• Date
    Pat Immel
  • Date
  • Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 185 subscribers
  • Views 7354 views
  • Users 0 members are here

Thoughts after using Ion on first show

My first show using the Ion is almost in the books so I thought I'd share some initial reactions.  In no particular order!

1.  My client / console connection problems were due in part to faulty network cables which were connected to the switch.  The connection works great!  I learned that my laptop doesn't have a physical "scroll lock" key...I had to download a utility to toggle it on and off.

question - In the client software, is it possible to toggle between a screen full of channel information and the standard channel info, cue info and CIA?  I think I tried the expand / swap but didn't see anything.

What's the possibility of adding an error message that only pops up when you start the "client" software without the client dongle in your machine? 

 
2.  I am having more keystroke errors on the Ion than I did with the Expression 3.  Granted this is mostly due to being new, (and my fat fingers) but I had many many errors punching in numbers.

3.  The pre-built effects are GREAT!!!!  What time savers!

4.  Auto-Mark.  Oh my God...how cool is that!

5.  One frustration...Many times I would have a sequence on the command line (finished off with "Enter") and I would go on to enter in a new command sequence, but the old one would still be there and I'd just add on to what was there.  Do you have to physically clear the command line each time or am I missing something?  Is there a button (other than multiple "clear" key hits) to clear the whole command line?

6.  Let's say I have some really useful macros created and some really cool effects saved on a show.  Is it possible to copy these from one show file to another or to save only those to a thumb drive for use later?

5.  Would anybody else find it useful to have a couple of "sticky" topics where we can share macros and effects?  Just the syntax and a short description...no sense reinventing the wheel!
 

Thanks,

Pat

 

  • 2) The buttons are different and in different places than the Expression.  You just have to get used to it.  And perhaps put our fingers on a slimming diet.

     

    5)  If you have just changed a channel level, then you want to change the cue time, when you hit time, the light board thinks you are trying to change the channel time and it's trying to help sometimes.  Annoying, but it's trying to help.  You can clear the command line after hitting enter and it'll help a little bit.  Also, if you want to clear the whole command line you can hit either undo or live and it will clear the whole thing.  Way faster than clear a million times.  

    7)  I might find it useful to see what other people use as macros.  A lot of my old O2 Macros have become useless because its just as many keystrokes to run a macro as to type the 4 keys I was saving, but I'd be interested in seeing what people use.

     Good luck,

     

    Jay 

  • 6.  Let's say I have some really useful macros created and some really cool effects saved on a show.  Is it possible to copy these from one show file to another or to save only those to a thumb drive for use later?

     

    When you open (or import) a show file, you will get an option screen to select what you want to open (or import).  Choices include things like {Patch}, {Cues}, {Effects}, and others.  You can open (or import) any or all of these things.

     


     

  • Pat Immel:

    question - In the client software, is it possible to toggle between a screen full of channel information and the standard channel info, cue info and CIA?  I think I tried the expand / swap but didn't see anything.


     

    Try using the Eos client instead of Ion. This comes up with some awesome tabs on the bottom of the screen which allows you to very easily switch between the channel screen and cue screen, and anything else you want to add ie: patch, effects screen, virtual controls etc, etc! 

     

  • in reply to Brian Webber
    I would second that on the offline/client.
  • in reply to usesafesets
    Re: Not being able to access Scroll Lock. You should be able to do it by running OSK from the run command off the start menu and not have to install a utility.
  • in reply to jabadger

    Thanks Jabadger!  That does the trick...now to delete the 2nd. party utility!

    Pat 

Related

www.etcconnect.com