We are using an ETC Obsession 2 console, and trigger the presets from DMX. Only posting this as an idea, but perhaps a second DMX channel could be used as a rate control. This could be a different DMX profile, i.e. 1 Channel Preset trigger, or 2 channel preset trigger with rate control. The rate channel could be 50% ( 127 ) the preset recall uses the preset fade times. Decreasing the rate channel would slow down the fade, until you reach 0 at which point it would be stopped. Increasing the rate control channel would speed up the fade until you reach full ( 255 ) at which point it is a snap. This would allow preset recall on consoles like the Obsession 2 to be a little easier for rehersals. In our instance of the production we do have a guy sitting with the Mac programming the presets, but I can see that once programming in complete and they are just running reheasals, stepping back into cues could be a lengthy process if some of the cues have long time. What does anyone else think about the rate channel ?

Andy