Chapter 56. Button Functions

Shift

The shift buttons are used to select alternative functions for buttons and faders. There are three shift buttons on the console – one at the top of each side of the touch-screen. The third is in the row of action buttons above the keypad.

The shift keys on external keyboards also have the same function.

Ctrl

The ctrl buttons are used to select alternative functions for buttons and faders. There are two shift buttons on the console – at the top corners of the touchscreen.

Alternative functions include selecting views and making adjustments to the display and console light brightness.

The ctrl keys on external keyboards also have the same function.

Alt

The alt button is used to access alternative functions which do not have dedicated physical buttons. The alternative function is outlined on the panel adjacent to the button in silver.

On all consoles

ALT + LEFT

PAGE LEFT

ALT + RIGHT

PAGE RIGHT

ALT + UP

PAGE UP

ALT + DOWN

PAGE DOWN

ALT + LOCATE

DEF COLOUR

ALT + ALL

SNAP COLOUR

On MagicQ Compact consoles (MQ40/MQ50/MQ60/MQ70) the additional functions are available

ALT + PROG

MIN

ALT + OUT

MAX

ALT + PATCH

NEXT

ALT + MEDIA

EXT

ALT + EXEC

SIZE

ALT + CUE

PLOT

ALT + PLAYBACK

TIMELINE

ALT + STACK STORE

MACRO

ALT + CUE STORE

HELP

ALT + SINGLE

PAIR

ALT + FAN

MIRROR

ALT + GROUP

HEAD

ALT + THRU

TIME

ALT + LAY 1

HOME

ALT + LAY 3

END

On MagicQ Stadium consoles

ALT + PROG

MIN

ALT + OUT

MAX

ALT + SETUP

EXT

ALT + PATCH

SIZE

ALT + HEAD

HOME

ALT + TIME

END

On all consoles ALT + ADD/SWAP will take a screenshot of the main screen (and external monitor, if present), and save it in a folder called "screenshots/" in the MagicQ home folder.

Min

Used to minimise a window. Windows appear in the windows section of the screen.

Max

Used to maximise a window. Windows appear in the windows section of the screen. A maximised window is sized to the complete main window area. The buttons around the edge of the screen and the status screen continue to be displayed.

Close

Used to close a window. Windows appear in the windows section of the screen. Pressing SHIFT and CLOSE causes all open windows to be closed.

When using remote control then CTRL + CLOSE disconnects from the remote console.

Next Win

This button was supported on older MQ100/MQ200/MQ300 consoles.

It allowed the user to select the active window from the currently open windows. The order of window selection is fixed, so that windows appear in a memorable sequence regardless of the order the windows were opened. Each press of the Next Win button selects the next window in the open window list.

Windows appear in the windows section of the screen.

Ext

This button is used to move windows to/from external monitors. External monitors must first be configured in Setup, View System, View Monitors.

Size

This button is used to modify the size and position of the active window on the screen. Pressing this button opens the Window Size dialog box.

Windows appear in the windows section of the screen. The initial size is the maximised size – i.e. the window takes up the whole of the window display area.

There are seventeen possible combinations of window size and position.

There are four half screen positions and 4 quarter screen positions.

There are four adjustable left hand positions and four adjustable right hand positions. Windows assigned to these positions will auto size to take up the whole of the left hand or right hand space.

Prog

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Programmer Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Programmer Window is used to view and modify the contents of the programmer.

Pressing and holding the Programmer button causes the Programmer Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Type the number 2 before pressing PROG to open an additional Prog window, the Prog Info Window.

Outputs

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Outputs Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Outputs Window enables the user to view the output channels in many different ways including level data, intensities, movement, plan and colour display. It also allows input channels to be viewed.

In View Heads, the outputs are viewed by head enabling the operator to easily see the levels of different parameters.

In View Chans, there are two further options, View Int and View DMX. View Int shows all the intensity levels of patched channels and their current level in percentage – i.e. a traditional theatre output screen.

View DMX shows the actual data being transmitted out / or received into the console. In View DMX, patched channels are coloured according to function - intensity is shown in red, colour in yellow, position in green, and beam in white. Use soft button A to change universe.

In View Plan, a plan of the lighting rig can be created and then used to easily identify the levels of different lamps according to their position in the lighting rig.

Pressing and holding the Outputs button causes the Outputs Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Type the number 2 to 4 before pressing OUT to open additional Output Windows.

Setup

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Setup Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Setup Window is used to perform major operations on show data such as loading, saving and erasing shows. It is also used to configure console settings and preferences.

The Setup Window has three views, View Settings, View DMX I/O and View System.

Pressing and holding the Control button causes the Setup Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Patch

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Patch Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Patch Window is used to patch dimmers and intelligent heads onto the console channels. It has four different views, HEADS for general patching, CHANS for examining individual DMX channels, DMX for configuring dimmers and VIS for visualiser items. See Patching for more details.

Pressing and holding the Patch button causes the Patch Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Vis

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Vis Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

Note that the Vis window is only available within the console on MQ500M. On all other systems the Visualiser must be run on an external PC/Mac.

Plot

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Vis Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Plot window is used to view a 2D Plot of the lighting rig, and to focus lights using the FOCUS HOLD and FOCUS LINE features.

The Plot uses the XYZ data from the Patch Window for the placement of Heads.

Different elevations can be viewed. In VIEW DESIGN it is possible to reposition lights.

Macro

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Macro Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Macro Window allows the user to record and playback keyboard macros thus enabling them to customise buttons to perform actions unique to their own style of operation.

The Autom view supports automation of MagicQ events. Pressing and holding the Macro button causes the Macro Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Help

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Help Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Help Window enables the manual to be viewed on-line on the console. The Help Window supports hyperlinks, searching, and quick links.

Hyperlinks are shown underlined – press the text on the touch screen to jump to the hyperlink.

To find information on a particular button on the console, press and hold down the Help button and then press the button you wish to get help on. On MagicQ PC/Mac version, press the BUTTON HELP soft button and then press the required button.

Pressing and holding the Help button causes the Help Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Page

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Page Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Page Window is used to select which page of Playbacks is currently in use. Selecting of Pages can also be done using the Page Select buttons. The Page Window also provides a means for naming Pages.

Pressing and holding the Page button causes the Page Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Playbacks

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Playbacks Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Playbacks Window is used to manage the allocation of Cue Stacks to Playbacks. Cue Stacks can be recorded, named, removed, moved, and copied between Playbacks.

Pressing and holding the Playbacks button causes the Playbacks Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Execute

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Execute Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

Type the number 2 or 3 before pressing EXEC to open additional Execute Windows.

Cue

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Cue Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Cue Window is used to view and modify the contents of a Cue.

Also see Recording a Cue.

Pressing and holding the Cue button causes the Cue Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Cue Stack

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Cue Stack Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Cue Stack Window is used to manage the steps in a Cue Stack. Steps can be recorded, named and removed. Cue timings and settings can also be configured.

Also see recording of Cue Stacks.

Pressing and holding the Cue Stack button causes the Cue Stack Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Stack Store

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Stack Store Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Stack Store Window is used to view all of the Cue Stacks stored on the console. Cue Stacks can be recorded, named, removed, moved and copied.

Pressing and holding the Stack Store button causes the Stack Store Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Cue Store

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Cue Store Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Cue Store Window is used to view all of the Cues stored on the console. Cues can be recorded, named, removed, moved and copied.

Pressing and holding the Cue Store button causes the Cue Store Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Group

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Group Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Group Window is used to select heads. Selected heads can then be modified in the Intensity, Position, Colour, and Beam Windows. The Window supports selecting of heads individually or by group.

Pressing and holding the Group button causes the Group Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Type the number 2 or 3 before pressing Group to open additional Group Windows.

Head

This button is used to select one or more heads directly from the keypad. Selected heads can then be modified in the Intensity, Position, Colour, and Beam Windows.

This button is available on the MQ500. On Compact consoles press ALT + GROUP.

On any console heads can also be selected by typing the head number(s) followed by @@. The Head button simplifies this syntax.

Intensity

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Intensity Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Intensity Window is used to set the level of dimmer channels and the intensity attributes of intelligent heads. The Window supports two views, Programmer and Preset.

Pressing and holding the Intensity button causes the Intensity Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

FX

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the FX window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The FX window enables users to store their favourite FX into a window for quick recall.

FX can also be applied directly from the Group window using the Add FX button. FX are applied to the currently selected heads. If no heads are currently selected then the Group Window is opened to enable selection of heads.

Pressing and holding the FX button causes the FX Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Pos

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Pos Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Pos Window is used to set and modify the position attributes of intelligent heads. The Pos Window also displays and allows selection of Palette entries from the Position Palette.

It also supports the Flip function for moving heads.

Pressing and holding the Pos button causes the Pos Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Colour

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Colour Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Colour Window is used to set and modify the colour attributes of intelligent heads. The Colour Window also displays and allows selection of Palette entries from the Colour Palette.

Pressing and holding the Colour button causes the Colour Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Pressing the colour button repeatedly cycles through the different colour views.

Beam

This is a Window select button. Pressing this button makes the Beam Window the active window. If the window was not open, then the window is opened.

The Beam Window is used to set and modify the beam attributes of intelligent heads. The Beam Window also displays and allows selection of Palette entries from the Beam Palette.

Pressing and holding the Beam button causes the Beam Window to be temporarily made the active window until the button is released.

Pressing the beam button repeatedly cycles through the different beam pages.

Next Head

Used to select the next head from the currently selected heads. See selecting individual heads.

Prev Head

Used to select the previous head from the currently selected heads. See selecting individual heads.

Locate

Pressing LOCATE, locates all the selected heads.

Fan

Used to enter Fan Mode. Fan mode enables adjustments to a number of selected heads to be applied in a non-linear fashion.

Pressing and holding Fan enables Fan mode to be entered temporarily. Make your changes and then release the Fan button.

Highlight

Used to enter Highlight Mode. Highlight mode enables adjustments to individual heads from the currently selected heads. The individual head is highlighted whilst the others are made less bright.

Single

Used to enter Single Mode. Single mode enables adjustments to individual heads from the currently selected heads. Similar to Highlight Mode but the head under adjustment is not highlighted.

All

Used to return control to all selected heads. Pressing ALL in Single Mode, Highlight Mode or Odd/Even Mode exits the mode.

See All.

Odd / Even

Used to enter Odd/Even Mode. Odd/Even mode gives control to the odd or even heads from the currently selected heads.

Mirror

Mirror reverses the pan information of the head.

The MQ500 includes a dedicated Mirror button. On Compact consoles press ALT + FAN.

See Flip/Mirror

Pair

The MQ500 includes a dedicated Pair button. On Compact consoles press ALT + SINGLE.

See Pair

Select

Used to select a playback as the current playback. Provides a means of selecting playbacks when slaving other consoles to the MagicQ where the other console does not have separate flash and select buttons.

Also used to select playbacks that have been activated through the Playbacks Window as the current playback.

Release

The Release button is used to Release a playback – i.e. to make it inactive. By default Cue Stacks are configured so that they release automatically when the fader is brought back to zero. However Cue Stacks can be configured to require a manual release. See activating and releasing playbacks.

Blind

Used to enter Blind Mode. Blind mode stops the contents of the programmer from affecting the output channels of the console.

Clear

Used to clear the programmer.

Shift and Clear clears only the selected heads.

Ctrl and Clear clears all heads setting the values to 0.

Backspace

Used to remove the last character from the input.

If there is no input then it cancels any outstanding actions such as recording, naming. removing, moving or copying.

CTRL and backspace removes all input from the command line.

Set

An action button for setting show data.

Used to name playbacks and other items. Also used to set the values of items such as parameters.

Shift and Set is used for selecting icons.

Record

An action button for recording show data.

Used to record Cues onto playbacks and to record Groups, and to record Palettes

See also Recording a Cue.

Shift and Record is used to record but with additional record options.

Remove

An action button for removing show data.

Used to remove Cue Stacks from Playbacks, and to remove other items.

Undo

The Undo button allows the last few changes in the programmer to be undone. Press SHIFT and Undo to redo a change. The Undo functionality is enable in the Setup Window, Settings View.

In versions before v1.8.2.1 MagicQ Undo does not undo patch, record, set, move, copy or any other actions. If a major mistake is made then you can restore to a previous version of the show file using the Backup Archives feature.

From v1.8.2.1 MagicQ undo can now be set so that all actions can be undone except for a small number of file related functions such as loading a new show file. In Setup, View Settings, Prog tab set "Undo mode" to "Undo programmer and actions".

Initially when UNDO is pressed any actions in the programmer will be undone - such as changes to head selection, head attributes such as Int, Pos, Col, Beam. Pressing UNDO again will undo any programmer changes for a maximum of 4 undo steps. After this Undo will start undoing actions including Record, Set, Move, Copy, Remove and Patch operations.

It is possible to redo any actions using SHIFT + UNDO. When some changes are undone, then once a new action is performed (e.g. recording a new Cue) it is then not possible to Redo any of the actions that were previously undone. The new action, and previous ones that have not been undone (or which have been redone) can be undone.

Press CTRL and UNDO to open the Undo History window. In the Undo history window it is possible to jump backwards and forwards in the Undo history.

The Undo history is reset when loading a new show file, or restarting the console.

The toolbar now supports Undo, Redo and Undo History in the Edit Menu. Short cuts CTRL Z and CTRL Y are supported for undo and redo respectively.

Note that this function is "beta" and undoing actions could cause problems with the show file - we strongly recommend saving the show regularly to different named files and backing up to USB stick.

Include

An action button for including previously programmed show data back into the programmer.

Used to edit Cues. See Editing Cues.

Shift and Include is used to include but with a additional options.

Update

Used as part of the edit process to update a Cue that has been included into the programmer. See Editing Cues.

Copy

An action button for copying show data.

Used to copy Cue Stacks between Playbacks, and to copy other items.

Shift and Copy is used to perform linked/unlinked copies - the default depends upon the option Setup, View Settings, Copy Unlinked.

Move

An action button for moving show data.

Used to move Cue Stacks between Playbacks, and to move other items.

Enc

On the Stadium Connect this button is used to change the bank of encoders. The Stadium Connect has 4 enocders whereas all other MagicQ consoless have 8 encoders.

Go

Used to activate a playback. Also used to start the next step in a Cue Stack when the step has been programmed to halt, or after the user has pressed the Pause button.

See Playback Buttons.

Pause

Used to pause the execution of a Cue Stack.

See Playback Buttons.

S

Used to make the playback the current playback. This enables the Cue Stack on the Playback to be viewed in the Cue Stack Window and the current Cue in that Cue Stack to be viewed in the Cue Window.

Pressing and holding a S button causes the Cue Stack Window / Cue Window to be temporarily made active until the button is released. The Cue Stack / Cue Window shows data for the playback associated with the S button.

This enables easy modifications of Cue and Cue Stack parameters such as FX size and chase speed.

Also used when programming for determining which playback to record a Cue onto.

Pressing S two times quickly opens the Cue Stack window associated with the Playback.

Pressing S three times quickly opens the Cue Stack, Options window associated with the Playback.

Flash

Used to temporarily activate playbacks by adding or swapping in the Cue Stack from the playback to the outputs.

Grand Flash

A spare button that can be used for keyboard macros.

Sub Flash

A spare button that can be used for keyboard macros.

Next Page

Used to select the page of playbacks. See the page select overview for how pages work.

Prev Page

Used to select the page of playbacks. See the page select overview for how pages work.

Manual Go

This Go button is part of the manual control section and controls the current playback. It has the same functionality as the Go button associated with a playback. It provides Go functionality for playbacks that do not have Go buttons.

Manual Pause

This Pause button is part of the manual control section and controls the current playback. It has the same functionality as the Pause button associated with a playback. It provides Pause functionality for playbacks that do not have Pause buttons.

Big Go

This Go button is part of the manual control section and controls the current playback. It has the same functionality as the Go button associated with a playback.

It is designed to be use for theatre style operation where one big GO button is important for cueing a show.

Fast Forward

The Fast Forward button is part of the manual control section and controls the current playback. It is used to bump a Cue Stack to the next step immediately without fading. It is particularly useful when editing a Cue Stack to bump through Cues to find the one to edit.

Fast Back

The Fast Back button is part of the manual control section and controls the current playback. It is used to bump a Cue Stack to the previous step immediately without fading. It is particularly useful when editing a Cue Stack to bump through Cues to find the one to edit.

Goto

The GOTO button is used to goto a Cue within the currently selected Playback. Press GOTO followed by a Cue ID and ENTER.

Tap

The TAP button is used to tap the time for the currently selected Playback.

Add / Swap

The Add / Swap buttons controls the function of flash buttons. See also the Add / Swap overview.

See Playback Buttons.

DBO

The Console Blackout Button, used for black-outs.

Numeric keys

Used for entering values for parameters. The console allows values to be entered before selecting the item to set on screen thus making configuration of parameters quick and easy,

Can also be used for selecting intensities and selecting groups.

Used for entering gel numbers. Numbers are assumed to be Lee gel numbers unless preceded by a dot in which case they are assumed to be rosco gel numbers.

Dot

Used for entering fractional numbers such as Cue Ids and times.

Also used for selecting elements from within multi element heads.

Divide

Used in Patching to specify an offset - the number fo channels between each head.

Also used as a separator when entering x / y coordinates and times and dates.

Mult

Used to select groups - e.g. 1** selects group 1.

Plus

The Plus key is used to select ranges of dimmers when selecting dimmers.

Minus

The Minus key is used to select ranges of dimmers when selecting dimmers.

Enter

The enter key is used for selecting items and to finish off an action – such as recording a window item, or editing a parameter value.

Thru

The Thru key is used to select ranges of dimmers when selecting dimmers.

@

The @ key is used to specify levels for dimmers.

Also used as a shortcut to select heads - e.g. 1@@ selects head 1.

Full

The full key is used to indicate 100% when setting levels for dimmers.

Time

This button is used to specify times for dimmers.

This button is available on the MQ500. On Compact consoles press ALT + THRU.

Page Left

This key scrolls the active Window to the left. See Cursor Control.

Page Right

This key scrolls the active Window to the right. See Cursor Control.

Cursor Keys

Used to move the cursor around the active Window. See Cursor Control.

Top Soft

The function of these buttons is soft – i.e. it changes according to the active Window and the current view in that window. The top soft buttons are generally used for menu items.

Side Soft

The function of these buttons is soft – i.e. it changes according to the active Window and the current view in that window.

The side soft buttons are closely associated with the encoders adjacent to them. For example, in the Beam Window on of the encoder controls the gobo attribute of intelligent heads. Pressing the soft button bumps the gobo wheel onto the next gobo. Pressing SHIFT and the soft button bumps the gobo wheel back to the previous gobo.