With the introduction of software 1.8, a new manufacturer’s folder has been created in patch called “Movie Fixtures.” In this, there are some of the most common fixtures you’ll find on movie and tv sets. What’s great about these fixtures is that you not only have access to all the individual intensities- but the console will create a virtual master intensity for each fixture. This means that if you set three globes in a spacelight at full and the gaffer says, “Take them to 80%” all you have to do is set the channel level at 80%. The three globes that were at full will now be at 80%.
Once you’ve patched the fixtures, your channel view in table mode will show you the channel level, plus the individual intensities (Intensity 1, Intensity 2, etc.). The intensity wheel will control the master intensity for that channel; the encoders will set the individual intensities. To access the encoders for these channels, simply hit the [custom] button next to the other parameter categories. When you see the individual intensities on encoders, you can hold them down on Ion to get your {home}, {min}, and {max} options across your soft keys.
Once I’ve patched my 6k spacelight (for example), I make intensity palettes for how many globes I want on in each spacelight. I filter these intensity palettes to just include the individual intensities and not the master intensity, this way I can change the number of globes I have on without changing the overall intensity. To do this I do the following:
1.) In CIA, I hit ‘filter’ then choose ‘Intensity 1,’ ‘Intensity 2,’ ‘Intensity 3,’ ‘Intensity 4,’ ‘Intensity 5,’ and ‘Intensity 6.’
2.) I then select all of my 6k spacelight channels.
3.) I hit the softkey {make man} then [enter]. This makes their values manual- which means they’ll turn red.
4.) I record Intensity Palette 6 and label it ‘6G’ for 6 globes. The 6k spacelights default their home position to all individual intensities on at full.
5.) I select all my 6k spacelight channels again ([select last] works well here), then set ‘Intensity 1’ to zero.
6.) I record Intensity Palette 5 and label it ‘5G’ for 5 globes.
7.) Repeat step 5, but set ‘Intensity 2’ at zero. I, of course, leave ‘Intensity 1’ at zero.
8.) Repeat step 6, but with Intensity Palette 4 and a label of ‘4G.’
9.) I repeat steps 5 thru 6 until I have Intensity Palettes 1 thru 6 recorded. I can now grab any spacelights at any time and tell it how many globes I want on instantly!
10.) Remember to clear your filters once you’re done!
Once I’ve recorded my intensity palettes, programming 6k spacelights is very fast. If the gaffer says “Turn on 4 globes in spacelights 1 thru 10” all I have to do it grab those channels, double tap [@]- the quick command to make them full- then type [intensity palette][4][enter]. If the gaffer then says “Now put them at 60%” all I have to do, since my channels are selected, is type [@][6][enter] to put all the globes that are on at 60%. And if the gaffer then says “Let’s see that with 5 globes” all I have to do is type [Intensity Palette][5][enter].
Please feel free to add any suggestions that you might have to this post. I know there are many of you who have great ways of programming multi-intensity fixtures on sets!
