Manual Configuration of Multi Console Operation

Hot Takeover Mode is set in Setup, View Settings, Multi Console. The options are:

For all modes it is still necessary to set up Setup, View DMX I/O so that all universes that you wish to use as Hot Takeover have their Output and Input universes and type set correctly.

When you set a universe to "Hot Takeover" you must ensure that Input is enabled on that Universe and that it is set to the correct type and universe number – generally the Input should be set up the same as the Output.

When using "Hot takeover" on MagicQ PC, ensure that the IP address of MagicQ PC (set up in Setup Window, View Settings) is set to the valid IP address of the network you are using. If this setting is incorrect then Hot Takeover will not work correctly.

Preferred Mode

Setting one console to Preferred Master and the other to Preferred Slave operates a Master/Slave mode whereby one console will always be the Master, with the other console only taking control when that Preferred Master console is not available (shutdown, reset, disconnected from the network). As soon as the Preferred Master restarts or is connected back on the network then it will take control and the Preferred Slave will stop outputting.

All required universes on both consoles should be set to Hot Takeover.

Equal Mode

Setting both consoles to Equal operates a Master/Slave mode whereby both Consoles have the same precedence. The first console to start becomes the Master. Take Control and Release Control can be used to swap which console is the Master.

All Universes are treated the same – enabling / disabling together. For systems which require hot takeover to operate independently on different Universes the Split mode should be used.

If the network cable between the consoles is broken then neither console will see the other console and both will become Master. If one of the consoles is still connected to the lighting rig then it will have control – both consoles will not be connected to the lighting rig – otherwise the consoles would see each other.

When the network between the consoles is reconnected then both consoles will detect the other consoles at the same instance. The console with the lower IP address will become the Master.

All required universes on both consoles should be set to Hot Takeover.

Split Mode

This mode makes the consoles operate as in previous version of software. Set Hot Takeover in Setup, View DMX I/O for the required Universes.

To make a single system a backup for another system set the universes to Hot Takeover only on the slave console. For a Master/Slave system with equal precedence, set the universes to Hot Takeover on both systems.

The hot takeover type can be set to manual or automatic. When set to manual the output is frozen until the operator decides what new look to change to. In automatic, a gradual fade is made to the look set on the Playbacks – in this mode an operator will often put up a "safe" state on the standby console which can be used if the main console has a problem.

In manual mode, when MagicQ determines that it should take over a universe it will load a snapshot of the last data from that universe into its Programmer. The universe will be completely controlled from within the Programmer and not from the Playbacks. The operator can then set up the playbacks as they wish and then clear the programmer to change to this new look. Clearing the programmer with time enables the operator to specify a fade time to the new look.

In automatic mode, MagicQ loads the snapshot of the last data from that universe into the Programmer and then automatically clears the programmer using the hot-takeover fade time.

Since both options use the programmer, it is recommended that the programmer is kept clear on the standby console.

In Equal Mode, a console that is set to "Hot takeover" can be forced to control all universes using the "TAKE CONTROL" soft button. This will force an immediate change of control from one console to the other.

Similarly, control can be given to another console using the "RELEASE CONTROL" soft button. This will force the other console to take control, and depending on the hot takeover options will enable a controlled fade to the new console outputs.

Note that the "TAKE CONTROL" and "RELEASE CONTROL" are only active when one or more universes are set to "Hot takeover".

When universes on MagicQ consoles are set to hot-takeover then the current Master / Slave status is shown in the Status Display underneath the date and time.

Note that a MagicQ console is considered a Master if any of the universes that are configured as a hot takeover universe are currently enabled and hence outputting to the network. A MagicQ console is considered a Slave if all universes that are configured as hot takeover universes are currently disabled – the console is not outputting to the network on these universes.

MagicQ includes an Emergency Hot Takeover feature that forces all universes to output the data from itself rather than from received data from other consoles.

When MagicQ enters Emergency Hot Takeover, all universes set to Hot Takeover are immediately enabled and any looping through of received Hot Takeover data is stopped.

When MagicQ leaves Emergency Hot Takeover, normal Hot Takeover will operate - the Hot Takeover Mode determining which universes are controlled by which consoles.

Emergency Hot Takeover can be triggered from the Remote Input port.

It can also be triggered from Automations (hence can be triggered from 10Scene input ports, MIDI, OSC, incoming DMX etc…​)

Cue Stack Macro H 112, H 911 and H 999 can be used set Emergency Hot Takeover on and off.

ChamSys Remote Protocol Command 112 H, 911 H and 999 H can be used to set Emergency Hot Takeover on and off.

It can also be manually triggered from Setup, View DMX I/O with SHIFT + the top soft buttons EMERGENCY ON and EMERGENCY OFF.

When using Emergency Hot Takeover and outputting over network to DMX nodes it is important that only the system where the Emergency Hot Takeover is configured to output universes directly to the DMX nodes.

All other consoles on the network should output universes to the MagicQ system and then be looped through to the universes of the DMX nodes as required. In Setup, View DMX I/O set Hot Takeover on the universes to "Yes, Loop". When using loop through the Input and Output Universes should be set to different ranges in the Art-Net / sACN universe ranges.

To set a MagicQ system for Emergency Hot Takeover:

In Setup, View Settings, Multi Console

In Setup, View DMX I/O

Arrange that any other consoles on the network output to the different universe range

The Autom Type "Emergency" triggers when Emergency Hot Takeover is entered and left. This enables triggering of Playbacks/Cues etc…​ dependent on the Emergency state.