s4 led series 3 expanded mode red

I would suggest using them in HSIC Mode (current Firmware v.1.3.0 on fixture is needed). Here you have full color control, and the Color Temperature channel. Most consoles can patch and control HSI+C fixtures. (Hue-Saturation-Intensity+ColorTemp)

hsic would be great if we could control what desks/lds come through but the trouble is most LDs are very used to rgb or cry mixing and trying to get them to use and understand hsi mixing would be a nightmare. and we've already made the mistake of using less common modes on other fixtures that not all desks have by default where we had to spend far too much time handholding touring ops who barely know their desk to make a fixture profile

also fades between colours look horrible as every desk I've used (etc may do it differently I'm not sure ?) just fades the hue channel so you just get a horrible rainbow fade

What consoles are being used in your facility - most should have "decent" color tools for HSI Mode-Fixtures?
Which console do you use for your own shows?

Yes - when using a simple mode - like RGB - you lose some of the maximum control possibilities of the fixture.

If you have ETC DMX Gateways, you can easily set the modes on all fixtures at once with the Concert Software, so that for your shows set to and use HSI-C and then when touring shows come, set it to RGB Mode. This works fine via RDM through ETC DMX Gateways.

we use avo in house which handles hsi pretty well allowing you to just use rgb/cmy faders still but it still does horrible rainbow fades. and in terms of visiting desks 90% of the time it’s ma2/3 or chamsys but we do still see the odd hog, jands vista, onyx and even compulite once or twice!

i just don’t understand why red in rgb mode only used the deep red chip but blue and green mix colours

annoyingly we don’t have etc gateways and even now a good 3/4 of shows just run straight over 5 pin and even if we did have etc gateways we’d be having to change modes when swapping between the house desk for supports and the main ld’s desk which is just asking for trouble!

we use avo in house which handles hsi pretty well allowing you to just use rgb/cmy faders still but it still does horrible rainbow fades. and in terms of visiting desks 90% of the time it’s ma2/3 or chamsys but we do still see the odd hog, jands vista, onyx and even compulite once or twice!

i just don’t understand why red in rgb mode only used the deep red chip but blue and green mix colours

annoyingly we don’t have etc gateways and even now a good 3/4 of shows just run straight over 5 pin and even if we did have etc gateways we’d be having to change modes when swapping between the house desk for supports and the main ld’s desk which is just asking for trouble!