Controlling Fixtures

With QuickQ you can either control fixtures live, program cues and then control fixtures with recorded cues or control with a combination of these two. Most often shows are programmed live and then played back from cues.

Quick Steps: Live:

Put the multifunction faders on the left in FIX mode by pressing the FIX mode button.
Raise one or more faders to an intensity level.
Select Colour and change the colour.

Quick Steps: Recorded

Use your "live" programming from above.
Put the multifunction faders on the left in CUE mode by pressing the btn:[regex
Lower all the multifunction faders to zero.
Press Clear.
Raise the fader where you recorded the cue.

QuickQ consoles aim to make controlling fixtures intuitive and fast. You may not need to understand the following "rules" to get started, but they will help to gain a better idea of how your programming is applied.

QuickQ will output the combined selection to the fixtures based on simple rules.

Rule 1: Live Fixtures always have priority over recorded cues. Live "captures" changes made. Before moving on to playback cues, remember to lower all the multifunction faders and then press Clear.
Rule 2: When multiple cues or faders are in control of the intensity of a fixture, the highest intensity will be output. We call this HTP for Highest Takes Precedence.
Rule 3: For any other fixture attributes controlled by multiple cues, the last value (command) given will be output. We call this LTP for Latest Takes Precedence.

Control Fixtures Live

To control fixtures live, first we select fixtures, set fixture intensities, then set the position if the fixtures are moving fixtures, set colours, adjust the beam and if needed, control effects. This control can be recorded to cues at any time. Once we are finished with controlling fixtures live we clear fixtures using the Clear button.

Clear Fixtures

Fixtures that are being controlled live are “captured.” The attribute values of the selected fixture will output until you lower the multifunction faders and press the Clear button in the main menu bar.

Always remember to lower all the faders on the left side and then press Clear when you have finished programming a cue.

Select Fixtures

On QuickQ we can select fixtures from 4 different locations: select fixtures from the home window, select fixtures with the multifunction faders in fixture mode, select fixtures with the multifunction faders in group mode and select fixtures from the intensity window.

Select Fixtures from the Home Window

To select a fixture, touch one or more of the Fixture Icons. Selected fixtures have a green border. You can deselect fixtures by touching them again.

Select Fixtures with the Multifunction Faders in Fixture Mode

The multifunction faders on the left of the console control individual fixtures when they are in Fixture Mode (press the FIX mode button):

Raise one or more of the multifunction faders. The fader controls the fixture’s intensity.
Pressing the fixture select button beneath a fixture fader.
Select a range of fixtures. Press on a button beneath the fader for the start of the range and at the same time press a fixture button that defines the end of the range.
Deselect fixtures or ranges of fixtures by selecting again.

Selected fixtures have a brighter LED above the fader.

Select Fixtures with the Multifunction Faders in Group Mode

The multifunction faders on the left of the console control groups of fixtures when they are in Group Mode (press the GRP mode button):

Raise one or more of the multifunction faders. The fader controls the group of fixtures intensity.
Select a range of groups. Press on a button beneath the fader for the start of the range and at the same time press a fixture button that defines the end of the range.
Deselect groups or ranges of groups by selecting again.

Selected fixture groups have a brighter LED above the fader.

Select Fixtures from the Intensity Window

You can select and deselect fixtures in the Intensity Window by pressing the buttons below the faders on the touchscreen.

Control Fixtures with Recorded Cues

Cues may control fixtures. Cues contain recorded parameter values (Intensity, Position, Colour, Beam) and effects. Cues can be recorded and played back on one or more of:

Playbacks 1-10
Cue Faders, the multifunction faders, when they are in cue mode (Press the CUE mode button).
Execute Window.

Playbacks can have one or more cues recorded onto them to form a cue stack or a chase. Cue faders and Execute Window items only store a single cue. This cue can contain effects.

The fader level controls the intensity of the fixtures between zero and the maximum recorded into the cue.

The select buttons at the bottom of the fader now act as Flash Buttons and will instantly apply the maximum recorded intensity and activate the cue on the fader when pressed.

Activating Cues and Releasing Cues

Cues can be started and stopped from playing or outputting by raising and lowering the playback faders or the cue faders. When playing we consider them “active”, when not outputting we say they are “released”. Cues can released one at a time by returning their faders to the bottom of their travel or all at once from the (Action) menu and then (Release All). This does not affect values captured by fixtures directly selected. These, if being output, will only stop being output when Clear is pressed.

Controlling Intensity

Intensity for a selected fixture can be controlled directly from the multifunction faders, from the Intensity Window or from the Layout Window.

Using Fixture Faders

As we have seen, moving one or more of the multifunction faders while in Fixtures mode will set intensity to a level. The intensity level of a whole group can be adjusted or set when in group mode (press the GRP mode button).

Layout Window

Intensities can also be controlled from the Layout Window. The 0% and 100% buttons can be used to quickly turn fixtures on and off, while on the QuickQ 20 and QuickQ 30 the bottom right encoder can be used to accurately adjust the intensity of the selected fixtures.

Intensity Window

The Intensity Window provides control over both individual and all selected fixtures. Go to the Home Window and select the Intensity button to open the Intensity Window.

The larger fader on the left controls all currently selected fixtures, and on the QuickQ 20 and 30 consoles the bottom right encoder can also be used. You can also modify individual fixtures by adjusting their faders. When a fixtures' intensity is changed the button will briefly show the value in percent.

You can modify individual fixture intensities by adjusting their faders. When a fixtures' intensity is changed the button will briefly show the intensity value in percent.

Renaming your fixtures in the Patch Window makes selecting the correct fixtures easier.

Lamp On And Lamp Off

In addition at the top of this window there are buttons to lamp on and lamp off the selected fixtures. If you have arc lamps then it may be necessary to "lamp on" after applying power and to "lamp off" before powering down the fixture. Consult your fixture manufactures documents for the correct operation.

Controlling Position

This window can be opened by selecting the Position button from the home window.

First select one or more fixtures then any of the position control options can be used. If you are going to use a position in more than one cue, consider saving it to a palette. Palettes are referenced in cues, so modifying a palette will change every cue the palette is used in.

Position Palettes.
Default Palette - select to return to position defaults.
Position encoders - pull out to select ranges, or use on window if no encoders (QuickQ 10 and Remote App)
Trackpad - or select arrows for either individual pan or tilt control.
Effects.
Fine encoder control - don’t forget to turn off when finished!

Controlling Colour

Colour Mix Encoders - COL MIX

Having selected one or more fixtures, it is possible to control colour directly using the COL MIX encoders, Hue and Saturation. If you adjust the saturation encoder first, you can deepen the colour that you then chose with the hue encoder.

DEF & SNAP buttons

In the Col Mix section of the QuickQ you will see a DEF button and a SNAP button

The DEF button (Default) will bring your colour mixing lights back to their Default colour with one touch of the button. The Default colour is normally white. You can change the default colour of any colour mixing fixture by simply saving that new colour to the first colour palette (the one that has the word 'Default' in green) in the colour window.

The SNAP button is a quick way to assign a colour to multiple fixtures. If you have picked 1 fixture and chosen colour for it, you can choose other colour mixing fixtures and press SNAP to force that colour onto all the chosen fixtures at once.

Colour Window

This window can be opened by selecting the Colour button from the Home window.

Colour Palettes.
Default Colour Palette. Select to return colour to defaults.
Colour Picker. Touch within this colour picker to change colour. Changes using other controls will be displayed here.
Manufacture Gel Swatches - Lee.
Manufacture Gel Swatches - Rosco.
Manufacture Gel Swatches - Apollo.
Colour Effects.
Colour Control Faders.

First select one or more fixtures then any of the above options can be used to control colour. If you are going to use a colour in more than one cue, consider saving it to a palette. Palettes are referenced in cues, so modifying a palette will change every cue it the palette is used in.

Controlling Beam Functions - Gobos, Focus, Zoom and Other Beam Options

This window can be opened by selecting the BEAM button from the home window.

First, select one or more fixtures then any of the beam control options can be used. If you are going to use the same beam attributes in more than one cue, consider saving them to a palette. Palettes are referenced in cues, so modifying a palette will change every cue the palette is used in.

Beam Palettes. Press Record button and use the green + button to add your own.
Default Palette - select to return to beam defaults.
Beam encoders - pull out to select ranges, or use on window if no encoders (QuickQ 10 and Remote App).
Iris can be controlled directly on the window as well as by the encoders. Pinch the iris icon in or out to adjust.
Zoom can be controlled directly on the window as well as by the encoders. Pinch the zoom icon in or out to adjust.
Fine encoder control - don’t forget to turn off when finished!
Beam control pages - other options and effects, one of which is gobos.

Controlling Gobos

This window can be opened by selecting the (BEAM) button from the home window and then selecting either Gobo 1. If the fixture has multiple gobo wheels there is a Gobo 2 page.

First, select one or more fixtures then any of the gobo control options can be used. If you are going to use the same gobo attributes in more than one cue, consider saving them to a palette. Palettes are referenced in cues, so modifying a palette will change every cue the palette is used in.

Beam Palettes. Press Record and use the green + button to add your own.
Default Palette - select to return to beam defaults.
Gobo selection encoder
Gobos can also be selected by swiping through the gobo selection carousel.
Gobo movement options (if supported by the fixture).
Gobo rotation encoder - pull out to select ranges, or use on window if no encoders (QuickQ 10 and Remote App).
Fine encoder control - don’t forget to turn off when finished!

Encoder tabs can pulled out by dragging the tab in from the edge of the window to show the ranges and sub selections within an attribute.

Alternatively a long press and hold on the encoder tab will show selection boxes for those ranges for any given encoder.