Version 1.9.7.x Change Notes

Heads now support a Function Type for each Function of the Head which enables MagicQ to determine the actual function of a particular function of a multi function Head. The inbuilt function types of RGB MAIN, STROBE, RGB CANDY and UNDEFINED are supported.

This enables much more accurate morphing of Heads that have multiple functions - such as complex Strobe fixtures - Chauvet Col Strike M, GLP JDC1, etc…​ If both the source and destination Head have Function Types set then MagicQ automatically morphs only between the elements of the compatible Function Types. The morph will expand to all the elements of the Function Type of the destination Head even if the source Head has less elements.

The Function Type is specified in the Head Editor under VIEW OTHER, Functions. The Function type for Duplicated Heads with Functions is automatically defaulted when the Head is loaded into MagicQ. ChamSys is updating any Head files that need specific changes.

The Function Type of Heads can be used as part of the selection so that levels and attributes are made active in the Programmer and changed only for the elements of Heads that have a particular Function Type. It also affects FX so that FX are only added for the elements of Heads that have a particular Function Type.

In the Group Window there is a new SELECT FN TYPE soft button to select the function type. When a function type is selected the selection works on function type rather Global Elements or Head Elements - MagicQ applies activations and changes to the appropriate elements of the Head that match the Function Type without those elements being explicitly selected. This enables values to be set to elements of Heads of different types that have different configurations of elements.

When Function Type selection is active the selected text shows a .FMainRCB, .FStrobe, .FCandy or .FUndef at the end instead of the elements.

To reset to no Function Type selection press, in the Group Window press SHIFT and ALL FN TYPE soft button.

Note this is different to the SELECT FN soft button which selects by function number. e.g. FN1, FN2 etc…​ The function FN1, FN2, FN3 differ on different Heads so selection by Function may result in different behaviours on different Heads - e.g. control of Strobe on one, control of Pixels on another.

The Odd/Even toolbar has been expanded to a double height toolbar.

The lower row selects the options of Parts (normal odd/even), Segments and Groups. In addition there are new options for Chunks, Pair and Col Tag.

The upper row selects the number of Parts, Segments or Chunks.

Pair is as previously supported using the PAIR button on Stadium consoles (and shortcut of ALT + SINGLE on other consoles).

Pair can now be used in combination with Parts, Segments or Chunks to give a symmetrical look.

Chunks is a new addition to split the Heads into Chunks.

Col Tag is a new addition to split the Heads by Col Tag.

There are two other options on the toolbar - Grid H and Grid V. These can be applied when Odd/Even, Segments, Chunks or Pair are in operation. They order the Heads for selection using the order in the Group Grid instead of the order stored in the Group.

Segments have been improved to enable splitting of the entire number of Heads into a specified number of Chunks. This is different to Segments which split into Segments of a specific number of adjacent Heads.

Chunks can be used for both sub selecting Heads and for setting FX.

Col Tag sub selection enables sub selection using the Col Tag in the Patch instead of using a formula such as Odd/Even or Segments. This enables sub selecting particular Heads based on how Col tags have been assigned to them. This could be used to differentiate between Spots, Washes, Beams or between Front Truss, Mid Truss, Back Truss.

Open the Odd/Even toolbar by holding ODD/EVEN. On a PC press SHIFT and ODD/EVEN to open the toolbar.

Select Col Tag. By default the first Col Tag in the Patch is used.

Press NEXT HEAD or PREV HEAD to move onto the next or previous Col Tag used in the Patch.

Groups can be set as Sub Select Only Groups in a similar way to Element Only Groups. Sub Select Only Groups do not contain any Heads, Elements, or Head Elements.

When selected, Sub Select Only Groups only change the Sub Select and Order settings in the Programmer. They do not change the selection of Heads. This enables storing of Odd/Even, Segments, Chunks, Pair into Groups for easy selection.

Sub Select Only Groups can be copied into the Execute Window like any other Groups. Note that like Element Only Groups they are not used for the purposes of Regions as they do not contain any Heads.

MagicQ now supports Linked Groups to make it easier to update Groups that have a different selection order or have a sub selection of the members of a Group.

When recording a Group, if the Selection Order has been changed or an Odd/Even, Segments, Chunks, Pair or Col Tag sub selection is active then MagicQ creates a Linked Group which will be linked to the originally selected Group. The Group itself stores information regarding the chosen Selection Order, Odd/Even, Segments, Chunks, Pair or Col Tag. Sub selections apply to the Heads in the Group, not to the elements.

If Grid H or Grid V sub selection is applied to the Odd/Even, Segments, Chunks or Pair then this is also stored in the Group.

When the Group that it is linked to is updated with different Heads then the Linked Group will be recreated using the new Heads, using the Selection Order and sub selection in the Linked Group. The Group Grid for the Linked Group will also be updated any time that the Group Grid it is linked to is updated.

In the Group Window, when the cursor is on a Linked Group, then Soft Button E indicates the Group it is linked to and the method of linking - i.e. the sub selection.

The Linked Group can be moved in the Group window and the Links will be automatically updated.

A Linked Group can be unlinked by changing the Group Type from Linked to Normal on Soft Button E.

One or more Groups can be linked to another Group after they have been created. Cursor select one or more Group then set the Group Type to Linked and enter the Group number to link to. The Linked Groups will automatically be regenerated.

Multiple layers of Linked Groups are allowed. For example a top Group could contain all Heads - then Linked Groups for each Col Tag such as Spots, Washes and Beams, and then further Linked Groups to these such as Odd/Even or Segments. When a top layer Group is updated all the associated Linked Groups at all layers are updated. Note this is different to Palettes that only support one layer of Linked Palette.

Function Types can be set on Linked Groups in the same way as on other Groups - multiple Groups could be created with different Function Types but all linked to the same Group. When a Group has a Function Type set then only the elements of that Function Type are supported. This avoids the need to store specific element numbers into the Group. The Group dynamically changes to always use the elements of the specified Function Type if different Heads are stored into the Linked Group.

When filtering to Sel Head or Sel Group there is now an End box to enable moving Heads to after the last Head.

When filtering to Sel Head, Heads can be deselected by using REMOVE.

When filtering to Sel Group it is now possible to move Heads around in the Group. Heads can be removed from the Group using REMOVE. Heads are now not shown active when filtering to Sel Group.

Add support for changing the motor fader touch sensitivity on Stadium consoles running firmware V0.22 Playback panel, V0.15 Motor Control and V2.2 Fader Touch touch control or later versions.

When selecting a Group with Type of Sub Groups the Group itself remains indicated in Orange. The sub groups selected continue to be shown in Red.

When selecting a selection order using the SELECT ORDER toolbar (hold ALL or press SHIFT + ALL) it is now possible to go back to the Normal order after Random order has been chosen. Previously once Random order was chosen the original Group was forgotten. The original Group is now indicated in Orange. #0041702

Added extra option to the G Cue Stack macro to enable going to a Cue without activating. When Preload Flag is set to 2, the Cue Stack is immediately jumped to the Cue without activating the Cue Stack. #0040061

Improved indication of the Palettes used for Soft Palettes in Exec Regions. Now MagicQ checks for which Palette is used by the Soft Palette in real time. Previously after a power on or reset there would be no indication until a Palette was selected again in the Exec Region.

Added VIEW SELECTED option to Patch, View Chans. The VIEW SELECTED can be used together with the attribute filtering. Press the VIEW SELECTED soft button to view selected.

Added option to apply a Global timecode offset to the incoming external timecode source. In Setup, View Settings, MIDI Timecode set Timecode Offset. A positive value adds frames to the received timecode, whilst a negative value delays the incoming timecode.

Added option to handle internal timecode using the framing type used for external timecode rather than using the internal 100 frames per second. In Setup, View Settings, MIDI Timecode set Internal Timecode Type.

Allow Optimise Grid and Crop Grid on Group Grids. #0042612

Added support for running a single Pixel Map FX on multiple Groups. MagicQ concatenates the Group Grids of each Group vertically. #0042615

Cue Stacks that are activated on Playbacks now show in the Stack Store window as active (in Orange) with an indication of the Playback that they are active on. They can be released from the Stack Store by pressing on the item. Cue Stacks activated from within the Stack Store or from Macros, Executes or Automations continue to show in Red.

Enable assignment of a Col Tag to a User, so that when the Col Tags option is set to Users, it is possible to monitor which User is controlling a channel.

Add View Users to Outputs Window, View Heads so it is easy to see which User has control of each parameter.

Added a new Unicast Options setting in Setup, View Settings, Network with the option of Fast or Original. This setting defaults to Fast. In previous software versions, when MagicQ tried to Unicast sACN or Art-Net to IP addresses that were not on the network then the Output could be blocked whilst MagicQ tried to locate the IP address. This only occurred on MQ250M/MQ70/MQ50/MQRACK/MQDIN. #0032162, #0039761, #0042834

Add Slave Only mode as a Net Session Mode. In this mode Net Sessions can be used on MagicQ PC systems even when they are unlocked - there must be another unlocked MagicQ system on the network which is the Master. The Slave Only PC cannot take control - it is always a Slave, so it cannot be used for show backup purposes.

Add support on MagicQ PC when only one monitor is enabled for selecting which monitor from Layouts is used. This enables Layouts programmed on systems with multiple monitors to be used on systems with only one monitor.

Allow Stadium touch mode on both remote control and normal operation. Previously it was only supported for remote control.

It is now possible to copy a Setup option direct to the Execute Window. This is an alternative to using ASSIGN SPECIAL and SETUP OPTION.

Setup Options in the Execute Window now automatically show the Setting name and the chosen option/value for that Setting.