This topic includes:
▪Introduction
▪Basic Controls
▪Overview
▪1] Creating A New Cue List
▪2] Setting Up Cues
▪3] Playback
▪Time Code
▪Important Notes
▪Recording
▪Playback Side
▪Live Control
▪File Watcher [Automatic Cue List Reloading]
Introduction
A Cue List is an automated playlist.
It offers the possibility to precisely manage the automatic playback of effects. Once a Cue List is started, MADRIX 5 will automatically play back your visuals according to your settings and schedule. That means MADRIX 5 switches from Storage Place to Storage Place [i.e. from effect to effect].
Basic Controls
The main user interface of MADRIX 5 offers three control buttons for a Cue List.
|
Go - Skips to the next Cue.
|
|
Back - Returns to the previous Cue.
|
|
Play/Pause - Starts or holds playback of the currently selected Cue List.
|
|
Layer Control > Cue Lists - Opens the window of the Cue List Editor. Use it to set up your Cue Lists.
|
Overview
You can open the Cue List Editor in 3 ways:
▪Go to the menu Tools > Cue Lists...
▪Or press F7
▪Or click Layer Control > Cue Lists on the user interface.
To close the Cue List again and change back to the original MADRIX 5 user interface:
▪Go to the menu Tools > Cue Lists...
▪Or press F7
▪Or click Cue Lists > Layer Control on the user interface.
|
Undock - Creates a separate window to freely use the Editor window detached from the main user interface.
|
|
Dock - Brings the separate, detached window back again into the main user interface.
|
It is highly recommended to set up your Storage Places [incl. MADRIX Effects, Layers, Chasers, etc.] before using the Cue Lists feature.
1] Creating A New Cue List
Cue Lists
The Cue List Editor is empty when opening it for the first time.
▪You need to create a new Cue List first.
[Navigate the left side of the window.]
|
Add - Creates a new Cue List.
▪You can add more than one Cue List.
Remove - Removes the currently selected Cue List.
Duplicate - Copies the currently selected Cue List and adds it as a new item.
|
|
Position Up - Changes the order, and moves the currently selected Cue List one item higher up in the list.
|
|
Position Down- Changes the order, and moves the currently selected Cue List one item lower down in the list.
|
#
|
Index - References the different Cue Lists by index number.
Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows you to edit the index. Enter a number and confirm with Enter on your keyboard to change the order of Cue Lists.
Play - If playback of a Cue List has been started, the index number changes into the play symbol.
Pause - If playback of a Cue List has been paused, the index number changes into the pause symbol.
|
Name
|
Shows the label of the Cue List. The software names new Cue Lists Cue List by default.
Left Mouse Double-Click - Allows you to edit the name. Enter any name and confirm with Enter on your keyboard.
|
▪Note: Only one Cue List can be selected and active at once.
File
After creating a Cue List, the following file management options become available:
[Navigate to the right side of the window.]
|
Left Mouse Click - Opens the context menu.
Open... - Loads a previously saved Cue List file [of the file type *.mclx] or Comma-Separated Values file [of the file type *.csv]. Choose the file from your system.
Open+... - Loads an already existing Cue List [of the file type *.mclx or *.csv] and adds it to the current Cue List by attaching it to the end.
Save As... - Stores your Cue List in an external file. You can choose to save in standard *.mclx file format; or to save in *.csv file format in order to easily edit the file with a text editor, for example.
Clear - Clears the current Cue List and removes all cues and associated settings.
|
Controls
|
Add Cue - Adds a new cue to the Cue List.
- When a Time Code is received, MADRIX 5 will also automatically add the currently received Time Code to the cue [by filling in the column Time Code].
- Automatically sets Storage and Place to the most recently selected Storage Place on the user interface.
Right Mouse Click > Cue All - Adds new Cue List entries for all Storage Places that have a MADRIX 5 Effect customized and stored.
Right Mouse Click > Cue Deck A - Adds new Cue List entries for the Storage Places that have a MADRIX 5 Effect customized and stored on the currently selected Deck A.
Right Mouse Click > Cue Deck B - Adds new Cue List entries for the Storage Places that have a MADRIX 5 Effect customized and stored on the currently selected Deck B.
Remove Cues - Removes all currently selected cues from the list.
Duplicate Cues - Copies the currently selected cues and adds them as new cues to the list.
# 3 - Displays the total number of cues in the Cue List.
|
|
Swap Position - Swaps the position of cues in the list when several cues are selected first.
Position Up - Changes the order and moves currently selected cues one item higher up in the list.
Position Down- Changes the order and moves currently selected cues one item lower down in the list.
|
2] Setting Up Cues
1] Add new cues to the Cue List by using
A] Cue on the user interface,
B] + in the Cue List window, or
C] Cue All in the Cue List window.
2] Change each cue as explained in the list below.
- You can even edit the Cue List while it is playing.
- Make sure to change the settings for each cue according to your requirements!
|
Double-Click / Right Mouse Click - Perform a double-click or right click with the mouse onto an entry into the specific column and you will be able to enter and change the values.
Multiple Selection - The list allows you to select and modify more than one entry at a time. Select several entries by using Shift + Left Mouse or Ctrl + Left Mouse or Shift + Arrow Keys. Then, right click into the column you want to change.
Spacebar or value of -1 - Removes all values or restores the default values.
|
|
Double-Click - Perform a double-click on the very first column of the Cue List in order to start playing from this cue [thus performing a Goto]. Make sure to only double-click in the first column. You can even jump to specific cues during Cue List playback in this way.
|
|
▪The first column shows the current playback state [Playing, Pause] and can also be used to perform a Goto with the mouse. Perform a double-click on the column in order to start playing from this cue. You can even jump to specific cues during Cue List playback in this way. |
#
|
▪MADRIX 5 automatically numbers each cue consecutively with an index number, beginning with 1.
- Note: Change this index number in order to quickly change the order of cues. MADRIX 5 will automatically rearrange the list. |
Description
|
▪Automatically fills in a label. This label is based on the Description field of the Storage Place on the user interface. You can change the label if you wish. |
Date
|
▪Defines if the entry will be played at a specific date. You can enter 3 different types:
▪Daily -
This is the default value.
Enter 0, d, or D and the cue will be considered every single day.
▪A weekday -
Enter m or M for Monday,
t for Tuesday,
w or W for Wednesday,
T for Thursday,
f or F for Friday,
s for Saturday,
S for Sunday.
▪A specific date -
Use one of the following formats:
[Year Month Day]
2013/12/31
2013:12:31
2013;12;31
2013-12-31
13-12-31
[Specific Day of Current Month of Current Year ]
[(Current Year) (Current Month) Day]
01 - This year, this month, first day
02 - This year, this month, second day
etc.
- Only applies when creating the cue. This does not create monthly/yearly events. The month and year will not be automatically updated in the future. Thus, recurring events each month/year cannot be created in this way.
[Specific Day of Specific Month of Current Year]
[(Current Year) Month Day]
01-01 - This year, first month, first day
01-02 - This year, first month, second day
03-05 - This year, third month, fifth day
etc.
- Only applies when creating the cue. This does not create monthly/yearly events. The month and year will not be automatically updated in the future. Thus, recurring events each month/year cannot be created in this way. |
Time Code
|
▪Defines a specific time the cue should be played. Use the hours:minutes:seconds:frames format to enter the time: HH:MM:SS:FF
▪You need to confirm new values via Enter
Example
- 10 o'clock and 20 minutes, 30 seconds, and 10 frames
- Use one of the following formats:
10203010
10:20:30:10
10,20,30,10
10.20.30.10
10/20/30/10
10h20m30s10f
[Short versions for single items]
10h
20m
30s
10f
▪Offset
- Works for single or multiple cues.
- Enter + followed by a number to add an Offset. [Otherwise you are entering the Time Code anew.]
- Enter - followed by a number to subtract an Offset. [Otherwise you are entering the Time Code anew.]
▪Automatic Completion
- MADRIX 5 will automatically fill in the Time Code when adding a new cue [if a Time Code is received at the time]. |
Duration
|
▪Defines how long an effect is going to be played. The Fade Time is calculated as part of the Duration [and is thus a fade in].
▪Leave the Duration empty if the effect should be active as long as you do not control the Cue List manually [via Go, Back, Play/Pause, or Goto].
▪Use the hours:minutes:seconds:frames format to enter the time: HH:MM:SS:FF as explained under Time Code
▪You need to confirm new values via Enter |
Follow Cue
|
▪You can assign a certain cue to be played after another. As such, a Follow cue assigns the next cue the Cue List should play right after this cue. Follow cues allow you to define a certain order in which cues should be played by the Cue List. Simply enter the number of the cue that should follow. Leave empty if not required. |
Storage
|
▪Defines in which Storage the effect is located. Enter a number between 1 and 256 |
Place
|
▪Defines the exact Storage Place, where the effect is located. Enter a number between 1 and 256 |
Fade
|
▪Defines the Fade Type for the crossfader when the Cue List automatically fades from one effect to another. All Fade Types of the crossfader are available here. Learn more »Crossfader |
Fade Time
|
▪Defines the length of the automatic fade for the crossfader and thus creates a fade in. Enter a value in seconds:milliseconds format: SS:MM. Learn more »Crossfader |
Group Preset
|
▪Defines which Group Preset is triggered together with this cue. [The Fade Time of the Cue List will automatically be used as the Fade-In Time of the Group Control.] Enter a number between 1 and 256. Leave empty if not required. Learn more »Fixture Groups [Group Control] |
3] Playback
|
Play/Pause - Starts or holds playback of the currently selected Cue List.
|
|
Back - Returns to the previous cue.
|
|
Go - Skips to the next cue.
|
|
Loop Mode - All cues will be played back in their respective order [from top to down].
▪If all cues have been assigned a Duration, the Cue List will automatically start from the beginning again after the last cue.
▪If a cue inside a Cue List does not have a pre-defined duration, the Cue List will stop at this cue.
▪If you want to stop the Cue List with the last entry, you only have to remove the duration for the last cue in your Cue List.
Shuffle Mode - All cues will be played back in one of the following ways:
▪All cues have a Duration, but no Time Code or Follow Cue: Cues will be played back without a specific order. Once all cues have been played, the order will be shuffled again. [All cues will be played the same number of times and the same cue will not be shown twice in succession.]
▪There is at least one cue with a Time Code or Follow Cue: There is no more guarantee that all cues will be played the same number of times. |
|
Goto - Jumps to the specified cue. Make sure to enter the correct number in the nearby input field.
|
|
Progress - Shows you the relative time progression of the current cue in a progress bar.
|
Time Code
Overview
Time Code is a useful option to trigger effects at certain times of the day or at certain points in time. For example, you might want to trigger Storage Place S1 P1 at 10:00 a.m. or when 3 minutes have passed after the start. Time Code is a convenient way to synchronize independent equipment of your LED installation with each other. This could be external audio equipment, other MADRIX 5 computers, or even the same computer. You might want to set up a time-controlled show in sync with timelines of lighting effects of MADRIX 5 and sound.
Settings
|
▪Time Code Source - Select from which source Time Code should be received.
- None - Deactivates the usage of Time Code.
- Art-Net - Receives Art-Net Time Code from an Art-Net source [for example, a console, another software, the »MADRIX 5 Time Code Sender, etc.]. You need to activate Art-Net first. Learn more »Art-Net [DMX Over Ethernet]
- MIDI - Receives MIDI Time Code from a MIDI source. You need to activate MIDI first. Learn more »MIDI-IN Configuration
- SMPTE - Receives SMPTE Time Code from the MADRIX USB SMPTE hardware interface. Learn more »MADRIX I/O
- System Time - Uses the internal computer clock [i.e. the clock of the operating system] to generate the Time Code. If the time of your computer system is 10:00 a.m., the generated Time Code will be 10:00:00:00, for example. |
|
▪Time Code Format - Allows you choose between different Time Code formats. When receiving Time Code from an external source, use the format sent by the external source. You can choose from:
- 24 FPS
- 25 FPS
- 30 Drop [30/1.001 FPS]
- 30 FPS |
00:00:00:00
|
▪Displays the currently used Time Code. The hours:minutes:seconds:frames format is used: HH:MM:SS:FF |
Learn more »Time Code [MIDI / Art-Net / SMPTE / System Time]
Stop
According to your configuration, you may have to set the Time Code Source to None to fully stop a Cue List.
Important Notes
▪Do not forget to save your Cue Lists or the complete MADRIX 5 Setup file.
▪When you are using Date, Time Code, and/or Duration, logical routines are implemented to determine which cue should be currently active. These routines are explained in more detail below.
Date
If you are setting up a Date for a cue, 3 options are available to you:
▪Daily,
▪A specific weekday,
▪Or an explicit date.
If you are using a mixture of those three options, a cue will be favored and activated according to the following hierarchy if applicable:
An explicit date overrides a weekday entry. And a weekday entry overrides a daily entry.
For example, daily will activate a cue every single day. But on Mondays, another cue should be activated and it will be. But 2010/04/19 is also a Monday and this cue will be activated this day instead of the daily cue and instead of the Monday cue.
Time Code Without Duration
▪If you are using the column Time Code without the column Duration, a cue will only be activated if the Time Code passes this predefined time.
▪If the Time Code of a cue [without Duration] has already passed that deadline, the cue will not be activated.
Time Code With Duration
A] If you are using the column Time Code and the column Duration, a cue will be activated when the current Time Code falls into this time window.
▪A cue using Time Code and Duration will be activated if it falls into the time window.
▪In addition, the logical routine will check if the Date needs to be considered according to the information above [Date].
For example, if your daily cue should start at 8 o'clock for 8 hours and the current Time Code says 10 o'clock, the cue will be activated.
B] When using Time Code and Duration, you should be aware of what should happen when the Duration is over. A cue with a Time Code and Duration will expire eventually.
▪When a cue with Time Code and Duration is over or has expired, MADRIX 5 will automatically select the next cue; regardless of what the next cue is.
▪MADRIX 5 will not check if the next cue is valid or logic. If you do not want MADRIX 5 to select the next cue, use Follow cues for example or make sure the next cue is set up correctly!
Recording
|
Starts or stops the Cue List Recording. See »Recording
|
Playback Side
You can choose how MADRIX 5 manages the user interface when playing back a Cue List.
Learn more »User Interface
Live Control
The majority of controls in MADRIX 5 is disabled while a Cue List is running. The following control controls are available to you even during Cue List playback:
▪Cue List and Cue List controls
▪Submaster Deck A / Deck B
▪Color Filter Deck A / Deck B
▪Filter Deck A / Deck B
▪Speed Masters Deck A / Deck B, including Pause
Learn more »Controls [Deck A / Deck B]
▪Crossfader
▪Main Output Color Filter
▪Main Output Filter
▪Main Output Strobe
Learn more »Crossfader
▪Master, including Freeze and Blackout
▪Audio Output Level, including Mute
▪Audio Input Level, including AGC and Mute
Learn more »Main Output / Master / Audio Levels
▪Group Control
Learn more »Fixture Groups [Group Control]
File Watcher [Automatic Cue List Reloading]
MADRIX 5 can automatically reload a Cue List within a predefined refresh time.
Learn more »General
|