remapping direct selects

Question

In the past when I set up a show, I'd start every system with a channel number ending in 1 to correspond with area 1 on the stage. Then I'd make a group of the whole system with that same number ending in 1. This tends to keep the magic sheets simple for guest designers. Now with the direct selects, I'd love to be able to remap the group screen so that I can have group 1 next to group 11 next to group 21 and so on. Is there any way to preserve the group numbers but rearrange them on the screen? Does anyone else think this would be handy?

Mike Riggs · Answer

Jeff, I've always done my groups in a similar way. Generally the group number is the number of the first channel in the group, with a few other personal memory tricks involved. (For instance, if channels 21-24 are my SL shins and 26-29 are my SR shins, then I'd use Group 20 for all eight channels and Groups 21 and 26 for the two sides.) The idea is that I can glance at the monitor, see a block of six or ten channels, and know which group to ask for without consulting the magic sheet. 
 My solution (though it takes some setup time) has been to have a duplicate set of groups. Let's say my show uses 500 channels. Logically my highest group number wouldn't be above 500. So I'd start with group 601 and copy my first group to that target. If my second group is, say, Group 6, then it gets copied to group 602. Then I map the condensed block of groups to a page of direct selects. 
 But I do wish we had an option to condense groups automatically. Like Flexi for direct selects.

Mike Riggs · Answer

Hi Anne 
 
 Any progress on this issue? As I encounter more and more touch screens, I really wish we had this "flexi direct select" option. 
 
 In other words, take the groups that exist in the group list (which for me might be 10, 11, 16, 20, 21, 26, 30, 31, 36, etc.) and put each one on the next available tile in the direct select module. 
 
 Also, what's the status on the once-proposed "button module" that would mount on the console like a 1x20 fader wing? 
 
 Happy Thanksgiving! 
 
 mjr