Cue Mode vs Track Mode on ETC Ion

I am not smart enough to run track mode and am sick of fighting it after three years.

Please tell me how to set my Ion for cue mode and how to keep it there forever.

Additionally, can someone please tell me why this is not included in the user's manual?

  •  

    Chapter 7.  Page 100.  Setup/Desk Settings/Record defaults.  Set second tab from "Tracking Mode"  to "Cue Only" mode.  You'll want to save your preferred setup options to a default showfile, which you can use rather than file new - as the setup options revert to default on a file - new.

    But if you are running anything other than conventional lighting, operating in cue only mode seriously impacts your programming speed.    There are a lot of people here who would be happy to answer any questions you have about tracking desks ....  most people find a way to get comfortable with it in blind cue spreadsheet, as a place to start.    Having said that, we put the Cue Only mode in for those who just don't want to think about it.  

    Thanks much!

    a


     

     



    [edited by: Anne Valentino at 6:30 AM (GMT -6) on Tue, Mar 5 2013]
  • Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, the manual (version 4.1) I am looking at online does not include this information on page 100. As a mostly self-taught lighting designer (with no moving lights) I am flummuxed by the complexity of the Ion. I really need to be in cue mode fro my students to write cues one at a time without each adjustment bleeding into the next series of cues. I wish there was someplace that could tell me how to easily achieve this.

     

    Mark

  • Can you download the last posted version of the manual from the website?  What software version are you running.

     

    http://www.etcconnect.com/product.downloads.aspx?ID=20351

    Placing the setup option from tracking to cue only should get you what you want.  

    a



    [edited by: Anne Valentino at 7:40 AM (GMT -6) on Tue, Mar 5 2013]
  • Hi Mark,

    The current release of software for Ion is 1.9.12. Are you sure the manual you're looking at isn't for Congo as 4.1 was a version for that a while back, in which case you definitely won't find it!!

    The current manual is here... http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Eos_v1.7_Operations_Manual_RevA.pdf

    If you look at the page numbered 98 (or 100 in terms of actual pages) you'll see how to turn on Cue Only mode. Page 5 also explains the differences.

    I think once you get your head around tracking you'll actually find it quite straight forward. Just think of a cue only containing changes. Ion is a tracking/move fade desk, so it's always going to work in this mode, but by switching to Cue Only your updates will only be applied to that cue, ensuring nothing ever tracks forward into future clues.

    Whilst your in the manual, why not take a look at Blocks too which allow you to preserve the 'look' of a cue when updating cues before it.

    Hope that's a help

    Cheers

    Dan

  • You may also find Tutorial number 13 useful in the Tea Break Tutorial series. It first explains the concepts of tracking, and then goes on to give examples of how Eos family consoles handle it specifically.

    There are showfiles in the download which act as a base to start each tutorial.

    http://www.etcconnect.com/img/tutorials/Eos_Family_TBT_1.9.8_EN.zip

  • For a quick and simple grasp in understanding Tracking i suggest that you watch bobblehead fred as released by ETC.  It gives you a great understanding of what is actually happening.  http://www.etcconnect.com/video/BHF-WhyDidMyConsoleDoThat/index.htm

    I am also willing to chat offline and try and help you grasp the concept which is actually dates back to early theater lighting systems.  If you like contact me offline.  

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