1. Cue Editor
The Cue Editor module facilitates the creation of cues.
Cues are pre-recorded series of actions and parameter modifications set in a specific order of execution. This sequence of actions can be affected by variables such as delays, timings and target values. In other words, any parameter, slider, toggle, or dropdown menu found in PHOTON’s UI can be affected by a cue.
Cues can be recalled in various ways and function like programmable macros found in other types of systems (see Section 1.8 Triggering a Cue in Chapter 4 Programming a Show1. Cue Editor). Cues can even execute complex technical procedures such as seamless live backup switching.
Since cues are recalled states of parameters, no change will occur in the software if the targeted parameters are already set at the state specified in the cue. For example, if a pre-programmed cue containing an event that would set the Master Contrast slider to the value of 100 is triggered while the Master Contrast slider is already at 100, nothing will happen.
Since cues can recall parameter changes, it might be tempting to use them to create animations. Do not do this. Cues are not the proper tool to create animations through interpolations between values. They should only be used to push predefined states during the linear unraveling of a show. If you wish to create animations please refer to the Keyframe Editor module (see Section 8 Keyframe Editor in Chapter 4 Programming a Show).
Open the Cue Editor by selecting {Show > Cue Editor} or by pressing [Alt+Q].
If the Cue Editor appears as a small column, it is set in View List mode, which is the small-scale representation of cues designed for operation. The View List mode is meant to show pre-programmed cues that are to be recalled. It is not used for creating new cues.
If you wish to create new cues, you will need to switch the module to View Full mode.
To expand or reduce the Cue Editor select {View > View Full} or {View > View List} or press [V] on the keyboard to toggle between the two view modes.
The top part of the of the left column shows Cue playlists (see Section 1.7 Cue Playlists in Chapter 4 Programming a Show), while the bottom part shows the available pre-programmed cues organized into the Cue list. The search field located at the top of the column lets you filter the list of cues by entering characters.
In View Full mode, the module’s window will expand to the right in order to reveal the Edit cue window section. This is where you can adjust all the timings, delays, actions order, etc. for newly recorded cues. At the bottom right of the module’s window you will find the Progress view window section, which is where you will be able to follow the progress of cues being executed.
To create a new cue, press the [+] button at the bottom left part of the module. The new cue will appear at the bottom of the Cue list.
To record actions in a new cue, press the [Record] button at the top right of the Edit Cue window section.
If the Cue Recording mode is activated, the entire UI will turn red and you will see the words “Cue Recording” at the bottom right of the screen.
If the Cue Recording mode is activated, every time you click on a slider, toggle, list, parameter, etc., they will appear as actions in the Edit Cue window section (see Section 1.1 Cue Editor View Modes in Chapter 4 Programming a Show).
Press on the [Record] button again to stop cue recording.
Once you have recorded all of the actions needed for a new cue, you can edit the cue’s Actions list.
Actions within a cue can be reordered by dragging and dropping their names in the list.
Actions can also be reordered by clicking on the [Delay] button at the top of the Delays column in the Edit Cue window section. A sort will be performed on the Actions list to arrange them based on their delay time (from the lowest delay time to highest).
Right-click on the name of any action within a cue to open a contextual menu to delete, duplicate or rename the action.
You don’t have to be in Cue Recording mode to edit a cue.
There are 5 parameters that can be used to modify cues: Delay, Offset and Multiple Delays, Timing, Target Values and Easing.
Delays are absolute time values that can be understood as a “wait time” before an action is executed.
To delay the execution of an action, use the Delay slider beside it to set a time. You can also double-click on the Delay slider and enter a specific duration in a text field.
Keep in mind that even if the actions inside the cue are organized as a sequence, individual delay times for actions are not cumulative. For example, Action #1 has a delay time of 4 seconds and Action #2 has a delay time of 2 seconds. Even if Action #1 is the first in the list, it will be executed after Action #2 since its delay time is higher. In this example, Action #2’s delay time is definitely 2 seconds not a cumulative 6 seconds.
The time slider and the [Apply Offset] button at the top of the Actions list allow you to automatically offset the delay value for all of the actions selected for a cue. Follow these steps to apply an offset to multiple actions:
set a value in the time slider;
select the actions you want to be affected by the offset by pressing [Shift+right-click] on the first and the last actions that you want in the list, or press [Ctrl+right-click] to select actions that aren’t listed consecutively;
press the [Apply Offset] button.
All the selected actions will be offset by the value set in the time slider from top to bottom.
Parameter changes can be interpolated over time. Timings are values that will determine how much time the change will take. Some actions, like a true/false toggle, will not allow the use of timings because they are restricted to parameters linked to sliders.
To set a timing for an action, use the time slider beside it to set a time. You can also double-click on the time slider and enter a specific time in a text field.
When created, some actions specify a target value to be reached on the execution of the cue. You can change this value after the cue has been recorded if you want to make adjustments.
To change the target value of a specific action click on the Target Value cells that you want to modify.
Depending on the type of data represented, you might have access to a simple toggle or a slider. For a slider, double-clicking on the Target Value cell will open a text field where you will be able to enter the desired value using your keyboard.
Interpolation created through the use of the timing variable is expressed in a linear way. Under certain circumstances (to smooth a transition, create an expressive transformation, etc.), it might be appropriate to ease in and out of the linear progression from the initial value to the target value.
To ease in or ease out of an action, click and drag the Ease in or Ease out sliders to select a value, or double-click on the sliders to set values through a text field.
Cues can be renamed, duplicated or deleted from the Cue list.
Right-Click on the cue to open a contextual menu from which you will select {Rename}.
Right-Click on the cue to open a contextual menu from which you will select {Duplicate}.
Right-Click on the cue to open a contextual menu from which you will select {Delete}.
You can also delete the cue by selecting it and pressing [delete] on your keyboard.
Nesting allows the incorporation of autonomous structures into other structures. For example, video editing software facilitates the integration of pre-edited sequences into other sequences.
PHOTON allows the nesting of cues into other cues. This means that cues, which are already sequences of actions, can in turn be placed and recalled within larger sequences. This makes it possible to construct complex cues that trigger multiple actions and, with a combined use of delays, the automation of tedious tasks and interventions.
To nest a cue within a cue, recall the cue you want to nest while Cue Recording is enabled for the “meta-cue.”
A safety mechanism is in place to prevent the creation of infinite loops in nested cues.
The Cue Editor facilitates the creation of Cue playlists, which are specially arranged collections of cues that make programming a show much easier.
Press the [+] button in the top left part of the Cue Editor to create a Cue playlist.
Drag and drop the cue from the bottom left to the top left in the desired playlist.
Right-click on the cue to open a contextual menu from which you will select {Remove}.
Cues can be triggered using the following methods:
Click on the [GO] button next to a cue in the Cue playlist.
Create a Cue Clip type on the Timeline (see Section 2.2 Clip Type in Chapter 4 Programming a Show) and assign the desired cue to it. As soon as the playhead intersects with the clip, the cue will be triggered.
Create a mapping between the [GO] button in front of the cue and a button located on a midi board by using the Mapping Manager module. The cue can then be recalled through interaction with the external MIDI device.
Use the Project’s Show Control port found in {Settings > Network} to send a UDP command from a third-party software.
