Multi Ion users

DgrossIA52 said:

My question is, is there any way we can have two programers one on each desk working on the same network and writing cues and subs without interfering with the other? 

Curious as to the reason behind 2 consoles.  Backup ?, separate gaffers ?.  

A couple of useful replies here as to methods to partition channel, cue lists and playback control, and/or isolating the dimmers and keeping the consoles separate, noting that you don't setup 20 different partitions, just one per desk.  One question that I can't answer is how partitioning acts on fader wings with subs configured, if you use any. 

The issue with channel partitions is that desk 1 will be channels 1 - 350 or so and desk 2 must be channels 351 thru XX.  The channels for desk 2 will be background visible only on desk 1 (with channel tombstones greyed out), but the only control would be thru the Park section (if memory serves), thus no action on cuing, ditto for desk 1.  In any case, each operator, and more importantly, the gaffer(s) need to remember that they can only call up channels for each system by the defined channels for that room/set partition.

The advantage to NOT combining is that you can have your channels starting as 1 on each desk, which might make the thought process of calling up systems (rooms) easier.  Hard to recommend more without knowing the reasons behind the 2 desks.  

The advantages to partitioning is the desks act as backups to each other, as the show file is saved on each desk.  You can also Master/Slave so one can take over in the event of a failure.

The advantage of separate systems is it's easy to setup, (you would need a 2nd Cat5 run as well as 2nd Gateway, or just just run straight DMX and daisy all).  Not sure if you have a rack(s) that split,  That may make the system you have the only answer unless you have spare dimmers and can assign racks 1-4 to one console, rack 5 thru 7 to the 2nd.  

Steve B.

DgrossIA52 said:

My question is, is there any way we can have two programers one on each desk working on the same network and writing cues and subs without interfering with the other? 

Curious as to the reason behind 2 consoles.  Backup ?, separate gaffers ?.  

A couple of useful replies here as to methods to partition channel, cue lists and playback control, and/or isolating the dimmers and keeping the consoles separate, noting that you don't setup 20 different partitions, just one per desk.  One question that I can't answer is how partitioning acts on fader wings with subs configured, if you use any. 

The issue with channel partitions is that desk 1 will be channels 1 - 350 or so and desk 2 must be channels 351 thru XX.  The channels for desk 2 will be background visible only on desk 1 (with channel tombstones greyed out), but the only control would be thru the Park section (if memory serves), thus no action on cuing, ditto for desk 1.  In any case, each operator, and more importantly, the gaffer(s) need to remember that they can only call up channels for each system by the defined channels for that room/set partition.

The advantage to NOT combining is that you can have your channels starting as 1 on each desk, which might make the thought process of calling up systems (rooms) easier.  Hard to recommend more without knowing the reasons behind the 2 desks.  

The advantages to partitioning is the desks act as backups to each other, as the show file is saved on each desk.  You can also Master/Slave so one can take over in the event of a failure.

The advantage of separate systems is it's easy to setup, (you would need a 2nd Cat5 run as well as 2nd Gateway, or just just run straight DMX and daisy all).  Not sure if you have a rack(s) that split,  That may make the system you have the only answer unless you have spare dimmers and can assign racks 1-4 to one console, rack 5 thru 7 to the 2nd.  

Steve B.