Curve Editor
MagicQ includes a curve editor to allow users to create their own dimmer fade curves and effects curves. Curves are not specific to any head, they can be used on any head.
Note the Curve editor is not available on Compact consoles or Pro2010 consoles. User curves can be used on these consoles, but not edited.
User Curves 1 to 10 correspond to the user dimmer curves that were supported in previous versions of MagicQ. These will still be automatically loaded from the user dimmer csv files (e.g. show\heads\dimmercurveuser1.csv) if they exist.
User Curves 1 to 20 can also be used in the FX Editor (FX Window, Edit FX) as part of FX steps. Select View Chans and set the Curve filed. This allows completely custom FX waveforms to be generated.
User Curves are saved within the show file and can be imported from other show files using Setup, Import Show, Advanced, and by deselecting all options except for "Import Curves".
Creating a curve
In the Curve Editor Window (FX Window, Curve Editor) use wheel A to find an empty curve, then press ADD POINT to add new points to the curve, at least 2 points will be required. The first 2 points are automatically placed at the start and the end of the curve. Additional points will be placed in between.
Curves can be saved into the show by pressing SAVE CURVE. RESET CURVE will return the curve to how it was last saved. Once the curve has been saved it will take effect.
Editing a curve
Points can be moved around by either clicking on them and dragging them, or by clicking on them then using encoder wheel X and Y to move them around. By clicking and dragging it is possible to select more then one point at a time and move it around.
Pressing the Y encoder button will cycle the point between 100%, 0% and a position midway between the first and last points. To specify an exact position type the required percentage then press Set and the X or Y encoder button.
To remove a point first select it by clicking on it then press REMOVE POINT. If more than one point is selected they will all be removed.
Points can either be 'Linear' or 'Spline'. Spline points create a curved join between 2 lines while linear points create a sharp join between 2 lines. Select a point then press encoder E to change the type of a point.
To name a curve first type type the required name then press Set, then encoder A.
Removing Curves
In the Curve Editor a Curve can be removed from the show by using the REMOVE CURVE soft button.
Setting a dimmer curve
To use a curve as a dimmer curve got to the Patch Channels Window (Patch Window, View Chans). There is a column in the table called 'Curve'. Select the Curve column for the Head and press Set. The first user created curve will be called 'User 1' or the name provided.
Importing/exporting curves
The curve editor has the ability to import/export curves via CSV files in the following format:
Range Row: The first row contains two columns for defining the Y-AXIS min/max range. The first column is the min value and the second column is the max value. The min/max range can be 0-255, 0-65535, or any arbitrary range, e.g., 0-100.
Data Rows: Subsequent rows contain the curve points data with up to a maximum of 256 rows supported. Each row has three columns: the first column is the X-AXIS with a value between 0-255, the second column is the Y-AXIS with a value within the defined range, and the third column is a boolean value indicating if the point type is a SPLINE (represented by ‘0’ for No and ‘1’ for Yes).
Example contents of a CSV file:
0,65535 0,0,0 48,32878,0 139,16245,0 188,40508,0 255,65535,0