USER MANUAL
HOW TO CREATE SCENES & PROGRAMS
V 1.7.1
SUMMARY
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Patch and control ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Fixture 2D View menu ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Fixture selection ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
CHANNELS and PRESETS window ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Presets window.............................................................................................................................................................................................................5
CHANNEL control window .......................................................................................................................................................................................6
The PRESET display mode ........................................................................................................................................................................................7
Using selections and presets ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Steps, Scenes, Programs and Sequences ............................................................................................................................10
Step ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Scene ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Program........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Sequence ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Creating and saving Scene and Program contents ...........................................................................................................13
Creating and saving Step contents ................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Steps multi-selection .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Preview Options .....................................................................................................................................................................17
Triggers Settings ....................................................................................................................................................................18
Trigger Options ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Media Options ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Add a BPM detection Mode ................................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Add a BPM Mode .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 2
INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes how to easily and quickly create Steps, Scenes and Programs with the software.
Steps, Scenes and programs are the basis of the DMX programming. You must understand what there are
and how they respectively work before programming your show.
You must start the software and apply the DMX Patch before beginning to create Scenes and Programs.
Please refer to the user manual How to create Profiles and How to Patch Profiles.
PATCH AND CONTROL
Efficient programming requires a good patch, and a good patch always starts with good profiles. Make sure
that your profiles are correct and match the lighting fixtures of your project. Last but not least, you must
carefully check if all the DMX addresses you assigned in the software patch match the lighting fixtures them-
selves.
Please refer to the user manuals How to create profiles and How to Patch Profiles to learn everything
about these two preliminary stages. When the patch is done, you should test it and check that the fixtures
are well responding to the software commands.
FIXTURES 2D VIEW MENU
Add new Delete se- Show the Fixture Auto Rotate Fixture auto-
fixture or lected fix- Options positioning multibeam fix- selection
modify the tures window tures
patch
Reorder fix- Set default Zoom In / Change fixture Lock fixtures Create fix-
tures for ef- DMX levels out the 2D display mode positions ture
fect genera- on selected view to see groups
tion fixtures details
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 3
FIXTURE SELECTION
In the 2D area you can select / unselect the fixtures by clicking on their icons.
Click on a fixture Hold CTRL+Click
item to select it for multiple selec-
tion
You can also select them by drawing a selection zone. Unselect all of the fixtures by clicking anywhere on the
2D area.
Click anywhere in the 2D
view, hold down the left
mouse button, then draw
your selection zone. Rea-
lease the mouse, all the fix-
tures under that zone will
be selected.
When the lock position is activated, you can unselect fixtures by clicking the item a second time.
DMX levels and preset values are activated only on the selected fixtures in the 2D area.
Make sure that you select the right fixture every time.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 4
CHANNELS AND PRESETS WINDOW
The DMX controls window appears in the 2D area. There are two possible types of control displays: the Pre-
set display mode and the Channel display mode.
PRESETS WINDOW
When you select a fixture, its channels and pre-
sets appear in the presets panel located just be-
low the 2D area. (You can see all the profile’s
channels that were earlier defined using the
Profile Editor)
If you select 2 or more different fixtures with different profiles
then the software will only display the common channels. For
example, if you select 2 different fixtures with an RGB function,
the software will show the RGB color palette. If the 2 fixtures
have both Pan and Tilt, the software will display the Pan and
Tilt palette. But if only one of them has RGB color, the soft-
ware won’t display the RGB Color palette. Common channels
are shown while others are hidden.
The types of common channels which can be displayed are:
RGB, CMY, RGBY, RGBA, Pan, Tilt, Dimmer, Focus, Iris and
Zoom.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 5
CHANNELS CONTROL WINDOW
The Channel mode shows a traditional fader for each of the 512 DMX channels. The software can manage
128 DMX universes of 512 channels each so users have the possibility to switch from 1 universe to another.
The software has 3 fader colors : light grey for neutral channels (no profile associated), and two other colors
to distinguish the odd and even fixture channels.
DMX universe
selector
Navigate through
pages of universes
16 per 16
Set the range of channels Navigate through
DMX channels
displayed and apply pages of channels
scroll 1 to 512
(from 32 to 512)
Channel name
Icon showing the current
preset. Right click to get
DMX level is editable in the presets menu
this field. Adjust it by
mouse wheel scrolling or
tap in the field
Click anywhere on the fader
track to assign a DMX level
Select a preset to assign
the preset level to the
channel
Trigger options
Channel number
DMX fader Control
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 6
THE PRESET DISPLAY MODE
The second and most convenient control mode is the Preset mode. It’s the software’s default control mode.
It provides a board containing palettes who mix cursors and presets menus, embedding powerful tools like
RGB /CMY color mixing palette and the Pan&Tilt palette.
If no fixtures are selected, no presets can be shown and then the presets board stays an empty
window.
NOTE: The Preset Mode is very convenient as it automatically manages different DMX Universes while in the
Channel mode, users shall switch manually from one universe to another. In this way, users should only focus
on selecting the right fixtures in their 2D Zone.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 7
DMX Preset Control
Channel name Selected preset’s default level
Selected preset’s end level
Channel’s presets list
A Clic on a preset will
automatically shows his
default DMX level on
the channel DMX level cursor
Triggers Options
Selected preset’s start level
Profile channel number
When the preset is selected the main cursor can move from the start to the end DMX level of the preset (re-
fer to the user manual: How to create Profiles). You can click on the Preset a second time to unselect it and
return to the DMX level 0.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 8
The Color mixing palette for the RGB, RGBW, RGBA and CMY channels:
Primary colors shortcuts set
The palette can save customized col-
ors:
1 Choose your color with the palette
2 Right-click on a color room to save
the color.
Next, you will be able to recall the
saved colors by clicking the rooms.
Check the option to have the values of the White channel calculated automatically
The Pan and Tilt palette for the XY channels:
The palette can save customized
positions:
1 Choose your position with the
palette
2 Right-click on a position room to
save the XY location.
Next, you will be able to recall the
location by clicking the rooms.
Adjust the mouse accuracy to get
finest XY positioning.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 9
USING SELECTIONS AND PRESETS
By selecting the fixtures in the 2D area and using the Presets command you can see your lighting fixtures
reacting and changing state. That means that the DMX communication is well established and that the soft-
ware is communicating with your system. It is very useful to use the selections and presets to check your
lighting equipment.
Now that everything is working well and that you are familiar with the fixture selection as well as the control
windows, you can start creating scenes and programs for the show.
STEPS, SCENES, PROGRAMS AND SEQUENCES
Before continuing to read the manual, it is important to know everything about the technical vocabulary
used. Here the software uses Steps and Scenes. But some DMX controllers may call steps “scenes” and
scenes “programs”. To avoid any confusion, read the explanations below.
Selected scene
Scenes list
Selected step
Steps list of the
selected scene
Lists of Scenes and Steps
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 10
STEP
A Step is a DMX memory that can record a fixed DMX level per channel. Each step records the 512 channels
of each DMX universe you are using. For example, if you connect 2 interfaces you will have two universes so
2x512 channels available (1024). Each step has the capacity to record 1024 (2*512) DMX levels.
Steps also include a Hold Time and a Fade Time.
The Hold time is the duration that a step maintain the DMX level for when it’s played.
The Fade Time is the duration that steps take to fade and reach the DMX levels when the scene is played.
Example: A step with channel 1 set to level 255, 2 seconds of hold time of and 5 seconds of fade time will
play like this:
The starting DMX values are 0, so the
DMX level will fade from 0 and reach
255 within 5 seconds, then the step
will maintain the level 255 for 2 sec-
onds.
The steps list links several steps that
you create one after one and makes the scene show.
Some traditional DMX desks use the word Scene instead of Step. But the functions and the results are
exactly the same.
SCENE
Scenes don’t have the same function as steps. A scene cannot record DMX levels so it must use steps for
that. Consequently, scenes must contain at least one step to be operational. In fact, when you play a scene
you are actually playing the steps contained in that scene.
You can only play one scene at a time. Starting a new scene it will stops the current playing one.
Some traditional DMX desks use the word Program instead of Scene. But the functions and the results
are exactly the same.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 11
PROGRAM
A Program is similar to a Scene but with some different functionality.
First of all, a program cannot be recorded in the standalone interface. You can play it live only.
To be effective, the DMX channels to be controlled with a program need to be activated to
be able to manage the DMX levels. We refer to active channels in a program. Unused chan-
nels in a program are considered as inactive channels. They are ignored when program is
playing. All channels can be set in ON/OFF mode (active/inactive) and will use the latest pri-
ority when the user plays multiple programs.
This means you can play several programs in a same time which act like layers. Therefore,
you can manage a lighting fixture’s effects across multiple programs. (start strobe, set color,
blackout…)
One program won’t jump to another by default. See Key Triggers section below.
Mode ON = Active channel
SEQUENCE
A Sequence is an organisation of several scenes that play consecutively, jumping from one to another.
Loop once Jump Loop twice
Only scenes can be sequenced, this is not possible with programs.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 12
CREATING AND SAVING SCENE AND PROGRAM CONTENTS
The list of Scenes is located on the top left section of the screen. To display scenes and programs, just select
the corresponding tab:
The scene’s commands ribbon is located on the right of the scene list and allow these actions:
Scene total
duration
Selected scene
Double clic Edit name Change Change Change Change Key Show Hide
to : fade time loop count jump mode trig options on live board
Scenes have settings options that can be configured:
Add new scene Delete selected scene
After the selected one or at the
end list DMX Recording
Play/Stop selected scene Paste copied/cut scene
the steps will be played, color and
After the selected one or at the
dimmer rendering displayed in the
end list
2D section
Import scenes from stand
Copy selected scene alone memory
Merge selected scenes Cut selected scene
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 13
Fade time: This time can also be called Fade In Time, the DMX level will fade to reach the first step of the
scene within the fade time duration; double click on the dedicated field to change the values.
Loops: Each scene always loops by default. That means that when the last step of the scene has finished
playing, the scene comes back to play the first step and plays again until the end of the loop number set.
Jump: By default the field is empty meaning that the scene stops playing when the loop number is reached.
You can also choose to pause on the last step and keep playing those DMX levels, or choose to jump to the
next scene automatically or to a specific existing scene.
Key trigger: Brings up a window to assign various triggering possibilities for the scene, as well as options
like playing a sound with the scene or customizing the live board scene’s button. Read more about trigger
options in the dedicated chapter below.
Live: If you check the box, it allows you to display (or not) the scene button in the “Liveboard”
Modifications done in the field and tabs are immediately applied. Adding scenes, creating steps and settings
choices are easy to use. Don’t forget to save your show regularly.
DMX recording: Is enabled when the device is configured with DMX IN to record steps directly from the
DMX signal received by the software
Add a new Scene, create its DMX content with the steps and work on it by adjusting its options. You will
see how easy it is. The changes made in the scene section are recorded automatically, but take care to save
the project regularly.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 14
CREATING AND SAVING STEP CONTENTS
A Step records the DMX levels, which we call “the DMX content” of a scene. There is a single step in a static
scene and multiple steps in a dynamic scene. Steps record the DMX levels according the user fixture selec-
tion and actions on the presets and channels control boards. Each user modification has an impact on the
step content.
The Step commands tool ribbon is located on the right of the Step list and controls:
Add new step in the list
Delete selected step
Inserted after the selected one
Cut selected step
Change Fade & Hold times
Double click on the step’s fields
is also possible Paste copied/cut step
Inserted after the selected one
Copy selected step
Copy DMX Level on new
Invert selected steps fixtures
order
Selected step
Edit times
Double click on field
It is very easy to build the scene content to link up several steps. Add a step, select fixtures and adjust the
DMX level from the presets or channels control board. You can see the effect live. Then choose fade times
and hold times. Then you can create the next step by repeating the same process. You can get a preview of
your step sequence with the play button of the scene command ribbon.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 15
STEPS MULTI-SELECTION
Multi-selections are possible in the list of steps grouusing CTRL or SHIFT keys and the mouse:
Select particular
steps holding
CTL+Click
Select ALL
holding CTRL+A
Select a group
of steps by
holding Shift +
Click
When multiple steps are selected, don’t forget that all user actions will affect them. You can for example se-
lect all the steps with CTRL+A, then change the hold time with 2 seconds for the whole selection and then
select some fixtures and change some DMX levels, like assigning a 100% dimmer for all the steps. The new
dimmer’s DMX level will be automatically applied to each of the selected steps.
The software manages all the DMX level updates, so you can easily create the scenes and programs and per-
form your shows quickly. The effect generator included in the software helps you acheive an optimal result.
Refer to the "How to use the Effect Generator" manual for more information about this tool.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 16
PREVIEW OPTIONS
This software benefits from a highly intuitive interface: throughout the programming process, users can have
an overview of the effects they apply in the 2D Zone, as well as in the 3D zone.
2D ZONE
To have an instant visualisation of your actions, select the fixtures in the 2D Zone and click on “type of draw-
ing” next to the “zoom options” until you get the following icon:
Type of drawing tool
You can then watch the color effects operating on your fixtures in the 2D Zone, as well as in the 3D screen.
Tips: In order to prepare your show in the most realistic conditions, you can add a picture to the background
of the 2D Zone.
Click on “options” to upload a picture:
Click to upload a picture
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 17
3D configuration
To open the 3D Visualisation screen, click on the cube in the tool bar above the Scenes and Programs list.
Read the Users Manuals of the 3D simulation Software to learn about the numerous 3D functions available.
TRIGGERS SETTINGS
The software allows users to apply different triggers options. Midi fader, key board shortcuts … these options
can be accessed from both Channel display mode and Preset display mode.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 18
You can also access triggers options from the Scenes and Programs list:
TRIGGERS OPTIONS
Assign keyboard shortcut
Assign a MIDI trigger
Any midi controller desk can
be connected to the computer.
Assign a DMX-IN trigger
Use the DMX input of the in-
terface and assign any input
DMX channels as a trigger.
Assign an interface trigger
Use the interface buttons, ex-
ternal contacts or IR Remote to
as a trigger.
ON / OFF mode
Set auto-release mode
When the option is checked
Scene will stop by itself when
the scene plays at the first trig-
trigger is OFF (flash mode)
ger and stops at the second
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 19
MEDIA OPTIONS
You can set Triggers Options according to external media, such as an audio folder.
Add a BPM detection Mode
Add a picture to represent the
scene or program
but
Associate a music to a scene or a
program
n in the Live Board Mode
ADD A BPM MODE :
Beat on steps: Change steps to trigger on the beat.
Beat with fade and hold: Change steps to step on the beat keeping hold and fade times.
Restart on beat: Play scene on time but restart it from step 1 on each beat.
Loop on beats: Scene will keep playing on each beat.
Beat On/Off: Start and Stop scene on each beat. (Convenient for shutter effects)
This manual explains the basics of DMX programming. It explains the scene and program creation process in
the software. You can also create some amazing visual effects using the Effects Generator tool. To discover
this powerful effects engine for RGB colors, dimmer and pan-tilt movements, refer to the manual “How to
use the Effects Generator”.
User Manual – How to create scenes and programs 20
