Manual Control
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Manual Control

As well as running pre-programmed moves (Auto Mode), you can also move an axis manually (Manual Mode). Depending on the desk you have, this will involve using the joystick, one of the playback joysticks, or using the manual control buttons.

In manual mode the system will allow you to run in between the two soft limits using preset speed and accel/decel values (these are set at the time of commissioning and are not user editable).

You change the axis mode in the Axis Control section

Axis Control - this may look a little different depending on your system
Axis Control - this may look a little different depending on your system
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While an axis is in Manual Mode it will not respond to any move information contained in a cue. Be careful if you are loading and running cues while an axis is in manual mode to ensure that nothing unexpected will happen.

To change an axis from Auto Mode to Manual Mode:

  • Tap the Auto/Man Selector.
  • On a multiple playback desk you will be asked to assign a playback for manual control of that axis.
  • The selector will change from Auto to Man to indicate that the axis is now under manual control.
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If the “Exclusive Manual” setting is on, you can only control one axis per playback in manual (see “Settings”). ⚙️Settings
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If the “Exclusive Manual” setting is off, you can assign multiple axis to a playback and control them in manual. Each axis is still controlled individually and not guaranteed to move in synchronisation or even in the same direction, depending on each axis’s setup.

To move an axis in manual mode on a desk with a joystick:

  • Press and hold down the [ENABLE] button or foot switch on your control desk.
  • Press and release the [START] button on the relevant playback(s).
  • Gently push the joystick up (away from you) or down (towards you) to move in that direction.
  • You will see the speed percentage displayed on the Axis Control for the relevant axes.
  • Releasing the joystick will return it to the centre position and the axis will come to a stop.
  • Pressing [STOP] or releasing the [ENABLE] button or foot switch at any time during movement will stop the axis.
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If you have a cue loaded that contains moves on the same playback as an axis in manual, the joystick will respond to both. So pulling a joystick down will slow down the moves on that playback, but also move the manual axis in a negative direction! To help prevent this being an issue, turn on the “Exclusive Manual” setting (see “Settings”).⚙️Settings

To move an axis in manual mode on a desk with control buttons:

  • Press and hold down the [ENABLE] button or foot switch on your control desk.
  • Press and release the [START] button.
  • Press either the [UP] or [DOWN] button to set the direction.
  • Press the [Speed +]/[Speed -] button to increase or decrease the speed, or use the speed shortcuts to select a speed.
  • You will see the speed percentage displayed on the Axis Control for the relevant axes.
  • Pressing [STOP] or releasing the [ENABLE] button or foot switch at any time during movement will stop the axis.

When you are done will manual control, change the axis back from Manual Mode to Auto Mode:

  • Tap the Auto/Man Selector.
  • The selector will change from Man to Auto to indicate that the axis is now under manual control.