DMX Controlled Preset overide

It would be an invaluable tool to be able to allocate a DMX channel to a preset overide per machine; using the built in presets to be able to preprogram files and layers as well as whatever else you touch to make the preset and name them or order them in a logical breakdown. The untouched parameters would default to the board operator. I See the preset trigger but the following added functionality would be invaluable.

This would be especially useful for content artists that make custom content for shows to be operated by various operators. Especially, if you aren't onsite when the content is to be executed. It would also make things much easier for Video Operators who aren't used to programming video via lighting consoles, all they would need to do is order the presets like they do in Profile. The functionality is there already, you would need to attach a channel to it and make sure that the null data responded to the operator input such as aspect ratio and resize, etc...

Much of the time, content comes in the day of the rehearsal or even just before rehearsal from the content designers, Graphics department, and other various sources. It would be so convenient to be able to preprogram the correct files to be played back in the correct screens and the correct order by the Art department or the Content designer so that even if the content comes in last minute, as long as it is numbered correctly, it will respond in the right spots.

This would be especially useful on shows with over 16 outputs and even more submixes.

This would be an option that would get a lot of use. If you were somehow able to feed back the MSC or midi notes messages into the console, the console would automatically set the files in place on the right layers. There would be no need to overide the overide if you did it like this because the console would already select the folders and files via midi using the preset overide channel in the first place.

Wow, I and a lot of other people I know could really use this feature to make life easier for all parties involved.

Cheers,
Christian Choi

Sorry to double post but I should add a couple of more ideas about this feature that I dreamed about having last night.

A. If the presets could be configurable to include the size of the system and use the remote functionality of the system as a whole so that you would only need to edit one giant preset for a system with 96 layers in it. If you could configure your presets based on system size and run layers accross the whole system rather than have to use the 12 layer preset 8 times, this would save an incredible amount of time.

B. An offline preset editor or Catalyst software with a configurable preset template that could use the system wide presets function and would enable you to export and import the large presets along with your files.

C. Enabling deck and other function control such as midi time code lock to the system wide presets. This would allow much coordinated efforts amongst creative teams to be used.

D. Being able to name and sign off on what each layer in a system wide preset does so that each team member of the graphics and content development teams could fill in their parts and sign of on it. For instance, if you could name a layer within a system wide preset to reflect the screen or video source as well as the element in the song like: "VersatubeSmix2.Iglesias.Chorus" or "Center Disk RP [artist] Verse" "[video source].[artist].[performance or show element]".

E. If you could have a red, yellow and green light next to each layer label letting the operator and team know exactly where the content is for that area. Red meaning missing, improvise with backup content, yellow meaning on the way, green meaning finished and loaded. Would auto default to red or Green if the content is there or not when loaded up into the on site show machine so that the operator would know he would need to pull from a the backup library of looks.

This is all based on larger scale shows with many teams of many people developing a lot of content to be used in exacting positions. It never works out with Catalyst unless you are both the content creator and the operator. You have to just hope that your looks get in and you can't make any demands. If you're lucky you'll get someone who is really willing to help and put certain looks that you paid a lot for in a certain part of a song but for the most part, no mater how organized you are with paperwork, when the shite hits the fan and a 96 layer 40 submix show gets underway for rehearsals, there is no way to be able to expect the operator to follow plate sheets and keep up with the rehearsal.

In the professional world of TV, at the highest level such as shows like the Grammys or VMAs with a lot of people putting together packages, bumpers, act looks, and presenter content - as well as another team putting together performance content on so many screens and LED elements, it is impossible to maintain any organization no matter how prepared you are.

There are always last minute adds, changes, and complete switch arounds. This feature would make it possible and much easier for everyone to manage large scale, content heavy shows, without confusion or waste of content.

Just to give you an example of the performance side of things on a large scale show, please find the attached link to an example of one plate sheet for a Medley of two songs that I usually task out on my team. This plate didn't even account for the 3 submixes used for the Versatubes.

Thanks,
Christian Choi