new show.
SHOW TAB
You can always start a new show, load an existing show, save or rename a show from the Show tab on the top toolbar.
4.4
STANDARD DEFAULT SETTINGS
Clarity allows you to use either your preferred settings or the standard default settings (factory defaults) when you open a new show. To open a new show with the standard default settings click Show, Preferences then un-tick the Store preferences globally check box. Re-start Clarity, then when Load show? appears, click Close. See sections 18.3 and 25 for more details on defaults and preferences. 4.5 SHOW FILES
Clarity shows are saved in a single show file and an accompanying data directory is also created for storing some larger items such as DMX samples. Shows will load with the same window and tab selections that were selected when they were last saved. As a precaution against data loss, all show files are automatically backed up to the relevant directory at regular intervals.
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Quick Tour
5
5.1 BASIC STEPS
Quick Tour
The basic steps in controlling lighting fixtures are: 1. Patching the fixtures to the DMX slots/Universes that will control them. 2. Programming the palettes, looks, effects, cue lists, chases, etc. 3. Playback of the cues, chases, etc. 5.2 TOP TOOLBAR
Clarity's top toolbar has tabs allowing you to switch between the main windows of: Patch, Programmer, Palettes, Control Booth, Performance and Levels.
These tabbed windows follow the same order as the basic steps used in control lighting fixtures outlined above. 1. Patch allows you to select your fixtures from a fully integrated fixture library of over 2000 fixture personalities supplied by Carallon, an independent supplier of fixture libraries. You patch a fixture to its DMX slot by drag and drop. 2. Programmer and Palettes allow you to select fixtures and control their attributes to create (and edit) looks, effects, cue lists and palettes. 3. Control Booth and Performance provide extensive methods of playback. 4. Levels shows you what is happening on the output. The right end of the top toolbar has buttons for Clear All, Release All and DBO. Clear All clears all fixtures from all Programmers. Release All releases all fixtures from all Playbacks. See the Programmer and Control Booth sections for more details on Clearing and Releasing. DBO (Dead Black Out) instantaneously blacks out all fixtures and dimmers. This is a momentary action. When the button is released, all output is instantly restored. GM (Grand Master). When you hover the mouse over the DBO button, the Grand Master (GM) appears. You can click on 0 (Black Out) or 100 (Full level) or drag the virtual fader to set an overall intensity level. The DBO button flashes red if the Grand Master is set to any level below 100%. It stays red when the Grand Master is set to 0%.
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Quick Tour
5.3
PATCHING
Clicking on the Patch tab reveals the patch window.
Patch Field
Library Add Devices Dialog
Information on selected fixture
Connections
To patch a fixture: In the Library, click on the fixture manufacturers name to show all of their models then select your model of fixture. Dimmers are located in the Generic listing. Drag the fixture name and drop it into the desired DMX slot in the Patch Field or double click the fixture name to patch it to the next available slot. Enter the quantity of fixtures in the pop up Add Devices dialog then click Patch. Continue to select fixtures and patch them as above. In the Connections Pane, click the down arrow beside the Universe that you have patched your fixtures to and then select the output DMX connector to use. 5.4 PROGRAMMING
Clicking on the Programmer tab reveals the programmer window.

Click on Fixtures to select them Selection Sidebar
Attribute Controls Fixture type and Group Tabs Universal Controller
All patched fixtures are available in the Selection sidebar, organized in tabs of patched fixture types and groups.
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Quick Tour
Select the tab for the fixtures to control then click on the fixtures to select them. Click and drag to quickly select multiple fixtures. Clicking on a selected fixture de-selects it. When a fixture(s) is selected, its attribute controls appear. 5.4.1 Attribute Controls
Clarity uses Attribute Controls in many of its windows to control the values of fixture attributes, dynamic effects and timing controls. Specific Attribute Controls automatically appear when required for the fixtures or objects that you select. Attribute Controls are adjusted by clicking and dragging with a mouse anywhere within each attributes window. A single Attribute Control for controlling one dimmer looks like this:
To adjust the intensity of the dimmer, click and drag anywhere in the bar below the attribute name Intensity. If seven dimmers are selected the Attribute Control looks like this:
To adjust the intensity of all 7 dimmers, click and drag anywhere inside the bar. All these dimmers are set to 50%. When you select different fixtures that have multiple attributes, Attribute Controls automatically appear for each type of fixture and each attribute of each fixture type.
Attribute Name
5.4.2
Attribute Quick Menus
To access the Attribute Quick Menus, either click on the name of an Attribute Control or right click in the Attribute Control area. Each individual Attribute Control has its own specific quick menu, offering rapid access to common settings relevant to that attribute.
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Quick Tour
For example:
Gobo Colour Typical Attribute Quick Menus 5.4.3 Universal Controller The Universal controller at the bottom of the Programmer window can also be used to control the attributes of all selected fixtures. These controls work with any type of fixture that has been selected and are especially useful to simultaneously control selections of mixed fixture types.
Clicking and dragging in these controls uses low mouse gearing for accurate control, but can be made even finer by holding down [Shift] whilst dragging. 5.4.4 5.5 Creating a Lighting Look Select the fixture(s) to be controlled. Use the Attribute Controls or the Universal Controller to get the desired look. To record the look as the first cue in a cuelist click Record. In the Record dialog that opens accept the defaults and click Record. Select fixtures and adjust attributes to set the next look. To record this look as the next cue in the Cuelist click Append Last. Repeat until all cues in the cuelist have been recorded. Click Clear to clear all attributes from the Programmer. PLAYBACK 5.5.1 Control Booth
Clarity provides several means of playing back the cues that you have recorded. Clicking on the Control Booth tab reveals the Control booth window.
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Quick Tour
Hardware Cuelists
Controls for Selected Cuelist
Playbacks Pane Drag and drop cuelists to create Playbacks
Clicking on a Cuelist (that you have recorded) allows it to be controlled by the buttons in the Control pane. Dragging a Cuelist to the Playbacks pane creates a new Playback with buttons and a fader to control the Cuelist. Multiple pages of Playbacks are available. Clicking on Hardware then Manage, allows you to add a VX10 or VX20 virtual wing. Clicking on Hardware then Manage again allows you to display the virtual wing that you have just added. Dragging a Cuelist to an LCD window on a virtual wing allows the cuelist to be controlled by the virtual wing buttons and faders and also by the actual wing if it is connected to the computers USB port. See section 22 for details on VX 10 and VX 20 wings.
Virtual VX20 Wing
Cuelists
Drag and drop a cuelist to a Playback LCD
5.5.2
Performance Window
The performance window provides a unique and intuitive method of playback especially designed for busking or improvising a show. It is fully described in section 20.
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Customising Clarity
6
6.1 OVERVIEW
Customizing Clarity
You can control the look and feel of Clarity to suit your individual requirements. Windows and panes can be un-docked, moved and re-sized and attribute controls can be expanded or compressed as described below. User Preferences can be selected for many settings and controls as described in section 25. Default settings for new cuelists can be selected as described in section 18.3. 6.2 DOCKABLE WINDOWS
The tabbed main windows of Patch, Programmer, Palettes, Control Booth, Performance and Levels are un-dockable to suit multi-monitor set-ups or multiple windows. Double clicking on a tab will un-dock the window allowing it to be either re-sized and repositioned (large monitor recommended), minimized or dragged to another monitor when using multiple monitor set-ups. Closing an un-docked window will automatically re-dock it to the main display. In the Levels tab, you can create multiple new un-docked levels windows of the currently selected Level window click New. 6.3 RESIZING PANES
The tabbed main windows have their various areas organized into panes. A pane can be identified by its double line borders. Most panes can be re-sized by clicking and dragging on the double line border. 6.4 ATTRIBUTE CONTROL SIZE
When multiple fixtures with multiple attributes are selected, the Attribute Control area can become quite large. Scroll bars automatically appear when required but you can also control the size and detail of the Attribute Controls to reduce screen clutter. In the top right corner of the Attribute Control window, are buttons that allow you to control the size of the Attribute Controls for all of the selected fixtures. Clicking Compact, Capped or Expanded allows a trade off between screen area and detail as described below.
All Attribute Controls Display Selector Each different type of fixture also has its own set of individual size controls. When multiple fixtures are selected you can use these controls to expand the Attribute Controls of the fixture that you are currently controlling. Individual Fixture Attribute Controls Display Selector The symbols on these size buttons match those used on the All Attribute Controls buttons above. Selecting Compact displays an attribute control that is only one line high for each type of device, irrespective of how many of that type of device are selected.
Compact Display (1 line per device type)

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Selecting Capped displays an attribute control that is only five lines high for each type of device, irrespective of how many of that type of device are selected.
Capped Display (max 5 lines per device) Selecting Expanded displays an attribute control that shows all selected device of that type.
Expanded Display (All selected devices shown) 6.5 PREFERENCES
You can customize many of Claritys features in the User Preferences settings. Click on Show Preferences then make your selections. User Preferences are described in section 25.
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7
7.1 OVERVIEW
Patching Fixtures
Clicking on the Patch tab reveals the patch window. The Library sidebar lists fixtures by manufacturer and model. Additional information for the selected fixture is shown at the bottom of the patch window. The right side shows the 512 patch slots for each internal universe as selected by the Universe # tabs. The Connections pane allows you to connect Clarity's internal universes to the universes of external interface devices such as Clarity QX nodes or VX wings and also to ArtNet.
Universe Tabs Fixture Library Patch Field
Connections
Information on selected fixture
7.2
SPREADSHEET VIEW
Clicking on the Spreadsheet View button displays the patch information in a spreadsheet view.
Spreadsheet View
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The columns can be re-arranged by dagging a column name. The order in a column can be sorted by clicking on the columns name. Click again to reverse the order. 7.3 PATCHING FIXTURES
Fixtures and dimmers can be patched by using your mouse to drag and drop or by using computer keyboard to enter your patching commands. Keypad patching is described below. 7.3.1 Drag and Drop Patching To patch a fixture: Click on the fixture manufacturers name in the Library side bar to reveal the available fixture models. Hints: To quickly jump to a manufacturer, click on any manufacturer then type in the first letter of the required manufacturer's name. Recently patched fixtures can also be found at the top of the Library. Click on a fixture name then drag and drop it into the desired DMX slot on the Universe View or double click the fixture name to patch it to the next available slot. 7.3.2 Patching Dimmers To Patch a dimmer, in the Library select Generic then Dimmer then double click or drag and drop as described above. 7.3.3 Clarity Universes You can patch fixtures to a new universe by dragging them and hovering over the New tab for a second or so. You can also click on the New tab to create a new universe. Clarity calls its internal universes A, B, C etc. Later, in the connections pane, you connect Claritys universes to hardware universes. When you drop a fixture into the patch or double click a fixture, the Add devices dialog box opens. For example, if patching Mac250's..
Quantity: allows you to enter the quantity of fixtures to patch. Location: sets the Universe (A, B etc) and starting DMX slot number. Use custom interval: when ticked, quantities of fixtures greater than 1 will be spaced apart in the patch by the number slots that you enter in the box. Unit #: sets the unique identifying number for each fixture, shown in front of the fixture name. It is used to select a fixture when using command line programming and to identify fixtures in the Programmers Intensities tab. Name: The name of the fixture from the library is used by default. To change the name, click in the box then enter your own name. Clarity automatically appends a number after each name to aid identification. Flow onto empty/new universes: When ticked, if the selected fixtures require more DMX slots than there are available on the current universe, then the fixtures will be patched to the next empty universe or a new (empty) universe will be created.
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7.4
CLONE FROM OTHER FIXTURE(S)
Cloning is an advanced feature of Clarity. If you are reading this manual for the first time or just want to patch some fixtures you can skip this section. Cloning allows you to substitute different fixtures in a show or to add more fixtures of the same type without the need to reprogram the show. An example of cloning is described below. In the Add devices dialog box above, if you click in the Clone from other fixtures check box, the Patch button becomes a Next button and clicking it allows you to clone the programming (presets and cues) of any patched fixture(s) to the new fixture(s) that you are patching. Clicking Next reveals the clone dialog box.
The new fixtures being patched are automatically selected as the Destination Devices. All existing patched fixtures are available in the Available Devices pane. Choose the source device(s) by selecting them in the Available Devices pane, then transfer your selection to the Source Devices pane by clicking >>. Incorrectly selected Source Devices can be moved back to the Available Devices pane by selecting them and clicking <<. Presets will be automatically cloned for the new fixtures however you can choose whether or not to clone cues buy using the Clone Cues check box. To clone the programming of the source devices to the destination devices click Finish. 7.4.1 Cloning Example Program a show with 10 scanA (fictitious) fixtures. Move show to new venue that does not have any scanA fixtures but has yokeB fixtures instead. Patch same quantity of yokeB fixtures (possibly on a different universe) and clone them from scanA fixtures. All presets (and cues if checked in clone box) are updated to include both types of fixtures. The show runs in new venue with no need to reprogram the whole show, possibly just trim and update the position presets. 7.5 KEYPAD PATCHING
Fixtures can be patched using the numeric keypad on your computer. In the Patch window, select the required fixture from the Library. If you dont select a fixture type from the library, a generic dimmer will be automatically selected for you. On your computer keyboard, type in a fixture unit number and the command line automatically appears at the bottom of the screen showing the fixture type and the unit number you have entered. Type in the [*] or [@] symbol then a DMX slot number and press [Enter] to make the patch. The patch(s) will be made to the current universe as selected by the tab at the top of the Patch window. Additional patching commands are listed below.
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7.5.1
Patching Commands:
The patching commands are: [#] (unit number) [@] [#] (slot number) [Enter]. Patches a single fixture unit at the given DMX slot number. For example: 1 @ 1 Enter, will patch fixture 1 to DMX slot 1. [#] (unit number) [Enter]. Patches a single fixture at the next available patch slot number. For example: 1 Enter, will patch fixture 1 to the next available DMX slot. [@] [#] (slot number) [Enter]. Patches the next available fixture unit number at the given patch slot number. For example: @ 1 Enter, will patch the next available fixture number to slot 1. A range of fixture unit numbers can be selected by using either the [/] key or the [>] key (both symbols are used as the command through) and you can also combine and subtract ranges using the [+] and [-] keys. For example: 1/50+100/120, enters fixture unit numbers 1 through 50 and 100 through 120. 1/50-25, enters fixture unit numbers 1 through 24 and 26 through 50. The order of number entry is respected so that ..... [5/1+6/10 Enter], will get a fixture selection order of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Also see Multi-Patch below for additional commands. 7.6 MULTI-PATCH
You can patch the same fixture unit number to multiple DMX locations. This allows you to use a single fixture unit number to control multiple fixtures or DMX Addresses. Multiple patches can be made by using either keypad patching or by copying a patched fixture to another DMX slot as described below. 7.6.1 Keypad Multi-Patch Use your computer keypad to specify the multiple DMX slot numbers. For example: [#] (unit number) [@] [#] (slot number) [+] [#] (slot number) [Enter]. This command patches a fixture unit number to two DMX slot numbers. When patching dimmers only you can supply a range of DMX slot numbers. For example: [#] (unit number) [@] [#] (slot number) [>] [#] (slot number) [Enter]. Patches the unit number to a range of DMX slot numbers. [#] (unit number) [@] [#] (slot number) [+] [#] (slot number) [+] [#] (slot number) [Enter]. Patches the unit number to the DMX slot numbers. 7.6.2 Copy Multi-Patch Copy a patched fixture to another DMX slot by holding [Ctrl] on a PC or [Cmd] on a Mac and clicking and dragging the patch to another DMX slot number. 7.6.3 Removing Multi-Patches You can remove multi-patch locations by clicking on their slot number(s) then right clicking and selecting Unpatch selected. 7.7 SELECTING FIXTURES
Fixtures are selected in the patch window by clicking on them. Selected fixtures have a black border. Multiple fixtures can be selected. You can select all fixtures of the same type by right clicking on any one of the type and choosing Select all of this type from the drop down menu.
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Right clicking on a fixture or selecting multiple fixtures then right clicking reveals a drop down box from which you can choose:
These functions are described below. To deselect a fixture, click on it again. To de-select all fixtures click [Select None] on the menu bar or click on an un-patched DMX slot. 7.8 INVERTING/SWAPPING ATTRIBUTES
Inverting or swapping pan and or tilt is used to counter the effects of hanging some fixtures in different orientations, so that they all respond in the same direction when controlled by Clarity. The alignment status of each fixture is shown in the patch window by the PT (Pan Tilt) icons at the end of each fixture. If the bar is above the P or T then that attribute is inverted. If Pan and Tilt have been swapped then TP is shown instead of PT. Normal Inverted Pan Inverted Tilt Inverted Pan & Tilt Swapped Pan & Tilt To change the alignment status of a fixture, right-click on the fixture then select either: invert pan, invert tilt or swap pan & tilt.
Note: This action affects all currently selected fixtures. See also section 8.8.9 Flip. Flip will alter the current pan and tilt values of the selected moving yoke fixture(s) to the other possible combination of values that achieves the same position on stage. 7.9 INTENSITY FADE PROFILES
Intensity Fade Profiles are the relationship or transfer characteristic between input control signal and intensity output of a fixture or dimmer. Clarity provides several intensity fade profiles from which to choose to suit the application of your fixture or dimmer. To select an Intensity Fade Profile for a fixture(s), in the Patch window, right click on the selected fixture(s) then choose Set fade profile from the drop down box.
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Fade curves
Current curve
Click on the Fade curve drop down box and select the required curve.
Available curves
7.10 MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM INTENSITY You can set minimum and maximum intensity values for a fixture or dimmer. These values are applied proportionately throughout the dimming range. Setting a maximum value for a fixture will reduce the intensity value on the output relative to the intensity value that you have programmed. For example. If you set a maximum of 80%, then when you program an intensity value of 100%, the fixture intensity will be 80%. If you dim the fixture to 50%, its intensity will be 40%. A Minimum value is often used with incandescent lamps to pre-heat the filament. This can increase lamp life by reducing the surge of current that flows through a cold filament. It also speeds up a lamps response when it is instantly flashed to full power. A minimum value of between 5% to 10% usually provides enough heating effect without producing noticeable light to an audience. To set a minimum or maximum values, select the Intensity fade profile as described above and enter your required values in the minimum and maximum boxes. The current curve shows the minimum and maximum values and the proportional level of the fade.
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Maximum = 80%
7.11 CUSTOM FIXTURES Clarity's contains a fully integrated fixture library of over 2000 fixture personalities supplied by Carallon, an independent supplier of fixture libraries. However, if you have a fixture that is not in the library you can either use the Clarity fixture editor described later in this manual or request a fixture file from LSC. Please supply all details of the fixture including brand, model, version number, operating modes and a DMX chart or list. Submit your request including this information at: http://www.lsclighting.com/help-centre/clarity-templates LSC will email you a Clarity fixture file for your new fixture. This service is only available to users who have purchased a licensed version of Clarity. To add a new fixture to the library, in the Patch window click Manage custom fixtures. In the User Fixtures dialog box, click the symbol then navigate to the new fixture file on your computer (*.cfx) and click Open.
7.12 CONNECTING OUTPUT DEVICES Clarity's internal DMX universes are labelled A, B, C, etc. When patches have been made, you use the Connections pane to connect these internal universes to external universes 1, 2, 3 etc on your USB to DMX interfaces or to ArtNet subnets/universes. Clicking on the drop-down arrow for each internal universe will list the available connections.
Select the required device / DMX universe to make the connection. Note that it is only possible to select an output that has not been previously assigned to another Universe. Note also that universe connections are only presented for universes that have one or more devices patched empty universes are not listed.
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7.13 CONFIGURING ARTNET OUTPUTS
Selecting ArtNet (above) will take you to a configuration dialog specific for that connection type. ArtNet supports 256 DMX universes. These are arranged in 16 sub-nets each containing 16 universes. Select the required ArtNet Subnet and ArtNet Universe for this output then click OK. 7.14 EDITING THE PATCH Select the fixture(s) to be edited. Patched fixtures can be selected by clicking on them. The fixtures border will become highlighted when it is selected. To deselect a fixture, click on it again. To select all fixtures, right-click on any fixture then click Select all. To deselect all fixtures, click on an un-patched DMX slot.
Selected fixtures have a black border. 7.14.1 Editing a Fixtures Address Selected fixtures can be dragged and dropped onto any DMX slot or universe. If any of the destination DMX slots are already occupied by an existing patch then those slots will turn red and the patch will not be permitted. If you exceed the number of licensed channels for the dongle that you are using (or exceed 128 channels or 32 fixtures for the free version) a red warning banner will be displayed at the top of the screen to alert you to this. 7.14.2 Editing a Fixtures Name or Number Select a single fixture and right-click on it and then select Properties. In the dialog box that opens you can alter its unit number and name. Fixture unit numbers can also be changed in the Programmers toolbox. See section 8.8.5 for details. 7.14.3 Deleting Fixtures Select the fixture(s) to be deleted by clicking on them, then right-click and select Delete selected fixtures. 7.14.4 Exporting the Patch The Export Patch button in the Patch Window allows you to save the patch information as a CSV file and then open it in a spreadsheet program.
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Programmer
Programmer
Clarity is a programmer and playback lighting controller and uses tracking playback by default. If you are unfamiliar with these terms it is recommended that you read the Operating Concepts and Terminology section at the end of this manual before proceeding. 8.1 OVERVIEW
When you have patched your fixtures you can begin programming by clicking on the Programmer tab. The basic principles of fixture programming are: 1. Select a fixture or multiple fixtures. 2. Adjust the fixtures attributes to get the desired look. 3. Record the fixture attributes values in a Preset or a Cue. The Programmer window allows you to perform these programming functions: 1. The Selection Sidebar is where you select fixtures. 2. Session Control is where you select a Programmer (2 available) in which to create your looks. The Programmer Tabs are where you select what you want to control, Attributes, Timing, Dynamics, Matrix, Media Servers or Favourites. Each of these tabs is described in its own section. The Attribute Controls that appear for the selected fixtures allow all attributes of those fixtures to be controlled. The Universal Control Panel can be used to control any type of fixture and provides basic controls for common attributes of selected fixtures. 3. The To Preset, Record and Append Last buttons allow you to record your programming. Record is fully described in its own section.
Programmer Tab Selection Recording Programmer Toolbar
Attribute Controls
Selection Sidebar
Universal Control Panel
Session Control selector Programmer Window with Attribute tab selected
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8.2
SELECTION SIDEBAR
All patched fixtures are available in the Selection Sidebar. Patched fixtures are automatically organized into tabs of each fixture type and the Groups tab automatically contains a group for every type of patched fixture. You can create your own groups and add them to the groups tab. The Sort tab provides additional fixture sorting. Fixture tabs can be renamed by right-clicking on them. Groups and Sort are described below. 8.3 SELECTING FIXTURES
Clicking on a fixture type tab reveals a list of all of the patched fixtures of that type.
Current Fixture type tab
Selection Sidebar Click: All, None, Odd or Even to select relevant fixtures of that type. Individual fixtures can be selected by clicking on them and deselected by clicking on them again. See Selection phase vs. Programming phase below. A range of fixtures can be selected by clicking the first fixture and dragging to the last fixture. A range of fixtures can also be selected by clicking on the first fixture then using [Shift]+clicking to select the last fixture in the range. [Ctrl]+ [A] (PC) or [Cmd]+ [A] (Mac) selects all fixtures in the current tab. 8.3.1 Selection phase vs. Programming phase
When selecting fixtures, every fixture or group that you select is added to the current selection. This allows you to build up complex selections of fixtures. Re-selecting a currently selected fixture or group removes it from the current selection. Clarity calls this the selection phase. As soon as you change any values of any of the selected fixtures Clarity changes to the programming phase. When the next fixture or group selection is made, Clarity changes back to selection phase and clears all previous selections. You can now build up your next selection of fixtures or groups to be programmed. The selections from the previous selection phase can be retained by holding the [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) key when making new selection. 8.3.2 Selecting Multiple Types of Fixtures Select a different fixture type tab and select your fixtures as described above. Previously selected fixtures are retained as long as Clarity is in selection phase (see above). 8.3.3 Deselecting Fixtures Individual fixtures can be de-selected by clicking on them. To deselect all fixtures in the current type tab click None in the Selection Sidebar. To deselect all selected fixtures in all type tabs click None in the Programmer Toolbar. Keyboard shortcut = [Space-bar] To clear all programmers and deselect all fixtures click Clear All twice.
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8.3.4
Selection Order
The order in which you select the fixtures is used for certain effects (such as fans and dynamics) and can be also utilized by the sort function described below. Selection order can be saved in a group (see below). 8.3.5 Attribute Quick Menus As an aid to quick programming, the name of each Attribute Control can be clicked or the Attribute Control area itself right-clicked to access the Attribute Control Quick Menus. These menus provide rapid access to common settings. Each individual Attribute Control has its own specific quick menu, offering functions relevant to that attribute. For example:
Intensity 8.3.6
Gobo Typical Attribute Quick Menus
Colour
Programmer Toolbar Fixture Buttons
Programmer toolbar fixture selection buttons The All button on the Programmer Toolbar has multiple functions: If Next or Prev has been used to control individual fixtures from a selection of fixtures, clicking All restores control of all selected fixtures. See Individual Fixture Control below for more details. If any fixtures have attributes grabbed in the current programmer session, clicking All will select all of those fixtures. Further clicks of All will cycle between selecting all patched fixtures and selecting programmer contents. If the current programmer is empty, clicking All will select all patched fixtures.
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Programmer
8.4
INDIVIDUAL FIXTURE CONTROL
When more than one fixture is selected, you can use the Programmer Toolbar buttons (or the same buttons on a VX20 wing) to refine your control to an individual fixture whilst still maintaining your multiple selections. Programmer Toolbar
8 Fixtures (devices) are selected. Each Attribute Control controls all 8 fixtures. Pressing Next will refine control to a single fixture within the current selection.
Fixture being controlled
8 fixtures (devices) are selected but control has been refined to a single fixture (StuCl575.1) allowing its attributes to be individually controlled. Step through the selected fixtures by pressing Next. Pressing Prev will step back to the previous fixture.
This function is especially useful when focusing fixtures one at a time, particularly when combined with the Highlight function. See Highlight in the Programmer Toolbar later in this section for details. Pressing All will restore control to all selected fixtures.
Hint: You can also use the keyboard's [Cursor down] and [Cursor up] to select the next and prev fixtures. [Cursor left] restores control to all selected fixtures. 8.5 GROUPS
The Group tab shows all of the available groups of fixtures. Clarity automatically creates a group from each type of fixture that has been patched. Selected fixtures can be saved as a new group by clicking Add Group and entering a name. The order in which the fixtures were selected is saved in the group. This order is used by Clarity when performing effects such as fans and dynamics. 8.5.1 Editing Groups To edit a group that you have created: Select the group then use the fixture selection methods described above to alter the fixture selection. In the Palettes tab, right click on the group and select Update item... Auto groups cannot be edited. 8.5.2 Sort The Sort tab shows the currently selected fixtures. Clicking on one of the following Sort buttons allows you to re-order the selected fixtures to suit the following criteria: ID by Unit ID order. Nm Name in alphanumeric order.
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Sel by original selection order. Rnd in random order. Mir in mirror order. Re-orders the current selection as first, last, second, second last, etcetera. For ID, Name and Sel, clicking the button a second time will reverse the sort order. Clicking the Mir button again will mirror the mirror. Clicking the Rand button again will re-randomize the sequence. Hint: For a quick symmetrical effect, select some fixtures in the order that they are rigged on stage. Mir (mirror) the selection. Set buddying to 2. Right click on a parameter attribute control and select Full Fan. 8.5.3 Subgroups In the Sort tab, entering a number in the Subgroups box will split the fixture selection into multiple parts. These subgroup parts can be used when performing fans and applying dynamics (real time effects). See Fanning and Dynamics for more details.
In this example subgroups is set to 1, so when the intensity is fanned, the intensity fanning is performed across all of the fixture selection.
In this example subgroups is set to 2, so when the intensity is fanned, the fixtures are split into 2 subgroups and the fanning is performed separately on each subgroup.
8.5.4
Buddying
In the Sort tab, entering a number in Buddying will group the fixture selection into buddies of 2, 3 or 4 etc. Buddy groups are used when performing fans and applying dynamics (real time effects). See Fanning and Dynamics for more details.
In this example, buddying is set to 2 and the In this example, buddying is set to 3 and the intensity has been fanned, so that each pair intensity has been fanned, so that each trio of fixtures gets fanned by the same amount. of fixtures gets fanned by the same amount.
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8.5.5
Ctrl Tab
Clicking on the Ctrl (Control) tab provides easy access to fixture-specific Control functions (Lamp on, Reset etc) for the selected fixtures. These will typically execute a pre-defined sequence as defined within the fixture library. The duration of these commands can be set in the user preferences.
Control Tab
8.5.6
Intensity and Colour Icons
Each fixture has an icon showing its current intensity and colour at the output. The icon's area varies from all black (0% intensity) through to all white or colour (100% intensity) depending upon the intensity of the fixture. The colour changes to match the output of the fixture. If the current programmer is set to Blind, the icon shows the fixtures intensity and colour in the programmer, even though the Programmer does not contribute any intensity to the output. See Blind for more details.
No Intensity
Intensity 50%, Color Blue
Intensity 100%, Color yellow
In the above example there are a range of colours and fixture1 is at 0% (black), 2 & 3 are at 25%, 4 & 5 are at 50%, 6 & 7 are at 75% and fixture 8 is at 100%. 8.5.7 Position Icons
Position panned right
Each fixture has an icon with a white dot showing its current position of its beam at the output.
Position tilted up
In the above example, fixtures 1 and 2 are panned to the right, 3, 4 and 5 are centred, and 6, 7 and 8 are tilted up. 8.6 SESSION CONTROL
The area at the bottom of the Programmer screen is called the Session Control. It contains two programmers and also any cuelists that you have selected to edit. See Editing Cues for more details on editing cuelists.
When you want to create a new look and record it into a cue, you do so by adjusting fixture attributes in a Programmer. Clicking on a Programmer (or a cuelist being edited) makes it
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Programmer
the current session. The current session programmer (or cue being edited) is coloured green. Clarity's uses Programmer 1 by default but you can use either programmer when you are creating looks to record as cues or presets. The programmers have priority over all other controls except for the GM (Grand Master), DBO (Dead Black Out) and Highlight buttons. The current session programmer grabs (takes control of) a fixture attribute as soon as you alter that attribute. If a programmer has grabbed any attributes from any fixture then its name turns yellow and <on stage> or BLIND is displayed on that programmer. 8.6.1 Altered Fixture Indication If a fixture has any of its attributes grabbed in the current session, an * is displayed beside the fixture name in the Selection Sidebar.
If any attribute of a fixture in any of the unselected fixture type tabs is grabbed in the current programmer a * is displayed on that fixture tab. In the above example, Studio Colours 9 to 16 are not currently selected but they have had some or all of the attributes grabbed (altered) in the current session because they have an * beside their names. Studio Colours 17 and 18 are selected but none of their attributes have been altered. The * on the T Beam F tab indicates that some (or all) of these fixtures are also grabbed in the current session. If the same attributes are grabbed in both programmers, the current session programmer has control of the attributes and the other programmer indicates Overridden. If only some of its attributes have been overridden by the current programmer it shows Part OVR. When you record a cue (described below), Clarity only records the contents of the currently selected programmer. Typically this is only the attributes that you have altered but there are options available. See section 16, Record for more details. 8.6.2 Blind Programming There are times when you might need to program or edit a cue without affecting the current look on stage. This is known as blind programming. To make the current session programmer blind, click Blind on the Programmer Toolbar. To make any programmer blind, right click on that programmer then select Blind. When a programmer is blind, it has no effect on the output but any attributes that are in that programmer are still recorded as usual. 8.6.3 Clearing a Programmer Clearing a programmer removes all attributes from that programmer. To clear the current programmer session, click Clear on the Programmer Toolbar. To clear any programmer, right click on that programmer then select Clear. To clear all programmers, click Clear All on the main toolbar. Pressing Clear All a second time clears the fixture selection.
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Programmer
8.6.4
Clearing a Fixture from a Programmer
To clear a fixture from a programmer, in the programmers Attribute tab, click the Menu button beside the fixture's Attribute Controller then select Clear Fixture. 8.6.5 Clearing an Attribute from a Programmer To clear a single attribute from a programmer, in the programmers Attribute tab, click the name of the Attribute Control or right-click anywhere on the Attribute Control then select Clear ### (where ### is the actual attribute name). PROGRAMMER TOOLBAR
8.7
At the top of the Programmer window is the Programmer Toolbar. It provides additional functions that you can use as you program as listed below:
Programmer Toolbar 8.7.1 Undo / Redo You can undo and redo all operations that you have performed in the Programmer window. A separate undo history is maintained for Programmer 1, Programmer 2 and any edit sessions. Repeatedly click Undo or Redo to step through the programming that you have performed. The Control Booth window has undo and redo commands for every cuelist that is saved or edited. Clicking Toolbox, Show Undo View, reveals the history list of all of the programming commands. You can instantly undo or redo to any step in the list by clicking on that step. 8.7.2 None, Prev, All, Next When more than one fixture is selected, you can refine your control to an individual fixture whilst still maintaining you multiple selection by pressing Prev or Next. Clicking All restores control to all selected fixtures. Clicking None deselects all fixtures. See Selecting Fixtures above for more details. Hint: Use the Highlight function (below) to identify the fixture being controlled. 8.7.3 Grab The Grab function automatically selects active fixtures. Clicking Grab offers two selections: Grab Active. Grabs all attributes that are active on the output of Clarity into the current programmer. Grab Active + Default. Grabs all attributes that are active on the output of Clarity PLUS all the other attributes of those fixtures that are at their Default level, into the current programmer. In other words, it grabs every attribute of any fixture that currently has any of its attributes active on the output of Clarity. 8.7.4 Preview Preview allows you to rehearse the transition from the previous state to the cue that you are creating before you actually record it. Clicking Preview pops up the Preview Cue dialog and the fixtures revert (in 0.5 second) to their original attribute settings prior to being altered by the current Programmer session (if you are editing a cuelist, then they will revert to the state of the preceding cue).
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Click Go to see the fixtures change back to the current programmer state (the cue that you are currently creating) using the times that you have set in the Timing tab. To see the move again click Reset then Go. Click Close to finish.
If the new look or the timing is not satisfactory adjust the attributes or timing (in the Timing tab) then preview the move again. See section 11, Timing for more details. If the programmer settings are satisfactory, then record the cue. 8.7.5 To Preset Clicking To Preset records a new Preset or Freeset, or updates an existing one. See section 17, Palettes for more information on Presets and Freesets. 8.7.6 Record/Save Clicking Record opens the Record Cue dialog box allowing you to record the current programmer settings as a cue in a cuelist. See section 16, Record for more details. If the current session is editing a cuelist, this button becomes Save. 8.7.7 Append last/Save As Clicking Append last provides a one-click method of automatically recording a cue as the next cue in the last recorded cue list. If you hover over the button with the mouse pointer, a tool tip will tell you which cuelist will be appended to. If the current session is editing a cuelist, this button becomes Save As. 8.7.8 Update
When you are playing back a show, the look on stage may be built up from several cues from different playbacks at the same time. You might decide to change the look on stage by using the programmer to override the attribute values from the cues or possibly add new attribute values. When you want to save the changes that you have made to the look, it can be difficult to know into which cue to record each altered values because the current look is made up of several cues plus the programmer output. The cues might also have been linked to presets and the cues might include tracked values from previous cues. Clarity's Update function can guide you through this operation by showing you which cues and presets have been overridden by the programmer. It offers you options to update the current cues or if the cuelist was in tracking mode you can select Trackback so that the changes are made to the earlier cue containing the hard values for the altered attributes. If a preset has been used you can choose to update the preset or to update the cue that linked to the preset. If some values in the programmer are new attributes and not overridden from a cue, you can either ignore them or select one of the cues contributing to the current look and merge the new attributes with that cue. To update cues that are currently on stage, make your changes in the programmer then click Update. The Auto Update dialog box appears:
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The Destinations pane shows the cuelists, cues and palettes that are contributing to the look on stage that have been overridden by the programmer. Each cuelist is ticked by default. If you don't want to update a particular cuelist, deselect its tick box. Each cuelist has a Trackback option ticked by default. This means that if this is a tracking cuelist, Clarity will, if necessary, trackback through the cues and update the cue with the hard value that has been tracked through to the current cue. If you deselect Trackback, the updated attribute values will only be applied to the current cue. Any presets that have been overridden are shown and ticked by default. This means that the changes in the programmer will update the preset. After the preset is updated, any remaining changes in the programmer will either be tracked back or applied to the current cue according to your selection. If the programmer also contains some new attributes that are not present in any of the cues currently contributing to the output, then these will, by default, not be stored. If you want to store this new information, select a location for it by clicking the drop down list near the bottom of the Auto Update dialog box. You can choose to add this new information to any of the cues currently contributing to the output. The preferred method of adding new information into an existing cue is to create the new attribute values in the programmer, click Record then select the existing cue and click Merge, Record. In addition to all of these choices, the top of the Auto Update dialog box allows you to: Mask any of the Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam attribute groups Only include selected fixtures. Preserve existing timing (trackback only). Finally, you can choose to Clear stored information from programmer when finished by ticking the box any information that wasnt stored remains in the programmer. To update all of the selected cues and/or presets click Update. 8.7.9 Highlight Clicking Highlight toggles the highlight function on or off. When more than one fixture is selected, clicking Next or Prev (on the Programmer Toolbar) cycles through the currently selected fixtures one at a time. If Highlight is on, the single fixture that is selected by Next or Prev is set to the highlight settings and the remainder of the selection is set to the lowlight settings. The default highlight setting is an open clear beam at 100% intensity. The default lowlight setting is an open clear beam at 50% intensity.
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This provides an easy means of identify the single fixture that is currently under control. See also Individual Fixture Control earlier in this section for more details. Hint: Use the [Home] key to toggle highlight on or off. Use cursor up [] or down [] arrows to select individual fixtures within your selection. You can also load the current highlight/lowlight values into the programmer by clicking either the Menu Button (for an entire fixture) or clicking an Attribute Control name and selecting either Load from Highlight or Load from Lowlight from the pop up menu.
Menu Button
8.7.10
Highlight and Lowlight settings
You can set your own highlight and lowlight values for every attribute. In the Programmers Attribute tab, select and adjust the attribute to the required value then right click on the Attribute Control. From the menu that appears, select either Set as Highlight or Set as Lowlight. 8.7.11 Blind Clicking Blind toggles blind on or off for the currently selected programmer or cuelist being edited. When a session is blind, it will have no effect on the output. When a cuelist is selected for editing it is blind by default. This can be changed in the user preferences. 8.7.12 Clear/Close If the current session is in either Programmer 1 or Programmer 2, this button reads Clear. Clicking Clear, clears the current programmer. If the current session is editing a cuelist, this button becomes Close. Clicking Close, closes the current cuelist being edited. You will be prompted to save your changes if you have edited a cue. PROGRAMMER TOOLBOX
8.8
Clicking Toolbox access further advanced functions as described below:
8.8.1
Show Undo View
Show Undo View shows the entire undo history for the current session. Clicking on a line in the history instantly jumps to that undo level. A separate history is saved for each programmer and each cuelist being edited. 8.8.2 Trim (knock out remainder) Trim (knock out remainder), clears all unselected fixtures in the current Programmer session.
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8.8.3
Remainder Dim
When Remainder Dim is clicked, all unselected fixtures that are currently grabbed in the programmer have their intensity in the programmer set to zero. To reverse the Remainder Dim command, use the Undo button. 8.8.4 8.8.5 Controls Renumber Fixtures Controls shows or hides the Universal Control Panel controls at the bottom of the window Renumber Fixtures opens a dialog box allowing you to change the unit number (Unit #'s) of selected fixtures. See section 10, Command Line Programming for more details. 8.8.6 Grab DMX Grab DMX opens a dialog box allowing you to grab DMX values from an external universe and apply them to the selected fixtures in Clarity's current programmer. See DMX Input below for more details. 8.8.7 Copy Copy copies the attribute values of the currently selected fixture or multiple fixtures to the clipboard. Keyboard shortcut = [Ctrl+C] (PC) or [Cmd +C] (Mac). 8.8.8 Paste Paste pastes the attribute values from the clipboard to the currently selected fixture or multiple fixtures. Keyboard shortcut = [Ctrl+V] (PC) or [Cmd +V] (Mac). Hint: Copy and Paste is a powerful function. It allows you to duplicate attribute settings between different types of fixtures with just a few clicks or keystrokes. For example, you have 12 fixtures that use Red, Green, Blue (additive) colour mixing and 12 fixtures that use Cyan, Magenta, Yellow (subtractive) colour mixing. Select the RGB fixtures and set them to a colour (or even fan a range of colours) then press [Ctrl+C] (PC) or [Cmd +C] (Mac). Select the CMY fixtures then press [Ctrl+V] (PC) or [Cmd +V] (Mac). All 24 fixtures are now set to matching colours. Claritys fixture translation engine is very comprehensive and will attempt to convert all programming for all attribute types. 8.8.9 Flip Flip will alter the current pan and tilt values of the selected moving yoke fixture(s) to the other possible combination of values that achieves the same position on stage. Moving yoke fixtures typically have 2 combinations of pan & tilt values that can aim the fixture at the same location. When a cuelist transitions from one position to another, it might be that the yoke does an undesired twirl because it current pan and tilt values cause it to take the indirect route to the new position. If this occurs, edit the cue containing the starting position and select the fixture that is taking the wrong path, then from the programmer's Toolbox click Flip, then save the edit. The fixture will now transition to the next cue via the opposite route. 8.8.10 Personalizing the Toolbar The Programmer Toolbar can be personalized by moving any button from the main toolbar to the Toolbox and vice versa. Right-click on any toolbar button and select Move to toolbox. Right-click on any toolbox item and select Move to toolbar. 8.9 EDITING RECORDED CUES
See section 1.1 in the Control Booth section for details on how to edit cues and cuelists. 8.10 KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS The following keyboard shortcuts are available: [Home] - Toggles highlight on or off
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[Cursor Up] or [Cursor Down] - When two or more fixtures are selected, they select the previous or next fixture respectively. When a single fixture is selected it will select the next or previous fixture by unit number. [Cursor left]: Whilst using next/prev for individual control of selected fixtures, pressing [Cursor left] will return control from next/prev stepping to all of the selected fixtures. Pressing [Cursor left] again selects the programmer contents and pressing again selects everything (all patched fixtures). Further presses toggle between programmer contents and everything. If you are not in next/prev mode, pressing [Cursor left] will select all grabbed fixtures in the current programmer and pressing again will select everything. Further presses toggle between programmer contents and everything.
[Space] - Clear the fixture selection for the current programmer. [Ctrl+C] (PC) or [Cmd +C] (Mac).- Copies the attribute values of the currently selected fixture or multiple fixtures to the clipboard. [Ctrl+V] (PC) or [Cmd +V] (Mac). - Pastes the attribute values from the clipboard to the currently selected fixture or multiple fixtures. [Ctrl+ Enter] (PC) or [Cmd + Enter] (Mac). Opens the Record Cue dialog box. [Page Up] or [Page Down] - In the Control Booth tab, they select the previous playback page or the next playback page respectively. Function keys [F1], [F2] etcetera are mapped to the respective > (Go) buttons of the Playbacks at the bottom of the Control Booth window.
8.11 DMX INPUT DMX data from other DMX devices can be grabbed by the current programmer. Click on the programmer's Toolbox menu and select Grab DMX....
In the Input devices/universes pane on the left, select an available DMX input. At the time of writing only ArtNet input is supported. In the Clarity universes pane on the right, select the Clarity universe to which the input DMX is to be applied. In the current programmer, select the fixtures to which the input DMX levels are to be applied. Click Grab, to apply the current input DMX levels to the selected fixtures in the current programmer. Click Close when finished.
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8.12 PARKING FIXTURES Fixtures (or just some parameters of fixtures) sometimes need to be isolated from regular programming and playback. For example, you want some work lights that always stay on at low level or a fixture has become faulty and you dont want it moving and making a noise during a show. When you isolate a fixture for these purposes it is commonly known as being parked. Clarity provides a several methods of parking fixtures: 1. Select Programmer 2 then select the fixture(s) and set them as required. Now switch back to Programmer 1. You can now continue to programme the show using Programmer 1. The contents of Programmer 2 remain on but will not be recorded in your new cues. 2. If you want some channels to always be on whenever you start your show (such as those that control DMX power racks for moving lights) then you can do this by: Recording a Cuelist with the channels you want set to 100% intensity. Set the Priority of the Cuelist to be higher than the programmer (use 150). Set the "Ignore Release All" option (found under the More button). Set the Preferences in the Show Menu to "Restore Playback State". Activate the cue and save the show. Whenever you load the show this cue will automatically run and stay on for the duration of the show.
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Attributes
9
9.1 OVERVIEW
Attributes
The Attributes tab in the Programmer window displays the attributes of the fixture(s) that have been selected in the Selection Sidebar. There are multiple ways of controlling the attribute values and thus creating the desired looks. When you change an attribute value, the attribute is grabbed in the current Session Control and its value is shown in its Attribute Control. 9.2 UNIVERSAL CONTROL PANEL
The bottom of the screen contains the Universal Control Panel which has generic controls for Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam. These controls work with any type of fixture that has been selected and are especially useful to simultaneously control selections of mixed fixture types. The Universal Control Panel is also available when adjusting timing and dynamics (described in the Timing and Dynamics sections).
Clicking and dragging in these controls uses low mouse gearing for accurate control, but can be made even finer by holding down [Shift]. In the Intensity box you can click on a preset value (0, 25, 50, 75 or 100%, Closed or Open) or drag in the Dimmer or Strobe areas. In the Position box you can drag to vary pan and tilt. In the Colour box you can drag to vary the colour. If the fixture only has limited colour selections (not full colour mixing) available, these will be indicated by small dotted boxes. Click on (or near) a box to select that colour. In the Beam box, you can drag to vary iris, focus and zoom. If the fixture has specific gobos, click on the gobo or Open Gobo to select it. 9.3 ATTRIBUTE CONTROLS
The area below each attributes name is known as an Attribute Control. The individual attribute values can be varied by dragging with the mouse in their respective area. You can also hold [Shift] when dragging for finer control.
Intensity Attribute Control
Tilt Attribute Control
In this example, the intensity of 5 fixtures has been dragged to 80%. See also Attribute Controls in the Quick Tour section for more details.
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Attributes
9.3.1
Attribute Quick Menus
The name of each Attribute Control can be clicked or the Attribute Control itself right-clicked to access the attribute quick menus. These menus provide rapid access to common attribute settings. Specific menus are available for each individual attribute. For example:
Typical Pan Attribute Quick Menu 9.3.2 Fixture Quick Menus
Typical Gobo Attribute Quick Menu
The Menu button in the top corner each fixture type can be clicked to access the fixture quick menus. These menus provide rapid access to common attribute settings for all selected fixtures of the same type. For example:
Fixture quick menu selector
Clicked quick menu showing options
9.3.3
Attribute Control Size
The Attribute Controls can be re-sized to allow you to trade off between screen area and detail by clicking either: Compact: One line is used for all devices of that type Capped: The height of the Attribute Control is limited to a maximum of 5 lines. Expanded: The Attribute Control is expanded to suit the number of selected devices. See section 6.4 for more details. 9.3.4 Attribute Control Order The order in which the Attribute Controls appear can be sorted by clicking the left-hand toolbar button:
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9.4
Logical: This uses standardized attribute ordering grouped into Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam Common: When multiple fixture types are selected, only the attributes that are common to all selected types are displayed. It uses the same ordering as for Logical. Natural: Each fixture type has the attributes arranged in the order they appear in the fixture itself. FANNING ATTRIBUTES
Fanning attribute values of multiple fixtures is a common procedure to achieve symmetrical looks on stage. Fanning spreads the values between the selected fixtures. For example, fanning the pan of several fixtures might spread their beams evenly across the stage. Pressing and holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) activates the Fanning function and a vertical bar with three nubs appears on each Attribute Control.
Fan Bar with 3 nubs
Whilst holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac), move the mouse cursor over the top or bottom nub, (it changes to a double headed arrow) then click and drag (whilst holding [Ctrl] or [Cmd]) the nub left or right to fan the values.
[Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac)+dragging the top or bottom nub rotates the bar around the centre nub and fans the values accordingly. [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) +dragging the centre nub fans from the middle out to the ends. 9.4.1 Offset Fanning
Whilst holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac), move the mouse cursor over the centre nub (it changes to a four headed arrow) then click and drag the nub up or down to move the fanning point off centre. Whilst still holding [Ctrl] or [Cmd], click and drag the top or bottom nubs left or right to create an offset fan.
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9.4.2
Fanning Selection Order
Fanning uses the order in which the fixtures were selected. You can change the look of the fan by changing the selection order. You can manually select fixtures in a specific order or your selection order can be stored as a group. See Groups above. Selection order can also be varied by using the Sort tab. See 8.5.2 Sort, in the Programmer section for details. 9.4.3 Fanning in the Universal Control Panel Selected fixtures can also have their attributes fanned by holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) and dragging in the Universal Control Panel.
Universal Control Panel showing Intensity, Strobe, Position and Colour all fanned
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Command Line Programming
10 Command Line Programming

10.1 OVERVIEW You can use command line programming to directly select fixtures and set intensity levels and fade times. If you type in a (fixture unit) number on your computer keyboard, the command line automatically appears at the bottom of the screen. You can select multiple fixtures and enter intensity and fade time values as described below.
10.2 FIXTURE SELECTION A Fixture can be selected by keying in a fixture unit number (see fixture unit numbering below) followed by [Enter]. For example: [22 Enter] selects fixture 22. A range of fixture unit numbers can be selected by using either the [/] key or the [>] key (both used as the command through) and you can also combine and subtract ranges using [+] and [-]. For example: [1 / 10 Enter] (selects fixtures 1 through 10). [1 / 10 + 20 / 30 Enter] (selects fixtures 1 through 10 plus 20 through 30). [1 / 30 - 11 / 19 Enter] (selects fixtures 1 through 30 except 11 through 19). The order of number entry is respected so that ..... [5 / 1 + 6 / 10 Enter], will get a fixture selection order of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. If you omit the end of the range, then Clarity defaults to the highest fixture unit number. For example: [1 / Enter] (1 through Enter) will select all fixtures. [10 / Enter] will select fixture 10 and all higher numbered fixtures. The [Space-bar] de-selects all fixtures. 10.3 INTENSITY ENTRY You can follow you fixture selection entry (above) with either [@] or [*] (used as the command AT) and specify a percentage intensity level, [F] for full or just [Enter] to default to full. For example: [1 / 10 * 100 Enter] [1 / 10 * F Enter] [1 / 10 * Enter] ...all set fixtures 1 through 10 at 100% intensity. You can also specify a range or a set of intensity levels. For example: [1 / 10 * 50 / 100] (1 through 10 at 50 through 100), will result in an intensity fan from 50% to 100% over fixtures 1 through 10. [1 / 10 * 50 + 70] (1 through 10 at 50 plus 70) will set alternate fixtures at 50% and 70% (50,70,50,70 etc.). Single digit values are also accepted as a shortcut value. For example: [1 / 10 * 5 Enter] will set fixtures 1 through 10 at 50%. Previously selected fixtures can be given an intensity.
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Command Line Programming
For example, if some fixtures is already selected, to set them all at full intensity press: [* Enter] To set them all to 0% press: [* 0 Enter] Hint: You can alleviate the need to press [Enter] when entering 2 digit intensity values by ticking the box for Auto-enter commandline after 2nd digit after AT in the User Preferences located in the Show tab. 10.4 FADE TIME ENTRY You can specify a fade time by appending [T] after the intensity followed by a time value in seconds. For example: [1 * 50 T 3.5] sets fixture 1 to an intensity of 50% and a fade time of 3.5s (only fade times are accepted and delay is set to 0s) 10.5 FIXTURE NUMBERING FOR KEYPAD ENTRY Keypad entry uses the fixture unit number to select fixtures. The unit number is allocated in the patch and shown beside each fixture in the programmers Selection sidebar. The attributes tab shows the fixture name by default. You can change this to show the Unit number by clicking Show, Preferences and ticking: Show unit number instead of fixture name.
Fixture unit 25 Fixture name
Fixture unit 25 Fixture unit number
10.5.1
Changing Fixture Unit Numbers
Fixture (unit) numbers can be easily changed to assist programming via keypad number entry. Select the fixtures to be renumbered in the order that you want to renumber them. In the Programmer window, click on the Toolbox and from the drop down menu select Renumber Fixtures... Use the dialog box to set the new Start Unit # number. The End Unit # number is automatically shown. The OK button is disabled if the currently specified range clashes with existing unit numbers. Alternately, individual fixtures can have their unit numbers changed in the Patch window. See section 7 for details.
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Timing
11 Timing
11.1 OVERVIEW The Timing tab in the Programmer window displays the timing of the attributes that are grabbed in the current session. See Session Control in the Programmer section for details on the current session.
Timing Control
The Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam Filter Attributes at the top of the pane allow you to filter (isolate) the desired attribute types. You can select them individually or they are multiselectable with a [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) + click. Below the filter attributes are the Timing Controls. When you first create a look in the Attributes tab, there will be a single Timing Control which will contain the timing for all grabbed attributes in the current session. The detail shown in the Timing Control can be varied by clicking on either: Compact: one line is used for all devices of that type Capped: the height of the Timing Control is limited to a maximum of 5 lines the individual value rectangles are compressed to fit into the available space. Expanded: the Timing Control is expanded to suit the number of selected devices. See section 6.4 for more details. 11.2 TIMES Attribute timing is divided into two parts; Delay Time. The time from when the cue starts until the selected attribute(s) begin to change. The default delay time is 0 seconds. Fade Time. The time taken for the attribute(s) to change to the value in the cue. The default fade time is 2 seconds. The delay time, fade time and total time (delay + fade) are shown in the Timing Control. When times are altered the display automatically zooms to show the entire duration.
Delay Time(s)
Fade Time(s)
Total Time(s) (duration)
11.3 SETTING TIMES WITH THE MOUSE The value part of a Timing Control is divided into a grid of 9 time boxes as indicated by the dotted lines in the Timing Control. The mouse cursor changes to indicate how the timing will be
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affected by dragging the mouse in each section. Clicking and dragging in one the relevant box performs the following actions:
Skew delay time from top to bottom without changing duration. Change delay time without changing duration. Skew delay from bottom to top without changing duration.
Skew delay time top to bottom. Change delay time. Skew delay time bottom to top.
Skew fade from top to bottom. Change fade time. Skew fade from time bottom to top.
Holding [Shift] whilst dragging gives finer control. 11.4 SETTING TIMES BY DIRECT ENTRY Double-clicking in the left, middle or right centre boxes of a Timing Control brings up an entry box where you can key in either the delay, fade or duration times respectively, then click [Enter]. Right-clicking in the left column displays a menu where you can choose to: Set delay times. Align delay times that have been skewed. Equalize uneven skewed delay times. Right-clicking in the centre column displays a menu where you can choose to: Set fade times. Align delay times that have been skewed and shift fade times accordingly. Equalize unevenly skewed delay times and shift fade times accordingly. Right-clicking in the right column displays a menu where you can choose to: Set duration times. Align duration times. Equalize unevenly skewed duration times.
11.5 PATHS Paths determine the way that attributes move during the times entered in the cue. The path icon in the top right corner of a Timing Control shows its current path setting. Clicking on the / icon reveals the available paths and allows you to select a path by clicking on it.
Current Path Icon
Available Paths
The available paths are: Linear: The attribute changes at a steady rate. Snap at start: When the delay time expires, the attribute snaps to its cue values. Snap at end: When the duration time expires, the attribute snaps to its cue values. Slow at start: The attribute starts slowly then speeds up as the cue time runs. Slow at end: The attribute starts quickly then slows down as the cue time runs.
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If multiple attributes are selected and they have different timing paths selected then is shown.
11.6 FILTERING TIMES Every attribute of every fixture can have its own individual set of times. It is common practice to set different times for different attribute groups. For example: When a cue is played back, the colour might instantly go to the desired setting but the position might wait for a second then move for 2 seconds. The delay and fade times shown in the Timing Control below are the same for all of the attributes of the fixtures. This is indicted by IPCB (Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam) beside the fixture names.
Timing Control sets times for IPCB attribute groups Filters are used to select different attributes so that individual times can be set. The Timing pane contains filters for the attribute groups of Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam. Clicking on a filter's name will result in a new Timing Control appearing, showing potential timing information for the filtered attributes of the selected fixtures.
Position filter has been selected. The lower Timing Control still controls IPCB (Intensity, Position, Colour, Beam) but the new Timing Control above it has been filtered for P (Position) information only. No change has yet been made and the new Timing Control is only temporary as indicated by the paler colour and the presence of the ? button in the top left corner. Clicking the ? button or dragging in the new Timing Control to change the time will lock in the timing.
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The right Timing Control now only controls ICB and the left Timing Control has taken control of P (Position) timing. You can now set the Position timing independently of the ICB timing. 11.6.1 Combining Filters Combinations of the Filters Attribute groups of Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam groups can be selected by using [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) + click to select and or de-select them. Individual attributes within a group can be selected by clicking on them. Combinations of individual attributes can be selected by using [Ctrl] or [Cmd] + click to select and or de-select them.
Position and Beam have been filtered.
Pan only from the Position group has been filtered. 11.6.2 Complex Timing The separate Timing Controls allow you to see a lot of timing information at a glance, even if attribute times are at very different orders of magnitude.
The above complex example has the following timing. Intensity (I) is delayed for 0.2 seconds then fades up over 1 second. Colour and gobo wheels (C B) snap to their settings instantly (0 seconds), before the fade up begins. Pan and Tilt (P) are delayed for 1.2 seconds (until the fade up is complete) then the position fans in over 10 seconds. 11.7 WAIT TIME In addition to the delay and fade times that can be set for every attribute, a cue also has a Wait time setting. By default, this is set to Halt so that at the conclusion of the previous cue, the cuelist will wait until the Halt cue is manually played. If you want a cue to be automatically played at the conclusion of the previous cue then set the Wait time to be either Follow (immediately follows the previous cue) or enter a wait time. Wait times can be set in the Record Cue dialogue box or by double clicking on a cues Wait setting in the Control Booth or Performance windows and selecting either Halt, Follow or entering a time.
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11.8 PREVIEWING TIMES You can preview (rehearse) your time settings before recording them in a cue. See Preview in section 8.7.4 for details. 11.9 RECORDING TIMES The times that you set are included when you record a cue. See Record in section16 for details. 11.10 RESET TIMING To reset the times for all attributes to the default values of delay = 0 and fade = 2 seconds click Reset Timing. 11.11 TIME PRESETS Time Presets and Freesets allow you to create building blocks of timing patterns for use in programming or to use them in live playback from the Palettes window. Time Presets are created in the Programmer windows Timing tab either via the To Time Preset button or via the MENU button on a specific timing group. 11.11.1 Recording Time Presets In the Programmers Attribute tab, select a fixture(s) and alter an attribute value. Click in the Timing tab and you will see the default times applied. Alter the times to the values that you require then click To Time Preset. The Record Time Preset dialog box opens and various options exist to control how these times are recorded and how they apply.
The Source pane allows you to filter the timing data that will be recorded by Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam. It also allows you to record the time data of the Selected fixtures only. The Options pane allows you to name the Time Preset and to specify the: Application mode. Choose either: Permutate. If the Time Preset was recorded using 3 fixtures and it is then applied to 12 fixtures, it will apply the Time Preset to the first 3, then apply it again to the next 3, the next 3 and so on. Permutate is the default setting. Scale. A scaling Time Preset is created by selecting only two fixtures and setting one's attribute values to the start value and the others attribute value to the end value. When this Time Preset is applied to a quantity of destination fixtures, the start value is applied to the first fixture in the selection and the end value is applied to the last fixture in the selection. All of the other selected fixtures gets an intermediate value that is graduated between the start and end values. IPCB. Choose either Common or Separate IPCB. This determines whether the Time preset will apply to any attribute type or to specific attribute types. The Preview pane shows a graphical preview of the resultant timing that will be saved in the Time Preset.
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11.11.2 Applying Time Presets In the Programmers Attribute tab, select a fixture(s) and alter an attribute value. Click in the Timing tab and you will see the default times applied. To apply a Time Preset, either click From time preset or click the MENU button on a specific timing group and select From time preset.
Click on the required Time Preset to apply it. Time Presets are also used by the Live Times dialog in the Palettes window to control the timing for Presets and Freesets that you apply.
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Dynamics
12 Dynamics (real time effects)

12.1 OVERVIEW Dynamics can save you hours of programming time by creating movement from an otherwise static cue. The Dynamics pane allows you to add modulation (variation) to any attribute or combination of attributes. When a cue has been played back, the attribute values will normally be steady on the recorded values in that cue. Dynamics add movement by continuously varying the (selected) attribute values. These varying values are created by waveforms. Different waveforms (such a sine wave, a ramp or a square wave etc) have different shapes and therefore cause different movements. Varying the rate, phase, duty cycle etc of a waveform will cause a corresponding change in the attributes that it controls. 12.2 APPLYING DYNAMICS Select the required fixtures in the selection side bar then in the Dynamics tab, click New.
The Add New Effect dialog box appears:
Selected attributes Channel Sets
The Channel Sets pane on the left provides quick-access to some predefined attribute combinations. Click on a channel set to select it. The channel set selected in the left pane can be further filtered in the right pane by clicking on Intensity, Position, Colour or Beam or on the individual attributes. Combinations of attributes can be selected by using [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) +click or by dragging. If you select a channel set, then alter the selection of attributes in that channel set, you can save your new selections by either updating the current channel set or saving your selections as a new channel set. To update an existing channel set, make your new attribute selection then click on Update. To add your own channel set, click on the name box below Channel Sets and type a new name then click Add. The Update button changes between Add or Update depending whether the name entered matches a name in the list. When you have selected the attributes to which dynamics are to be applied, click OK. A separate set of Offset, Centre, Amplitude, Top and Bottom dynamics Attribute Controls will appear for each attribute.
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12.3 CONTROLLING DYNAMICS

Current waveform Waveform selection and modifiers Spin Box Pan Attribute controls Tilt Attribute controls
Selected Attributes
The list at the top-left of the pane shows the attributes that you selected for dynamics to be applied to and at the bottom are the sets of dynamic Attribute Controls, one set per attribute. The controls in the centre allow you to select a waveform and to modify various aspects of that waveform. The current waveform including the effects of the selected modifiers is shown on the right. 12.3.1 Waveform Control The following selections control the waveform: Waveshape: Select the waveshape used to modulate the selected attribute(s) by clicking on the drop down arrow. The available waveshapes are: Sine, Triangle, Square, Ramp-up, Ramp-down, Hump, Random (slow, med or fast), Random (Slow snap, Medium snap or Fast snap). Phase shift %: when working with multiple attribute types (e.g. pan & tilt) each attribute can have its own phase offset from the others. The -25% and +25% buttons provide rapid phase shift alterations. For example, if a sine wave is used to modulate Pan and Tilt, selecting only the Pan and setting its offset to 25% will achieve a circle. Duty factor: this controls how much of the total time is spent 'within' the waveform itself. For example, if duty factor is set to 1, the waveform runs continuously. If duty factor is set to 2, the waveform runs for half of the time then waits for the other half of the time before it runs again. You can use this in conjunction with offset (see below) to establish chase type effects. Rate: Sets the rate of the modulation in bpm (Beats per minute). To vary the rate you can either enter a value, click the up and down arrows or move the spin box roller which provides smooth variable control.
Click for Spin Box Roller
Spin Roller
Just click then drag with the mouse to activate a virtual spin roller wheel that adjusts the box values. When adjusting the value, you can drag over the entire height of the screen. If you hold [Ctrl] and click and drag, then when your mouse pointer moves above or below the virtual wheel it continues to spin with inertia.
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/2: Halves the current rate. *2: Doubles the current rate. Mirror check box: Doubles the waveform and reflects it about the middle. Metro. Sync: Synchronizes the stepping of the waveform to the Performance windows metronome. 12.3.2 Dynamics Attribute Controls
The dynamics Attribute Controls allow you to modify the values that are applied to each individual fixture attribute being modulated by the selected waveform. The values can be directly changed by dragging with the mouse in their respective Attribute Control and they work in the same way as regular Attribute Controls.
Dynamics Attribute Controls The Offset, Centre, and Amplitude Attribute Controls control how the waveform is applied to the attributes. Amplitude: sets the size of the waveform and hence the size of the effect. Offset: defines the starting position on the overall waveform. Offset is commonly used to spread the spacing of an effect between several fixtures. For example, a sine wave is applied to the position attributes of 4 fixtures. Pan is filtered and phase shifted by 25%. This produces a circle effect with all 4 fixtures focused on the same point as they move around the circle. Select both Pan and Tilt then fully fan the Offset values. The beams of all 4 fixtures are now evenly spaced apart as they move around the circle. Hint: To fully fan the Offset, right click on Offset then select Full Fan. Hint: You can use Duty Factor in conjunction with the offset control to create interesting chasetype effects. The Centre, Top and Bottom Attribute Controls can be used in different ways depending upon the selection of the Standard, Ranged, Scaled or Pile-add buttons. Standard: uses just the Centre value with Amplitude, so that the centre value is modulated with an amount controlled by the amplitude. Ranged: uses the Top and Bottom values together with Amplitude, so that the attribute moves between the top and bottom extents. Amplitude controls how far the output value travels towards the top and bottom value. Scaled: is the same as ranged, except that there is also a Centre value so that the output value can be asymmetrical. Pile-add: in this mode no base attribute values are specified, so that the current attribute value (e.g. from another cuelist) is modulated by the waveform. For example, this would allow you to create a cue that defines a circle effect that could be played over the top of any other cuelist, such as a cuelist that moves the circle position between points on the stage. Link offset and link amplitude: are for multi-attribute operation so that all attributes can be adjusted simultaneously. For example, when adjusting the size of a circle effect, clicking Link amplitude allows you to adjust the amplitude of both Pan and Tilt simultaneously by adjusting only Pan's Amplitude Attribute Control. Invert: this check box inverts the waveform for the selected fixtures. For example, to achieve a can-can effect, set a row of fixtures to tilt up and down. Next, select only the odd fixtures and tick Invert.
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12.4 MULTIPLE ATTRIBUTE DYNAMICS To control another attribute by dynamics click New.
The Add New Effect dialog box opens and you can select another attribute or multiple attributes as described at the start of this section. When multiple attributes are being controlled by dynamics you can select which attributes to alter by clicking on them. Combinations of attributes can be selected by using [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) +click or by dragging.
Selected Attributes
Each selected attribute(s) can have its own waveform and modifiers selected. For example, select the pan and tilt attributes of a fixture and set them to a sin waveshape running at 15 cycles/min. Click on pan (only) select a different waveform and double the pan speed to 30 cycles/min. You now have a figure of eight effect. 12.4.1 Stopping Dynamics To remove the current dynamics from an attribute, select the attribute then click Stop.
12.4.2
Resync
Clicking Resync (Re-synchronize) forces all current attribute waveforms to the same starting offset. Resync is useful if different waveforms are being used and you have adjusted the rate of one of them, causing it to get out of sync. If you then set it back to the original rate it will possibly still be out of sync with the other waveforms. Clicking Resync will restore the synchronization of the waveforms. 12.4.3 Attribute Control Dynamics Indicators In the Programmer's Attribute tab, any grabbed attributes that are currently being modulated by a Dynamic effect have a sine wave symbol on the left of their Attribute Control.
Dynamics Indicator ~
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13 Intensities
13.1 OVERVIEW The Programmers Intensities tab displays the intensity channel of every patched fixture represented by two separate vertical bars. The left bar shows the programmer level (if any) and the right bar shows the output level. The numbers below each channel are the fixture unit numbers as set in the patch.
The cells are colour coded to indicate the following: Inactive. The channel has no intensity value in an active playback or in a live programmer. Active Playback. The channel has an intensity value in an active playback. Main Playback. The channel has an intensity value in the main (selected) wing playback and the playback is active. Programmer - changed. The channel has an intensity value in a live Programmer. Programmer - unchanged. A cue containing the channel is being edited live and the channel value has not been changed by the programmer. Click the Show Legend button to display the colour code. Select channels by clicking on them. The usual selection rules apply as described in section 8.3. A range of channels can be selected by clicking and dragging on the unit numbers. The intensity level of the selected fixtures can be varied by clicking and dragging on the bar area.
When editing blind you can see at a glance the difference between the on stage values on the right and the blind programmer levels on the left. 13.2 CHANNEL CONTROLLER MODE Channel Controller Mode is a method of lighting control commonly used in television production. Channel controller mode differs from Programmer Mode in that when a cue is edited the edits are live and the cue including its edited values remains under the overall level control of its playback master. Therefore if the playback master is at 100% then editing is live to stage, if the fader is at zero, the edits cannot be seen on the output. If the fader is at 50%, it is live to stage, but dimmed to half levels. In Channel Controller mode, the edit session can remain open and the edited cue can be used without necessarily updating the original cue. This is useful for a one off edit that might not be required when the same cue is used again at a later time or on another day. The playbacks master still fades the cue up and down and if the cuelist is advanced to the next cue the edit session automatically keeps track. If the edit is to be kept, the changes are saved back to the original cue. If the edits are not to be kept the edit session is closed and the changes are discarded.
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13.2.1
Settings for Channel Controller Mode
Channel controller mode of operation is achieved by the selection of certain user preferences and by the method in which Clarity is operated. On the main menu click Show, Preferences and set the following User Preferences:
Start cuelist edit blind. Not ticked. Now when you edit a cuelist, the edit session will be live <on stage>. Connect fader for cuelist edit. Ticked. If a cuelist on a playback is edited, the playbacks intensity fader controls the output level of its edit session. Programmer follow selected playback. Ticked. If multiple edit sessions are open, the current session being edited will follow the selected playback. Show unit number instead of fixture name. Ticked. This preference is not essential for Channel Control mode but it aids its operation because it shows the unit number of the selected fixtures name in the programmer attributes tab. The unit number is used when selecting fixtures using command line programming. Command line programming can speed up fixture selection. See section 10 for details. 13.2.2 Operating in Channel Controller Mode Cues are created and recorded in the usual manner in the programmer. See sections 8 and 16 for details. When playing your show you can basically forget about the programmer. If you playback cues using a VX wing and you want to make changes, you edit the cue by pressing Edit and then any flashing button of the playback to be edited. The edit session opens in live mode. Select channels (use number keypad entry for speed) and change levels using the trackball. You can use any of the programmers tabs but the Intensities tab gives you an instant picture of the output intensity levels. The cue can still be faded up or down with the playbacks master. Multiple cuelists can be edited at the same time and the edit sessions will follow the selected playback and the active cue on that playback. To keep the changes click Save (updates to the current playback) or to revert to the original cue values on the playback click Close / Discard. Hint: If you record several cuelists that only contain one cue each and load them onto playbacks, set the Go on fader up option for each cuelist. In the Control Booth, click on the cuelist then in the Playback pane click More >> then tick Go on fader up. Now each playback will always be active when it is faded up.
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14 Matrix
14.1 OVERVIEW The Programmers Matrix tab displays the Matrix pane which allows you to place fixtures on a two dimensional grid and then display static or moving imagery on them. Therefore, the fixtures output can be tightly integrated into a complete lighting and visual show. Clarity allows you to control and program the imagery just like any another lighting fixture. The imagery can be displayed in colour on RGB, RGBA and RGBW (Red, Green Blue, Amber, White) LED fixtures or in monochrome on any fixtures that have an intensity channel. When you patch LED arrays, Clarity automatically sub-divides them so that you can either work with the entire array or access the individual cells. For LED types that don't have dedicated intensity channels, virtual intensity channels are automatically created. 14.2 TERMINOLOGY Pixel Matrix This is the physical mapping of lighting fixtures onto a rectangular area. Pixel Source Each Pixel Matrix contains one or more Pixel Sources. You can add Pixel Sources to a Pixel Matrix by clicking New Source. Media Each Pixel Source can contain one or more media files. You can add media to each Pixel Source by selecting that Pixel Source and clicking Add Media. Virtual Fixture Clarity creates a virtual fixture for each Pixel Source. Virtual fixtures appear in the Selection Sidebar in the PixSrc tab as PixelSource.1, PixelSource.2 etc. This allows Clarity to treat each Pixel Source just like a regular lighting fixture. It can be manipulated in the programmer (media selection, size, position, shape, speed etc), recorded into cues and it can also be controlled by Presets and Dynamics (real-time effects).
14.3 PATCHING A LED MATRIX In the Patch window, select your manufacturer/model of LED matrix and patch the appropriate quantity to the DMX locations (addresses) that match the addresses of the fixtures. See section 7, Patch for details. 14.4 CREATING A MATRIX In the Programmers Matrix tab, click New Matrix to create a new Pixel Matrix and display the Matrix Settings dialog box:
Use the controls at the top to select the appropriate width and height of the matrix to suit your physical array. You can enter a descriptive name for the matrix in the Name box.
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The available (patched) devices are listed on the left-hand side and are divided into two categories: RGB(AW). All fixtures that use Red Green Blue colour channels including those with Amber or White. Typically these are LED arrays. Intensity. All fixtures with an intensity channel.
To setup a matrix select the category that matches your type of fixture then select your fixtures then drag them into place on the matrix. A range of fixtures can be selected by clicking on the first fixture then using [Shift] + click to select the last fixture in the range. [Ctrl + A] (PC) or [Cmd + A] (Mac) will select all fixtures. You can rotate the device whilst dragging, by holding the [Shift] key (90) or [Ctrl]/[Cmd] (180) or both (270). Multiple fixtures can be selected by using [Ctrl]/[Cmd] + click. If you use fixtures from the Intensity tab, the resultant output from the matrix will be in monochrome. When multiple fixtures are selected and dragged onto the matrix the Assign multiple fixtures to matrix dialog will appear and allow you to specify in what order you would like the selected fixtures to be laid out in the matrix.
The default order is left to right, top to bottom. Click on the desired ordering icon then click OK. When fixtures are on the matrix they can be dragged to reposition them. To remove a fixture from the matrix, drag it back to the device list. When all fixtures are correctly placed on the matrix, click OK. A PixSrc tab is automatically created in the Selection Sidebar. It contains the virtual fixtures that are associated with each Pixel Source as described above. 14.5 EDITING A MATRIX To edit or check the settings of an existing matrix click Matrix Settings on the Matrix tab's toolbar. Editing a matrix uses the same methods as Creating a Matrix described above. 14.5.1 Deleting a Matrix To delete a matrix, select the tab for the matrix to be deleted then click Delete Matrix on the Matrix tab's toolbar.
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14.6 MATRIX CONTROL
The left hand image is a view of the source media for the selected Pixel Source and its cursor shows where the source areas transforms will be applied. In the example above, the cursor is full screen. The right hand image shows you a preview of how the various transformations will affect the output image. The transformations to the image are controlled by sliders in the centre section of the screen. A default media place holder image (coloured swirls) is shown until you add your own media files. At the bottom of the view are the available Pixel Sources for the selected Pixel Matrix. Each Pixel Matrix can have one or more Pixel Sources assigned to it. 14.7 TRANSFORMS In the centre of the screen are the transformation controls:
The left-hand column controls the source image. Source transform options allow you to isolate sections of the source area, change the source aspect ratio, apply rotation and control moving image playback. Click and drag anywhere within each slider box to vary the setting. Source Area. Adjusts the size of the source area window allowing you to select all or only some of the source image. X. Adjusts the horizontal position of the source area window. Y. Adjusts the vertical position of the source area window. You can also click on the actual source window and drag its position. Rotation. Rotates the source image about the Z axis. Aspect. Adjusts the aspect ratio of the source image. Seek. Sets the current (still) frame of a movie, but only when the Run / Stop control is paused (at 0).
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Run/Stop. If the current media is a movie file, then this starts, stops or restarts the movie. When set to zero, playback is paused, and above zero, playback is running. If the control is moved to full, then the movie restarts from the beginning. Speed. Set the playback speed.
The right hand column controls how the selected Pixel Source image is mapped onto the matrix. Output transformations allow you to scale and position the resultant image and apply rotation in the x, y and z planes. Perspective adds perceived depth to x and y rotations. Output Zoom. Sets the size of the output image. X. Adjusts the horizontal position of the output image. Y. Adjusts the vertical position of the output image. You can also click on the actual output image and drag its position. X Rotation. Rotates the output image about the X axis. Y Rotation. Rotates the output image about the Y axis. Z Rotation. Rotates the output image about the Z axis. Perspective. For X & Y rotation this controls the apparent perspective, and is more noticeable with larger matrices and/or higher anti-alias values (see below). To see the effect of this, zoom the output image out a little and set Perspective to full. When you then apply X or Y rotation you will notice that the image has a pronounced '3D' quality to it. Aspect. Adjusts the aspect ratio of the output image. Intensity. Adjusts the intensity of the output image Opacity. Adjusts the opacity of the output image Anti-Alias x is not a recordable attribute. This effectively multiplies the size of the output image so that each LED gets an average of a number of pixel values, rather than just mapping to a single colour. Generally this achieves smoother movement on the LED with higher values, but at the expense of some computer processing speed. This is automatically set to an appropriate value when the matrix size is set. Reset sets all source image and output image controls to their default values. 14.8 ADDING MEDIA TO A PIXEL SOURCE Multiple media (still images or movies) can be added to a pixel source and then any one of the media can be selected. Many common static and Apple QuickTime image formats are supported. Note: QuickTime must be downloaded and installed separately for video format support. To add media to a Pixel Source either: Select the Pixel Source (by clicking on it) then click Add Media..., or Right click on the Pixel Source and select Add/Remove Media... The Add Media dialog box appears:
The media files currently assigned to the Pixel Source (if any) are shown on the left. To add media click Add... then select the file. Clicking on a file in the Current Media pane shows a preview in the Preview pane. To delete media, select the file then click Remove. When finished click OK.
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14.9 SELECTING MEDIA IN A PIXEL SOURCE To select any one of the loaded media for a Pixel Source, select the Pixel Source by clicking on it then click on the drop down box at the bottom of the transform controls and select the required media.
Select Media for Pixel Source
14.10 ADDING AND DELETING PIXEL SOURCES To create a new Pixel Source click New Source on the Matrix toolbar. The new pixel source appears at the bottom of the pane and it is automatically selected. Media is added to the new source as describe above. Clicking on a pixel source selects that pixel source.
Click on a PixelSource to select it
To delete a Pixel Source click on that Pixel Source then click Delete Source or right click on the Pixel Source and select Delete. 14.11 VIEWER Clicking Viewer activates the viewer window which allows you to see exactly what will be sent out to the pixel matrix. Images will not be shown on the output until the Pixel Source has been activated. See below for details. 14.12 ACTIVATING A PIXELSOURCE Up to this point, all of your media selections and image transforms have been applied to the Pixel Sources (virtual fixtures) and grabbed in the current programmer session. No intensity information (media images) has been grabbed by the current programmer or sent to the output. When you select a Pixel Source and click Activate, the relevant channels of the actual LED fixtures that make up your matrix are grabbed into the current programmer session so they can be recorded to the desired cue. The transformed image is sent to the LED matrix and you can also see it in the viewer (see above). The LED cells of your matrix array are sent intensity values that are calculated based on the current transforms (if any) and the current media data. This media data might be constantly changing if the media is a movie file. If you record a cue without clicking Activate, the cue will only contain any transformations and media selections that you have made. If you record a cue after clicking Activate, the cue will also contain the relevant channels of the actual LED fixtures to which the media data will be sent. These choices allows you to create cues that only control the transforms or cues that only select the media or cues that control both the transforms and media.
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For example: Program a chase that only varies the image transformations of Pixel Source 1 Program a cuelist that performs transitions between Pixel Source 1 and Pixel Source 2 but does not contain any transforms. 14.13 ACTIVATING SELECTED CELLS Beside the Activate button is a drop-down menu that allows you choose to activate either the entire Pixel Matrix (the same as the Activate button) or only a selected range of cells. You select a range of cells by dragging on the right hand preview image with the right mouse button.
Only the selected cells are included when a cue is recorded. This allows you to isolate selectable areas of the matrix so that you could have different Pixel Sources applied to the different areas or you might want to control some areas of the matrix by conventional programming using the Attributes tab. You can right click (without dragging) to clear the selection rectangle. 14.14 PIXEL SOURCE LAYERING AND TRANSPARENCY If you use multiple Pixel Sources you can blend the media files from each Pixel Source. Each Pixel Source can have any other Pixel Source set as its Background. If you vary the Opacity of the foreground image, then the background can blend into the foreground. If the foreground PixelSource image file contains transparency, then the background image will be visible through the transparent parts of the foreground image. To select a background for a Pixel Source, select that Pixel Source then click in the Background combobox and select another Pixel Source as the background. Note: The background calculation is only performed one level deep - it is not possible to cascade backgrounds through more that one level. 14.15 PIXELSOURCE TRANSITIONS You can transition between different Pixel Sources (and hence between different media) by recording them into successive cues in a cuelist. This transition is in the form of a timed wipe. For example, add another Pixel Source (above) and add some media files to it. Select the required media for the next look on the new Pixel Source. Click Activate then click Set Timing. The Matrix Timing dialog box appears.
Timing profile is a graphical representation of the direction of the wipe. Click the drop down arrow to select other wipes. In the example above, the wipe goes from left to right (from dark to light). Invert reverses the direction of the wipe.
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Rotation allows simple rotation of the wipe. Click the drop down arrow to select 90, 180 or 270 degrees. Wipe duration controls the speed of the wipe. Blend time controls how long each pixel takes to transition. In the above example, the total crossfade time would be 2 seconds. With the wipe selected, append this to the cuelist as the next cue (remember to Activate the Pixel Source). You can add additional wipes as simple monochrome images that you can easily create with any paint program. Contact LSC for details. 14.16 DYNAMICS You can add continuous dynamic effects to any of the transforms by using dynamics tab. Select the Dynamics tab then click New.
Select the attribute(s) to which you want to add dynamic effects then click OK. See Dynamics (real time effects), section 12 for more details. 14.17 RECORDING MATRIX SETTINGS Matrix Settings are recorded as a cue in a cuelist, just like recording cues for regular lighting fixtures. The values that you set are grabbed in the current programmer (together with any timing values that you might set in the timing tab) and are included in any cues by clicking on the red Record button. See Record, section 16 for details.
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15 Media Servers
15.1 OVERVIEW Media servers provide video and graphics playback for visual projection on video screens or LED walls. Clarity allows you to control media servers and program them just as if they were another lighting fixture. Therefore, their output can be tightly integrated into a complete lighting and visual show. 15.2 PATCHING MEDIA SERVERS Media servers that you control from Clarity must be patched just like you would patch a lighting fixture. Many media servers use a master fixture that controls global aspects of the server such as brightness, contrast, mask, keystone etc. Each layer of the media server is also patched as a separate fixture. Servers usually require that the master and layers are patched in a contiguous fashion. This means that the last DMX channel used by the first fixture of the server must be immediately followed by the first channel of its next fixture, etc. In the Patch window's Library pane, select the manufacturer then the model of the media server. Drag and drop the media servers master fixture and each layer fixture onto the required DMX universe and starting slots (as set in the media server). Refer to your Media Servers documentation for details on its DMX control and set-up. 15.3 NETWORK CONNECTION The media server must be run on a different machine to Clarity. Media servers broadcast their presence over Ethernet. If Clarity is on the same network, it picks-up these broadcasts and automatically connects to supported media servers. Clarity will then download the available thumbnails of the media in the server. Usually these are just media thumbnails but some will also supply effect thumbnails. Most media servers also broadcast their configuration, including their number of available layers and patch status. Once thumbnails are downloaded they are saved to a cache file so that they are available for (off line) programming without the physical media server being connected. When the show is loaded, if the media server is not physically present, cached is shown on the relevant media. 15.4 CONFIGURATION To configure a media server, in the programmers Media Servers tab click Configure, Auto Configure, OK. When a new media server is discovered on the network, its identity (name and IP address) is compared to the existing cached servers. If the identity of the new media server exactly matches that of an existing cached media server then it is automatically used. If the new media server has not been used before, a Configuration Wizard is displayed to walk you through some configuration choices. These choices include whether to replace another existing cached media server and whether to patch new matching devices or re-use some existing patched devices that are suitable for this media server. 15.4.1 Reload The thumbnails for the selected media server can be updated by reloading them from the server. Select the tab of the media server to be reloaded (described below), then on the toolbar click Reload. A progress bar shows the status of the reload operation. 15.5 MEDIA SERVER OPERATION In the Programmer window, the Media Servers tab allows you to control a media server in the same manner as you would program the attributes of a lighting fixture and then to record your settings as cues in a cuelist. You can of course include Timing values and Dynamics in the cues that you record. See the Timing and Dynamics sections for details. The available media servers are organized into individual tabs at the bottom of the screen and each server has two sub-tabs, the Browser tab and the Controls tab.
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Browser
Controls
Selected Layer Selected Server Tab
Layer Controls
Level Control
Media Server Browser tab 15.5.1 Browser The Browser tab shows the available folders in the left hand pane and the contents (media items) of the selected folder in the right hand pane. At the bottom are the Layer Control Attribute Controls, one for each patched media layer of the selected server. Select a Layer Attribute Control by clicking on it. The selected Layer has a yellow border. Clicking on a media item in the browser selects that item and sends it to the selected layer. The output Level control at the bottom of each Layer Control Attribute Control can be varied by dragging with the mouse. 15.5.2 Controls The Controls tab shows all of the attributes of the selected layer including the media selection and Level attributes controlled from the Browser tab.
Media Server Controls tab Click on a layer to select it then use the Attribute Controls to adjust that layers settings. The available attributes will vary depending upon the type of Media Server that has been patched. Typical attributes are: effects, rotation, zoom, copy mode, masks, transitions etc. etc. These are varied by dragging in the Attribute Controls, just like controlling lighting fixtures. See section 8, Programmer for details.
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15.6 RECORDING CUES Media server settings are recorded as a cue in a cuelist, just like recording cues for lighting fixtures. The values that you set are grabbed in the current programmer together with any timing values that you might set in the Timing tab and dynamics set in the Dynamics tab and are included in a cue by clicking on the red Record button. See section 16, Record for details. 15.7 SUPPORTED MEDIA SERVERS Clarity currently supports the open-standard CITP/MSEX protocol as well as the Hippotizer HMAP protocol for thumbnail exchange. The following media servers are supported by Clarity. Green Hippos Hippotizer V3. ArKaos VJ DMX. ArKaos Media Master. Pandoras Box Robe DigiSpots
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16 Record
16.1 OVERVIEW The looks that you create with the programmer can be recorded into Cuelists for later playback. A cuelist can contain any quantity of individual cues. The transition from one cue to the next in the list can be set to be either manually started or automatically started at the completion of the previous cue. Each cue can have its own delay and fade times. A cuelist can be set to automatically chase through the cues at a set rate. Chases can be synchronized to a common tempo (Metronome). The cues that you record can also include times and dynamics (real time effects). They might also contain values that you have created for Matrices (LED arrays) or Media Servers. Times, Dynamics, Matrices and Media Servers are all described in their relevant sections. 16.2 RECORDING A CUE There are many options to consider when recording a cue. These options control exactly what is recorded in each cue and its suitability to different modes of playback. To record a cue, click the red Record button on the main toolbar. The Record Cue dialog box appears:
Hint: You can also record a cue by pressing [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) + Enter] on the computer keyboard. The tabs on the top left allow you to choose to record a New Cuelist or to add a cue to existing Cuelists or a Recent cuelist. To create a new cuelist and record the first cue click the New Cuelist tab. Clicking in the Name box allows you to enter a name for the new Cuelist. To accept the default settings and record the first cue click Record. 16.2.1 Cuelist Playback Options When recording a New Cuelist, many playback options can be selected in the Chase and Playback panes of the Record Cue dialog box. Setting of these Playback options is not essential when recording a new cuelist because these 2 panes are also available in the Control Booth window and you can set or change these options when you playback the cuelists. However, setting Playback to either Tracking or Cue Only will automatically select the appropriate option in the Contents pane. See Record Cue Contents Options below. Playback options are fully described in section 18.2.
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16.2.2
Adding Cues to a Cuelist
When recording a cue to an existing cuelist, the new cue is usually appended to the end of the cuelist. In the Record Cue dialog box, a green arrow on the cuelist shows where the new cue will be added. See also Append Last below. To append a new cue to the end of the list (where the green arrow is pointing), click Record. To insert a new cue between two existing cues, click in between the two cues. The green arrow will show the insertion point in the list and the new cue will automatically be given a number between the two existing cue numbers. To insert the cue click Record. If you click on an existing cue you can choose to either Merge with the existing cue or Replace or Remove the existing cue. See also Cue Contents Options below. 16.2.3 Naming a Cuelist and Cues When you record a new cuelist, the Cuelist Name box is automatically selected ready for you to name the cuelist. Pressing [Tab] will then select the Cue Name box ready for you to enter a cue name. When you record a cue in an existing cuelist, the Cue Name box is automatically selected ready for you to name the new cue. 16.2.4 Wait / Follow In the Copy/record options pane, clicking in the Wait drop down box allows you to select either Wait or Follow. Wait. The cue will wait until you manually start it. Follow. The cue will automatically start when the previous cue in the cuelist finishes. Wait Time. If you double click in the wait time box you can enter a wait time (in seconds) after which the cue will automatically start when the previous cue in the cuelist finishes 16.2.5 Cue Only Cue Only is an advanced function. When you are playing back in tracking mode, there might be occasions where you want to playback a one off cue and you do not want the values in that cue to track into later cues in the cuelist. This is achieved by recording a cue as cue only. Ticking the Cue only (changes revert on next cue) in the record cue dialog box will record a cue that contains all of the touched values in the programmer and tag those channels for playback as q only. When a cuelist is played back in tracking mode, any channels that are tagged as q only will only affect the output state for that cue. When the next cue is played back, the state from the most recent (non cue only) cue is restored automatically plus any new values in the incoming cue are used. See section 27.8.2 for more details. 16.2.6 16.2.7 Merging a Cue Only cue Editing a Cue to be Cue Only Merging a cue only cue into a non cue only cue, will only tag the merged values as q only. You can select individual channels in a cue and make them cue only by right-clicking on the cue in the control booth and selecting Change cue only. This will bring up a dialog that allows you to select either all channels, specific groups of channels (Intensity, Colour, Position or Beam) or individual channels. See section 19.5 for more details. You can also access this dialog from the programmer when editing a cue, by right-clicking on the relevant cue in the edit session and selecting Change cue only. 16.2.8 Record Cue Contents Options The Contents pane of the Record Cue dialog box gives you extensive control over exactly what information is recorded into each cue.
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You can choose which attribute groups (Intensity, Position, Colour and Beam) are included in each cue by clicking on them. When an attribute group is Green, it is included. Clarity includes all attribute groups by default. If you are merging a new cue into an existing cue you can choose to Preserve existing timing of the existing cue. Selected Fixtures only check box. The fixture attribute information that is recorded into a cue is usually dependent on the settings of 4 Radio Buttons listed below. It doesn't matter if the fixtures are still selected in the current programmer session or not. However, by placing a tick in the check box, you can further filter the recorded information by limiting it to include Selected Fixtures only.
The following four Radio Buttons are mutually exclusive. Selecting one deselects all others. Exclude redundant state (changes only). This only records the changes that have been made in the programmer since the last cue was recorded. All other grabbed values in the programmer are considered as redundant and are excluded from the cue. This cue is suitable for tracking playback and is automatically selected if you set a new cuelist to Tracking playback mode in the Record Cue dialog box. For example, if intensity is set to 100% in cue 1 and you record the same intensity into cue 2, then the intensity information will not be recorded since it would already exist in the cuelist and will track forward from cue 1 when cue 2 is played back in tracking mode.
Include unchanged information. This records all grabbed values in the current programmer session. This cue is suited to playback in Cue Only mode and is automatically selected if you set a new cuelist to cue only playback mode in the Record Cue dialog box. Blocking incoming fixtures only. This records hard values for all attributes of all fixtures that are in the cuelist. This includes: All grabbed attributes in the programmer. All of the tracked values that would exist if the cuelist had been played back. Current output values for all other attributes of the fixtures in the cue. If this cue is played back in a tracking cuelist, it will Block any tracked values from affecting any attributes of the fixtures in the cuelist. This type of cue is often recorded part way through a tracking cuelist at the end of a theatrical scene or the end of a musical item so that subsequent edits to earlier cues will not track through into the next scene or song. Blocking all fixtures.
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This records hard values for all attributes of all patched fixtures. It effectively takes a snapshot of Claritys output. If this cue is played back in a tracking cuelist, it will Block any tracked values from affecting any fixtures. 16.2.9 Keep Settings The selections that you make can be retained for future recording by ticking the Keep Settings check box. 16.2.10 Clear recorded values Ticking Clear recorded values will clear the programmer every time that a new cue is recorded. When cues are to be played back in tracking mode, clearing the programmer after every recording can give unexpected results. For example, you turn on fixture 1 and record it as cue 1. If clear recorded values is ticked, the programmer is automatically cleared so fixture 1 goes off. Turn on fixture 2. You see only fixture 2 on stage and you record it as cue 2. The programmer is automatically cleared so fixture 2 goes off. Now playback cue 1 and fixture 1 comes on. Playback cue 2 and fixture 2 comes on but fixture 1 stays on (due to tracking). So the look on stage when cue 2 is played back is not the same as the look on stage when cue 2 was recorded. Clearing the programmer after every recording is often used when cues are to be played back in Cue only mode. This is because what you see on stage from the programmer is what will be reproduced when the cue is played back, irrespective of whether you choose to exclude or include unchanged information when you record the cue.
16.3 APPEND LAST When recording sequential cues to a cuelist you can save time by clicking Append last on the main toolbar. This automatically records the current programmer settings as the next cue in the current cuelist without opening the Record Cue dialog box and uses the same settings that were chosen for the previous cue. Hint: If you hover over the Append Last button a tool tip will identify the targeted cuelist 16.4 EDITING CUES When a cuelist that you have recorded is selected for editing (see section 19), the cuelist appears in the Session Control showing the Cuelist name (beside the Programmers) and the individual cues within the cuelist above. This cuelist becomes the current session and by default it Blind (not seen or affecting the output).
Cuelist containing 5 cues. You can click on any of the cues in the list to edit them. When a cue is selected, the attributes in that cue can be altered in exactly the same manner as when creating a cue as described in the programmer section. If you want to see the changes that you are making on the output click Blind on the Programmer toolbar to toggle the current session to <on stage>. Hint: You can always open an edit session <on stage> by un-ticking Start cuelist edit blind in the Show/Preferences dialog box. Multiple cuelists can be in the session control at the same time. Clicking on a cuelist shows the cues in that list and makes it the current session.
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If a cuelist has had any of its cues edited, then the cuelist name turns yellow and so does the name of the individual cue(s) that have been edited. When finished editing, either right-click on the cuelist and select Close or click Close on the Programmer toolbar. If you have made any changes to the cuelist, a dialog box will ask...........
Selecting Save as.... allows you to keep the original cuelist and save the edited cuelist with a new name. 16.4.1 Undo Redo Any recording or editing of cues in the Programmer can be undone or redone by clicking on Undo or Redo at the top of the Control Booth window.
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17 Palettes
17.1 OVERVIEW Clicking on the Palettes tab reveals the Palettes window. This window is the home of groups, presets and freesets that are created in the Programmer window and also for Claritys in-built library of groups, presets and freesets ready for you to use. (Freesets are a special type of preset described below). The window is sub-divided into tabbed categories: 1. All 2. Groups 3. Colour Presets 4. Position Presets 5. Beam Presets 6. Dynamics 7. Favourites Each tab displays its appropriate contents. When the All tab is clicked the screen is divided into five panes of Groups, Position, Beam, Colour and Dynamic presets. The panes can be freely resized by clicking and dragging on the pane dividers. Any of the other tabs can be clicked to view that individual category.
Safe (Arrange)
All tab selected When you record a group (in the Programmer) it will appear in the Groups category and when you record your own presets and freesets (in the Programmer) they are automatically sorted into the appropriate category of Position, Colour or Beam, depending upon the attribute(s) that they will affect. Note that a single preset can exist in multiple panes, e.g. a preset that contains colour and position will appear in both the colour and position panes, but there is still only a single preset Automatically generated (library) Groups are identified by the word auto in their box. Library items cannot be edited, renamed or deleted, however they can be duplicated and the copy can then be edited, renamed or deleted by right clicking on it.
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17.2 ARRANGING PALETTES AND GROUPS If you click Safe (arrange), all presets, favourites and groups become inactive. This allows you to re-arrange and organize the individual presets or group icons by dragging and dropping them without activating them. To re-activate the window click Safe (arrange) (toggle action). The icons in each pane can be automatically arranged at any time by right-clicking in a blank area of the pane and selecting auto-arrange. 17.3 GROUPS A group is a selection of fixtures. Groups can be created in the Programmer window by selecting the required fixtures in the required order and clicking Add Group and entering a name. The selection order in the group is used by Clarity when applying effects and freesets. 17.4 COLOUR PRESETS The Colour Presets pane shows the colour presets and also has a configurable standard swatch colour picker. You can select between Lee, GAM and various Rosco colour swatches and can display the colours in either chromatic or numeric order. Right-click to configure the display.
Hover the mouse over a colour to see a larger view preview of that colour. 17.5 BEAM PRESETS The Beam Presets pane shows the beam presets and also shows the gobos for the
currently selected fixtures.
Hover the mouse over a gobo to see a larger view preview of that gobo. 17.6 FAVOURITES Right clicking on any individual preset or group and selecting Favourite makes this preset or group also available under the Favourites tab. The same process can be used to remove a preset or group from the favourites window. The Favourites tab contains the Favourite Groups and Favourite Presets panes which can also be freely re-sized by clicking and dragging on the pane dividers. Favourite presets are also available in a Favourites tab in the Programmer window for quick access to favourite palettes without selecting the Palettes window.
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17.7 PRESETS A preset is a special type of memory that can be recorded and recalled. It is stored with specific fixtures numbers or fixture types and usually with only specifically selected attributes (for example, only focus values). When a preset is applied to selected fixtures, they will change to the attribute values recorded in that preset. If a cue is then recorded, a reference to the preset is included in the cue, not the actual attribute values. When the cue is played back, it will automatically recall the values from the preset. Multiple cues can include a link to the same preset. If a preset is updated, any cue that contains a reference to that preset will use the updated information. For example: Some Fixtures are focused onto the centre rostrum on stage and their focus (position) is recorded as a preset (named centre rostrum). You now record the cues for your show by creating different looks and recording each look as a cue. If a cue is to include the fixtures focused on the centre rostrum, you select the fixtures then apply the centre rostrum preset and record the cue. You might program 20 different cues that include the centre rostrum preset. The centre rostrum is now moved down stage by 2 meters so those 20 cues will no longer light the rostrum. You grab the centre rostrum preset in the programmer and adjust the position of the fixtures to the new down stage position and update the preset. All of the 20 cues that include the centre rostrum preset will now automatically recall the new position. Presets can also be nested. That is, a new preset can be constructed from other presets. Presets can also contain dynamic (real time effects) values. See section 12, Dynamics for more details. 17.7.1 Fixture Specific Presets If you record a preset that contains multiple fixtures with different values for each fixture, then that preset will be applicable only to the specific fixtures used to record the preset. 17.7.2 Fixture Type Presets If you record a preset that contains a single value or if all values of the selected fixtures are the same, then the preset is recorded against the fixture type. The preset will then be applicable to all fixtures of that type, even ones added afterwards. 17.8 FREESETS Freesets are fixture independent and store values that can be generically applied to any selected fixtures, no matter what the type. When freesets are used to set fixture attribute values and the look is recorded in a cue, the current value from the Freeset is translated to suit the destination fixtures and stored in the cue. Note that because values are translated when the Freeset is applied, Freeset updates wont affect existing cues. The advantage of freesets is that the values in a Freeset are automatically re-interpreted to suit the destination fixture. For example: Select a dimmer and set its intensity to 100% then record it as a Freeset. Select a Clay Paky Stage Scan then apply that Freeset to it. The Freeset interprets the value and knows that a Stage Scan's intensity attribute must be set to 128 for it to output full intensity. If the same Freeset is applied to a dimmer it will set its intensity to 255. The same applies to all attribute groups. Record a blue Freeset and apply it to any fixture that has colour ability and it will output blue. Record a chase Freeset and apply it to any type and quantity of fixtures and they will chase. Record a fanned tilt Freeset and apply it to any type and quantity of moving fixtures and they will fan their tilts. Freesets can also contain dynamic (real time effects) values. See section 12, Dynamics for more details.
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17.8.1
Permutating Freesets
Freesets permutate their values onto the destination fixtures. If the Freeset was recorded using 3 fixtures and it is then applied to 12 fixtures, it will apply the Freeset to the first 3 then apply it again to the next 3, the next 3 and so on. Permutate is the default setting. For example: A Freeset is created from 4 fixtures at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% intensity. When it's applied to 4 fixtures they will be set to 25, 50, 75 and 100%. When it's applied to 8 fixtures the first 4 will get 25, 50, 75 and 100 and the next 4 will also get 25, 50, 75 and 100%. 17.8.2 Scaling Freesets A scaling Freeset has only two values, a start value and an end value. When this Freeset is applied to a greater quantity of destination fixtures, the start value is applied to the first fixture in the selection and the end value is applied to the last fixture in the selection. All of the other selected fixtures gets an intermediate value that is graduated between the start and end values. A scaling Freeset is created by selecting only two fixtures, and setting the first fixtures attribute values to the start value and the other fixtures attribute value to the end value. It is then recorded with the Scale option selected in the Create Preset dialog box (below). For example: Select 2 fixtures and set them to different colours. Record this as a Freeset and select the Scale option in the record dialog box. When this Freeset is applied, it will use the two colours as the start and end values thus creating an evenly spread rainbow across any quantity of selected fixtures. 17.9 DYNAMIC PRESETS Dynamic presets are presets or freesets that contain dynamics (real time effects). See section 12, Dynamics for more information on dynamics. Clarity includes many dynamic presets in its inbuilt library, ready for you to use or you can create your own as described below. When a dynamic preset is applied, the selected attributes will be modulated by the dynamic effect. 17.10 RECORDING A PRESET OR FREESET To record a Preset or Freeset, in the Programmer window, select the fixtures to which the Preset or Freeset will apply then using the programmer (or other presets) set the attributes to the desired values or apply dynamics. Click To Preset and the Create Preset dialog box appears.
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Clarity automatically includes any attribute types that have been grabbed by the programmer by enabling the appropriate mask (Intensity, Position, Colour or Beam). You can change the attribute masks by clicking on them. When an attribute mask is Green, it is included. A name for the preset can be entered in the name box. Note that Intensity is excluded by default unless you are recording an intensity only preset. Clicking the drop down arrow beside the name box and selecting one of the existing preset or Freeset names allows you to choose the appropriate Update option to either Merge with, Remove or Replace an existing preset or Freeset. To record as a Freeset, tick the Record as a free preset (Freeset) check box. When this option is selected, you can also select the Freeset Application mode: as either Permutate or Scale. Scale is available when only 2 fixtures have been selected. See Scaling Freesets above for more details. Selected Fixtures only. When this check box is ticked, the attribute values that are recorded into a preset are only those of the selected fixtures in the programmer. Un-tick the box to record all grabbed attributes in the programmer. If you applied any dynamics to the attributes, the Preset or Freeset that you recorded will automatically be placed in the Dynamic Presets pane of the Palettes window. Activate recorded preset. When this check box is ticked, the preset will be automatically activated in the programmer. Set as Favourite. When this check box is ticked, the preset will be automatically added to the Favourites tab in the Palettes and Programmer windows. 17.11 PALETTE ICONS 17.11.1 Group Icons
Group Icons Each group icon displays its name. auto indicates groups that have been automatically created. Clarity automatically creates a group for every different type of fixture that has been patched. Auto groups cannot be edited or deleted. When the icon has a Yellow border, the group is selected. If the border is dotted, only some of the fixtures in the group are selected, possibly by another group or by the current programmer. Clicking on an icon selects that group (refer to Selection phase vs. Programming phase earlier in this manual). If you right click on a Group icon you can choose... Activate. This is the same as clicking on the group. Activate (replace). Selects this group ONLY and removes other selections. Remove. Deselects this group. Rename. Update. Updates the group with the current fixture selection. Delete. Favourite. Adds/removes this group in the Favourites tab. 17.11.2 Preset & Freeset Icons
Preset & Freeset Icons At the top of each icon is the name of the preset or freeset. free indicates a freeset, otherwise it is a preset.
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The bottom right shows the attribute group(s) contained in the preset or freeset. I (Intensity), P (Position), C (Colour) and B (Beam). If the attribute group letters are bright green, then the preset or freeset contains dynamics (real time effects). A green background indicates that the preset or freeset can be applied to the currently selected fixture(s). A grey background indicates that the preset or freeset cannot be applied to the selected fixture(s). Clicking on a (green) icon applies that preset or freeset, subject to the masking rules described below. A yellow border indicates that the preset is currently in use. Since freesets are applied using hard values, there is no concept of in use for freesets. Hence they only flash their border yellow as they are applied. 17.11.3 Preset and Freeset Shortcuts
If you right click on a Preset or Freeset you can choose the following shortcuts... Activate This is the same as just clicking on the preset or Freeset. Activate (replace) This activates this preset or freeset and removes all other programming from the selected fixtures. Activate (unmask) This activates this preset or freeset and applies it to all attributes in the preset (momentarily turning off auto mask, see below). Combine Dynamics Only available for presets. Allows a dynamic preset to be combined with any existing dynamics that have been applied. The resulting combined effect can also be recorded as another preset. Remove. Clears all programming from the affected attributes. Rename. Enter a new name. Delete. The preset or freeset is instantly deleted. No undo. Replace. Only available for freesets. Freesets cannot be updated, but can be replaced with a new version. Previously recorded cues are not affected by the replaced freeset. Duplicate. Only available for freesets. Makes a duplicate that you can edit to create a variation of the original freeset. Update. Only available for presets. Updates the preset with the current programmers settings for the attributes in the preset. The updated preset will be used when any cue with a link to that preset is played back. 17.12 APPLYING PRESETS AND FREESETS Preset and freeset can be applied in the Palettes, Programmer or Performance windows. See section 20, Performance Window for details on how to use presets and freesets in the Performance Window. 17.12.1 Apply in the Programmer window Only Favourites palettes are available in the Programmer window. Therefore, in the Palettes window, add the required presets and freesets to the Favourites tab by right clicking on them and selecting Favourite. Then, in the Programmer window, select the Favourites tab then click on the presets or freesets to apply them to the selected fixtures. 17.12.2 Apply in the Palettes window The presets or freesets in the Palettes window can be applied to selected fixtures in either Programmer 1 or Programmer 2. Select the required programmer from the drop down selector.
Select where to apply.
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If you select Current (default setting) the presets or freesets will automatically be applied to the programmer that is currently active in the Programmer window. Select the fixtures in the Groups pane and then click on the presets or freesets to apply them to the selected fixtures. When fixtures are selected, any applicable presets or freesets turn green to show that they are available. Masking rules apply (see below) to presets or freesets in the Position Presets, Beam Presets and Colour Presets panes. Also see Build Mode below for details on how to apply multiple presets simultaneously. 17.12.3 Masking When you record a preset, Clarity automatically places it in the appropriate categories in the Palettes window according to the P (Position), C (Colour) and B (Beam) attributes that it contains. Intensity does not have a separate pane and is included in the Position pane. If a preset contains two categories (say C, B), it appears in both the Colour and Beam panes and if it contains all 3 categories (PCB) it will be in all 3 panes. When Auto Mask is ON, activating a Preset from a Position, Beam or Colour pane, only applies the preset to that panes type of attribute. For example: A CB preset appears in both the Colour Presets and in the Beam Presets. When Auto mask is ON, applying the CB preset from the Colour Presets pane only applies the preset to Colour attributes of the selected fixtures. Applying the CB preset from the Beam Presets pane only applies the preset to Beam attributes. When "Auto Mask" is OFF, activating a Preset from a category pane applies the preset to all types of attributes contained in that preset. Hint: You can achieve the same result as Auto Mask OFF by right-clicking and selecting Activate (unmasked). Presets and freesets in Favourites panes are applied to all of the attributes shown in their individual icons. 17.13 APPLYING DYNAMIC PRESETS Presets and freesets in the Dynamic Presets pane are applied in the same manners as other Presets and Freesets (above) but you can also choose the following options that affect how the dynamics are applied and maintained. 17.13.1 Masking Dynamic Presets If a Dynamic Preset or Freeset controls multiple IPCB (Intensity, Position, Colour, Beam) attribute groups, the IPCB filters allow you to activate only the selected (IPCB) aspect of the effect. When an IPCB button is green, the dynamic will be applied to that attribute group.
Click either I, P, C or B to select only that attribute group. Hold [Ctrl] whilst clicking to select multiple groups. The IPCB selectors also allow you to simplify your selection choices because only those Presets or Freesets that affect the selected (IPCB) attributes of the effect are available. 17.13.2 Base When a dynamic is applied, there is a base value plus a waveform that is applied over that base. Therefore, if you apply some programming to a fixture then apply a dynamic, the programming will be replaced by the base value plus the waveform. For example, you position some fixtures to the right then apply a circle dynamic preset. The dynamic moves the fixtures to the centre (its base position) then causes them to circle around the base.
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If you want to use your programming as the base for a dynamic effect you can do so by deselecting the Base button. The Base filter masks the base values from dynamic Presets and Freesets when they are applied.
For example, you position some fixtures to the right, de-select Base, then apply a circle dynamic preset. The circle will be added to the existing position values instead of replacing your position values with its base values. 17.13.3 Preserve Dynamics Selecting a preset or freesets will usually replace any existing programming. There are times when you might want to apply a dynamic effect then apply a non dynamic preset or freeset to position the dynamic effect. To preserve any existing dynamics click Preserve Dynamics then apply the non-dynamic presets or freesets.
17.14 CONTROLLING DYNAMICS The settings of the dynamics can then be varied by either: Clicking on the Dynamics tab in the Programmer window and adjusting the controls as described in the Dynamics section. Using the faders on a VX wing in extended wing controls mode. See section 22.8 for details. Using the Rate and Amp controls in the Dynamic Presets tab.
Rate Amp Click for Spin Box Roller
To vary the rate you can either enter a value, click the up and down arrows or move the spin box roller which provides smooth variable control. Just click then drag with the mouse to activate a virtual spin roller wheel that adjusts the box values. When adjusting the value, you can drag over the entire height of the screen. If you hold [Ctrl] and click and drag, then when your mouse pointer moves above or below the virtual wheel it continues to spin with inertia. When a dynamic effect is active in the programmer, these controls operate directly on the effects value in the Programmers Dynamics tab. The rate control will either display a bpm (beats per minute) value if all effects are at the same rate or a percentage change value if the rates are different. The amp (amplitude) control always displays a percentage change value. 17.15 REMOVING A PRESET OR FREESET To remove a preset or Freeset that you have applied, either: Click Undo immediately after applying the preset or Freeset Right-click on the Preset or Freeset and select Remove. This removes all programming from the affected attributes.
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17.16 RECORDING CUES WITH PRESETS & FREESETS. When you have created the desired look, record it as a cue using the Record or Append last buttons at the top of the Palettes window or in the Programmer window. These buttons perform identical functions in each window. Cues containing a preset only include a link to the preset so that if the preset is updated the cue will use the updated values. See above and also in the Record section for more details. 17.17 UPDATING A PRESET DURING PROGRAMMING Select the fixtures that are affected by the preset then apply the preset. In the programmer, the attributes that have had the preset applied will display the name of the preset in their respective Attribute Controls. Adjust the attributes to the new values for the preset. Right click on the preset and select Update item or click Record Preset then select the existing preset from the drop down box.
To update the preset click Update.
17.18 UPDATING A PRESET DURING PLAYBACK Playback a cue that contains the preset. In the programmer, click Grab active. The attributes that have had the preset applied will display the name of the preset in their respective Attribute Controls. Adjust the attributes to the new values for the preset. On the programmer toolbar, click Update and the Auto Update dialog box appears:
Click Update and the changes will be tracked back to the preset. See section 8.7.8 Update in the Programmer for more details. 17.19 LIVE TIMES Presets and Freesets are usually applied instantly when they are selected. When you are busking or Ad-libbing a show, you can use Claritys Live Times feature to apply Presets or Freesets over time and hence make smooth changes as you select each Preset or Freeset.
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Selecting the Time button on the Palette window toolbar displays the Live Times dialog.
Fade time box
Time shortcut buttons
Previously recorded Time Presets
There are 3 methods of time selection: 1. Enter a time in the Fade time box (see below). 2. Select one of the time shortcut buttons. 3. Select a previously recorded Time Preset. The entry in the Fade time box can type a simple fade time, a fade time range or a delay and fade time (with optional range). Use / to specify a range, d to specify a delay time and f to specify a fade time. For example, Fade Time Entry Result 5 5 second fade 1/5 1 sec to 5 sec fade time spread across the selected fixtures d2f2 Delay of 2 seconds then a fade of 2 seconds d1/5f5/1 Delay of 1 to 5 seconds spread across the selected fixtures then a fade of 5 to 1 sec spread across the selected fixtures The current entry in the Fade time box can be added to the shortcuts by clicking +. To delete a shortcut time, select it then press -. Once a time is set or selected, the next Preset or Freeset that is activated will use the selection in the Live Times dialog. By default, the Live Time value will be automatically reset every time that it is used. To retain the Live Time setting for continual use, un-tick the Auto reset live time checkbox. By default, the dialog will close once a Preset or Freeset is triggered. You can keep it open by ticking the Keep open when undocked checkbox. You can also keep it open by docking it on the left or right edge of the palette window by dragging it to either side of the screen or by double clicking on its header to maximise it. 17.20 BUILD MODE In the Palette window, Build allows you to select combinations of groups/preset/freesets (with individual live timing as described above) and then trigger them all in one go. When you click Build, a command line appears at bottom of the screen. Now you can select a group or groups, select a time, select a preset (and repeat for any further combination of groups, times and presets as you wish) then press [Enter] (on the computer keyboard) to trigger them all in one go. For example, you can Build a complex combination on the fly such as odd fixtures to the drummer and even fixtures to the guitar over 2 seconds with a fanned colour change over 5 seconds and a gobo snap after 10 seconds and then trigger it with a single press of the [Enter] key.
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18 Control Booth
18.1 OVERVIEW The Control Booth window is the location of all cuelists and provides controls to set the playback modes and settings of cuelists as well as a set of paged playback controls.
All Cuelists Cues in selected Cuelist Contents of Selected Cue
Controls for selected Cuelist
Playbacks
The central right pane is divided into 3 columns which display from left to right: All cuelists. Cues within the selected cuelist, Contents of the selected cue. Clicking on a cuelist in the first column shows the cues of that cuelist in the second column. Clicking on a cue in the second column shows the contents in that cue in the right column. The order of the cuelists can be re-arranged by dragging and dropping a cuelist. The left-hand side has 4 panes (Chase, Playback, Tempo and Control) that provide controls for the currently selected cuelist. Buttons at the top of the window allow you to Create a new cuelist or Delete, Edit or Duplicate the currently selected cuelist. If a long cuelist is selected, Follow active cue (active by default) causes the cuelist to automatically scroll to keep the latest active cue on the screen. Learn New Cuelist allows you to capture (and time stamp) the button presses that you make when you playback cues over time. Audio resources can be added and synchronized to playback and Hardware allows you to manage Claritys optional wings and DMX interfaces. The bottom of the window contains the playback pane with multiple pages of playback controls. To add a cuelist to the playback pane, drag it from the cuelist column and drop it into the playback pane.
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18.2 PLAYBACK CONTROL PANEL Clicking on a cuelist allows you to control it from the Control panel.
Click for Spin Box Roller Reset to Default Manual Fader
Rate & Amplitude controls for any FX (dynamics) in the cue Intensity Fader
The Intensity fader controls the overall intensity of the fixtures in the cuelist. The Mnl (Manual) fader controls the overall level of all attribute values in the cuelist. It is normally set at full, but can be used to manually fade the entire cuelist in and out. the fade to the next cue even if the current fade has not finished. previous cue.
> (Go) Plays the next cue in the cuelist or restarts a paused fade.
Pressing > will start
II< Pauses any fades in progress. If no fades are in progress, if fades back to the >> Snaps to the next cue in the cuelist, ignoring all times.
<< Snaps to the previous cue in the cuelist, ignoring all times. Jump Allows you to jump out of order and fade directly to any cue that you select in the cuelist. Select the cue by clicking on it then press the Jump button to perform the jump. Inhibit. If Inhibit is active (green), no output from the selected cuelist is permitted and an X is displayed beside the cuelist name. This setting is retained by the cuelist until Inhibit is de-selected. Release. Releases the cuelist from the output. If the cue contains any dynamics then the Fx Rate/Amp controls become active and can be used to vary the dynamics by either entering a value in their respective boxes, clicking the up and down arrows or by moving the spin box roller which provides smooth variable control. Just click then drag with the mouse to activate a the virtual spin roller wheel that adjusts the box values.
Spin Roller
When adjusting the value, you can drag over the entire height of the screen. If you hold [Ctrl] and click and drag, then when your mouse pointer moves above or below the virtual wheel it continues to spin with inertia. Playing back a cue will override any other playback containing the same attributes (subject to the priority rules below). 18.3 CUELIST PLAYBACK SETTINGS To see or alter the playback settings of a cuelist, select the cuelist in the cuelist column then use the Chase, Playback and Tempo controls on the left hand side to set the required options as described in the following three sub-sections. All selected settings are automatically saved with the selected cuelist.
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All options can be reset to the standard settings by right clicking on a cuelist and selecting Reset options to standard. The current settings that you choose for a cuelist can be used as the defaults for all new cuelists by right clicking on a cuelist and selecting Set options as default. 18.3.1 Cuelist Chase Options
Clicking the drop down box in the Chase pane allows you to select the chase mode for the currently selected Cuelist. The 5 choices are: Off. The cuelist will use the Delay and Fade times and Halt or Follow settings of each step. This is the Default setting. Forwards. The cuelist will run as a Chase in the forwards direction. It ignores the Delay, Fade, Halt and Follow settings of each step and uses the BPM and Xfade scale % settings (below). Backwards. As for Forwards but in the reverse direction. Bounce. The cuelist will run as a Chase and will automatically change direction when it reaches the first or last step. Random. The cuelist will run as a Chase with random step selection. Note: When a cuelist is set to any of the chase modes above, its name will be displayed in Italics. If any of the chase options above are selected, the following settings affect the chase. BPM: Sets the chase RATE in Beats Per Minute. Xfade scale %: Sets the transition between steps. When set to 0, the chase snaps from step to step. When set to any other value the chase Xfades (Cross-fades) from step to step. The duration of the Xfade is a percentage of the step time. For example: BPM = 60 (1 step per sec). Xfade scale % = 50. Therefore, Xfade time = 0.5 sec. (50% of 1 sec) The Chase BPM and Xfade settings can both be altered by either entering a value in their respective boxes, clicking the up and down arrows or by clicking and moving the spin box roller which provides smooth variable control.
Click for Spin Box Roller Reset to Default Click for Spin Box Roller Spin Roller
Hint: You can also set the rate of a chase by tapping the play button of the playback to which the chase is assigned. This is known as Tap to Tempo.
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Chase during release. If ticked, when the chase is released, the cues keep stepping and the intensities will fade out in the release time. If not ticked, when the chase is released, the chase will immediately stop on the current step and the intensities will fade out in the release time. 18.3.2 Cuelist Playback Options
These options affect the way a cuelist will playback. Clicking the drop down box in the Playback pane allows you to select the way that the information in the incoming cue is applied:
Tracking. (Default setting). When a cue is played back, the attribute values in the cue are applied to the output. Any attribute information from previous cues that has not been updated by the new cue is retained on the output. Therefore, the cuelist will track unchanged information from previous cues to the current cue until overridden by a new value. For example: Cue 1 = fixtures 1 & 2 to 100% Cue 2 = fixture 1 to 50%. When cue 2 is played back, fixture 2 stays at 100% because it has no new value in cue 2. Fixture 2 levels have tracked through. A random jump in Tracking mode from one cue to a later cue will collect all the intervening value changes so that the destination cues exact state is achieved as if the playback had stepped through all cues up to that point. For example: Jumping over (missing) a cue that changes colour will still get the colour change at the completion of the jump. Tracking (Not jumps). Tracking applies as above, but if you jump out of order to a later cue in the list, then the values in the jumped cues are NOT tracked forward to the current cue. For example: Cue 1 = intensity to 100%. Cue 2 = colour to green. Cue 3 = intensity to 50%. If you play cue 1 then jump to cue 3, you do not collect the values in cue 2. That is, the lights dont go green. Cue Only. The entire cuelist does not track. The next cue replaces the previous cue. When a cue is played back, its recorded attribute values are applied to the output and any attributes from the previous cue that are not present in the current cue will be released from the playback. For example: Cue 1 = intensity to 100% and colour to green. Cue 2 = Colour to red. When you transition from cue 1 to cue 2, the intensity attributes will be released.
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The following settings set the priority and timing of the cuelist: HTP check box. (Highest Takes Precedence) If the intensity value for a fixture is contained in several active cuelists and HTP is ticked, the intensity will come from the play back with the highest intensity level. The default setting (HTP not ticked) is known as LTP (Latest Takes Precedence). In LTP mode, the latest cue to be played back will take control of the intensity. Activate. Default time = 0 seconds. This is the time taken for a Cuelist to fade in when the first cue is played. Normally this would be left at 0, and the affected fixtures in cue 1 would fade in over their programmed time for that cue. However, you can enter an activate time to scale the fade in over time. This is most useful with chases or when cues are set to automatically follow each other. For example: If you had a fast chase that moved between the 4 corners of the stage you may not want the fixtures to jump to the full extent of the first corner in the time of the first chase step, but for the 4 corners to gradually enlarge, like a spiral, over several chase steps. If the chase rate is set to 120 BPM, each step takes 0.5 seconds, so the fixtures would go from default to the full extent of the first corner in 0.5 seconds and then continue from corner to corner. If you set the activate time to 2 seconds, the fixtures would go 25% of the way to the first corner, 50% of the way to the second corner, 75% to the third and then 100% to the fourth. Release. Default time = 2 seconds. This the time taken for the Cuelist to fade out when released from a Playback.
Priority. Default value = 0. When fixtures are being controlled by multiple cuelists, attributes are normally controlled on a LTP (Latest Takes Precedence) basis. However, you can override the LTP action by entering a priority value for each cuelist. Higher numbers have priority over lower numbers. The value can be set as a positive or negative number (+150 to -150). Preset values for priority can be easily applied by clicking: P Sets LTP priority to Programmer (100) H Sets LTP priority to High (50). N Sets No LTP priority (0). L Sets LTP priority to Low (-50). Manually setting a priority higher than 100 prevents a Programmer grabbing control of the fixtures in the cuelist. Rate %. Proportionally changes all of the timing information in a cuelist. By default it is set to 100%. The range is 1 to 1000. For Example: If Rate is set to 50% it slows all of the fades (all times are doubled). 100% = no change to rates. The Rate % can be altered by either entering a value in its box, clicking the up and down arrows or by clicking and moving the spin box roller which provides smooth variable control. Clicking More, offers more playback options. Tick a settings box to activate it:
More playback options
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Release at end. When the last cue has completed its fade, the cuelist is automatically released. If not set to release at end, it will loop back to the first cue. Loop at end. When the last cue has completed its fade and the cuelist is not set to release at end, it will loop back to the first cue. If not ticked it will remain on the last cue. Go on fader up. The first cue of the cuelist is automatically started and faded up when the playback fader is raised above zero. Subsequent fader movement only controls intensity. Release on fader down. The cuelist is automatically released when the playback fader is lowered to zero. Release when fully overridden. (Default setting) The cuelist is automatically released if all of its channels/fixture attributes have been overridden by another playback. Ignore release all. The cuelist is not released by the Release All button. Release intensity before other attributes. (Default setting) When released, intensity fades out (in the release time) then other attributes snap release. This prevents unwanted fixture movements being seen. Fader affects all attributes. The playback fader normally only affects intensity. When ticked, the playback fader acts as a master over all attribute levels, in the same way as the manual fader on the playback control panels. Restart from last active cue. When a cuelist is released, then restarted, it will go immediately to the last active cue. Normally, when a cuelist is released, it will start from the first cue. 18.3.3 Cuelist Tempo Options
Lock to tempo: When ticked, this causes the cuelist/chase to use the metronome timing as set at the top of the Performance window. The cuelist is scaled to fit into a predetermined musical duration (bars and beats). The initial length is calculated automatically based on the number of cues in the cuelist. Chases are scaled so that each cue maps to a single beat ( note). Cuelists are scaled so that each cue maps to a single bar. You can manually change the length by entering a length value in the form bars.beats. For example: 2.0 for 2 bars duration. The X button returns the length to the automatically calculated value. For more information see Metronome in section 20 Performance Window. 18.4 MANIPULATING CUES AND CUELISTS In the Control Booth window, click on a cuelist to select it. Clicking Back or Forward lets you step through your previous selections. The order of the cuelists can be re-arranged by dragging and dropping a cuelist. Right-clicking on a cuelist offers the Right-clicking on a cue offers the following following options: options: Rename cuelist Rename Delete cuelist Sync Fx Insert new cuelist Delete cue Edit cuelist Insert new cue Duplicate cuelist Insert mark cue Reset options to standard Edit cue Use current options as default Change cue only Export to current Programmer. 18.4.1 Copying and Merging Cues When a cuelist is selected (above), clicking on a cue allows it to be dragged and dropped to different locations within that cuelist or to another cuelist. This can be performed as a move or a copy. The selected cue can also be merged with or can replace an existing cue. Dragging a cue to a new location will show the drop point as either an insert (a green arrow points to a line between the two cues) or as a merge (a green arrow points to the selected
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cue). Long cuelists and cues will auto-scroll when dragging by holding the mouse pointer over the small arrow boxes at the end of the lists.
When the cue is dropped in its new location the Copy/Move Options dialog box opens:
The options to insert or merge will be automatically pre-set by where you drop the cue. Dropping a cue on a cue selects the Merging options. Dropping a cue between two cues selects the Inserting options. Holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) whilst dragging and dropping between two cues selects the Copy option. You can change any of the pre-set options (if applicable) by clicking on them. If you are copying or replacing a cue you can enter a name for the new cue. The settings of the State of the resultant cue will be automatically set by Clarity, depending upon the playback setting of the destination cuelist as either Tracking or Cue only. Include tracked information from source cue check box. When checked, the copy contains the hard values in the source cue and any tracked values from previous cues in the cuelist. When unchecked, the copy only contains the hard values in the source cue. The four Radio Buttons are mutually exclusive. Selecting one deselects all others. Exclude redundant state (changes only/tracking). Hard values from the source cue will be copied or merged into the destination cue with the exception that Clarity will exclude any hard values from the source cue that are not required (redundant) because they would exist in the destination cue due to tracking from an earlier cue.
Include unchanged information (non-tracking). Hard values from the source cue will be copied or merged into the destination cue. Blocking incoming fixtures only. The cue contains hard values for all attributes of all fixtures in the cuelist. Blocking all fixtures. The cue contains hard values for all attributes of all patched fixtures. Copy Full State
18.4.2
If you have a cue that you want to use again later in a show and you want it to look exactly the same next time you use it then you must ensure that you copy the full state of the playback.
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The default settings of the copy cue function in a tracking cuelist will copy the tracked and hard values of a cue but it might not include a value for every attribute of the fixtures in the cuelist. Therefore, the copy might not produce the identical output because some attributes might take on tracked values from earlier cues. To copy the full state of the source cue, drag the source cue and drop it in its new location as described above. In the Copy/Move options dialog box that opens, select Blocking - incoming fixtures only. Click OK. Tip: If you are plotting a theatre show, it might be a good idea to record your first cue with every fixture having a value. This ensures that when you are copying full states later in your cue list, the state of your source cue will always be reproduced correctly. To do this, select every fixture in your show and then click Grab then select Grab Active + Default and record this in your cue list as cue 0.1 and make it a follow cue so that it will automatically advance to Cue 1 (which could be your curtain warmers or walk in look for example). 18.4.3 Undo Redo All copies and merges as well as any recording or editing of cues in the Programmer can be undone or redone by clicking on Undo or Redo at the top of the Control Booth window. 18.4.4 Cue Notes Notes can be added to any cue by clicking on the cue then double clicking on the cues Notes cell and entering your text. 18.5 SYNC FX If a cue contains dynamic effects (created in the dynamics tab of the programmer or applied by a dynamic preset or freeset), the rate of the effect can be kept relative to the performance windows metronome. Right clicking on a cue that contains dynamic effects and selecting Sync FX toggles whether the effects are synchronized to the metronome or not.
Sync FX is active (ticked).
~ indicates that the Channel contains a Dynamic Effect
If Sync FX is not active, the dynamic effect will run at its recorded rate. If Sync FX is active, the effect will run at a rate that is normalized to a metronome rate of 60BPM (Beats Per Minute).
Therefore, when Sync FX is active, the run rate of the effect will be equal to its recorded rate divided by 60 then multiplied by the metronome rate. Run rate = Recorded rate 60 X Metronome rate
For example, Recorded Rate 60 30 60 30 60 30

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Metronome Rate 60 60 120 120 30 30
Run Rate with Sync FX ON 60 30 120 60 30 15
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18.6 MARK CUES (MOVE IN BLACK) To insert a Mark cue in a cuelist, right click on the cue that needs the mark cue to precede it and select Insert mark cue. A Mark cue is a special type of cue that you can insert in a cuelist. Mark cues are also known as move in black and are used to pre-position fixture attributes without their movements or changes being seen on stage. When you insert a Mark cue, Clarity looks at the previous cue and selects any fixtures that have an intensity of zero. Then, using that fixture selection, it looks at the following cue and copies all the attributes of those fixtures, except intensity, from the following cue and inserts them into the new Mark cue which is placed between the two cues. When the cuelist is played back and the cue prior to the mark cue finishes its fade, the Mark cue is automatically executed. It will move all of the attributes (except intensity) to their settings in the following cue. They therefore move in black. When the next cue is executed, the fixtures fade up, but nothing else changes because all other attributes were pre-set by the Mark cue. Mark cues have a default fade time of 0.5 seconds. 18.7 AUDIO PLAYBACK You can include an MP3 music file that will be played when a cue is triggered. All MP3 files that need to be played must be loaded into the Audio Resources dialog box. In the Control Booth window, selecting Audio.
will open the Audio Resources dialog.
Audio tracks can be added by clicking Add and navigating to the required audio file. Each audio file is given a slot number. Later, when you are programming your cues, these slot numbers can be used as a quick reference to the file instead of entering the file name.
Slot Number
You can add multiple files whilst the dialog box is open. You can also clear individual slots by clicking on the red X. Audio file are played by entering a command in the script column of a cue. This is described in the next section, Simple Script Language. They can also be played as part of a Master Cuelist as described in the Learn New Cuelist section below. 18.8 SIMPLE SCRIPT LANGUAGE (MACROS) Scripts are instructions that you can insert in each step of a cuelist. When that cue is played, the instructions in the script are automatically executed.
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For example, when a cue is played, its script can automatically play another cuelist or even a specific cue from a cuelist or it might play an audio file (see above). To enter script instructions in a cue, in the Control Booth window, click on the cuelist then click on the cue that is to contain the script. Either double click on the script cell or right click on it and select Edit Script.
Script instructions
The simple instructions that you can enter in a script are described in the following table. All spaces and punctuation marks as listed in the table must be included in your script. Names of cues and cuelists are case sensitive. Script Instruction play audio:# Description Plays (or resumes if paused) the specified audio file. Audio files must be pre loaded in the Audio Resources dialog via the Audio button. # is either the slot number from the Audio Resources dialog. e.g. play audio:1 or the name of the file preceded by a / (forward slash). e.g. play audio /prettyfly or play audio /prettyfly.mp3 (There is no need to include the path). Pauses the specified audio file. Stops the specified audio file. Pauses the last played audio file. Stops the last played audio file. Resume the last played/paused audio file. Plays the named cuelist. e.g. go StdColPos Plays the specified cue number in the named cuelist. e.g. jump StdColPos,2 Snaps to the specified cue number in the named cuelist. Plays the previous cue in the named cuelist. Plays the last cue in the named cuelist. Pauses the last cue in the named cuelist. If the cuelist is already paused, it steps it backwards.
pause audio:# stop audio:# pause stop play go listname jump listname,cuenumber snapjump listname,cuenumber goprev listname goend listname pauseback listname skipnext listname skipprev listname inhibit listname,1 inhibit listname,0 release listname reinstate listname
Activates Inhibit on the named cuelist. No output from the cuelist is permitted and an X is displayed beside the cuelist name. De-activates Inhibit on the named cuelist. Releases the named cuelist. Gives the named cuelist latest (LTP) priority.
Multiple instructions can be included in the one script by separating them with a ; (semi-colon). For example: play audio:2;go band When the cue containing this script is played, it will play the audio file listed in slot 2 (of the audio resources) and also play a cuelist named band.
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18.9 LEARN NEW CUELIST The Learn Master cuelist function allows you to capture (and time stamp) the button presses that you make when you playback cues over time. This can be in time with an audio track that you can optionally select. When you playback the Master cuelist your cues will be automatically played back exactly as you played them. In the Control Booth window, pressing the Learn new cuelist button opens the Learn Master Cuelist dialog.
Select Audio Resources
Clicking the drop down box for Use audio reveals a list of all audio files that you have loaded in the Audio Resources dialog. If you the audio file you require has not been loaded you can click the small box beside the drop box to swap to the Audio Resources dialog and load the file. The new master cuelist will start learning your playback commands when you press any cuelists Play button or when you press the Start button. If an audio file has been selected it will automatically start at the same time. Playback your lighting cues (in time with the optional audio file) and Clarity will capture your playback commands as time stamped script events.
Press Finish & Create Cue List to create the new master cuelist. If you selected an audio file then the name of the audio file will be used for the name of the master cuelist. Press Release all then playback the master cuelist that you have just created. The cues (and optional audio) will be played back with the same timing as when you manually played them. If your original playback timing was not correct you can select any cue in the master cuelist and edit the timing to suit. 18.10 PLAYBACKS At the bottom of the control booth window are a set of tabbed pages that contain playbacks for controlling cuelists.
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Playbacks are added by dragging cuelists from the main display and dropping them onto unused areas of a playback page. Drag-hovering over a Page tab will change pages. Existing playbacks can be dragged around to rearrange them or dragged onto a different page tab. Holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) whilst dropping will make a copy of the playback. To remove a playback, click its X (close) button. The playback's controls are similar to those in the Playback Control Panel described above. Playing back a cue will override any other playback containing the same attributes (subject to the priority rules below). If a cue is active in a playback then the cue name is coloured green. Clicking on a playbacks cuelist name will automatically select that cuelist in the cuelist column allowing setting of playback options and viewing of expanded cue details. In the cuelist column the coloured icons shows the state of each cuelist.
Cuelist Icons Green. The cuelist is active. Yellow/Green. The cuelist has been partially overridden. Yellow. The cuelist has been overridden. Note that this will only be seen for cuelists that are overridden by the programmer or that are not set as Release when fully overridden. 18.10.1 Playback Go Buttons
The Playbacks at the bottom of the Control Booth window have their > (Go) buttons mapped to the Function keys [F1], [F2] etcetera on the computer keyboard. The function keys will control their respective playbacks, even when the Control Booth window is not selected.
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
Computer Keyboard 18.10.2 Playback Page Control
To select a page, click on its Page tab.

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Right
clicking on a Page tab allows you to select: Rename page. Insert page (before the selected page). Append page (new page). Delete page (the selected page). Clear all (Clears all playbacks and all user pages).
18.11 GROUP MASTERS You can configure Control Booth playbacks or VX wing playbacks as fixture Group Masters. When a playback is converted into a Group Master, it no longer controls its previous cuelist but instead controls the intensity of the selected fixture group as determined by your choice of either Additive, Scale+, Inhibiting or Limiting type of master as described below. To create a Group Master, in the Control Booth, Right click on the any playback title bar or fader and select Set as Group Master... If no playbacks exist, or you want to keep all of your current playbacks, drag another cuelist to the playback pane then right click on its title bar or fader and select Set as Group Master... To create a Group Master on a VX10 or VX20 Wing, in the Control Booth click Hardware, then click on the name of the Wing (Clarity VX10 or Clarity VX20). The selected wing appears. Right click on the LCD window of any fader playback and select Set as Group Master... The create group master dialog box appears.
On the Create Group Master dialog select the required fixture Group to be mastered then choose the Master Type to use: Additive. The fader level is added to the current intensity level of all fixtures in the group. For example, if the fader is at 50% each fixture would get 50% added onto its current level. So fixtures at 25, 50 and 75% would end up at 75, 100 and 100 percent. Scale +. This scales each intensity level between its current level and full. For example, if the fader is at 50%, a fixture at 25 would be set half way (50%) between 25 and full which is 62.5%. A fixture at 50 would be set half way (50%) between 50 and full which is 75% and a fixture at 75 would be half way between 75 and full which is 87.5%. Inhibitive. This is the default, and operates in the same way as a fader assigned to a cuelist. For example, if the fader is at 50%, fixtures at 25, 50 and 75% would be at 12.5, 25 and 37.5%. Limiting. The intensity level of each fixture is capped to the fader level. For example, if the fader is at 50%, fixtures at 25, 50 and 75% would be at 25, 50 and 50%.
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When a playback on a VX wing has been programmed as a Group master, its (Go) and II I buttons act as Group select and Group deselect buttons. For example, pressing the button of that Group Master on the VX wing will select all of the fixtures in that group in the Programmer.
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19 Editing Cues and Cuelists

19.1 OVERVIEW The playback settings and contents of cues can be altered. Playback settings, times and names are changed in the Control Booth window as described below. When the selected cue or cuelist is edited, it automatically opens an edit session in the Programmer window. 19.2 CHANGING PLAYBACK SETTINGS To change the playback settings of a cuelist, in the Control Booth window, select the cuelist by clicking on it then change the playback settings as described in section 18.3 Playback Settings. The selected settings are automatically saved with the cuelist. 19.3 EDITING CUES 19.3.1 Cue Settings In the Control Booth window, the Number, Name, Wait time, Delay time, Fade time, Notes and Script of cues are all directly editable by double clicking or right clicking on the relevant cell and entering the new information.
You can select multiple cues by using [Ctrl] + click or a range of cues by using [Shift] + click then change all of their Wait, Delay, Fade settings at the same time. 19.3.2 Cue Contents To edit the contents of a cuelist, in the Control Booth window, select the cuelist by clicking on it then click Edit cuelist. You can also edit cues and cuelists by right-clicking on the cue or cuelist in the Control Booth or the Performance windows and selecting Edit Cuelist or Edit Cue. On the VX20 wing press Edit then press any flashing button on the playback to be edited. Any cuelists assigned to Control Booth Playbacks can be edited by clicking Edit on their playback. Editing a cue or a cuelist will load the cuelist into a new edit session at the bottom of the programmer window and pre-select the relevant cue in the list.
Click on a cue to edit it Cue being edited Cuelist being edited
Clicking Auto Select will automatically select all of the fixtures in the cue allowing them to be edited by the programmer session. Alternatively you can select individual fixtures or multiples or groups and use the Programmer controls (described in the programmer section) to edit the cues. You can click on any of the cues in the edit session to edit them. In the Programmer, the Record button changes its name to Save and edited cuelists and cues can be identified by their different coloured attribute controls that show if the attributes value has been altered by the programmer.
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Brown The attribute is in the cue but has not been edited by the programmer
Light Grey The attribute is not included in the cue
Yellow/Green The attribute is in the cue and has been edited by the programmer
19.4 EDITING FOLLOW OR WAIT TIMES Any cues that you edit that are set to immediately follow or wait for a specified time and then follow, will display a timeline above those cues in the edit session.
The time line shows the actual time when each cue will play, counting from the first cue from which the others will automatically follow. For example, if you want to know when cue 4 will be played you can read it directly from the time line rather that adding up all of the fade and wait times from the preceding cues. In the example above, cue 4 will be automatically played 7 seconds after cue 1 is played. Note: If the cuelist only has halt cues then you wont see the timeline. There must be a followon or a wait time to see the timeline. You can change the timing of a follow or wait cue by dragging its cue box and this will move the cue with respect to its predecessor as shown on the timeline. If Ripple is selected, then when a cue is dragged, all following cues (up to the next halt) will also move by the same amount. When Ripple is deselected then only the cue being dragged is affected. The timeline handles complex timings by auto-breaking the timeline into separate sections so that you can see the detail.
If you turn off Auto Break then you will see a continuous timeline.
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You can also change the Follow-on/Halt/Wait settings for a cue by right clicking on the cue, selecting Set Follow time and choosing from Halt, Follow-on or Wait time.
If you select Wait time. a dialogue box opens allowing you to enter a specific time. 19.4.1 Saving the Edit When finished editing there are several choices: To save the edited cue click Save on the Programmer toolbar (instantly saved without warning). To save the edited cue with a new name click Save As on the Programmer toolbar and enter a name. Click Close on the Programmer toolbar or right click on the cuelist in session control and click Close. You can then choose either Save, Save as or Discard. To Record as a new cue or in a new cuelist, click the drop down box beside Save As on the Programmer toolbar. Choosing Record opens the Record Cue dialog box. 19.5 EDITING CHANNELS TO BE CUE ONLY There might be occasions where you do not want the values in a cue to track into later cues in the cuelist. This is achieved by changing the status of the required channels to cue only. When a cue containing cue only channels is played back in tracking mode, the cue only channels values are hard values in the cue. When the next cue is played back, the state from the most recent (non cue only) cue is restored automatically plus any new values in the incoming cue. In other words, when the next cue is played back, the output tracks the values as if the cue only channels did not exist. You can select individual channels in a cue and make them cue only by right-clicking on the cue in the control booth and selecting Change cue only. This will bring up the Edit cue only channels dialog box.
All of the channels in the cue are listed in the Device column and their status as a cue only channel is set by ticking their box. The boxes at the top allow you to select either all channels, specific groups of channels (Intensity, Colour, Position or Beam). Clicking Revert will restore the settings from the cue. Click OK to save the settings. You can also access this dialog from the programmer when editing a cue, by right-clicking on the relevant cue in the edit session and selecting Change cue only.
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19.5.1
Cue Only Indication
You can see the cue only status of any channels in a cue by clicking on that cue in the Control Booth window. Channels that are cue only are shown as q only beside their value.
Cue only channels
19.6 LIVE EDIT INDICATION In the Control Booth any cuelists being edited live <on stage> have a red E beside their name.
Cuelist being LIVE edited
19.7 BLOCK CUE Cues that are recorded to be used in tracking playback mode only contain the changes that are required when the cue is played back. In tracking playback, any unchanged values from previous cues will track through to the present state. If you want to prevent values from tracking through to a cue, you can edit the cue and change it into a Block cue. When you do this, Clarity takes all of the tracked values that would exist on the output of the playback (as if the cuelist had been played back) and converts them into hard values then adds them to the cue. See Operating Concepts and Terminology for more details. To change a cue into a blocking cue, edit the cue as described above then in the edit session in the programmer window, right-click on the cue and select Block cue. All Block cues in a cuelist can be unblocked. When you unblock a cuelist, Clarity compares each cue to the cue that preceded it and removes any duplicated values. Therefore, each cue in the cuelist will only contain changes. To remove all blocking cues from a cuelist, edit the cuelist as described above then in the edit session in the programmer window, right-click on the cuelist and select Unblock cuelist. 19.8 UNDO REDO EDITS Edits can be undone or redone by clicking Undo or Redo in the Control Booth window. 19.9 EXPORTING A CUE TO THE PROGRAMMER When you edit a cue (above) it opens a separate cuelist session in session control. If you want to build a new cuelist based on the contents of an existing cue, you can export the cue directly into the current programmer session. In the Control Booth window, select the cuelist by clicking on it then right-click on the cue and select Export to current programmer. If the current programmer is not empty, you can choose to either replace or merge with the current contents.
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Performance Window
20 Performance Window
20.1 OVERVIEW The performance window provides a unique and intuitive method of playback especially designed for busking or improvising a show. The grid area of the performance window is arranged as a grid of playable items. The top row is fixed and provides column master stop buttons. The left column is also fixed and provides row master play buttons. Existing cuelists are dragged from the cuelist browser and dropped onto locations on the grid providing one-click triggering of a large and expandable number of playbacks. The columns are designed to contain looks that are to be mutually exclusive, so that playback swaps between each look as it is triggered. Playing a cell in a column releases any previously active cue in that same column. For example: one column might contain different positions for a certain type of fixture whilst another row might contain different colours for the same fixtures. Unlimited rows and columns with copy, drag and drop allow you to create extremely versatile playback variations. Clicking in a playable cell shows the properties of that cell in the Properties pane at the bottom of the screen where you can select ranges, filter attributes and generally modify the cuelist in that cell to achieve unlimited combinations and permutations, all without duplicating or changing the original cuelists. Clicking the Properties tab at the top of the window will close the Properties pane allowing you to see a larger grid.
Cuelist browser
Column Masters
Preview
Selected Cell Row Masters Properties of selected cell
Playable cells and can be freely moved, copied or swapped to any cell of the grid. Each cell displays concise activity information including cue and overall list progress, as well as time-torelease and time-to-start. There is no fixed limit to the number of columns or rows that are available and the grid is automatically expanded whenever an item is dropped on a cell in the last row or column. 20.2 PREVIEWING CUELISTS The selected cuelist in the cuelists browser can be previewed without having to drop it onto a cell by using the preview (play) and (stop) controls at the bottom of the browser. Selecting
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another cuelist automatically stops the previous preview. The Auto Preview check-box causes the preview to start automatically whenever a cuelist is clicked. 20.3 THE GRID The grid consists of Columns and Rows. Each column plays one cell. Playing another cell in that column will release any other currently active cell in that column. Each row can play multiple cells. Playing another cell in that row has no effect on any other currently active cell. The various cell types in the grid are: Stop All: Top left. A fixed stop button for the entire grid. Column Masters: Top button of each column. A fixed stop button for the whole column and a place to label a column. Row Masters: Left button of each row. A fixed play button for the whole row and a place to label a row. Cuelist: a cell with a play button that will run the cuelist in that cell using its current properties. Stop button: an empty cell with a button that stops any other active cell in the same column. Blank cell: a non-functional empty cell. 20.4 ADAPTING EXISTING PROGRAMMING The real power and creative potential of the performance window comes from the arrangement of Row Masters and the ability to quickly adapt and re-use existing cuelists without duplicating them. When an existing list or chase is dropped onto a cell, the cuelist is referenced instead of being duplicated, so that any future edits to that cuelist will propagate to any cells where it is being used. Most importantly, each cell can be optionally configured to have different playback characteristics from the source cuelist and to only use a selected range of cues from within the cuelist. For example, you may have a cuelist that has a nice sequence of position moves between cues 11 to 14 that you would like to re-use as a separate chase. You can drop this cuelist onto a new cell and change the cell properties to operate as a chase and to limit the range of cues to start at 11 and end at 14. You can also restrict the cell to only use fixtures from a specific fixture group and to ignore all colour and beam information. These changes do not affect the source cuelist in any way. In fact the same source cuelist can be used on multiple different cells, all with different playback/chase options, ranges of cues, IPCB (Intensity, Position, Colour, Beam) filtering and fixture groups.
20.4.1
Sync FX
If a cue contains dynamic effects (created in the dynamics tab of the programmer or applied by a dynamic preset or freeset), the rate of the effect can be kept relative to the performance windows metronome. Right clicking on a cue that contains dynamic effects (in the Properties pane above) and selecting Sync FX toggles whether the effects are synchronized to the metronome or not. See section 18.5 for more details on Sync Fx.
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20.5 MANAGING THE GRID To manage columns, Right-Click in the top cell of the column and select either: Insert blank column. Delete selected column To move a column, click and drag the top cell of the column. Dropping a cuelist anywhere in the right column of the grid will automatically add a new column. To manage rows, Right-Click in the left cell of the row and select either: Insert blank row. Delete selected row. Clear selected row. (Sets entire row to stop buttons). Capture to new row. (Copies active cells to selected row see below). To move a row, click and drag the left cell of the row. Dropping a cuelist anywhere in the bottom row of the grid will automatically add a new row. 20.5.1 Copying Active Cells to a Common Row If you have played some cells from different rows and you find a combination on stage that you like, you can copy all of the active cells to a single row. To record all active cells into a blank row of your choice, hold [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) and the Row Masters of all blank rows turn into a red record button. Whilst holding [Ctrl] or [Cmd], click on a red record button.
Scattered active cells and blank row Record buttons.
Active cells copied to row 6 The previously scattered combination of cells can be simultaneously played with a single Row Master (Play) button. 20.5.2 Cell Properties Clicking in an active cell reveals the properties of that cell in the Properties pane at the bottom of the screen. The Properties pane provides a comprehensive set of options that apply to each individual cell.
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Source. This allows you to select the source for the cell or to make a deep copy of the current cuelist. A deep copy duplicates the cuelist and sets the new copy as the current source. Trigger. These options are used in conjunction with the metronome (at the top of the Performance window, see below for details) and rely on the concept of a boundary which is given by the metronome's Quantize setting. For example: if quantize is set to 1 bar, then the next boundary is when the song position reaches the start of the next bar. If quantize is set to note then the boundary is the next down beat. The available options are: Immediate: the cell is triggered as soon as it (or it's Row Master) is pressed. Immediate-adjusted: the cell is triggered immediately, but jumps forward to suit the quantize setting so that it's at the same position it would have been if it had been triggered on the boundary. For example: if quantize is set to 1 bar and a chase is triggered on the second beat of the bar, then the cell will trigger immediately but will jump forward to the point that corresponds to the second beat as if it had been triggered at the start of the bar and will continue from there as normal. Next boundary: the cell will wait until the next boundary is reached before triggering. For example: if Quantize is set to 1 bar, then the pressed cell will trigger at the start of the next bar. This allows you to easily pre-trigger one or more cells that will start at exactly the same moment, in time with the music.
Time-to-trigger
The time-to-trigger is indicated by a green dot moving from right-to-left. Special action. Ticking Special action will provide a degree of automated variation by taking the action that you select after an adjustable number of loops. The available actions are: Release will release the cell. GoNext will trigger the cell below this cell. GoPrev will trigger the cell above this cell.
Use local player. By default, each cuelist cell in the Performance window uses its own local player playback options that are entirely separate from the source cuelist. Changing these won't affect how the cuelist behaves in the Control Booth window.
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The Chase and Playback controls are identical to those in the Control Booth window. See section 18.3.2 Cuelist Playback Options in the Control Booth for details. Lock to tempo: When ticked, this causes the cuelist/chase to use the metronome timing as set at the top of the Performance window. The cuelist is scaled to fit into a predetermined musical duration (bars and beats). The initial length is calculated automatically based on the number of cues in the cuelist. Chases are scaled so that each cue maps to a single beat ( note). Cuelists are scaled so that each cue maps to a single bar. You can manually change the length by entering a length value in the form bars.beats. For example: 2.0 for 2 bars duration. The X button returns the length to the automatically calculated value. Mask: when enabled, allow you to selectively ignore parts of the cuelist. You can choose to ignore any combinations of I (Intensity), P (Position), C (Colour) or B (Beam). Clicking in the Detail box opens the Set mask box that allows you to or drill down for a custom selection of specific attribute types. For example: you could choose Position and then select Pan only. Restrict: when enabled, allows you to restrict playback to a specified group of fixtures. Clicking the drop down arrow allows you to select any fixture group so that playback will only affect fixtures that are both in the cuelist and in the selected group. Range: when enabled, allows you to specify a limited range of cues to playback from the cuelist. Clicking the Start drop down box allows you to select any cue from the cuelist. Clicking the End drop down arrow allows you to select any later cue from the cuelist. The bottom right of the properties window shows the cues of the currently selected cell. 20.6 THE METRONOME The metronome toolbar at the top of the Performance window provides control over Clarity's internal musical time base. Cuelists and chases can be locked to tempo and the Programmer's Dynamics (real time effects) can be synchronized to the metronome so that the playback rates keep a uniform time and achieve perfect synchronization. Cuelists in the Performance window can use the metronome to synchronize triggering to the next boundary which is given by the metronome's Quantize setting. For example: if quantize is set to 1 bar, then the next boundary is when the song position reaches the start of the next bar. If quantize is set to note then the boundary is the next down beat.
Stop, Pause, Play
Song position. Bars.Beats
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20.6.1
Metronome Settings
Time sig: Time signature allows you to select the number of beats within a bar, 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4. BPM: (Beats Per Minute) is the tempo of the metronome. Set the tempo by either entering a BPM number or by using the <tap> button to set the tempo rhythmically. The first tap sets the down beat and subsequent taps will modify the tempo. The more taps in succession the more accurate the tempo will be. You can also use the keyboard's Ins (insert) key to tap the tempo Stop: Metronome stops and the song position will start from 0.0 the next time that the play button is pressed. Pause: Metronome pauses and retains the song position count. Play: Starts the metronome. Song position: Displays the current bar and beat Quantize: Controls the boundary to provide exact trigger timing. This can be used in conjunction with the cell's Trigger options (Immediate, Next Boundary or Immediate Adjusted) to synchronize stepping of multiple cells. For example, if quantize is set to 1 bar, then the next boundary is when the song position reaches the start of the next bar. If quantize is set to note then the boundary is the next down beat.
20.7 PERFORMANCE FREESETS/GROUPS The Freesets/Groups tab of the performance window offers a rapid method of putting together clips by combining freesets and groups and playing them from a cell in the Performance grid. Select a group of fixtures from the Groups pane and a Freeset from the Freesets pane. Drag either the selected group or Freeset and drop it on the desired cell in the grid. The selection that you drag will take the other selection with it. The I,P,C,B (Intensity Position, Colour, Beam) buttons can be used to filter the attribute of the selected Freeset that you want to apply to this clip. The cells containing these clips can be manipulated in exactly the same ways as cells containing cuelists as described above.
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Levels Window
21 Levels Window
21.1 OVERVIEW The Levels window provides comprehensive monitoring of levels and activity within Clarity. The selection tabs allow you to view: DMX. Output. Programmer. The levels of all attribute controlled by either programmer. Cuelist. The contents of any cue in any cuelist 21.2 DMX VALUES The DMX tab at the top left allows you to select any of Clarity's DMX Universes via the drop down box and to view the levels in Percent, Decimal, or in Hexadecimal.
21.3 OUTPUT VALUES The Output tab allows you to view either the values or the source of control for every attribute of every fixture via the drop down box.
Values sent to each fixture
Source of control for each fixture If the source is a playback, each Attribute Control shows you the name of the cuelist plus the cue number and name.
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21.4 PROGRAMMER VALUES The Programmer tab allows you to view the output of either Programmer by clicking on the drop down box or you can tick the Follow current check box to show the contents of the current programmer. 21.5 CUE LIST VALUES Selecting the Cue List button allows you to view the output of any Cue List by clicking on the drop down box and selecting from the Cue List box. Recently viewed cuelists are also listed in the drop down selection.
Click on a cue to see its contents Follow active cue
Click on a cue to see its contents. Tick the Follow active cue check box to automatically see the contents of the active cue in the selected cuelist. 21.6 CUSTOMIZING THE DISPLAY Clicking the icons in the top right corner of each type of fixture type allows a trade off between screen area and detail.
Minimized, Compact, Capped or Expanded Minimized only displays a heading for the type of fixture. Compact uses a one line display for the type of fixture. Capped uses a maximum of 5 lines for the type of fixture. Expanded shows all fixtures of that type.
21.7 NEW WINDOW To create a new un-docked window of the currently selected Level window click New. Multiple windows can be opened and each window can be set to any of the available display tabs. Multiple windows are most useful when using large monitors or multi-screen set-ups.
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VX10 & VX20 Wings
22 VX10 & VX20 Wings

22.1 OVERVIEW LSC offers 2 models of USB wings for use with Clarity.
VX10 10 fader playbacks. LCD displays and multiple page selection. Record, Edit and Function buttons. Grand Master. DBO (Dead Black Out). 2 universes of DMX output. Front USB port. Remote Control Inputs.
VX20 10 fader playbacks. 10 button playbacks. LCD displays and multiple page selection. Separate page selection for the left and right banks. Programmer controls with trackball. Record, Edit and Function buttons. Grand Master. DBO (Dead Black Out). 4 universes of DMX output. Front USB port. Remote Control Inputs. MIDI input. Button playbacks can be toggled to become additional programming functions
Cuelists are assigned to the wings playbacks in the Control Booth window by drag and drop onto a virtual copy of the selected wing on the Clarity screen. When a wing is plugged into the computer running Clarity, the real and virtual wings both operate simultaneously. Move a fader on the real wing and the same fader on the virtual wing also moves. Click a button on the virtual wing and both it and the real wing button light. 22.2 WING CONNECTIONS See section 3 for details on the rear panel connections of the VX10 and VX20 wings. 22.3 ADDING A VIRTUAL WING To add a virtual wing, in the Control Booth window click Hardware, Manage and in the Hardware dialog box select add virtual wing.... From the Add new device box drop down list select your model of playback wing or DMX node and click OK then Close. 22.3.1 Selecting a Virtual Wing To select a Virtual Wing, in the Control Booth window click Hardware, then click on the name of the Wing (Clarity VX10 or Clarity VX20). The selected wing appears on the screen. The virtual wing is fully functional except that the Grand Master is not activated until a hardware USB wing is connected.
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Virtual VX20 Wing
VX20 Virtual Wing Display 22.4 ADDING A CUELIST TO A WING To add a cuelist to a playback on a wing, in the Control Booth window, drag it from the cuelist column onto the LCD window of the virtual wing playback. If the actual wing is connected, the cuelist also appears in the same playback as on the virtual wing. Cuelists already on a wing playback can be moved to a different playback by dragging them on the virtual wing. To copy a cuelist to another playback, hold [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) whilst dragging on the virtual wing.
22.5 WING PLAYBACK PAGES The playbacks on the Clarity VX10 and VX20 wings can have up to 99 pages of cuelists. On the VX10 wing, the Page Buttons select the current page for all 10 playbacks.
Playbacks Page buttons and display
Playbacks and Page Buttons on a VX10 Wing On the VX20 wing, playbacks are divided into 2 separate banks. Playbacks 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 are in the left bank and playbacks 6 to 10 and 16 to 20 are in the right bank and each bank has separate Page Buttons.
Left Bank Page buttons and display Right Bank Page buttons and display
Left Bank Playbacks
Right Bank Playbacks
Playbacks and Page Buttons on a VX20 Wing

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When you start a new show, only page one exists. When a cuelist is dropped onto any playback on a page of a virtual wing, the next higher page is automatically created. You can manually create any page number (up to 99) by directly selecting that number as described below. This also automatically creates all of the in between pages up to the selected page number. The page number display beside the page buttons shows a or symbol when a higher or lower page exists. Pressing [Page ] or [Page ] selects the next higher or lower page number. To directly select any page number, hold either [Page ] or [Page ] and use the numbered [flash] buttons below the faders to enter the page number. Use the [10] button as a 0. For example, to go to page 21, hold either [Page ] or [Page ] and tap [2], [1]. Holding [Function] and pressing [Page ] or [Page ] increments or decrements the page number by 10. 22.5.1 Locking a Playback
A playback on a VX wing can be locked so it is unaffected by page changes. On the virtual wing, right click on the playback and select Lock this playback. 22.6 WING PLAYBACKS
11-20 Play 11-20 Pause Left Bank Page DBO 1-10 Play 1-10 Pause Grand Master 1-10 Intensity Faders 1-10 Intensity Flash LCD screen Right Bank Page Function Select Release Edit Record Pause/Go Back Master Go
VX20 Playback masters The area of the LCD screen adjacent to each playback shows the name of any cuelist that is on the playback and also the names of the current cue and the next two cues in the cuelist. GM (Grand master): controls the overall intensity of all fixtures on the output. If more than one VX wing is connected, the Grand Masters work on a Lowest Takes Precedence basis. DBO (Dead Black Out): Whilst held down, it blacks out all intensity of all fixtures on the output. Intensity fader: that controls the overall intensity of all fixtures on the output of its playback (Playbacks 1 to 10 only).
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Flash button: Instantly flashes the intensity of all fixtures on the playback to full level (Playbacks 1 to 10 only). (Go): Plays the next cue in the cuelist or restarts a paused fade. Pressing will start the fade to the next cue even if the current fade has not finished. Press Function+ to snap to the next cue. o The indicator in the button lights during the transition to the next cue. o The indicator in the button slowly flashes if any of the attributes in the cue have been overridden. If the playback contains a chase, pressing will start the chase. If you continue tapping (to the beat of the music) it will automatically adjust the chase speed to the beat. II I Pauses any fades in progress. If no fades are in progress, if fades back to the previous step. Press Function+ II I to snap to the previous cue. o The indicator in the button lights when the fade to the next cue has completed. Select: Selecting a playback allows it to be controlled by the Master and Master II I buttons and also selects the playbacks cuelist in the Control Booth window allowing you to see and or change the playback settings of the cuelist. o To select a playback tap Select then tap any button of the desired playback. o The cuelist name of the currently selected cue is displayed in reverse video (black text on white background). (Master Go): Plays the next cue or restarts a paused fade of the selected playback. See Select above. II I (Master Pause /Go Back): Pauses the fade of the selected playback. If no fade is in progress, if fades back to the previous step. See Select above. Release: To release a playback, tap Release. All buttons of all playbacks flash. Tap any button of the playback to be released. To clear (remove) a cuelist from a playback, right click on the name of the cuelist on the virtual playback then click Clear. Edit: To edit a cue on a playback, tap Edit. All buttons of all playbacks flash. Tap any button of the playback to be edited. Record: opens the Record Cue dialog box. To append a cue to the last recorded cuelist, press Record twice. To record the cue on a playback on a VX wing, press the flash button of that playback. Page: the Page buttons are described earlier in this section.
22.7 WING GROUP MASTERS You can configure any of the VX wing fader playbacks (or Control Booth playbacks) as fixture Group Masters. When a playback is converted into a Group Master, it no longer controls its previous cuelist (if any) but instead controls the intensity of the selected group as determined by your choice of either Additive, Scale+, Inhibiting or Limiting mastering as described below. To create a Group Master on a wing, in the Control Booth window, Right click on the LCD window of the virtual wing playback and select Set as Group Master... See above for details on how to display the virtual wing.
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On the Create Group Master Dialog select the required fixture Group to master then choose the Master Type to use: Additive. The fader level is added to the current intensity level of all fixtures in the group. For example, if the fader is at 50% each fixture would get 50% added onto its current level. So fixtures at 25, 50 and 75% would end up at 75, 100 and 100 percent. Scale +. This scales each intensity level between its current level and full. For example, if the fader is at 50%, a fixture at 25 would be set half way (50%) between 25 and full which is 62.5%. A fixture at 50 would be set half way (50%) between 50 and full which is 75% and a fixture at 75 would be half way between 75 and full which is 87.5%. Inhibitive. This is the default, and operates in the same way as a fader assigned to a cuelist. For example, if the fader is at 50%, fixtures at 25, 50 and 75% would be at 12.5, 25 and 37.5%. Limiting. The intensity level of each fixture is capped to the fader level. For example, if the fader is at 50%, fixtures at 25, 50 and 75% would be at 25, 50 and 50%.
If the actual wing is connected, the LCD shows the status of the fader as a Group Master. A group master on a wing will be deactivated when it is not on the currently selected page. You can change this by un-ticking Deactivate group masters while paged out in the User Preferences. When a playback on a VX wing has been programmed as a Group master, its (Go) and II I buttons now act as Group select and Group deselect buttons. Therefore, pressing the button of that Group Master on the VX wing will select all of the fixtures in that group in the Programmer. 22.8 EXTENDED WING CONTROLS Unused playbacks on a VX10 or VX20 wing can be used as extra control buttons and faders for another playback on that wing that contains a cuelist. The playbacks on a wing are arranged in groups of 5: A VX 10 wing has 2 groups of playbacks, 1 to 5 and 6 to 10. A VX 20 wing has 4 groups of playbacks, 1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 15 and 16 to 20.
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If a cuelist is loaded on a playback and there are un-used (clear) playbacks to the right of the loaded playback in the same group of 5, then the unused playbacks can now be linked to the loaded playback to provide greater live control. The previously unused playbacks buttons and faders can now be used for live control of Chase Rate, Playback Rate, FX Rate and FX Amplitude. To create extended controls on a wing, in the Control Booth window, Right click on the loaded playbacks LCD window of the virtual wing playback and choose either single, 2, 3, 4 or 5 columns. The number of columns that are available depends upon the number of clear playbacks to the right and in the same group of five playbacks.
The 4 playbacks to the right are clear so up to 5 columns can be selected.
The 2 playbacks to the right are clear so up to 3 columns can be selected.
Each column represents a playback on the wing. The first (single) column is the playback loaded with the cuelist. If you choose 2 columns then the playback to its right controls that cuelists Chase Rate. If you choose 3 columns then the next playback to the right controls that cuelists Playback Rate. If you choose 4 columns then the next playback to the right controls that cuelists FX (Effects)Rate. If you choose 5 columns then the next playback to the right controls that cuelists FX (Effects) Amplitude.
Cuelist being controlled
Controls Chase Rate
Controls Playback Rate
Controls Effects Rate
Controls Effects Amplitude
The buttons and fader on each of these playbacks (columns), now perform the following functions: Pressing Play or Pause steps the values up or down respectively. If you hold the button it will auto-repeat after a delay. Holding the Flash button when pressing Play or Pause makes them step in larger increments. Pressing both Play and Pause together resets to the default value. Holding the Flash button allows you to use the fader to make fine adjustments to the value.
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22.9 PROGRAMMING WITH THE VX20 WING The VX20's programmer section assists programming by providing hard controls for the main programming functions.
Blind Release All Clear All Intensity Position None Trackball All Prev Next Fine / Right Mouse Button Beam Colour HiLite
Mouse Mode
Ortho / Left Mouse Button
Fan
22.9.1
Trackball
The trackball is multi-purpose and can be used for Programming and as a computer mouse. Pressing either Intens (Intensity), Position, Colour or Beam turns the track ball blue and causes the trackball to vary the Intensity, Position, Colour or Beam values of the selected fixtures in the current programming session. Pressing the (mouse) button green and causes it to act as a mouse for the computer running Clarity. When (mouse) is selected the Ortho and Fine buttons act as the Left and Right mouse buttons respectively. The Intensity, Position, Colour, Beam and Mouse buttons are all interlocked so that selecting any one button deselects the previous button. 22.9.2 Programmer Buttons The programmer buttons have the following functions: Next, All, Prev, None, HiLit (Highlight), Blind, Clear All, Release All: Perform identical functions to the same buttons on the Programmer window's toolbar in the GUI (Graphical User Interface). See section 8, Programmer for details. o The Clr All button lights when any attributes have been grabbed in either programmer. o The Rel All button lights when any playbacks are active on the output. Hint: Inadvertently pressing Rel All will blackout all Playback. To prevent this you can set a User Preference to require both Function and Rel All to be pressed together to release all playbacks. Ortho: (Orthogonal) Holding Ortho whilst moving the trackball restricts the trackball output to only horizontal or vertical movements, whichever occurs first. When in mouse mode (above) it acts as a Left mouse button. Fan: When multiple fixtures are selected, holding Fan whilst moving the trackball will fan the values of those attributes. (The same as holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) when dragging with the mouse in the GUI). Fine: Holding Fine whilst moving the trackball gives finer control. (The same as holding Shift when dragging with the mouse in the GUI). When in mouse mode (above) it acts as a Right mouse button. Record: opens the Record Cue dialog box and all playback buttons on VX wings flash. To record the programmer contents to a VX20 playback, press any (flashing) playback button. If the playback is empty a new cuelist will be created. If the playback already
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contains a cuelist, the new cue will be appended to the end of that cuelist. To append a cue to the last recorded cuelist, press Record a second time. 22.9.3 VX20 Soft Menus The top row of playback buttons can be toggled to become additional programming buttons acting as shortcuts for some common operations. To switch the buttons between normal playback operation and soft functions, right-click on the VX20s virtual wing display and select Toggle soft menus. There is only a single row of functions, and both buttons above each label will trigger the same function as shown on the LCD display.
Soft Menu Functions Left Bank Soft Menus Auto Clear Prog Update Undoes the last See Removes all operation in the section attributes from the Control Booth. 8.7.8 current Programmer. Right Bank Soft Menus Prog 1 Selects Programmer 1 as the current session.
Undo Prog Undoes the last operation in the current Programmer.
Undo Ctrl
Save All Saves all currently open edit sessions.
Grab Active Grabs all attributes that are active on the output into the current Programmer.
Rem Dim
Prog 2 Selects Programmer 2 as the current session.
Esc Closes any open dialog boxes
Unselected fixtures currently grabbed in the programmer have their intensity in the Programmer set to zero.
22.10 EXTERNAL CONTROL INPUTS The 9-pin D-SUB connector on the back of the VX10 and VX20 wing can be used to remotely control several of the Go Next buttons on the playbacks. The connector is wired to accept 6 inputs in the form of contact closures. VX10 VX20
The external inputs control GO buttons 5 to 10

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The external inputs control GO buttons 15 to 20
VX10 & VX20 Wings
The pin assignments on the 9 pin D-SUB connector are: Pin 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 VX 10 Button Go 5 Go 6 Go 7 Go 8 Go 9 Go 10 Common VX20 Button Go 15 Go 16 Go 17 Go 18 Go 19 Go 20 Common
To remotely operate a Go button, provide a contact closure (short circuit) from its control pin to the common pin.
Pin 1
Pin 9
Circuit to operate Go button 5 on a VX10 or Go button 15 on a VX20 22.11 VX20 MIDI See section 23 for details on the VX20s MIDI functions. 22.12 DESKLAMP INTENSITY The brightness of the LED desklight on the VX wing control can be controlled by holding down [Function] and [Select] together.
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MIDI
23 MIDI
23.1 OVERVIEW MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an international standard for data communication between musical instruments, computers and other equipment such as lighting controllers. The MIDI IN connector on the VX20 wing receives signals from a MIDI device such as a keyboard, MIDI sequencer or computer with MIDI output and uses the signals for various functions. Clarity uses MIDI in two ways: 1. MIDI Control of Selected VX20 Playback (Simple MIDI). 2. MIDI Timecode can be used to playback cues at specific times. 23.2 MIDI CONTROL OF SELECTED VX20 PLAYBACK A MIDI signal connected to a VX20 wing can be used to remotely control the playback of the selected playback that wing. A playback is selected on a wing by pressing Select then any of the flashing buttons of that playback. The cuelist name of the currently selected playback is displayed in black text on a white background. MIDI Note ON messages can be assigned to trigger the Go, Pause/Back, Release and Jump functions of the selected playback on a VX20 wing. MIDI Control Change messages can be used to pre-select a cue in the cuelist of the selected playback that will be triggered by the next Note on message to be received that is assigned to the Jump function. 23.2.1 MIDI Settings To enable and setup Simple MIDI, select Control Booth, Hardware, Simple MIDI. The Simple MIDI Setup dialog box appears:
To enable MIDI, tick the Enable Simple MIDI box. 23.2.2 MIDI Channel MIDI signals are sent and received on 16 separate channels on the one cable. Use the MIDI channel drop down box to select the MIDI channel on which your MIDI transmitting device is sending its messages. Selecting Omni receives on all 16 channels simultaneously. 23.2.3 MIDI Note On Messages The MIDI protocol uses many different types of messages. Note on is one type of MIDI message. Each note on the MIDI keyboard has a number assigned to it and when that note is played, MIDI sends a note on message for that note. You can assign any notes note on message to control the Go next, Pause/Back, Release and Jump buttons of the selected playback. Clicking on the drop down box beside each button name allows you to select the note that will activate it. The currently assigned note is shown beside each button. See also Learn MIDI below. When Clarity receives a MIDI note on message that is assigned to a playback function button, it triggers that function on the selected playback.
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MIDI
23.2.4
MIDI Control Function
Control Change is a type of MIDI message. This message consists of a function and a value. The value that is sent with that message is used by Clarity to pre-select a cue in the currently selected cuelist. Then, when the next MIDI note on message assigned to the Jump button is received, Clarity will jump (cross-fade) to that pre-selected cue. Clicking on the drop down box beside Control Function allows you to select the control change that will activate it. The currently assigned control change is shown in the box. See also Learn MIDI below. The Control change value pre-selects a cue number in the cuelist by counting up from zero. Therefore, a value of 0 pre-selects the first cue, a value of 1 pre-selects the second cue, 2 preselects the third cue and so on. This system is used because cue numbers do not always count up in units and can have decimal notation such as cue 1.5 etc. Control change values can consist of either one byte (7 bit) or two bytes (14 bit) of data. Clarity automatically determines the resolution of the values it receives. If the Display jump cue popup hint is ticked, then when a Control change message is received, a popup hint box will appear showing the cuelist name and the cue number and name of the pre-selected cue. For example, If Clarity has just received the selected MIDI control change message with a value of 5, the jump cue popup hint appears:
The next time Clarity receives the midi note on message that is currently assigned to the jump function it will jump to cue 6 (Closer). 23.2.5 Learn Midi If you are unsure of the actual MIDI note number or Control Function that you will be sending from the MIDI device, clicking the Learn button beside each Note on or Control Function selector turns that button green. Clarity now listens for the next MIDI message to be sent and automatically assigns it to that function. The learn button automatically turns off in 5 seconds if no MIDI signal is detected. 23.3 MIDI TIMECODE MIDI Timecode information can be received by a VX20 wing or by a MIDI interface on your computer and used to control the playback of cues at specific times. This allows Claritys playback to be perfectly synchronized with other elements of a production that are also locked to MIDI Timecode.
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MIDI
To configure MIDI Timecode, click Show/Timecode/Configuration.
The Timecode Configuration dialog box opens:
Playlists
Playlist Contents
Event Details
There are three main panes, Playlists, Playlist Contents and Event Details. Each Playlist contains a list of events (Playlist Contents). Each event specifies a time that a cue in a cuelist will be played. Events can be added to a Playlist either automatically, as a show is played back, or manually by selecting a cuelist, cue number and time for each event. 23.3.1 Automatic Entry of Events If MIDI Timecode is being received by Clarity, events can be automatically entered into a Playlist as they are manually played back in real time. To create a new Playlist, click on the symbol in the Playlists pane. At the bottom of the Playlist Contents pane, click Learn. The Learn button turns green. If Clarity is receiving MIDI Timecode, the box beside the Learn button will flash red and automatic entry of events is possible. Playback your show using any of Claritys Control Booth or Wing playbacks. Each time a cue is played back a new event is automatically created containing the cuelist, cue number and the current Timecode when the cue is played. When finished click Learn to de-select it. If necessary you can edit any of the events and their times as described below. 23.3.2 Manual Entry of Events
To create a new Playlist, click on the symbol in the Playlists pane. Clicking on that new Playlist will enable the Playlist Contents pane. In the Playlists Contents pane, clicking on symbol will add a new Event (no set cue). Clicking on that Event will enable the Event Details pane.
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MIDI
In the Event Details pane, clicking on the Cuelist box allows you to select a cuelist (that you have previously recorded) then clicking on the Cue box allows you to select a cue in that cuelist. See also Recede below. The time for an event can be set by clicking in the time boxes and either entering a number or using the mouse wheel. Press [Tab] to advance to the next time field. Timecode is entered in Hours, Minutes, Seconds and Frames. To add another event, click on the symbol in the Playlists Contents pane. Clicking on that Event allows you to select a Cuelist, Cue and Time for that event. 23.3.3 Editing Events
The contents of any event including its Timecode value can be edited by clicking on the its Playlist then clicking on the event and altering the Event Details as described in the manual entry of events above. 23.3.4 Managing Playlists Multiple Playlists can be created by clicking on symbol in the Playlists pane. To delete a Playlist, click on the Playlist then click the symbol in the Playlists pane. To delete an Event in a Playlist, click on the Playlist then click on the Event in the Playlist Contents pane, then click the symbol. Deleted Playlists and Events can undone or redone by clicking Undo Del Event or Redo Del Event. 23.3.5 MIDI Timecode Playback
To enable MIDI Timecode playback, tick the Global Enable box. To enable a Playlist to be controlled by MIDI Timecode, tick that Playlists Enable box. When Clarity is receiving MIDI Timecode, any enabled Playlist will play each event when the time in the Event Details box matches the Timecode being received by Clarity. See also Recede below. 23.3.6 Recede There are two Recede options, Global Recede and Event Recede and they work together. If Global Recede is not ticked, no Event Recedes will work. An event needs both its own recede and the global recede enabled for it to recede. When Recede is enabled (default), events will follow the absolute value of the MIDI Timecode in both directions of time. If the Timecode jumps back in time, the events will follow. When Recede is NOT enabled, events will only follow forward changes in MIDI Timecode. For example, if recede is enabled, an event to trigger cue 2 at 0:0:10:0 will trigger cue 2 when the Timecode first becomes later than 0:0:10:0 and will trigger cue 1 when the Timecode first becomes earlier than 0:0:10:0. Receding from the first cue in a cuelist will release the cuelist. 23.3.7 Skip Intervening Events
If the incoming Timecode suddenly skips to a new point in time, you can choose whether or not to skip any events that would have been triggered in that missing time period.
23.3.8
MIDI Timecode Input
Clarity will always receive MIDI Timecode from any connected VX20 wing which has MIDI Timecode fed into it. MIDI Timecode can also be received from any computer MIDI port such as a MIDI to USB adaptor. Clicking Input on the Timecode Configuration menu bar opens the Choose MIDI Port dialog box.
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MIDI
Click on the drop down box to show all available MIDI ports. VX20 wings are not shown because they are always connected. Select the MIDI port to use and click OK. 23.3.9 Big Time Clicking Big Time opens a time code reader box that displays the current Timecode and is persistent over all Clarity windows. Big Time can also be accessed directly from the Show/Timecode menu.
23.3.10 Simulator Clicking Simulator opens a Timecode generator that provides Timecode for testing time code controlled playback when an external feed of Timecode is not available. Click Run to start or stop the clock. Click Reset to set the time to zero.
Clicking in the Format box allows you to select your required Timecode format from the drop down box. 24 Frames. For film projection rate. 25 Frames. For PAL video rate. 30 Frames non drop. Non-drop Timecode for NTSC video rate. 30 Frames drop frame. Drop-frame Timecode for NTSC video rate. The Simulator can also be accessed directly from the Show/Timecode menu.
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Tracking Backup
24 Tracking Backup
24.1 OVERVIEW Tracking Backup allows a second computer running Clarity to track a master instance of Clarity so that the playback state and show contents are kept in sync on both computers via a network connection. If the master fails for any reason then the slave can be used to keep the show running. Tracking Backup automatically tracks: Playback state Cues/cuelists Groups Presets/freesets And keeps them up to date on the back-up computer. Any other changes in the master will require a manual back-up to the slave. When this is required, a red warning banner will inform you. A single button click will complete the back-up. The prompt is necessary because these back-ups can cause a couple of seconds of interruption to the operation of Clarity. This allows you to choose an appropriate moment that does not affect your show. 24.2 SETTING UP TRACKING BACKUP The main and slave computers must both be fitted with a Clarity dongle and both computers must exist on the same network segment and subnet. On the master computer, run Clarity then ensure that your show is loaded or your current show is saved. You cannot start tracking backup on an empty show or on a modified show. On the slave computer, run Clarity then select close on the load show dialog box to leave a blank new show. On both computers click Show, Preferences, and ensure that the user preferences on the slave match those of the master. On the master computer select Show > Tracking Backup > Connect to master... On the slave computer select Show > Tracking Backup > Connect to slave... On the master computer, once the connection is established, Close the Tracking Backup Master dialog. You can reshow it at any time by selecting Show > Tracking Backup > Status... On the slave computer, the Tracking Backup Slave Dialog must remain open whilst tracking backup is active. This is to prevent any inadvertent changes to the slave show whilst it is tracking the master.
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Tracking Backup
Although the Tracking Backup Slave dialog box must remain open on the slave computer, you can still observe the operation of the slaves windows in the background by clicking on the Patch, Programmer, Palettes, Control Booth, Performance or Levels buttons in the dialog box. The slave operates on the same show file name as the master, but with _tb (tracking backup) appended to the name. This alerts you as to which show file is the master and which is the slave, preventing you from inadvertently operating the backup computer and tracking in reverse thus overwriting any changes to the proper master show. As the master show is modified, the items listed above are automatically tracked by the slave show which is also automatically saved whenever the master show is saved. As mentioned above, anything that modifies the master show that is not automatically tracked will cause a warning banner message to be displayed on the master. This tells you that tracking is suspended and a resync is needed and a button is presented for that purpose. When you resync, the master sends the show data over the network to the slave which will load the data (via a restart) and reconnect with the master. 24.3 AUTOMATIC SLAVE BACKUP The back up session of Clarity can be started in Tracking Backup Slave mode where it will automatically perform the Connect to Master step. In Windows, click on the Start button and navigate to the LSC folder and then to the Clarity folder. Here you should see the selection below.
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Tracking Backup
Click on Tracking Backup Slave and Clarity will start and automatically connect to the master. The slave will auto-reconnect if the connection is lost. 24.4 OPERATING FROM THE SLAVE In the event of a main system crash, the VX wing or QX node will remember the last DMX levels and hold them, preventing a blackout and the DBO and GM (Grand Master) fader on the wing still operate even without Clarity running, so you can fade to black if you need to. Disconnect the VX wing or QX node and plug it into the USB connector of the slave computer and it will go live within a few seconds (however long it takes the computer to connect a USB device). Close the Tracking Backup Slave dialog box and the slave back-up computer will already have the same looks running live.
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Preferences
25 Preferences and About

25.1 USER PREFERENCES Selecting Show, Preferences, from the main menu, allows you to customize the operation of Clarity. The default settings for new cuelists can also be customized or reset to standard. See section 18.3 for details. When a show is saved, the user preferences and new cuelist default settings are always saved as part of the show file. When an existing show is loaded: If Store Preferences Globally is ticked, the user preferences as set in the dialog box and the new cuelist defaults are retained. If Store Preferences Globally is NOT ticked the user preferences and new cuelist defaults in the show file are loaded. When a NEW show is loaded: If Store Preferences Globally is ticked, the user preferences as set in the dialog box and the new cuelist defaults are retained. If Store Preferences Globally is NOT ticked the default preferences and standard cuelist settings are loaded.
To reset the user preferences to their default settings (shown above), click Show, Preferences, Reset. "Auto load last show". Default = un-ticked. If ticked, when Clarity is started it will automatically load the last used show. Auto-load last show can be bypassed by holding [Ctrl] (PC) or [Cmd] (Mac) when starting Clarity. "Save/Restore playback state". Default = ticked. If ticked, Clarity will include currently active playback states when saving a show so that loading that show restores its exact playback state. "Snap-restore playback". Default = un-ticked. If ticked, all playbacks will snap to their saved values when Clarity loads. If not ticked they will fade to their values using the fade times recorded in the cues. Only available if Save/Restore playback is ticked. See also DMX holdoff after load below.
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Preferences
"Programmer release intensity first". Default = ticked. If ticked, when a Programmer is cleared, all intensity attributes will fade out before any other attributes are cleared. This prevents unwanted movements and colour changes being seen on the output. If not ticked, all attributes are cleared at the same time. "Start cuelist edit blind. Default = ticked. If ticked, when a cuelist is edited, Clarity will open a blind edit session to edit the selected cue. De-selecting blind on the edit session will cause the edit session to jump to the current cue if the cuelist is active. If un-ticked, when a cuelist is edited, it will open a live edit session so that the changes (edits) that you make will be seen on the output. If a playback advances the cuelist to the next cue, the edit session keeps track so that the current cue can be instantly edited by the Programmer. If you release the cuelist then the edit session is automatically sent to blind. See Channel Controller Mode below for more details. Connect fader for cuelist edit. Default = ticked. If ticked, the level fader of any playback whose cuelist is being edited live <on stage> will control the output level of the live edit session. See Channel Controller Mode below for more details. Programmer follow selected playback. Default = un-ticked. If ticked and if multiple cuelists on a VX wing are being edited at the same time, you can automatically switch the programmer to any playbacks edit session by selecting that playback. On a wing press Select, and then press any of the required playbacks flashing buttons. See Channel Controller Mode below for more details. "Mask intensity when recording presets". Default = ticked. A preset is usually recorded with only specifically selected attributes (for example, only focus values or only colour values). If ticked, intensity will not be included when a preset is recorded. You can temporarily override this by clicking on the intensity button when recording the preset. "Show unit number instead of fixture label". Default = un-ticked. Each fixture has a unique Unit # (number) and a Name as set in patch. The unit number is used to select fixtures when using command line programming. If un-ticked, fixture names are displayed in the programmer and the levels windows. If ticked, fixture unit numbers are displayed in the programmer and the levels windows. "Programmer operates at normal priority". Default = un-ticked. If ticked, the Programmer has the same priority as a normal playback and therefore can be overridden by a playback on a Latest Take Precedence basis. Auto-enter commandline on 2nd digit after AT. Default = ticked. If ticked, this alleviates the need to press [Enter] after entering an 2-digit intensity value when using command line programming. "Ignore GM/DBO". Default = un-ticked. If ticked, the GM (Grand Master) and DBO (Dead Black Out) functions are disabled. Deactivate group masters while paged out. Default = ticked. When ticked, a group master on a wing will be deactivated when it is not on the currently selected page. "Only allow Rel All together with Function". Default = un-ticked. When ticked, it requires both the Function and Rel All buttons on a wing to be pressed to releases all playbacks. Otherwise, accidentally pressing Rel All can blackout the stage!
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Preferences
"Enable logging to file" Default = un-ticked. When ticked, many of Claritys actions are logged to a file called clarity.log and stored in a public documents location. These log files can be used by LSC to check the operation of Clarity. Only tick this box if instructed to by LSC. If the box is ticked it has no effect on the operation of Clarity but if the log files are not required they can accumulate over time. "Trackball & mouse divisor settings". These setting adjust the sensitivity of the mouse or trackball movements. The fine mouse setting is used when the Shift button is held whilst the mouse is dragged. The fine trackball setting is used when the VX20 Fine button is held whilst the trackball is moved. VX Sticky timeout (s) Default = 5 seconds. On a VX wing when you press either Select, Release or Edit, all of the playback buttons flash waiting for you to select a playback. If you do not immediately make a selection, sticky timeout sets how long they wait before they stop flashing. VX Trackball timeout (ms) Default = 200 ms. Unlike a mouse where you click, drag then release, a trackball does not have a button to click and release. Therefore, a trackball movement cannot be finalized by a release of a button so this time sets the delay from when the trackball stops moving to when the move is finalized. A finalized move can be undone by clicking on the Undo button. Max movie pixels Default = 10800 pixels. Movies are pre-processed by Clarity before being sent to the matrix display. If the movie is of a much higher resolution than the matrix can display, then a lot of processing power can be wasted on unseen resolution. This preference limits the resolution to be pre-processed and thus saves processing power. "Blind time". Default = 1000 ms. The fade time that the programmer uses to go in and out of blind mode, entered in ms (milliseconds). For example 2 seconds = 2000ms. "Clear Time". Default = 1000 ms. The fade out time that the programmer uses when it is cleared, entered in ms (milliseconds). For example 2 seconds = 2000ms. "DMX holdoff after load (s)" Default = 2 seconds. All output is delayed for n (the time you set) seconds after loading a show. In the unlikely event that Clarity stops responding and needs to be restarted, the VX wings will hold the last DMX state and the Grand Master and DBO still control all intensity channels. When the show is reloaded, any active cues will fade up using their recorded fade times. Therefore there could be a dip in intensity between the held state in the wing and the fade up of the restored playback. If you set the DMX holdoff time to be slightly longer than the cue fade up time, the intensity levels will not dip on the output. This setting can be made redundant enabling the Snap-restore playback setting above. "Default lamp ctrl hold time". Default = 4000 ms. The duration of the Lamp on command that is sent when using the Ctrl button on the Programmers Selection window. "Number of audio streams". Default = 16. The maximum number of audio streams that can be running at one time . 25.1.1 New Show Preferences
When a new show is opened, Clarity allows you to use either your preferred default settings or the standard default settings (factory defaults). This includes the settings in the User Preferences and the playback settings for a new cuelist in the control booth.
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Preferences
To open a new show with your preferred default settings click Show, Preferences then tick the Store preferences globally check box. Set your required preferences in the User Preferences dialog box and also set your playback preferences in the control booth. Re-start Clarity, then when Load show? appears, click Close. To open a new show with the standard default settings click Show, Preferences then un-tick the Store preferences globally check box. Re-start Clarity, then when Load show? appears, click Close.
25.2 ABOUT CLARITY Selecting, Show, About LSC Clarity, displays the About LSC Clarity dialog box.
Version number
Licence information
Connected devices
Here you can find information about your version of the Clarity software, license and currently connected devices.
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Fixture Editor
26 Fixture Editor
26.1 OVERVIEW Clarity's contains a fully integrated fixture library of over 2000 fixture personalities supplied by Carallon, an independent supplier of fixture libraries. However, if you have a fixture that is not in the library you can either request a fixture personality file from LSC or use the Clarity fixture editor to create your custom fixture personality. 26.2 FIXTURE REQUEST SERVICE To request a fixture file from LSC, please supply all details of the fixture including the brand, model, version number, operating modes and a DMX chart or list. Submit your request including this information at: http://www.lsclighting.com/help-centre/clarity-templates LSC will email you a Clarity fixture file for your new fixture. See section 7.11 for details on how to add the custom fixture file to Clarity. This service is only available to users who have purchased a licensed version of Clarity. 26.3 FIXTURE EDITOR Before you can open the Fixture Editor you must close Clarity. To start the fixture editor, on a PC, in Windows, click on the Start button and navigate to the LSC folder and then to the Clarity folder. Here you should see the selection below.
Double click on Fixture Editor. The easiest method of creating a new fixture is to load an existing fixture that has similar functions to that of the new fixture then edit the parameters to match those of the new fixture. When you have made the edits, click Save as and enter the new fixtures name.
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Operating Concepts & Terminology
27 Operating Concepts and Terminology

27.1 OVERVIEW The operation of Clarity is easily understood when you know the meaning of certain key terms that are frequently used by Clarity. These terms have been adopted by LSC as the best descriptions for functions and operations performed on Clarity and may not be terms adopted on similar equipment. These key terms are printed in underlined text below. 27.2 PROGRAMMER / PLAYBACK Clarity uses a programmer and playback method of controlling fixtures. In a programmer, you create lighting looks and record them as cues in a cuelist. In a playback, you playback the cuelist. There are many options available for you to choose what is recorded in each cue as well as how each cuelist is played back. Clarity is, by default, a tracking controller which means that Clarity usually only records and plays back the changes that you make between each cue that you record. You can choose to record everything that is grabbed in the programmer (not just the changes since the last recording) and to playback cues that include the entire look. This is known as cue only playback mode. The various options are described below. See also the Record and Control Booth sections for more details on tracking and cue only. 27.3 PRIORITY CONTROL Fixtures have attributes (intensity, pan, tilt, colour etc) and Clarity controls those attributes by outputting values on the DMX slot associated with each attribute. Attributes can be controlled by many different sources from within Clarity. The source of control could be a programmer, a playback (of which there are many), or possibly no source is currently controlling an attribute. When multiple sources are attempting to control an attribute, Clarity uses a priority system to determine which source has control. A higher priority source will override a lower priority on the output. The priority order is: Grand Master and DBO (Dead Black Out) control intensity only. Highlight function. Programmers. Playbacks. In addition to this priority order, individual playbacks operate on the LTP (Latest Take Precedence) principle. The latest cue to be played back will output its attribute values and will override any previous playback that contained the same attributes. (The priority of each cuelist can also be manually altered if required). 27.4 ATTRIBUTE DEFAULT VALUES When an attribute is not under control of a programmer or playback, Clarity's DMX output for that attribute will be its default values contained in Clarity's fixture library. These values differ for each type of fixture but typically will have the intensity attribute set to zero, pan and tilt set to mid range and other attributes set to obtain an open clear beam. 27.5 PROGRAMMER CONTROL When a fixture attribute is controlled by a programmer, the attribute is said to have been grabbed by the programmer (indicated by an * beside its name in the selection side bar). If the programmer is used to vary the value of the attribute, the attribute is said to have been touched by the programmer. If the touched value is recorded into a cuelist, then that the attribute is no longer touched. If it is varied after being recorded it is again touched. When an attribute is no longer controlled by a programmer it is said to be cleared from the programmer.
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27.6 PLAYBACK CONTROL When a cue is played back, any fixture attribute values in that cue appear on the output (subject to priority rules above). When a playback no longer controls any attributes, the playback is said to be released. 27.7 RECORDING AND PLAYBACK CONCEPTS When you record a cue, there are several options that control exactly which attribute values will be recorded. The options that you choose determine the suitability of the cue for the style of playback that you choose to use. Each cuelist can be individually set for its own mode of playback. In its simplest form there are two modes of playback, Tracking and Cue Only. These playback modes determine how the output of a playback will change when a cue is played back. The default settings in Clarity will record cues that are suitable for playback in tracking mode and play them back in tracking mode. Lets firstly look at how the different modes of playback work and then see how to record cues that are best suited to the selected playback mode. 27.7.1 Tracking Playback When a cuelist is set to Tracking mode and the first cue is played back, the fixture attribute values in the first cue appear on the output of the playback. When the next cue is played back, its recorded values appear and any values from previous cues that were not changed by this latest cue will remain on the output of the playback. The unchanged values from previous cues are said to track through to the current state. The values in the current cue are known as hard values and any values from previous cues are known as tracked values. Therefore, in tracking mode, when a cue is played back, the current state on the output of the playback will be the hard values in the current cue plus any tracked values from previous cues.
For example: Here are 3 cues played back in tracking mode. Cue 1 sets the look on stage and then cues 2 and 3 only contain hard values for the changes that need to occur on stage. attribute 1 attribute 2 attribute 3 Cue 1 Output Cue 2 Output Cue 3 Output 80 100 100 80 80 50 25 25 25 25 50 50 25 25
Cue 1 contains hard values for attributes 1, 2 and 3 so when it is played back, the attributes go to 100%, 50% and 25% respectively. Cue 2 only contains a hard value for channel 1 so when it is played back attribute 1 changes to 80% and attributes 2 and 3 track through and remain at 50% and 25%. Cue 3 only contains a hard value for attribute 2 so when it is played back attribute 2 changes to 25% and attributes 1 and 3 track through and remain at 80% and 25%. 27.7.2 Typical Tracking Operations Typical operations using the default record and playback settings (tracking) will be: Select fixtures and grab them in a programmer by adjusting their attributes for the desired look. All of these attributes have now been touched. Record the look as a cue in a new cuelist. The first cue in the cuelist will contain the values of all attributes that have been touched by the programmer. After the cue is recorded, no attributes have been touched.
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Adjust attributes in the programmer for the next look. Now only these varied attributes have been touched. Record the look as the next cue in the cuelist. With the default record settings, this cue will only contain the touched values. Repeat until all cues are recorded. Clear the programmer. Playback the cuelist. Release playback when finished. 27.7.3 Advantages of Tracking
The major advantage of tracking is that if a change (edit) has to be made, only the initial cue that contained the hard values has to be changed and the change will then track through to all subsequent cues. For example: A cuelist containing 50 cues is recorded. The first cue sets the colour of the cyclorama (cyc) to red and it remains unchanged for the entire cuelist. Cues 2 to 50 make other changes but never affect the colour of the cyc. You now want to change the cyc colour to blue. This is quickly achieved by editing cue 1 and changing the colour. There is no need to edit the other 49 cues because the values in cue 1 will track through to cue 50. You then decide that half way through the cuelist you want to change the cyclorama to green. You edit cue 25 and change the colour. When the cuelist is played back, cue 1 sets the cyc to red and it remains unchanged until cue 25 where it changes to green. It then remains green right through to cue 50. Tracking also saves memory space because only changes are saved. 27.7.4 Disadvantages of Tracking Tracking can be confusing and frustrating unless it is fully understood. Remember that tracking does not necessarily give you a what you see is what you get result. The cues that you record only contain changes and not the entire look. For example, the look on stage when you record a cue might not be coming entirely from the programmer. It might be that certain fixtures are getting their colour values from a playback. When the cuelist is played back, the colour that you saw on stage when the cue was recorded might not be reproduced when the cue is played back. A common mistake is to create a look, record it as a cue and then clear the programmer. The next look is then created in the programmer and recorded as the next cue in the cuelist. The programmer is cleared again and the process repeated. The problem with this method is that the sequence of events that you observed on stage as you recorded the cuelist will not necessarily be reproduced when the cuelist is played back in tracking mode. This is because every time you cleared the programmer, you set all selected fixtures to their default values (or to a playbacks value if they were previously controlled by a playback). Typically you will see the fixtures blackout when the programmer is cleared. When you create and record the next cue, you are not recording new values for the previously cleared fixtures unless you specifically grab them in the programmer and set a value. They go off on stage but this off state is not in the programmer so it will not be recorded in the next cue. When the cuelist is played back in tracking mode, each cue does not replace the attribute values from the previous cues unless there are specific values for those attributes in the new cue. Therefore, a fixture that has intensity in a cue will stay on when the next cue is played back unless it has been told to turn off (or go to a different level) in that cue. For example: Record a simple cuelist of 3 cues with a single dimmer turned on in each cue. Select dimmer 1 and set to 100%. Record cue 1. Clear programmer, dimmer 1 fades off. Select dimmer 2 and set to 100%. Record cue 2. Clear programmer, dimmer 2 fades off. Select dimmer 3 and set to 100%. Record cue 3.
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This is
Clear programmer, dimmer 3 fades off. Playback cuelist in tracking mode. Playback cue 1, dimmer 1 fades on. Playback cue 2, dimmer 2 fades on, dimmer 1 stays on because of tracking. Playback cue 3, dimmer 3 fades on, dimmers 1 and 2 stay on because of tracking. not the same as seen on stage when the cues were recorded.
However, if the same cuelist was changed to Cue Only playback mode (below), the playback will be the same as seen on stage when the cues were recorded: Playback cue 1, dimmer 1 fades on. Playback cue 2, dimmer 2 fades on, dimmer 1 fades off. Playback cue 3, dimmer 3 fades on, dimmer 2 fades off 27.7.5 Cue Only Playback When a cuelist is set to playback in Cue only mode and the first cue is played back, the fixture attribute values in the first cue appear on the output of the playback. When the next cue is played back, its values replace all values from the previous cue and any attributes that do not have values in the new cue are released. The output of the playback is the latest cue only. Therefore, in Cue only mode, when a cue is played back, the current state on the output of the playback is only the hard values in that cue.
Note: Cue Only playback should not be confused with Cue Only recording. A cue that is recorded as Cue only is intended to be used as a one off cue in a cuelist set for tracking playback. See section 27.8.2 below. For example: Here are the same 3 cues used in the previous example but this time they are played back in cue only mode. Cue 1 sets the look on stage and then cues 2 replaces cue 1 and cue 3 replaces cue 2. Attributes that do not have a value in a cue are released and go to their default values. Channel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Cue 1 Output Cue 2 Output Cue 3 Output 0 100 100 80 80 0 25 25 0 0 50 50 25 25
Cue 1 contains hard values for attributes 1, 2 and 3 so when it is played back, the attributes go to 100%, 50% and 25% respectively. Cue 2 only contains a hard value for attribute 1 so when it is played back attribute 1 changes to 80% and channels 2 and 3 are released. Cue 3 only contains a hard value for attribute 2 so when it is played back attribute 2 changes to 25% and channels 1 and 3 are released. 27.8 RECORDING CUES When you record a cue, you need to take into account the playback mode of the cuelist that will be used when the cue is played back. The default setting of Clarity are for tracking playback and therefore Clarity will, by default, record only touched values. That is, it records changes that have been made in the programmer since the previous cue in the cuelist was recorded. These cues are suitable for playback in tracking mode. If you intend to playback the cuelist in Cue only mode, then you should include any unchanged information in the cue and not just the changes. In other word, you should record all grabbed values, not just the touched values.
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When you click the Record button, the Record Cue dialog box allows you to choose what will be included in the cue. Setting Playback to either Tracking or Cue Only will automatically select the appropriate option in the Contents pane.
27.8.1
Content Options
Exclude redundant state (changes only/tracking). This option records cues that are suitable for tracking playback. The recorded cue excludes any redundant values from the previous state. The cue only contains the touched (altered since last recording) attribute values. When this cue is played back in a cuelist set for tracking playback, the output will be the hard values of this new cue plus the redundant values tracked through from previous cues. Include unchanged information (non-tracking). This option records cues that are suitable for cue only playback. The recorded cue includes all grabbed values in the current programmer session, the entire look in the programmer. When this cue is played back in a cuelist set for cue only playback, the values in this cue will totally replace the output from the previous cue. Blocking Cues There are times when you are using tracking playback that you might want to prevent changes from tracking through to the next cue. Typically this might be a change of scene in a theatrical production or the next song in a musical performance. This is achieved by using a Block Cue in the cuelist. Just like a cue recorded using the Include unchanged information (non-tracking) option, it contains hard values for all attributes that have been touched (changed) since the previous cue in the cuelist was recorded, but it also takes all of the tracked values that would exist on the output of the playback (as if the cuelist had been played back) and converts them into hard values then automatically adds them to the cue. When a Block Cue exists in a cue list, subsequent edits that are made to previous steps in the cue list will not track through and affect the Block Cue or the cues following it. For example: Here is a cuelist played back in Tracking mode. Cue 3 is a Block cue that contains hard values for all attributes so it blocks any tracked values.
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Channel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Cue 1 Output Cue 2 Output Cue 3 BLOCK Output Cue 4 Output 100 100 80 50 50 50 25 25 75 25 50 75 75 25 25 25 50 50 25 25
Cue 1 contains hard values for attributes 1, 2 and 3 so when it is played back, the attributes go to 100%, 50% and 25% respectively. Cue 2 only contains a hard value for attribute 1 so when it is played back attribute 1 changes to 80% and attributes 2 and 3 track through and remain at 50% and 25%. Cue 3 is a block cue so it contains hard values for all attributes. Cue 4 only contains a hard value for attribute 1 so when it is played back attribute 1 changes to 25% and attributes 2 and 3 track through and remain at 75% and 25%. Clarity can record two types of Block cue. Blocking incoming fixtures only. This option records a cue that contains hard values for all attributes of all fixtures that are in the cuelist. This includes: All grabbed attributes in the programmer. All of the tracked values that would exist if the cuelist had been played back. Current output values for all other attributes of the fixtures in the cue. If this cue is played back in a tracking cuelist, it will Block any tracked values from affecting every attribute of all fixtures in the cue. This type of cue is often recorded part way through a tracking cuelist at the end of a theatrical scene or the end of a musical item so that subsequent edits to earlier cues will not track through into the next scene or song. Blocking all fixtures. This records hard values for all attributes of all patched fixtures. It effectively takes a snapshot of Claritys output. If this cue is played back in a tracking cuelist, it will Block any tracked values from affecting any fixtures. Any cue in an existing cuelist can be changed into Block cue by editing the cuelist, selecting the cue then right clicking and selecting Block cue. 27.8.2 Cue Only (recording) When you are operating in tracking mode, there might be occasions where you want to playback a one off cue and you do not want the values in that cue to track into later cues in the cuelist. This is achieved by recording a cue as cue only. The channels in the cue are tagged by Clarity as q only. When a cue containing q only channels is played back in tracking mode, the current state on the output of the playback is the hard values of the q only channels plus any tracked values from the previous cues. When the next cue is played back, the state from the most recent (non q only) values is restored automatically plus any new values in the incoming cue are used. In other words, when the next cue is played back, the output tracks the values as if the cue only values did not exist. You can also edit existing cues or channels within a cue to be cue only. 27.8.3 Mark Cues (Move in Black) A Mark cue is a special type of cue that you can insert in a cuelist. Mark cues are also known as move in black and are used to pre-position fixture attributes without their movements or changes being seen on stage.
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When you insert a Mark cue, Clarity looks at the previous cue and selects any fixtures that have an intensity of zero. Then, using that fixture selection, it looks at the following cue and copies all the attributes of those fixtures, except intensity, from the following cue and inserts them into the new Mark cue which is placed between the two cues. When the cuelist is played back and the cue prior to the mark cue finishes its fade, the Mark cue is automatically executed. It will move all of the attributes (except intensity) to their settings in the following cue. They therefore move in black. When the next cue is executed, the fixtures fade up, but nothing else changes because all other attributes were pre-set by the Mark cue. Mark cues have a default fade time of 0.5 seconds. Mark cues are inserted by right clicking on a cue in the Control Booth window and selecting Insert mark cue. 27.9 DMX 512 DMX512 is the industry standard for the transmission of digital control signals between lighting equipment. It utilizes just a single pair of wires on which is transmitted the level information for the control of up to 512 DMX slots. As the DMX512 signal contains the level information for all slots, each piece of equipment needs to be able to read the level(s) of the slots(s) that apply only to that piece of equipment. To enable this, each piece of DMX512 receiving equipment has an address that you can set. This address is set to the first slot number to which the equipment is to respond. The end of the DMX line is terminated (120 ) to prevent the signal reflecting back up the line and causing possible errors. 27.10 DMX UNIVERSES If more than 512 DMX slots are required, then more DMX outputs are used. The numbers on each DMX output are always 1 to 512. To differentiate between each DMX output they are called Universe1, Universe 2 etc. Claritys internal DMX universes are designated as Universe A, B etc. 27.10.1 DMX Slot A moving light, colour scroller, dimmer or any other DMX controlled device is known as a fixture. Every Fixture has a selectable DMX starting slot and this is patched to that same DMX SLOT number on Clarity. Clarity will then automatically patch all of the remaining DMX slots for that Fixture according to the information in the library for that particular Fixture. 27.10.2 Attribute. Each brand and model of Fixture has a specified number and order of control channels. An attribute is one or two DMX control channels (two channels used for higher resolution) that uniquely controls one of the physical motions of the Fixture. The manufacturers specification of a Fixture lists each attribute and its control channel number(s). 27.11 HTP (HIGHEST TAKES PRECEDENCE) If the value for an attribute is emanating from several places at the same time then the highest of all those values will be the value at the output. HTP is typically used for intensity control. 27.12 LTP (LATEST TAKES PRECEDENCE) The value on the output will always be the value from the place where the latest action took place. LTP is typically used for movement control. 27.13 RDM RDM stands for Remote Device Management. It is an extension to DMX. Since the inception of DMX it has always been a one way' control system. Data only ever flows in one direction, from the lighting controller outwards to whatever it may be connected to. The controller has no idea what it is connected to, or even if what it's connected to is working, switched on, or even there at all! RDM changes all that allowing the equipment to answer back!
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An RDM enabled moving light, for example, can tell you many useful things about its operation - the DMX address it is set to, the operating mode it is in, whether its pan or tilt is inverted and how many hours since the lamp was last changed. But RDM can do more than that. It isn't limited to just reporting back, it can change things as well. As its name suggests, it can remotely manage your device. RDM has been designed to work with existing DMX systems. It does this by interleaving its messages with the regular DMX signal over the same wires. There is no need to change any of your cables but because RDM messages now go in two directions, any in-line DMX processing you have needs to be changed for new RDM hardware. This will most commonly mean that DMX splitters and buffers will need to be upgraded to RDM capable devices.
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Hints and Tips
28 Hints and Tips

28.1 SIMPLE CUE PLAYBACK If you are a novice and are having trouble understanding tracking the following settings will make Clarity operate in Cue Only mode with the cues automatically playing and releasing when a fader is raised or lowered. 1) Set the Playback mode to "Cue Only". 2) Open the ">>More" dialog box and select the 2 options highlighted in red. 3) Select the "Keep Settings" option at the bottom so that Clarity will use the new settings each time you record a new cue.
28.2 PARKED CHANNELS If you want some channels to always be on whenever you start your show (such as those that control DMX power racks for moving lights) then you can do this by: Recording a Cuelist with the channels you want set at 100% intensity. Set the Priority of the Cuelist to be higher than the programmer (use 150). Set the "Ignore Release All" option (found under the More button). Set the Preferences in the Show Menu to "Restore Playback State". Activate the cue and save the show. Whenever you load the show this cue will automatically run and stay on for the duration of the show. 28.3 ONE SHOT CHASE You can do a one-shot chase by setting the Release at end option and setting the release time to 0 seconds. Setting Go on fader up will make the chase run automatically when the fader is raised.
28.4 PERFORMANCE WINDOW TIPS Allocate the Performance Window to an external touch screen monitor and set the monitor resolution really low in order to get make the executor buttons large and easy to press.
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Hints and Tips
In the Performance Window create rows that just contain "looks". You can fire an entire row with just one button push which might contain for example a media clip and also a colour cue for your movers. You can just fire a blank row to effectively release all columns. If there are some columns you don't want to release, then on the blank row, right-click the relevant cells and choose replace with blank cell. 28.5 FLASHING A CUE You can achieve toggle on/off very easily by recording a cuelist containing a single halt cue and then setting the cuelist to release at end. Set the fade time and release times to 0 seconds. Pressing the Go button will turn on the cue on the first press and release it on the second press. 28.6 QUICK RECORD When you press record on a VX wing, you can press the flash button of a playback on a VX wing to record the cue on that playback. 28.7 SNAPPING FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS ON A VX WING Press Function+ to snap to the next cue. Press Function+ II I to snap to the previous cue. 28.8 OPERATE CLARITY LIKE A MANUAL DESK If you want to work in the same fashion as an LSC maXim console or other similar manual console then you can simply record each of your looks to separate cuelists and then drag these to the bottom of the Control Booth window. Now use the virtual faders to playback your looks and set the level of each one live on stage for a combined look. To record the current on stage look, switch to the Programmer tab, press Record and select the "Blocking All Fixtures" option at the bottom right of the pop-up box. This records a snapshot of the lights on stage, just like a maXim does, complete with the proportional levels. You can combine your playbacks with live levels in the Programmer as well, so you get exactly what you want. Note that your cue will not be a tracking cue, but then neither is a maXim, so this may not concern you. 28.9 PROGRAMMER OVERRIDE If you are not familiar with a Programmer type of lighting controller you might often get caught out when a playback does not do what you expect it to do because you have some (or all) of its channels still being controlled by the programmer. This is because the programmer has a higher priority than a playback so it prevents the playback from controlling the channels. You can overcome this problem by setting the programmer to the same priority as a playback. Select Show/Preferences and tick the Programmer operates at normal priority check box. Now the programmer can be overridden by a playback on a Latest Take Precedence basis.
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Compliance Statements
29 COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS Declaration of Conformity

This is to certify that the QX and VX products are approved for use in Europe and Australia/New Zealand and conform to the following standards: European Norms EN55103-1 EN55103-2 EN60950 Australian / New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 4251.1 AS/NZS 4252.1 AS/NZS60950
To ensure compliance with EMC Directive 89/336 and the Australian Radio communications Act 1992, the following conditions (outside of LSCs control) must be met. The computer on which Clarity and the QX or VX peripherals are connected to must itself be compliant to the above standards. High quality data cables with continuous shield must be used; Connectors with conductive back shells must be used.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Declaration of Conformity

LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) declares that the QX and VX products comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not properly installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: reorient or relocate the receiving antenna; increase the separation between the equipment and receiver; connect the equipment into an outlet on a different circuit from that to which the receiver is connected; consult your local LSC dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help
- END -
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LSC Clarity Operation Manual

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Clarity

Lighting and Media Control

Covering software Version 1.4 June 2011 Document number: CT00-T01U-A4

LSC Lighting Systems (Aust) Pty. Ltd.

LSC Clarity Operator Manual V1.4

2.5.5 Values 2.5.6 2.5.7 2.5.8 2.5.9

1.5.1 1.5.2 1.5.3 1.5.4 1.5.5 1.5.6 1.5.7

3 Installation and Connection

Installing Clarity on a PC ____________ 10 Installing Clarity on a Mac ___________ 11

HASP Diagnostics __________________ 13 DMX Output ______________________ 13

1.6.1 1.6.2 1.6.3

Overview _________________________ 4 Version 1.1________________________ 4

3.6.1 3.6.2 3.6.3 3.6.4 3.6.5

VX10 Wing _______________________ 13 VX20 Wing _______________________ 14

4 Starting LSC Clarity

2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 2.3.5 2.3.6 2.3.7

5.4.1 5.4.2 5.4.3 5.4.4

7.3.1 7.3.2 7.3.3 7.4.1 7.5.1

Overview _________________________ 24 Spreadsheet View __________________ 24 Patching Fixtures __________________ 25

7.4 7.5 7.6

Clone from other fixture(s)___________ 26 Keypad Patching ___________________ 26

Multi-Patch _______________________ 27 Page i

7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14

9.1 9.2 9.3

9.3.1 9.3.2 9.3.3 9.3.4 9.4.1 9.4.2 9.4.3

Overview ________________________ 46 Universal Control Panel _____________ 46 Attribute Controls _________________ 46

Fanning Attributes _________________ 48

7.14.1 7.14.2 7.14.3 7.14.4

Command Line Programming 50

8.3.1 8.3.2 8.3.3 8.3.4 8.3.5 8.3.6

Overview _________________________ 32 Selection Sidebar __________________ 33 Selecting Fixtures __________________ 33

Changing Fixture Unit Numbers________ 51

Individual Fixture Control ____________ 35 Groups __________________________ 35

Combining Filters___________________ 55 Complex Timing____________________ 55

Session Control ____________________ 37

Programmer Toolbar ________________ 39

Dynamics (real time effects) 58

12.4 Multiple Attribute Dynamics__________ 61

Programmer Toolbox _______________ 42

13.1 Overview ________________________ 62 13.2 Channel Controller Mode ____________ 62

8.9 8.10 8.11 8.12

Deleting a Matrix ___________________ 65

LSC Clarity Operator Manual V1.4

18.4 Manipulating cues and cuelists ________ 94

15.4.1 15.5.1 15.5.2

15.5 Media Server Operation _____________ 71

15.6 Recording Cues ___________________ 73 15.7 Supported Media Servers____________ 73

16.1 Overview ________________________ 74 16.2 Recording a Cue___________________ 74

18.11 Group Masters____________________ 101

Editing Cues and Cuelists

16.3 Append Last ______________________ 77 16.4 Editing Cues ______________________ 77

17.7.1 17.7.2 17.8.1 17.8.2

20.4.1 20.5.1 20.5.2 20.6.1

17.12 Applying Presets and Freesets ________ 84

17.13 Applying Dynamic Presets ___________ 85

17.14 Controlling Dynamics _______________ 86 17.15 Removing a Preset or Freeset ________ 86

LSC Clarity Operator Manual V1.4

VX10 & VX20 Wings

New Show Preferences _____________ 134

25.2 About Clarity ____________________ 135

Installing Clarity on a PC __ 10 Installing Clarity on a Mac _ 11

HASP Diagnostics 13 DMX Output ____ 13

Overview _ 4 Version 1.1 4

VX10 Wing _ 13 VX20 Wing _ 14

Overview _____ 24 Spreadsheet View 24 Patching Fixtures 25

Clone from other fixture(s)_ 26 Keypad Patching _________ 26

Overview __________________ 46 Universal Control Panel _ 46 Attribute Controls ___________ 46

Overview _____ 32 Selection Sidebar 33 Selecting Fixtures 33

Individual Fixture Control 35 Groups ______________ 35

Combining Filters_ 55 Complex Timing__ 55

13.1 Overview ____________ 62 13.2 Channel Controller Mode 62

15.6 Recording Cues _______ 73 15.7 Supported Media Servers 73

16.1 Overview ______ 74 16.2 Recording a Cue_ 74

16.3 Append Last 77 16.4 Editing Cues 77

17.14 Controlling Dynamics _______ 86 17.15 Removing a Preset or Freeset 86

27.9 DMX 512 _____ 143 27.10 DMX Universes_ 143