Page 2 ETC at their fac- a permanently installed system (up to a tory or authorized service center.
Page 3 Table of contents Table of contents ..........iii Chapter 1 Introduction .
Page 4 Obsession User Manual Group List ..........46 SMPTE Event List .
Page 5 Table of contents Setting channel levels ......... 77 Fader wheel .
Page 6 Obsession User Manual Cue List ..........110 Renumbering a cue .
Page 7 Table of contents Creating a selective group........136 Recording a group without a submaster .
Page 8 Obsession User Manual Range editing in Submaster Spreadsheet..... . 168 Copying ranges ......... . 168 Submaster List .
Page 9 Table of contents Chapter 14 Profiles ............203 Using profiles.
Page 10 Other options ......... . . 228 Sharing shows with other Obsession models ..... . 229...
Page 11 Chapte 23 Obsession Off-Line ..........289 System requirements .
Page 12 Configuring MIDI Show Control (MSC) ......292 MSC commands received by Obsession ......293 MSC commands transmitted by Obsession .
Page 13 RVI Board ..........335 Obsession Console ....... .
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Page 15 Chapter 1 Introduction This chapter includes information to orient you to your console and the manual. It includes the following sections: • Using this manual • Output level conventions • Using the command line • System Shutdown • Battery maintenance •...
Page 16 [Enter] to display New Features . Use the Level wheel or [ ↑ ] and [ ↓ ] to scroll through the text. Help screens are available for all Obsession keys, including soft- keys . To display help, press [Help], then press any console key.
Page 17 For example, if a channel is included in a submaster and a cue that has played back and is in a fader, Obsession sets the channel t the level set by the submaster, if that level is the greater of he two settings.
Page 18 Continue to press [ ← ] until 1 is high- lighted. P ess [Clear] [3] toreplace the 1 with 3 . Press [Enter]. Note While you edit the command line, Obsession doesn’t che k to see if the command is legal. Error messages won’t appear until you move the highlight off the command line (by pre sing [ →...
Page 19 Always run System Shutdown before turning off the console. If you forget to do a System Shutdown before turning off power, Obsession displays a warning next time the console is turned on. Keystrokes: Actions/Command line: 1.
Page 20 1. Refer to the manual or the Help function . 2. If you do not find the answer in the manual, call your local dealer or ETC Technical Services . Please have the following information available before you call: •...
Page 21 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Obsession supports two color monitors called the Command and Playback displays. Use [Swap] to switch the monitor displays. This chapter includes the following sections: • Command display • Flexichannel • Playback display...
Page 22 Obsession User Manual Command display The Command display is the display on which you create and modify the various elements that make up a show. Different Command display modes allow you to work on cues, submasters, groups, effects, and so forth. The Displays keys choose the Command display mode.
Page 23 White ....Chan el level represents a blocked channel or is set y an effect. If you select cha nel but don’t change its level, it returns to the control of what ver set its level originally (fader, submaster, etc.) when you re ease it.
Page 24 Obsession User Manual Live The Live display shows you the current levels of all active channels. Tracking/Cue Only Flexichannel mode Console operating mode. urrent Flexichannel mode, if enabled. Page # Channel level display Channel page. Use [Go To Page], [Page+] or [Page– to Current level of all channels.
Page 25 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Blind Blind lets you work on cues without affecting the look on stage. Tracking/Cue Only Flexichannel mode Console operating mode. urrent Flexichannel mode, if enabled. Page # Channel level display Channel page. Use [Go To Page], [Page+] or [Page-] to Level of all channels in switch pages.
Page 26 Obsession User Manual Group Group lets you work on groups without affecting the look on stage. Page # Flexichannel mode Channel page. Use [Go To urrent Flexichannel mode, Page], [Page+] or [Page–] to if enabled. switch pages. Channel level display...
Page 27 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Submaster Submaster allows you to modify and create submasters. Page # Flexichannel mode Channel page. Use [Go To urrent Flexichannel mode, Page], [Page+] or [Page-] to if enabled. switch pages. Submaster page # Attributes for selected sub- Submaster page.
Page 28 Obsession User Manual Park Park lets you work with and view parked channels and dimmers. Parked dimmers Comm nd line All parked dimmers and their Softkeys levels. Parked channels All parked channels and their levels. Park colors Channel and immer numbers and levels display in Park mode in...
Page 29 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Effect Effect lets you work on effects without affecting the look on stage. Effect colors Steps display in Effect mode in the following colors. Steps Gray ....Unselected s ep. White ....Selected st p. Black on Gray .Item being edited.
Page 30 Obsession User Manual Memory left Time Memory remaining for storing Time between the beginning of a effects. step and the beginning of the follow- ing step. Effects left Additional effects (out of 100) you can create, if memory allows. Time it takes the step to fade from its current level to its high level.
Page 31 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Patch Patch allows you to create and modify your patch. You may work in any of three displays, By Dimmer, By Patch or By Label. By Dimmer Dimmer Lev l Dimmers available for eve at which dimmer is patching.
Page 32 Obsession User Manual By Label Dimmer Chan Dimmers available for patch- hannel to which dimmer is ing. Use Display Dimmers patched. softkey to reveal. Level Label Level at which dimmer is Labels of dimmers available patched or profile assigned for patching.
Page 33 Chapter 2 Monitor displays By channel Chan Dimmer/Label Channels available for patch- Dimmer number(s) or ing. label(s) patched to channel. Live Chn% Level/Profile Current live level of the Level at which dimmer is channel. You may set live patched or the profile levels from this display.
Page 34 Obsession User Manual Setup menu The Setup menu allows you to access system setting information, print and disk functions, diagnostics, and profile and macro editing, as well as control information for options such as MIDI and SMPTE. It also indicates your current software version.
Page 35 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Memo The Memo display provides a screen of text to view or print. The console can also be configured to advise you to check the Memo display automatically any time you turn the console on. Editing mode Text The current editing mode Use he alphanumeric key-...
Page 36 Obsession User Manual To enter a memo, follow these instructions: Keystrokes: Action: 1. Press [Memo*]. Selects Memo display mode 2. Type Shut down console Enters your memo on the following show on the Memo screen alphanumeric keyboard. 3. Press [S5], Set Alert.
Page 38 Obsession User Manual Flexichannel The Flexichannel feature allows you to control which channels are shown in the Live, Blind, Group, and Submaster displays and spreadsheet screens. Flexichannel has three modes: Show Channels, Current Channels and View Channels. The channels may be in cues, effects or submasters, or may be channels you have selected recently.
Page 39 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Show Channels Press [S2], Show Channels, [Enter]. Show Channels mode displays only the channels used in the cues, effects and submas- ters in the show. Note the grey lines that replace channels 97 through 124 and 126 through 499. These channels are not used in the show.
Page 40 Obsession User Manual Current Channels Press [S3], Current Channels, [Enter]. In Blind, Submaster or Group, Current Channels mode displays only the channels recorded in the currently viewed object. The display below only shows the channels used in cue 1. Note: In Live, Current Channels displays all channels used in the show.
Page 41 Chapter 2 Monitor displays View Channels Press [S4], View Channels, to make a range of channels visible. If Show Channels or Current Channels are active, View Channels selects only channels that are already visible in the current Flexi- channel mode. The spreadsheet below displays all channels 1 through 5 and 21 through 25.
Page 42 Obsession User Manual Playback display Playback is the display on which you run and monitor your show. Press the [Sub List], [Cue List], [Group List] keys in the row marked Displays to choose a Playback display mode. Press [Live] [More Softkeys] [S3], SMPTE List, to choose the SMPTE Events List mode.
Page 43 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Cue List Cue List displays a list of recorded cues. Cue List is the default Playback display mode. It also provides information on cue attributes, including fade and wait times, Follow, Link, Profile, Rate, Block, Park, and Label. Grandmaster/Blackout Follow Current Grandmaster set-...
Page 44 Obsession User Manual Cue List colors Cue numbers appear in these colors. Gray ....Cue not selected or running White ....Cue is selected for editing in Live or Blind. > appears by cue Red....Cue running on physical fader (faders 1-8) Yellow .....Cue finished running, on stage; if > appears by cue, cue is selected for editing in Live or Blind Magenta ..Cue running on virtual fader (faders 9-126).
Page 45 Chapter 2 Monitor displays Submaster List Submaster List displays information about the submasters in the active submaster page. Submaster List shows the current setting of each submaster slider, as well as submasters’ labels and fade and dwell times. Press [Sub List] to switch to Submaster List display mode. Submaster List displays submasters 1 through 24.
Page 46 Obsession User Manual Group List The Group List displays the group number and label of all recorded groups. Press [Group List] to page through the list if you have recorded more than 34 groups. The selected group is displayed in yellow and its label is displayed in white;...
Page 47 Chapter 2 Monitor displays SMPTE Event List The SMPTE Events List displays a list of recorded SMPTE events. The list displays the event number, time, element, rate, and label for all recorded events. Up to 20 events may be displayed at a time.
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Page 49 Chapter 3 System settings System settings allow you to customize the number of dimmers and channels in your system, set system modes and screen formats, and choose default settings for a variety of console func- tions. Current settings are sted n the System Settings menu. The illus- tration shows def ult settings.
Page 50 Setting number of channels Obsession 600 le s you control your dimmers through up to 608 control channels, Obsession allows up to 1,536 control channels and Obsession 3000 allows up to 3,072 control channels.
Page 51 Chapter 3 System settings Selecting Cue Only or Tracking mode Obsession functions in Tracking or Cue Only operating mode. It defaults to Tracking mode when reset. In Tracking mode, if a cue sets a channel at a level, the channel remains at that level until it receives a specific instruction to change levels.
Page 52 Obsession User Manual Selecting screen format The Command display operates in one of two display screen formats, four lines of 25 channels or five lines of 20 channels. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Select [1], System Settings, Selects System Settings menu and press [Enter].
Page 53 Chapter 3 System settings Setting default Level You may assign a value between zero and 100 to the [Level] key. The default value is 100 percent. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Select [1], System Settings, Selects System Settings menu and press [Enter].
Page 54 Obsession User Manual Setting default fade times You may assign default upfade and downfade times of .1 second to 99:59 minutes to cues or control fade times manually. Default fade times are five seconds. Fade times may be expressed in minutes and seconds, or as frac- tions of seconds (in decimal format).
Page 55 Chapter 3 System settings Setting default Back and Go To Cue times You may assign a default fade time to [Go To Cue] and [Back]. When you use these functions to play back a cue, its fade time overrides the fade time assigned to the cue. Default time is one second for both.
Page 56 You may assign profiles to dimmers in place of a patch level, or to cues and cue parts. Obsession provides 32 profiles, including nine preset profiles and 23 user-definable profiles. Any profile that starts at 0 and ends at Full may be used as the default profile for cue playback.
Page 57 Chapter 3 System settings Enable/disable Blackout and Grandmaster To disable or enable Blackout and the Grandmaster, follow these steps: Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Select [1], System Settings, Selects System Settings menu and press [Enter]. 3. Select [1][1], Blackout/ System Settings: ENABLE Grandmaster, and press BLACKOUT BUTTON?
Page 58 Obsession User Manual System reset If your system is malfunctioning, try resetting it. Resetting deletes all show, system setting and I/O configuration information in the console’s memory and restores all settings to their factory defaults. You may then restore your show and configuration from diskette or the hard drive.
Page 59 Chapter 3 System settings Setting the date Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [S2], Set Date. Setup: SET DATE 3. Enter the current date in MM- Setup: SET DATE 12 – 31 – 99 DD-YY format. (i.e., press [1][2][–][3][1][–][9][9] to enter December 31, 1999) 4.
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Page 61 Chapter 4 Patch Obsession 600’s Patch display allows you to assign up to 1,024 DMX512 dimmers to up to 608 control channels. Obsession acco- modates up to 1,536 dimmers on 1,536 channels. Obsession 3000 accomodates up to 3,072 dimmers on 3,072 channels.
Page 62 Obsession User Manual One-to-one patch The one-to-one patch assigns dimmer 1 to channel 1, dimmer 2 to channel 2 and so on. If there are more dimmers than channels, excess dimmers are automatically patched to channel zero. See Unpatching individual dimmers on page 67 for more informa- tion on channel zero.
Page 63 Chapter 4 Patch Creating custom patch You may create virtually any dimmer-to-channel configuration. (Multiple dimmers may be assigned to single channels, but only one channel may be patched to a dimmer.) There are three patch display modes: By Dimmer, By Label and By Channel.
Page 64 Obsession User Manual Patching by channel Press [S4] in By Channel mode to choose between Display Labels and Display Dimmers. The keypad defaults to channel selection. Follow these steps to patch a dimmer or dimmers to a control channel: Actions: Keystrokes: 1.
Page 65 Chapter 4 Patch Patching by dimmer label In By Label patch display you may view dimmer numbers. Press [S4], Suppress Dimmers, to hide or reveal dimmer numbers. The keypad defaults to dimmer selection. For information on assigning labels to dimmers, see Labeling dimmers on page 68. Follow these steps to patch a dimmer to a control channel: Keystrokes: Action/Command line:...
Page 66 Obsession User Manual Proportional patching You may proportionally inhibit the output of individual dimmer levels from any Patch display. Dimmers output at 100 percent unless you patch them at a lower level. The following example uses By Dimmer mode. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1.
Page 67 Then, as you patch, select dimmers from channel zero and patch them to channels. If you select default one-to-one patch and you have more dimmers than channels, Obsession automatically assigns excess dimmers to channel zero. Follow these steps to assign dimmers to channel zero in By...
Page 68 Labeling dimmers You may assign alphanumeric labels to your dimmers. Dimmer labels may be up to five characters long. Obsession assigns the dimmer number as a default label to each dimmer. For example, dimmer 237 is assigned the label number 0237.
Page 69 Chapter 4 Patch Assigning a profile to a dimmer You may select one of 32 output curves (profiles) and assign it to a dimmer instead of a proportional patch level. These profiles allow you to compensate for non-linear light outputs from certain types of fixtures or incorporate a preferred response in a fade.
Page 70 Obsession User Manual Dimmer check You may check dimmers by selecting a single dimmer and setting it at a level. Once you select a dimmer, advance sequentially through the dimmers checking one at a time. Keystrokes: Actions: 1. Press [Live*].
Page 71 Chapter 4 Patch About dimmer The [About] key provides you with information about your dimmers. • Label: The dimmer’s label. • Channel: The channel to which the dimmer is a signed. • Proportion: The dimmer’s assigned pr port o al level. •...
Page 72 Obsession User Manual If your system uses ETCLink to monitor dimmers through an ETC Sensor dimming system, additional dimmer monitoring informa- tion is displayed. The following window appears only if dimmer monitoring is enabled. • Rack/Slot number: The rack and slot in which his dimmer is located.
Page 73 ETC’s new Multiplex Dimming Technology can increase the capacity of your dimming system. The ETC Multiplexer converts the output of a single ETC Sensor or L86 dimmer into two sepa- rate signals. Both signals then provide discrete levels for two ETC Source Four lighting fixtures.
Page 74 Obsession User Manual Independent channels An independent channel is not affected by the Grandmaster, [Blackout], [Rem Dim], [Flash], Channel Check, or solo submaster bump buttons. Actions: Keystrokes: 1. Press [Patch*]. 2. If patch is in By Dimmer or By Selects By Channel mode Label mode, press [S2], By Channel.
Page 75 Chapter 5 Setting channel levels Setting channel levels is the first step in recording cues, submas- ters and groups. Setting channel levels in Live mode brings light levels up on stage. Setting channel levels in other modes does not affect stage lights. In most cases, channel output changes do not take effect until you press [Enter].
Page 76 Obsession User Manual Selecting channels Using the keypad to set channel levels involves two steps: selecting the channels, then entering output levels. • To select a single channel, enter the channel number. Press: [1] • To select two channels, enter the first channel, then press [+] and enter the second channel.
Page 77 [Enter] where the first number is the channel and the second is the level. If you enter a single digit for the level, Obsession multi- plies it by ten. In other words, [4] [At] [1] sets channel 4 to 10 percent.
Page 78 Obsession User Manual Level Press [1] [Thru] [5] [Level] to set selected channels to the level assigned to the [Level] key. The default value for [Level] is 100 percent. (See page 53 to change default settings.) Note: You do not need to press [Enter] to complete the operation.
Page 79 Chapter 5 Setting channel levels Flash channel Use [More Softkeys] [S6], Flash, to alter the level of a selected channel between 15 percent and Full. The channel flashes as long as the instruction remains on the command line. You may only flash one channel at a time.
Page 80 Obsession User Manual Sneak Sneak lets you fade channels on stage to a level you choose, in a specific time. You may also restore channels to the last level at which they were set by a fader or submaster. If you do not indi- cate otherwise, the sneak occurs in the default sneak time.
Page 81 Chapter 5 Setting channel levels Undo Undo lets you switch from a selected channel’s current level to its previous level and back. You may continue to do so until you enter a new command. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live]. 2.
Page 82 Obsession User Manual Channel check You may check channels by selecting a single channel and setting it at a level. Once you select it, you can advance sequentially through the channels. Note: Independent channels are ignored during a channel check.
Page 83 Chapter 5 Setting channel levels About channel Press [About] and enter a channel to display a window containing attribute and status information. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [About]. ABOUT 2. Enter the number of the ABOUT CHANNEL 6 desired channel. 3.
Page 84 Obsession User Manual • Most recent move: The most recent cue in which this han nel changed levels. • Preceding move: The second most recent cue in whic this channel changed levels. • First used: The first cue in which this channel ppears.
Page 85 Chapter 5 Setting channel levels Channel Usage display Select the Channel Usage display from the Setup Menu. The Channel Usage display shows you the n mber of times each channel is used in a cue, group, effe t, or submaster. Customize the information that app ars on the display by pressing the softkeys described on the f llowing page.
Page 86 Obsession User Manual Channel Usage softkeys [S1], Select Range Shows a range of channels or cues. Press [S1], enter the cues or channels to show, then press [Enter]. [S2], Cues Shows channels used in cues. [S3], Cue moves/levels Shows the number of times the channel level rises and its highest level in the show.
Page 87 Chapter 6 Cues This chapter includes instructions on recording, modifying and deleting cues. You may record up to 1,000 cues per show. This chapter is divided into three sections: • About cue • Working with cues in Live mode • Working with cues in Blind mode...
Page 88 Obsession User Manual About cue The [About] key provides you with cue attribute and status infor- mation. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [About]. ABOUT 2. Press [Cue]. ABOUT CUE 3. Enter the number of the ABOUT CUE 6 desired cue or default to the current cue.
Page 89 Chapter 6 Cues • Status: The current status of the cue: Not recorded Not active Pending in fader # Running in fader # Complete • Time Left: The remaining time until cue ompletion if it is run- ning in a fader. •...
Page 90 Obsession User Manual Working with cues in Live mode Live mode display appears on the Command display monitor. Cues consist of channel levels and cue attributes. Each example in this chapter illustrates a different s ngle attribute. However, multiple attributes can be set in o e c mmand.
Page 91 Chapter 6 Cues Recording a cue with default fade times In cue 1 you only set channel levels. Default settings from the System Settings menu determine all other attributes of the cue. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. 2. Select channels and set Channel levels appear on the channel levels.
Page 92 Obsession User Manual Recording a cue with split fade times You may program cues with different upfade and downfade times. When entering split times, the time to the left of the / refers to the upfade; the number to the right refers to the down- fade.
Page 93 Chapter 6 Cues Recording a cue without a submaster You may program cues containing the current levels on stage except for those contributed by specific submasters. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. 2. Select desired channels and set channel levels. 3.
Page 94 Obsession User Manual Recording a cue with wait times Wait time is the time between when you press [Go] and when the actual fade begins. You may program separate wait times of up to 99:59 minutes for the up and downfades.
Page 95 Chapter 6 Cues Follow [Follow] allows you to play cues automatically. The [Follow] time indicates how long the console waits after the current cue starts before the next cue runs. [Follow] plays back the next cue on the Cue List unless you use [Link] to specify a different sequence.
Page 96 Enter 4 to the right f the slash to play the loop five times. If you do not enter a repeat number, the loop will run indefinitely. To break out of a infinite loop, press [Go]. Obsession runs the next cue afte the loop.
Page 97 Chapter 6 Cues Using Link to link a macro to a cue [Link] allows you to automatically run a macro when a cue runs. If you want the macro to delay before running, start the macro with a Macro Wait. See Chapter 13, Working with macros , for information about creating macros.
Page 98 Obsession User Manual Recording a cue with a modified fade rate Rate allows you to record cues that play back faster or slower than their recorded fade time. This can be especially helpful when you are calculating complex timing information for multipart cues or effects.
Page 99 Chapter 6 Cues Recording a block cue In a tracking console, channel levels track from cue to cue. Thus, changes made in one cue may affect subsequent cues. One way to keep channel level changes from tracking is to record a block cue.
Page 100 If you park a cue, but do not specify the fader o park the cue to, Obsession will choose any physical f der o run the cue on and will not allow it to be transferred o a irtual fader.
Page 101 Chapter 6 Cues Modifying a recorded cue live In Live, if you want to add, remove or modify channel levels, you must play back the cue, make your changes, then re-record the cue. Modifying channels in a cue If you are not familiar with procedures for playing back cues, see Chapter 9, Playing back cues .
Page 102 Obsession User Manual Using Update to modify a cue Update is a selective record function that allows you to modify any cue’s channel levels in Live mode, then re-record the cue without recording the entire stage look. Only channel levels set on the keypad are recorded.
Page 103 Chapter 6 Cues Working with cues in Blind mode Blind mode allows you to create, preview or modify cues without affecting the current look on stage. When you work with a cue in Blind, changes are automatically recorded. From Blind, you can also display t e C e Spreadsheet and Cue List.
Page 104 Obsession User Manual Recording or modifying single cues In Blind mode, select the cue to record or modify, then make the desired changes. You do not need to record the cue. The cue is automatically recorded when you make the changes. If it doesn’t already exist, entering a new cue number creates it.
Page 105 Chapter 6 Cues Copying cues You may copy a look from one cue and use it as the foundation for a new cue . You must be in Blind to copy a cue. Keystrokes: Actions: 1. Press [Blind*]. Blind: COPY CUE 2.
Page 106 Obsession User Manual Cue Spreadsheet Cue Spreadsheet displays recorded cues and their channel levels. The spreadsheet is ideal for modifying levels, copying and deleting cues, and viewing the effect on subsequent cues. The Spreadsheet’s range editing feature allows you to modify multiple cues at the same time.
Page 107 Chapter 6 Cues Replace With Replace With allows you to find channels at a specific level and change only those channels to a different level. You may combine this with range editing. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Blind*]. 2. Press [S3], Spreadsheet. Displays Cue Spreadsheet 3.
Page 108 Obsession User Manual You may also use Replace With to replace the levels in a channel or channels with the levels in another channel across a range of cues. This allows you to shuffle channel levels around easily or copy one channel’s level into several channels.
Page 109 Chapter 6 Cues Moving and copying ranges When you move or copy a range of cues, the spacing between items in the new range is either identical to the original range, or it is renumbered to consecutive whole numbers or consecutive tenths.
Page 110 Obsession User Manual Cue List The Cue List displays cues and their attributes and allows range editing of attributes. Follow this example to modify a cue in Cue List display: Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Blind*]. 2. Press [S4], Cue List.
Page 111 Chapter 6 Cues Renumbering a cue You may renumber a cue to a different spot on the Cue List in Blind. If you renumber the cue to a spot not adjacent to its current location, the cue will be copied to the new spot without deleting the old cue.
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Page 113 Chapter 7 Tracking/Cue only You may use Obsession as a Tracking console or as a Cue Only console. When you configure the console, you may designate its operating mode. If you do not, Obsession defaults to Tracking mode. The following options are described: •...
Page 114 Obsession User Manual Tracking In Tracking mode, if you modify a channel level, the new level tracks forward into subsequent cues, until it encounters a specific instruction to change levels. In the following case, five cues are recorded in Tracking mode.
Page 115 Chapter 7 Tracking/Cue only Cue Only In Cue Only mode, if you modify a channel level, the new level only affects the current cue, leaving the next cue unchanged. Levels do not affect subsequent cues unless you use the [Cue Only/Track] key.
Page 116 Obsession User Manual Cue Only/Track key The [Cue Only/Track] key allows you to momentarily treat the console as if it were in the opposite mode from its current setting. Each of the following examples shows the keystroke sequence required to set the levels of channels 1 through 5 to full, and the results of that action.
Page 117 Chapter 7 Tracking/Cue only Blind In Blind, use the [Cue Only/Track] key only when adding or modi- fying channel levels. Changes in channel levels are automatically recorded into the selected cue as you make them. In Tracking mode Changing levels without [Cue Only/Track] [1] [Thru] [5] [Full] [Enter] Cue 1 sets channels 1 through 5 to full.
Page 118 Obsession User Manual In Cue Only mode Changing levels without [Cue Only/Track] [1] [Thru] [5] [Full] [Enter] Cue 1 sets channels 1 through 5 to full. They are set to zero in the next cue, unless that cue has another setting for those channels.
Page 119 Chapter 8 Multipart cues A multipart cue consists of up to eight parts, each of which is essentially an independent cue with its own channel levels and timing information. Parts accept most standard cue attributes, with the exception of Link, Follow and Label. Each part may contain any number of channels, but a channel may only be included in one part.
Page 120 Obsession User Manual Recording a multipart cue in Live You may record or selectively record to cue parts in any cue, not only the active cue. If you record to a cue other than the active cue, the cue sheet does not move to the recorded cue.
Page 121 Chapter 8 Multipart cues Converting a standard cue to a multipart cue in Live The following example divides a cue into four parts, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 8, each containing five of the channels in the original cue. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1.
Page 122 Obsession User Manual Setting attributes for multipart cues Time, Wait, Profile, Park, or Rate attributes can be assigned to a part. Attributes are assigned, and function, exactly as they do for whole cues. In the following example, Time, Profile, Part, or Rate could also be entered in step 3.
Page 123 Chapter 8 Multipart cues Recording a multipart cue in Blind Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Blind*]. 2. Press [Cue], then enter the Selects cue number number to assign to the new Blind: CUE 2 cue. 3. Press [Part], then enter the Selects part number number to assign to the new Blind: CUE 2 PART 1...
Page 124 Obsession User Manual Converting a standard cue to a multipart cue in Blind When you create the first part, all channels in the cue that you don’t assign to the first part are placed in part 8 (even if part 8 is the first part you create).
Page 125 Chapter 8 Multipart cues Converting a multipart cue to a standard cue To convert a multipart cue into a standard cue, group all the chan- nels in the cue into one part, then copy that part over the entire cue. In this example, cue 4 contains channels 1 through 20 in several parts.
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Page 127 Chapter 9 Playing back cues Obsession’s eight physical faders and 118 virtual faders allow you to play back up to 126 cues simultaneously. You may play back a cue automatically, using the timing information programmed into it, or you may take manual control.
Page 128 A virtual fader only allows you to control the fade rate. When you run a cue, Obsession places it in the lowest numbered physical fader available. It puts cues with split upfade and down- fade times in the first available pair of faders.
Page 129 Chapter 9 Playing back cues Fader status display The fader status display is a series of fields across the bottom of the Playback monitor. It provides information about the cues loaded to physical faders, including times and rates. Each fader has two fields, one gray and one blue.
Page 130 Obsession User Manual Loading and playing cues Load cue [Load cue] places a cue in a fader in the pending position. It will not run until you press [Go]. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. 2. Press [Load cue]. Live: LOAD CUE 3.
Page 131 Chapter 9 Playing back cues Go to cue [Go To Cue] lets you jump quickly to a cue out of sequence and bring it up on stage. If you do not specify a time, the fade uses the System Settings menu default Back/Go To Cue time. You cannot use [Go To Cue] to play back an effect cue.
Page 132 Obsession User Manual Controlling fades manually There are two ways to override automatic cue playback; manual override and rate override. Manual override When you take manual control, the fader slider controls the fade. Once the fade starts, press the fader key over the cue’s fader to transfer control of the fade to the slider.
Page 133 Rate override Rate override allows you to play back a cue faster or slower than its recorded rate. The rate wheel adjusts the fade rate. Fade rate is expressed as a percentage. A cue with a fade rate of 100 percent plays back at its recorded fade time. A fade rate of 300 plays the cue back three times faster, and 50 plays the cue back half as fast.
Page 134 Obsession User Manual Follow this example to control the fade rate of a cue running on a virtual fader: Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Go] to start cue. 2. Press [Rate]. Activates rate control Live: RATE 3. Press [Cue] and enter the Selects fader to control number of the cue.
Page 135 Chapter 10 Groups You may record frequently used combinations of channels as groups (up to 250). A group consists of channels, recorded at proportional levels, with no fades, times, profiles, or other attributes. You may create or modify groups in Live or Group display mode. Group is not a live mode.
Page 136 Obsession User Manual Creating groups Groups may be numbered 1 through 999. Keystrokes: Action/Command line 1. Press [Live*]. Creates look 2. Select channels and set channel levels. Live: RECORD 3. Press [Record]. Live: RECORD GROUP 4. Press [Group] . 5. Enter the group to record. Live: RECORD GROUP 1 Live: RECORD GROUP 1 6.
Page 137 Chapter 10 Groups Recording a group without a submaster You may record groups containing the current levels on stage except for those contributed by specific submasters. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. 2. Select channels and set levels. 3. Press [S7], Rec Minus Live: RECORD–...
Page 138 Obsession User Manual Recalling groups on stage Follow these steps to view a group on stage. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. Live: GROUP 1 2. Press [Group], and enter the group. Live: GROUP 1 FULL 3. Press [Full] (or press [At] and use the keypad to set a level).
Page 139 Chapter 10 Groups In Live Follow these steps to modify a group in Live display mode: Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. 2. Press [Group] and enter Live: GROUP 1 the group to modify. Press [Full] [Enter]. Live: GROUP 1 FULL 4.
Page 140 Obsession User Manual Using Update to modify groups Update allows you to modify groups without recording the entire stage look . Updating a group takes the channels on stage that are also in the group and modifies the group’s levels to match the stage.
Page 141 4. Use the alphanumeric key- board to enter a label (up to 20 characters). Group: GROUP 1 LABEL 5. On the Obsession keypad, Fire press [Enter]. Deleting groups You must be in Group display mode to delet individual groups .
Page 142 Obsession User Manual Copying groups You may copy a look from a group and use it as the foundation for a new group . Keystrokes: Actions: Selects Group display mode 1. Press [Group*]. Group: COPY GROUP 2. Press [S7], Copy Group.
Page 143 Keystrokes: Actions: 1. Press [Live*]. Tells Obsession to treat the next 2. Press [Group]. entry as a group Live: GROUP Live: GROUP CUE 1 3.
Page 144 Obsession User Manual Using Group to modify cues, groups or submasters You can use groups to modify cues, submasters or other groups. For example, say you create a group containing channels 1-10 at 75 percent. To add those channels to submaster 2, follow these...
Page 145 Chapter 10 Groups Group Spreadsheet The Group Spreadsheet lists all recorded groups and allows you to view groups and channel levels. It lists groups down the left side of the screen; channels across the top. Use [Page +], [Page –], [Next], [Last], and the arrow keys to move around the display. As you scroll through the groups, the currently selected group is highlighted in white.
Page 146 Obsession User Manual Range editing in Group Spreadsheet Group Spreadsheet allows range editing of all attributes visible on the screen. Keystrokes: Actions/Command line 1. Press [Group*] [S3], Spreadsheet. 2. Press [Group] [1] [Thru] [5]. Group Sheet: GROUP 1 > 5 Selects groups 1 through 5 3.
Page 147 Chapter 10 Groups Group List The Group List displays the group number and label of all recorded groups. Use [Page +], [Page –], [Next], and [Last] to scroll through the groups. The selected group appears in white. Press [Group*] [S4], Group List, to display the Group List. Range editing in Group List Group List allows range editing of all attributes visible on the screen.
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Page 149 Chapter 11 Submasters Each submaster consists of a slider, a bump button and an LED. The slider lets you bring the submaster look up manually . The bump button lets you flash the submaster to its full recorded level or begin its programmed fade, if it has one. The LEDs show you which submasters are recorded and whether they are additive or inhibitive.
Page 150 Obsession User Manual Submaster types Submasters can be additive or inhibitive. A green submaster bump button LED indicates an additive submaster, red indicates an inhibitive submaster. Additive submasters An additive submaster contains a set of channels, recorded at proportional levels. Additive submasters interact with established channel levels on a highest level basis.
Page 151 Chapter 11 Submasters Submaster pages Obsession’s two submaster pages double the number of possible submasters to 96 for Obsession and Obsession 3000 and 48 for Obsession 600. Obsession displays the message Submaster page: 1 (or Submaster page: 2) in the upper right corner of the Playback display .
Page 152 Obsession User Manual Submaster bump buttons Press and hold the bump button located below each submaster slider to hold the submaster contents on stage at its recorded level. The look turns off as soon as you release the button. If the submaster has a programmed fade, press the bump button to start the fade.
Page 153 Chapter 11 Submasters Recording submasters You can create submasters in Live or Submaster mode. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. Creates look 2. Select channels and set levels. Live: RECORD 3. Press [Record]. The current stage look is 4. Press [Sub] [#] [Enter] recorded into submaster or…...
Page 154 Obsession User Manual Adding fade times You can add fade times to a submaster from Live or Submaster. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: Live: SUB 1. Press [Sub]. Live: SUB 4 2. Enter submaster to which to add fade times. Live: SUB 4 TIME 3.
Page 155 Chapter 11 Submasters Hold If you record a submaster with a dwell time of Hold, the submaster fades up when you press the bump button, then holds until you press it again. You may assign a Hold dwell only from Submaster display mode.
Page 156 Obsession User Manual Adding a rate to a submaster Rate lets you record submasters that play back faster or slower than their recorded fade times. This can be especially helpful when you are calculating complex timing information for effects loaded to a submaster.
Page 157 Chapter 11 Submasters Live control of a submaster’s rate You may change the rate of a running submaster in Live. (This also works if the submaster is not running. In either case, the new rate is automatically recorded. ) Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1.
Page 158 Obsession User Manual Recording a submaster minus a submaster Obsession lets you program a submaster with the current levels on stage except for those contributed by another submaster. [S7] in Live automatically enters the keystroke sequence [Record] [–] [Sub] on the command line.
Page 159 Chapter 11 Submasters Controlling submaster fades manually When you press the bump button on a timed additive submaster, recorded fade times play back as you recorded them. You may take manual control of submasters recorded with fade times. Capture the fade by pushing the slider ahead of the programmed fade .
Page 160 Obsession User Manual Modifying submasters in Sub display Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Sub*]. Sub: SUB 6 2. Press [Sub] and enter the submaster to modify. Brings up current level settings 3. Press [Enter]. for the submaster Sub: SUB 6 Sets new levels 4.
Page 161 † Warning: If you don’t set the slider to 10, Obsession updates the ubm ster proportionally. This means that the outputs on stage wi l match their current level only when the slider is at its current position.
Page 162 Obsession User Manual Using Update to add selected channels to submasters In Live, Update lets you add channel levels to a recorded submaster without recording the entire stage look. Using Update to add channels to a submaster records only the levels of the specified channels.
Page 163 Chapter 11 Submasters Creating inhibitive submasters Inhibitive submasters let you limit the intensity level for a group of channels . When an inhibitive submaster is set at 10 (100 percent), channel output is not inhibited . As you pull the slider down, channel outputs are limited to the slider’s level setting .
Page 164 Obsession User Manual Loading cues into submasters Submasters may contain channels, or may be loaded with groups, cues or effects, or some combination of the four. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: Live: LOAD SUB 1. Press [Load Sub]. Live: LOAD SUB 10 2.
Page 165 Chapter 11 Submasters Loading groups or effects into submasters Submasters may contain channels, or may be loaded with groups, cues or effects, or some combination of the four. If you load a group into a submaster as described below, the console links the group and the submaster.
Page 166 Obsession User Manual Copying submasters You may copy a look from a submaster or use a submaster as a building block for a new submaster . Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Sub*]. Sub: COPY SUB 2. Press [S7], Copy Sub.
Page 167 Chapter 11 Submasters Submaster Spreadsheet The Submaster Spreadsheet display shows the channels in all submasters, and their levels, on the Command display. Pages 1 and 2 are displayed separately. Use [Page +] and [Page –] and the ar ow eys to move around within each page.
Page 168 Obsession User Manual Range editing in Submaster Spreadsheet The Submaster Spreadsheet allows range editing of all attributes visible on the screen. For example, if you wanted channels 1 through 5 to be at full in submasters 1 through 5, you could set the levels in one command.
Page 169 Chapter 11 Submasters Submaster List The Submaster List shows all the submasters on the Command display. Pages 1 and 2 are displayed separately, with 24 submas- ters shown at a time. Submasters with recorded levels (additive submasters) are displayed in green, inhibitive submasters in red. Submasters with no recorded levels are gray.
Page 170 Obsession User Manual Range editing in Submaster List Submaster List allows range editing of all attributes visible on the screen. For example, you can assign a five second wait time to submasters 1 through 5 in one command. Follow these steps to...
Page 171 Chapter 12 Effects You may create up to 100 effects, each with up to 99 steps, and record them into cues or load them to submasters. Each effect includes level and timing controls for the steps in the effect, and overall timing controls for the effect itself.
Page 172 Obsession User Manual Steps A step contains channels, groups and/or submasters, also known as elements. Hint: The number of elements in a step is limited by the number of characters (up to 42) used to type in the elements used. For example, use 1 >...
Page 173 Chapter 12 Effects Creating effects and steps As you create a series of steps in Effect display mode, you create an effect. When you create a new step, it defaults to the previous step’s attributes. You may then edit the step settings. To edit a step, use the arrow keys to select an attribute field and enter the new setting.
Page 174 [Thru], [+] and [–]. Then select all the channels you want in the effect using [Thru], [+] and [–]. Obsession assigns channels to each step in turn. If there are more channels than steps, it assigns a channel to each step, then returns to the first step and continues assigning channels one per step until all channels are assigned.
Page 175 Chapter 12 Effects Follow these steps to create a ten-step effect using a one-to-one channel assignment: Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Effect*]. 2. Press [Effect]. Enter the EFFECT 2 effect, and press [Enter]. 3. Enter the range of steps to Effect 2 STEP 1 >...
Page 176 Obsession User Manual Assigning effect characteristics Each step in an effect is assigned its own attributes and time values. The effect is also assigned attributes and time values that apply to the effect overall. Attributes control how the effect plays its steps. All effects are either positive or negative.
Page 177 Chapter 12 Effects [S4] Bounce Steps run first in forward, then in reverse order . Subsequent passes alternate between forward and reverse. [S5] Build All elements are off at the beginning of the chase. Each step turns its assigned elements on and leaves the previous step on. At the end of the chase, all steps are on;...
Page 178 Obsession User Manual Overall fade times Each effect has an overall upfade, dwell and downfade time. When you create an effect, the times default to 5/Hold/5, (upfade of five seconds, dwell of hold, downfade of five seconds). Note: Dwell is how long the effect runs between the initial upfade and the final downfade.
Page 179 Chapter 12 Effects Change downfade only Keystrokes: Action/Command line 1. Press [Time]. Effect 3 TIME 2. Press [/] [/]. Effect 3 TIME / / 3. Enter the downfade. Effect 3 TIME / / 4 4. Press [#] [Enter]. Effect 3 TIME / / 4 Change up- and downfade to the same time Keystrokes:...
Page 180 Obsession User Manual Random rate When you select a random rate for an effect, Obsession applies a random rate to the assigned step time and a separate random rate to the step fade times. This causes the effect to run at varying speeds, changing at random, within a range that you select.
Page 181 Chapter 12 Effects Modifying effects You may modify recorded effects by adding or deleting effect steps, changing step attributes, and adding or deleting step elements. Inserting steps You can insert a step at any point in an effect. This example inserts a new step between steps 4 and 5.
Page 182 Obsession User Manual Deleting steps You may delete steps from an effect. Keystrokes: Action 1. Press [Effect*]. 2. Press [S7], Edit Features. Effect 6 3. Use the [↑] and [↓] keys to Effect 6 DELETE STEP 5 highlight the step to delete and press [S2], Delete Step or…...
Page 183 Chapter 12 Effects Adding elements You may add a channel or group to a step. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Select the step to modify Effect 1 Step 4 Elements using [↓] and [↑], or press [Step] [1] [Enter]. 2. Press [+]. Effect 1 Step 4 Elements +...
Page 184 Obsession User Manual Testing effects and steps Once you create an effect, you can test it before you add it to a cue or submaster. During the test, the effect plays back on stage and you can modify it in the effect display.
Page 185 Chapter 12 Effects Recording an effect to a cue An effect cue interacts with other cues and the keypad in a last action manner. An effect loaded to a fader activates the low level when the effect step first runs. The low level stays active until the effect is canceled, ends, or control of a channel is taken by a subsequently activated cue.
Page 186 Obsession User Manual Deleting an effect from a cue Remove an effect from a cue by entering the cue number and pressing [Effect] [Enter] without entering an effect number. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Live*]. Live: CUE 9 2. Press [Cue] and enter the cue from which to remove the effect.
Page 187 Chapter 12 Effects Loading an effect to a submaster An effect played back from within a submaster interacts with cues and other submasters on a highest level basis. An effect loaded to a submaster fades proportionally between zero and the effect’s high level. The slider acts as a master. If the effect’s low level is normally 10 percent, moving the slider to 50 percent will reduce the effect’s low level to 5 percent.
Page 188 4. Use the alphanumeric keyboard to enter Disco Scene. Effect 2 LABEL Disco Scene 5. On the Obsession keypad, press [Enter]. Deleting effects You must be in the Effect display delete individual effects . Delete all effects from the Clea Functions menu.
Page 189 Chapter 12 Effects Copying effects You may copy an effect or use effects as building blocks for new effects . Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Effect*]. Effect 2 2. Press [S7], Edit Features. Effect 2 COPY EFFECT 3. Press [S4], Copy Effect. Effect 2 COPY EFFECT 2 4.
Page 190 Obsession User Manual The Effect List From the Effect display, press [S8], Effect List, to enter the Effect List. A list of recorded effects and their labels is displayed. The most recently modified effect is highlighted. The Effect List shows all recorded effects, including their numbers and labels.
Page 191 Chapter 13 Macros A macro lets you store a series of keystrokes and later replay it with one or two keystrokes . Macros simplify complex tasks that you perform often . You can program up to 2,000 macros, depending on available memory. Press the [M1] through [M7] to record or play back macros 1 through 7.
Page 192 Obsession User Manual Creating macros You can create a macro in Macro display mode, or you can use the Learn function to record a sequence of keystrokes as you actually enter them in any other mode. You can include any key or button on the console except [Store Macro] in a macro .
Page 193 Chapter 13 Macros Using Learn The Learn function lets you create a macro by performing an actual sequence of keystrokes. Rerun the recorded keystroke sequence by pressing the appropriate macro key. Once you record a macro in Learn mode you can edit the sequence in Macro mode.
Page 194 Obsession User Manual Using Macro display mode Macro display mode allows you to create or edit macros blind. You can enter any keystroke sequence of into a macro. [Store Macro], [←], [→], [↑], and [↓] may not be entered in a macro in Macro display mode.
Page 195 Chapter 13 Macros Hold for input You may create macros that stop at a given point and wait for you to enter instructions. As you record the macro in Macro display mode, when you reach the point at which you want the macro to hold, press [S8], Hold For Input.
Page 196 Obsession User Manual Linking macros Any macro may end with a link to another macro. When the first macro runs, the second macro automatically follows. Press the appropriate macro key at the end of your sequence to create the link. This automatically ends and stores the macro.
Page 197 Chapter 13 Macros Using submasters in macros Submaster bump buttons can function in macros in three different ways: as a normal bump button; to always fade a submaster to full (regardless of its current condition); or to always fade a submaster out (regardless of its current condition) .
Page 198 Obsession User Manual Playing macros To run macros 1 through 7, press the appropriate macro key. To run any other macro, press [M*], the macro number, and [Enter]. For example, to run macro 10, press [M*] [1][0] [Enter]. A message above the command line indicates what macro is running (e.g., Executing Macro 7).
Page 199 In the Macro display, you can edit macros in Insert or Replace modes. In Insert mode, if you highlight a keystroke and type another keystroke, Obsession inserts the new keystroke before the highlighted one. In Replace mode, if you highlight a keystroke and type another keystroke, Obsession replaces the highlighted keystroke with the new one.
Page 200 Obsession User Manual Copying macros You may copy a macro or use macros as building blocks for new macros . Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Select 10, Macro Editing. Selects Macro display mode Macros: COPY MACRO 3. Press [S4], Copy Macro.
Page 201 Chapter 13 Macros Dimmer check This two-part macro automatically runs through each dimmer with a two second wait in between each dimmer. Running macro 4 starts the dimmer check, then runs macro 3 (from the last example). Enter this keystroke sequence: [Macro] [4] [Enter] [Dim] [1] [At] [Full] [Enter] [S7] [2] [Enter] [M3] Macro line reads: DIMMER 1 @ FULL MACRO-WAIT 2...
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Page 203 You may apply profiles to dimmers, in place of a patch level, or to cues. Obsession is equipped with 32 profiles, including a library of nine preset profiles. The preset profiles (1-9) may be modified profiles 10 through 32 must be created by the user.
Page 204 You may assign a profile that doesn’t, but when the cue is executed it defaults to a linear profile. Obsession automatically assigns a linear fade to dimmers and uses the default profile from your system settings for cues. In a linear fade, the elapsed fade time is directly proportional to the output level.
Page 205 Chapter 14 Profiles Profile display The profile display screen shows you the last selected profile and allows you to edit that profile. Profile 12— Master profile % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Intensity 0 10 20 30 40 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 60 70 80 90 FL Intensity...
Page 206 Obsession User Manual Profile display controls [Next] ....Selects next profile. [Last] ....Selects previous profile. [→] ...... Selects next fade point. [←] ...... Selects previous fade point. [Level wheel] ..Adjusts level of the fade point. [↑] ....... Raises output level by one.
Page 207 Chapter 14 Profiles Preset profiles Obsession provides nine factory-programmed (user-editable) profiles. 1. IES square law Profile 1— IES Square Law % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100...
Page 208 Obsession User Manual 3. Fast bottom Profile 3— Fast Bottom % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Intensity 0 10 20 29 38 43 48 52 55 59 62 65 68 72 75 78 80 85 91 95 FL...
Page 209 Chapter 14 Profiles 5. Full at 1% Profile 5— Full At 1% % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Intensity 0 FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL Intensity % Fade Completion 6.
Page 210 Obsession User Manual 7. Preheat 5% Profile 7— Preheat 5% % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Intensity 5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 FL...
Page 211 Chapter 14 Profiles 9. Hot patch Profile 9— All Full % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Intensity FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL FL Intensity % Fade Completion...
Page 212 Obsession User Manual Creating a new profile Create a profile using either the level wheel or the keypad to set a level for each of 21 fade points along the profile’s curve. Use the same procedure to edit the nine preset profiles.
Page 213 Chapter 14 Profiles Clear All Clear All removes output levels from all fade points. Obses- sion marks points without levels with **. For example, say your profile looks like this: % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Intensity 0 10 20 30 40 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 60 70 80 90 FL Intensity...
Page 214 Obsession User Manual Clear to End Clear to End removes the level from each fade point from the current one through 100. Obsession marks points without levels with **. For example, say your profile looks like this: % Complete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100...
Page 215 Fill Between If you use Clear All or Clear To End to remove the levels from some or all of the fade points in a profile, Obsession’s Fill Between allows you to fill in all fade points that have not been assigned levels automatically (points marked with **).
Page 216 Obsession User Manual Editing a preset profile Except for profile zero, you may edit all of the preset profiles by following the same procedure you used to create or edit the non-preset profiles. See pages 212 through 215. Reset profile You may return a profile to its original factory settings automati- cally.
Page 217 Profile 12 profile to label. Press [Enter]. 2. Pres [Label]. Profile 12 LABEL 3. Use the alphanumeric key- Profile 12 LABEL Fast Rise oard to enter Fast Rise. 4. On the Obsession keypad, Profile 12 LABEL Fast Rise press [Enter].
Page 218 Chapter 15 Park Park lets you set channels or dimmers at a level and maintain that level on stage, regardless of other instructions. Parked channel and dimmer levels aren’t affected by any other instructions and won’t be recorded into cues. Parked channel and dimmer informa- tion isn’t saved when you back up your show.
Page 219 Chapter 15 Park Parking dimmers and channels Select the dimmer or channel to park and the level at which to park it. Once it is parked, nothing you do at the console affects that light (except for [Blackout]) until you unpark it. When dimmers or channels are parked, a message (Parked Dimmers or Parked Channels) appears in the upper right corner of the command display.
Page 220 Obsession User Manual Unparking dimmers and channels You may unpark one or all dimmers or channels at any time. When either is unparked, its level reverts to the level the console is currently assigning it. Unpark one dimmer or channel...
Page 221 Chapter 15 Park Parking groups, cues and submasters Obsession lets you park the channels used in groups, cues and submasters. Parking a group, cue or submaster parks all the channels at the level indicated in the park instruction, not the recorded levels.
Page 222 Obsession User Manual Park display Press [Park*] to bring up the Park display. All the command sequences given in this chapter work in Live display mode and in Park display mode. In Park mode, it is not necessary to press the [Park] key except in Unpark All commands.
Page 223 Obsession is equipped with a 3.5-inch high density diskette drive on the left end of the console’s front panel or the front panel of an Obsession Processor Unit. It lets you back up your shows . The following options are described in this chapter.
Page 224 Obsession User Manual Diskette management Obsession’s disk drive lets you save one show per high density 3.5-inch diskette . This allows you to work on more than one show at a time or to use more than 1,000 cues for your production by loading a second show into memory.
Page 225 Chapter 16 Diskette functions Storing a show and system settings on diskette When you store a show to diskette, all system settings, patch settings, cues, groups, submasters, effects, and any other information in the console at the time you record the show, are saved.
Page 226 Obsession User Manual Reading a show and system settings from diskette When you read a show and system settings from a diskette and load it into memory, the new show completely overwrites the current show, including system settings . Therefore, if you want to keep the current show, store it, as described on page 225, before you read a new show.
Page 227 Chapter 16 Diskette functions Reading patch or cues from diskette When you read patch or cue information from a diskette and load it into memory, the new information overwrites the old. Running fades are interrupted during the read operation and resume when read is complete .
Page 228 Obsession User Manual Storing I/O configuration ETCLink, dimmer monitoring, MIDI, SMPTE, and Multiuser input/ output (I/O) settings are stored as part of your I/O configuration, and are not saved with show or system settings information. This configuration remains in your system’s memory until it is replaced, or you reset the system.
Page 229 The affected channels and dimmers are erased from all cues, groups, submasters and patch information. In effects, channels that are lost are changed to channel 608 on Obsession 600 or channel 1,536 on Obsession. Changed effects appear in red on the Effect List.
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Page 231 Chapter 17 Hard drive functions Obsession is equipped with an internal hard drive. This lets you back up and retrieve your I/O configuration and all or part of your shows . The following options are described in this chapter. •...
Page 232 Obsession User Manual Drive management Obsession’s hard disk drive lets you save a large number of shows on the console. The actual number depends on the size of the shows. When you select hard drive options, any fades in progress stop .
Page 233 Chapter 17 Hard drive functions Storing a show and system settings When you store a show to the hard drive, all system settings, patch settings, cues, groups, submasters, effects, and any other information that you have in the console at the time you store the show, are saved.
Page 234 Obsession User Manual Reading a show and system settings When you read a show and system settings from the hard drive and load it into memory, the new show completely overwrites the current show, including system settings . Fades are interrupted during the read operation; fades do not resume when read is complete .
Page 235 Chapter 17 Hard drive functions Reading part of a show You may retrieve specific parts of a show from the hard drive. When you read part of a show and load it into memory, the new part overwrites the current part. You may read the patch, or you may read cues, submasters, effects, groups, profiles, or macros.
Page 236 Obsession User Manual Erasing a show You may erase a show from the hard drive if you no longer need it or if you need space on the drive. Save a backup copy of the show on diskette if you might need it again.
Page 237 Chapter 17 Hard drive functions Storing I/O configuration ETCLink, dimmer monitoring, MIDI, SMPTE, and Multiuser input/ output (I/O) settings are stored as part of your I/O configuration, and are not saved with show or system settings information. This configuration remains in your system’s memory until it is replaced, or you reset the system.
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Page 239 Chapter 18 Printing Obsession supports parallel printers, including some laser printers. See Installing a printer on page 317. Information regarding each of the following may be printed. • Cues • Cue moves • Cue list • Patch • SMPTE Events •...
Page 240 Obsession User Manual Printer options All print options are located on the Print Functions menu . To display the menu press [Setup*], then select [6], Print Functions, and press [Enter] . To stop printer temorarily while it is p inting, press [S1], Pause Printer.
Page 241 Chapter 18 Printing Printing information The Print Functions menu allows you to print information regarding most console functions. See next page for further infor- mation about each function. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [6], Print Functions, Displays Print Functions menu [Enter].
Page 242 Obsession User Manual Print Functions Cues A list of cues in the current show. Information includes all cue attributes and levels of all channels in the cue. Cue moves A list of move information for cues in the current show.
Page 243 Chapter 19 Clear functions The following clear functions are explained in this chapter. • Show • Cues • Submasters • Groups • Effects • Profiles • Macros • SMPTE Events • Reset Patch 1-to-1 • Clear all...
Page 244 Obsession User Manual Clear functions Each clear function erases information regarding a function from the console’s memory. If that information is saved in a show on a diskette, it can be restored to the console. All options are on the Clear Functions menu . To display the menu, press [Setup], then select [5], Clear Functions, [Enter].
Page 245 Chapter 19 Clear functions Clear information The Clear Functions menu lets you erase information regarding most console functions. See below for further information about each function. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [5], Clear Functions, Displays Clear Functions menu [Enter].
Page 246 Obsession User Manual Reset Patch 1-to-1 Reset Patch 1-to-1 resets your console’s patch to a one-to-one, default patch. Thus, channel 1 is patched to dimmer 1, channel 2 is patched to dimmer 2, and so on. This function is independent of your show.
Page 247 This chapter explains how to install and configure a Multiuser system and describes how Multiuser affects the way you work. When you work on an Obsession that is not connected to other devices, your keystrokes appear on the command line, you press [Enter], and the console executes that command.
Page 248 Obsession User Manual Multiuser display notes When you use Multiuser, the upper left corner of the Live, Blind, Sub, Group, and Effect screens displays User 1 or User 2 to indi- cate the User to which the device is assigned. Each User may consist of any number of devices.
Page 249 Chapter 20 Multiuser Configuring Multiuser The Multiuser Configuration screen displays all devices in your ETCNet network. The first three columns list all network devices and their network addresses. The device address is factory- assigned and is on the back of the device itself. A appears by the device number of an active RFU or TouchPad.
Page 250 Obsession User Manual Assigning devices to Users To configure Multiuser, assign each device in your system to a User. Assign devices as indicated. User 1 User 2 Phantom 1-3 Main Console • • Processor Unit Remote Console • • Designer’s •...
Page 251 Chapter 20 Multiuser Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [2], Input/Output Selects I/O Configuration Configuration, [Enter]. menu 3. Press [2], Multiuser Configu- Selects Multiuser Configura- ration, [Enter]. tion screen 4. Press [S1], Device Number, I/O Devices: DEVICE and enter the number of the NUMBER 2 device from the list on the screen.
Page 252 Obsession User Manual Labeling network devices You may label network devices (up to 25 characters). This will help you identify them on the Multiuser Configuration screen. Hint: If you have more than one of a particular type of device, label each according to its use or location.
Page 254 Obsession User Manual Phantom mode In addition to User 1 and User 2, RFUs may be assigned to Phantom mode. An RFU in Phantom mode may only run dimmer and channel checks, and park or unpark dimmers and channels. Levels set by RFUs in Phantom mode do not appear on the Live display, nor are they recorded into cues, groups or submasters.
Page 255 Chapter 20 Multiuser Slider controls In a Multiuser system, special rules apply to the Grandmaster, submaster or fader sliders. These rules take effect when User 1 and User 2 try to use the same slider simultaneously. • Submasters If operators on User 1 and User 2 both move the same submaster slider, channels output at the higher of the two levels.
Page 256 Obsession User Manual Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [2], Input/Output Selects Input/Output Configuration, [Enter]. Configuration menu 3. Press [2], Multiuser Selects Multiuser Configuration Configuration, [Enter]. display 4. Press [S7], Sliders. Selects Slider Allocation screen 5. Press the softkey for the Slider Allocation: SUB slider(s).
Page 257 Chapter 20 Multiuser Deleting devices Once you add a device to your device list, it remains on the list even if you disconnect the device from the system. This means you don’t need to reconfigure Multiuser every time you discon- nect a device or turn the system off.
Page 258 Obsession User Manual Storing Multiuser configuration Your Multiuser configuration remains in your system’s memory until it is replaced, or you reset the system. You may back up configuration information on a diskette or the hard drive. See page 228 or 237 for instructions.
Page 259 Multidrop Remote Focus Unit* • Full Tracking Backup • Remote Console* • Designer’s Remote Console* For accessory installation instructions, see page 30 * These accessories are optional additions t your Obsession system. For purchase information, please contact your local dealer or ETC.
Page 260 Working in Alphanumeric mode Use Alphanumeric mode to label variou functions, such as cues, submasters, profiles, etc. Names can con ist of letters, numbers or the symbols: #, %, &, *, (, ), + –, [ ], and / as well as the comma and period.
Page 261 Chapter 21 Accessories Keyboard chart The following chart lists alphanumeric keyboard equivalents for all commands. Turn on Scroll Lock on the alphanumeric keyboard to activate keyboard equiva- lents. Turn Scroll Lock off to enter text. To display a list of keyboard assignments on your screen, press [Shift-F1] on the keyboard.
Page 262 Obsession User Manual Controlling remote displays You may configure your alphanumeric keyboard to control monitor displays attached to an ETCNet Remote Interface or Remote Video Interface. Connect the keyboard cable to the connector labeled Keyboard on the Interface’s back panel.
Page 266 Obsession User Manual Full Tracking Backup Full Tracking Backup (FTB) lets you connect two Processor Units or consoles, using one as a backup for the other. This protects you in the unlikely event that one console should fail. FTB may consist of a dual console system, or a Remote Console and two Processor Units.
Page 267 Chapter 21 Accessories LEDs Two LEDs labeled A and B are located in the upper left corner of the consoles’ face panels. The chart explains their meaning. A console B console A LED B LED A LED B LED Console A is main slow blink Console B is main...
Page 268 Obsession User Manual Rack-mount FTB system In a rack-mount system, two Processor Units are mounted in a standard 19-inch electronics rack. The interface to the Processor Units is controlled by one or more Remote Consoles linked to the rack over ETCNet.
Page 269 Chapter 21 Accessories LEDs Two LEDs labeled A and B are located in the upper left corner of the Remote Console’s face panel and on the DMX switcher’s face panel. The LED for the main processor is lit. The LED for the backup processor is off.
Page 270 Obsession User Manual Using Full Tracking Backup To use Full Tracking Backup, follow these steps: 1. Turn both systems on. When the systems start, they confirm that both processors/ consoles have the same shows stored on their hard drives. If the contents of their drives are not iden- tical, the system copies shows from one to the other until they are.
Page 271 Chapter 21 Accessories Breaking a Full Tracking Backup link If you have two full consoles linked in Full Tracking Backup (FTB) configuration, you may break the FTB link temporarily without changing jumper or DIP switch settings. Breaking the FTB link effectively removes the backup console from the network.
Page 272 Obsession User Manual To reactivate FTB, follow these steps: Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [2], Input/Output Selects I/O Configuration menu Configuration, [Enter]. 3. Press [1], I/O Options, Selects I/O Options menu [Enter]. 4. Press [7], Full Tracking I/O Options: ENABLE FULL Backup.
Page 274 Obsession User Manual...
Page 275 Sensor dimming Connect Obsession systems to ETC Sensor dimming systems via the ETCLink communication network. In this configuration, Obsession provides you with a wide range of system status infor- mation. Access ETCLink functions through the Dimmer Monitoring menu. This display is only available when ETCLink and the optional I/O board are installed in a system.
Page 276 Before you use Obsession’s dimmer monitoring capability, you must add the Optional I/O Card to the console. The I/O card is a printed circuit board installed in the Obsession console or Obses- sion Processor Unit. Once the I/O card has been installed, you must configure the console for ETCLink dimmer monitoring.
Page 277 Chapter 22 Sensor dimming Enabling dimmer monitoring Once the ETCLink address is set, you can enable dimmer monitoring. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [2], Input/Output Selects I/O Configuration menu Configuration, [Enter]. 3. Press [1], I/O Options, Selects I/O Options menu [Enter].
Page 278 Obsession User Manual Working with dimmer loads Obsession, in conjunction with a Sensor AF dimming system, lets you monitor individual dimmer loads. This helps you identify burned out lamps, incorrectly lamped fixtures and unplugged fixtures, among other problems. The first step in monitoring loads is to record the normal load for the desired dimmers.
Page 279 Chapter 22 Sensor dimming Record loads Record Loads records 24 dimmers per rack at a time until all dimmers at levels above zero have been recorded. (If you have multiple racks, 24 dimmers in each rack are recorded simulta- neously.) Note: On single phase racks, the system records 16 dimmers per rack at a time.
Page 280 Loads that differ by more than 20 percent appear in the Load Management display. To identify the dimmer(s) to check, use either the CEM or the Obsession to set the desired dimmers at a level above zero. The system checks 24 dimmers per rack at a time until all dimmers at levels above zero have been checked.
Page 281 Chapter 22 Sensor dimming Clear Loads Clear Loads lets you clear recorded dimmer loads, thus disabling load error messages for those dimmers. This can be useful if you know that the load on a dimmer or group of dimmers will change over the course of a show.
Page 282 Obsession User Manual Printing load errors When a dimmer’s load isn’t close enough to its recorded load, it generates a load error. Load error messages appear on the Load Management display, shown here: You may print a list of all dimmers with load errors:...
Page 283 Chapter 22 Sensor dimming Dimmer status The Dimmer Status display provides information about dimmers, including size and type, recorded load, firing mode, output curve, rack, slot, panic mode, and boost. Press [Setup*] [1][1] [Enter] [3] [Enter] to use the Dimmer Status display. •...
Page 284 Obsession User Manual Dimmer rack status The Rack Status display provides information about specified racks, including rack type, starting address, port information, voltage, frequency, and ambient temperature. Press [Setup*] [1][1] [Enter] [2] [Enter] to access the Rack Status display. Press [S7], Select Rack, [#] [Enter] to select a specific rack, [Next] to select the next rack, or [Last] to view the last rack.
Page 285 Chapter 22 Sensor dimming System Status The System Status display provides information about your Sensor dimming system. Press [Setup*] [1][1] [Enter] [1] [Enter] to access the System Status display. • Multiplex Firing Mode shows whether Multiplex mode is enabled or disabled. You may swi ch settings by pressing [S1], Multiplex Mode, [Enter].
Page 286 Obsession User Manual Working with backup looks A backup look is a recording of a selected look on stage stored in the Sensor CEM. You may save and use up to 32 backup looks. Recording a backup look Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1.
Page 287 Chapter 22 Sensor dimming Clearing a backup look Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [1][1], Dimmer Moni- Selects Dimmer Monitoring toring, [Enter]. menu 3. Press [S1], Replay Backup. Dimmer Monitoring: REPLAY BACKUP 4. Press [0] [Enter]. Dimmer Monitoring: REPLAY BACKUP 0...
Page 288 Obsession User Manual Error messages ETCLink provides a wide variety of critical and secondary advisory messages, including information regarding your dimmers, racks, system, data, ports, and loads. Critical messages include rack and dimmer overtemperature or shutdown messages, rack not responding messages, airflow messages, and phase missing messages.
Page 289 For more information about Obsession Off ne, ontact your local dealer or call ETC at 800/688-4116. You can download a free copy of Obsession Off-Line from ETC’s hom page on the World Wide Web. The address for the hom page is:...
Page 290 Obsession User Manual System requirements The Off-Line package includes the Obsession Off-Line diskette, the Obsession User Manual, the Obsession Off-Line QuickGuide and a keyboard template, all on diskettes in Acrobat format, and installation diskettes for the Adobe Acrobat Reader for Windows.
Page 291 Chapter 24 MIDI Show Control Consoles in the Obsession line implement a subset of the MIDI Show Control (MSC) 1.0 standard. Obsession recognizes the following MSC commands: • • Stop • Resume • Load • Fire...
Page 292 [1] [Enter] [Enter] to enable MIDI Show Control Inpu 5. If input is enabled, the console’s Obsession Device ID must match the target device ID for the MIDI device from which yo want to receive signals. Press [2] [Enter] and enter an ID (1-126).
Page 293 Chapter 24 MIDI Show Control MSC commands received by Obsession MIDI Show Control (MSC) lets devices send the following five commands to the Obsession console. If MSC input is enabled on the console, the console automatically executes the MSC commands.
Page 294 Obsession User Manual...
Page 295 Obsession Optional I/O Card upgrade. A SMPTE program consists of up to 500 or 3,000 (for Obsession 3000) individual SMPTE events and a Reset Loop time of up o 24 hours.
Page 296 Obsession User Manual Enabling external SMPTE input Before you can run SMPTE programs driven by an external SMPTE time source, you must enable the SMPTE port. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [2], Input/Output Selects Input/Output Configuration, [Enter].
Page 297 Chapter 25 SMPTE Setting SMPTE frame rate The SMPTE frame rate may be set to 24, 25 or 30 frames per second. 30 frames per second is the default. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [2], Input/Output Selects Input/Output Configuration, [Enter].
Page 298 Obsession User Manual Creating SMPTE programs The console lets you create SMPTE programs in the SMPTE Events display or in Learn mode. SMPTE Time Current SMPTE time; red is in ern l clock, gray is external. Status Current SMPTE playback status; Pause mode or Run mode.
Page 299 Chapter 25 SMPTE In the SMPTE Events display Follow these steps to create a SMPTE program from the SMPTE Events display. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Record the cues, submasters and macros to include in the program. 2. Press [Setup*]. 3. Press [9], SMPTE Events, Selects SMPTE Events display [Enter].
Page 300 Obsession User Manual In Learn mode SMPTE Learn mode lets you record macro keys, submaster bump buttons and [Go] commands into SMPTE events as you press them. Learn mode lets you record a SMPTE program live without concerning yourself with SMPTE time.
Page 301 Chapter 25 SMPTE SMPTE Loop times The SMPTE program executes events from the First event time to the Last event time, then resets the time and executes them again. The First and Last times appear in the upper right corner, and may be set by the user.
Page 302 Obsession User Manual Editing SMPTE programs Once you create a SMPTE program, it’s easy to make changes. Deleting SMPTE events Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1. Press [Setup*]. 2. Press [9], SMPTE Events, Selects SMPTE Events display [Enter]. 3. Press [More Softkeys] twice.
Page 303 Chapter 25 SMPTE Sorting Events New events are added to the end of the event list. Events are played back based on the recorded time, not the event number. Use the Sort function to renumber events in the order of their times.
Page 304 Obsession User Manual Editing events Each event is assigned a time. Each cue may have a rate applied, and the event may be labeled. Change any of these elements in an event by following the same procedure used to create the event.
Page 305 Chapter 25 SMPTE Playing back the SMPTE program The console lets you play recorded SMPTE events in several ways. You may use any external source of SMPTE data to run the program, you may run the program using the console’s built-in SMPTE clock, or you may step through individual events.
Page 306 Obsession User Manual Pause mode If the SMPTE clock is running, press [More Softkeys] [S4], Pause, to interrupt the SMPTE clock when you are programming the console. While in Pause mode, the Step softkey lets you manually control playback of SMPTE events.
Page 307 Chapter 25 SMPTE Internal SMPTE clock You can use the Internal SMPTE clock to run the SMPTE program or as a backup to the external source. You may set a particular time for the internal clock to start at. Keystrokes: Action/Command line: 1.
Page 308 Obsession User Manual...
Page 309 Appendix A Installation This appendix includes instructions for installing Obsession and any optional accessories . Chapter 3, Entering system settings , and Chapter 4, Patch , help you update software settings before you begin a new show. This chapter includes the following installation procedures: •...
Page 310 AC power 5-pin female XLR ETC Net 25-pin femal D input Switched VGA CRT outputs accessory 15-pin female mini-D outlets Obsession 600 back panel MIDI In/Out/Through SMPTE 5-pin female DIN 3-pin female XLR Serial port 9-pin male D 6-pin female XLR Fuses 6.25 amp...
Page 311 3. Insert the female end of the power cord in the connector la- beled Power in on the console's back panel. 4. Insert the male end of the console power cord in a grounded 120 VAC outlet . For 220 VAC operation, consult ETC.
Page 312 Obsession User Manual Installing monitors 1. Insert the end of the monitor power cord in the console connector labeled Power out . 2. Connect the video cable to the console connector labeled CRT 1. Repeat for second monitor, using the connector labeled CRT 2.
Page 313 Output connector lo atio is shown on page 310. 3. If you are using an Obsession 3000 and wish to connect addi- tional DMX512 outputs, install a Remote Interface onto your network. See page 320 for n tw rk installation instructions and page 321 for Remote Inter ace installation instructions.
Page 314 1 to 1, DMX512 po t 2 to 513, and DMX512 port 3 to 1,025 (Obsession 3000 sets port 4 to 1,537, port 5 to 2,049, and port 6 to 2,561; Obsessio 600 only sets ports 1 and 2). If you prefer, you may set diff rent starting numbers for the DMX512 ports .
Page 315 Note: Multiplexing is only available for use with dimming systems operating at 115V, 60Hz. Setting DMX512 speed Obsession is designed to run at the ighest rate provided for in DMX512 specifications. Some dimming systems (including some Colortran ENR™ dimmers) may req re a signal slower than the full DMX512 specification.
Page 316 Installing the alphanumeric keyboard You may substitute any standard PC AT compatible alphanumeric keyboard for the keyboard that shipped with your Obsession. If the keyboard is switchable, use it only in AT-compatible mode. ETC recommends the Cherry G80-1800 and Keytronic 101 keyboards.
Page 317 Appendix A Installation Installing a printer Obsession supports parallel printers, including some laser printers . Among the printers supported are the IBM Proprinter, Epson FX80 and Canon Bubblejet. 1. Insert parallel printer cable into connector labeled Parallel Printer on the console’s back panel.
Page 318 Obsession User Manual Installing Remote Focus Unit 1. Turn RFU power switch Off. 2. Insert the RFU cable into the connector on the back of the console (or an ETCNet Interface) labeled RFU. 3. Turn RFU power switch On .
Page 320 For more information about wiring choices, see the ETCNet Planning and Installation Gu de . To attach Obsession to ETCNet, insert the network con ecto into the appropriate console connector (BNC, RJ45 or DB15 Attach other devices to the interface device as described elsewhere in this manual.
Page 321 Appendix A Installation Installing Remote Interface The Remote Interface lets you attach Obsession peripherals to your network in remote locations. 1. Plug the network cable into the appropriate connector. 2. Plug the power cable into a grounded 120 VAC outlet.
Page 323 Power n. 4. Insert the male end of the console power cord in a grounded 120 VAC outlet . F r 220 VAC operation, consult ETC. 5. Insert the E CNet cable connector into the appropriate con- nector on the back panel. Once connected, the console com- municates directly with your Obsession Processor Unit or full con ole.
Page 324 Obsession User Manual Installing remote video monitors You may install additional monitors at remote locations . Additional monitors duplicate the master console’s displays or provide User 2 displays. 1. Insert the female end of the monitor power cord in the moni- tor connector, and the male end of the monitor power cord in the interface device connector labeled Power out .
Page 325 Appendix A Installation Installing Designer’s Remote Console The DRC provides you with connectors for two video monitors, DMX512 outputs, an RFU, a printer, and an alphanumeric keyboard. The following illustration shows the connectors on the back panel of the Designer’s Remote Console (DRC). Fuse 6.25 amp Keyboard...
Page 326 3. Set DIP switches on both consoles, as described in Appendix B, DIP switch settings . Note: Obsession reads DIP switch settings when you turn it on. You must turn power off and back on for the c nsole to...
Page 327 Appendix A Installation Installing MIDI To use MIDI equipment with Obsession, the Optional I/O Card must have been installed at the factory. Connect your Obsession console to MIDI equipment using a standard MIDI cable. There are three round, 5-pin, DIN-type connectors labeled MIDI In, Out, and Thru on the back of the console.
Page 328 Obsession User Manual Installing SMPTE To use SMPTE equipment with Obsession, the Optional I/O Card must have been installed at the factory. Connect Obsession to SMPTE equipment using an appropriate SMPTE cable. 1. Turn console power off. 2. Insert SMPTE cable into the console connector labeled SMPTE .
Page 329 The DIP switch and jumper settings for the following components are listed in this appendix, along with instructions for changing them. • Setting jumpers and DIP switches • Circuit board illustrations • Obsession console • Remote Interface • Remote Video Interface (RVI) • Remote Console •...
Page 331 Appendix B DIP switch and jumper settings Circuit board illustrations Obsession components use one of two main circuit boards. Each component contains either a Serf board (part 4052B4011) or a Node board (part 4052B4014). Each of these boards has two versions, depending on its date of manufacture.
Page 332 Obsession User Manual Node Board - Revision A The Revision A Node Board appears in newer Remote Interfaces, Remote Consoles, and Designer’s Remote Consoles. It contains one 8-switch DIP switch unit and a set of 14 jumpers. Main Processor ETCNet card...
Page 333 Appendix B DIP switch and jumper settings Serf Board - Revision C The Revision C Serf Board appears in older Obsession consoles and Processor Units. It contains one 8-switch DIP switch unit and a set of 12 jumpers. Back Video card Video card 4052B4011 REV.
Page 334 Obsession User Manual Serf Board - Revision D or E The Revision D or E Serf Boards appear in newer Obsession consoles and Processor Units. They contain one 8-switch DIP switch unit and two 6-switch DIP switch units. Back Video card Video card 4052B4011 REV.
Page 335 Appendix B DIP switch and jumper settings RVI Board The RVI processor board is the lower circuit board in the Remote Video Interface. This board contains one 8-switch DIP switch unit. Normally these switches do not need to be changed. RVI video board 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Main DIP...
Page 336 Find the switches and adjust the settings as shown on the list below. Switches are either On (Closed) or Off (Open). Obsession does not use DIP switches 2-5 . DIP switch 1 must be Off or the system will not start.
Page 337 Appendix B DIP switch and jumper settings Additional Net DIP switch settings - Serf Board Revisions D and E To enable the console for use on the ETCNet network, adjust the settings of the two sets of ETCNet DIP switches on the console’s Serf Board.
Page 338 Obsession User Manual Remote Interface Main DIP switch settings - Node Board A set of DIP switches are located inside the Remote Interface on the corner of the circuit board nearest the power switch. Change the settings of these DIP switches if the Interface addresses DMX512 outputs higher than 1,536.
Page 339 Appendix B DIP switch and jumper settings Remote Video Interface (RVI) Main DIP switch settings - RVI board The RVI processor board is the lower circuit board in the Remote Video Interface. This board contains one 8-switch DIP switch unit. Normally these switches do not need to be changed.
Page 340 Obsession User Manual ETCNet DIP switch settings To enable the device for use on the ETCNet network, you adjust the settings of the two sets of ETCNet DIP switches. Use a pin, or a similar fine-pointed object, to set the switches.
Page 341 Appendix B DIP switch and jumper settings Remote Console Main DIP switch settings - Node Board A set of DIP switches are located inside the console at the back left corner (near a row of LEDs) of the circuit board to the left of the fans.
Page 342 Obsession User Manual Designer’s Remote Console Main DIP switch settings - Node Board A set of DIP switches are located inside the Designer’s Remote Console (DRC) on the back left corner of the circuit board. Change the settings of these DIP switches if the console addresses DMX512 outputs higher than 1,536.
Page 343 To enable the console for use with D192 output, adjust the settings of a set of jumpers on the console’s logic board. Back Video card Video card 4052B4011 REV. D copyright 1993 ETC, Inc. MADE IN THE U.S.A. Main Processor ETCNet card Main DIP switches...
Page 344 Obsession User Manual...
Page 345 Appendix C Error messages General errors An effect is loaded in this submaster When an effect is loaded in a submaster, most attributes can’t be assigned or edited. You may edit the rate. An effect is recorded in this cue or part When an effect is loaded in a cue or part, most attribute can t be assigned or edited.
Page 346 Obsession User Manual Illegal with multiple cues selected Select only a single cue before attempting this action. Invalid channel number Channel number entered must be between one and the number of channels designated in the system settings. Invalid date Date must be in format MM-DD-YY. Month must be between 1 and 12, day must be between one and the number of days in that month, and year (1992-2091) must be between 00 and 99.
Page 347 When you update a submas er, set the submaster’s slider to 10 to avoid possibly cha ging levels on the stage. If an output’s level is higher than the curr nt level of the slider, Obsession lowers the output level to matc the slider. This allows the submaster to...
Page 348 These are either critical messages or secondary messages. Obsession displays all messages in yellow on the Dimmer Status and About Dimmer screens. Possible error messages follow: Critical errors Dimmer # has shut down due to an overtemperature condi- tion.
Page 349 Appendix C Error messages Secondary Errors Dimmer # has a load, but the recorded load is zero. Because the recorded load is zero, the Dimmer Monitoring system is unable to determine whether the dimmer has a load error. The load on dimmer # has changed. Because the dimmer is not at a output level high enough to determine its level, the Dimmer Monitoring system is unable to determine the size of the load.
Page 350 Obsession User Manual Rack # phase A/B/C voltage has returned to acceptable levels. Rack # airflow has been restored.
Page 351 Index Playing 286 Recording 286 Battery 223, 231, 311 Battery maintenance 19 Blackout 78 Symbols Enable/disable 57 – 99 Blind * 16, 99 Copy +10 77 Cue Only 117, 118 > 44 Track 117, 118 Cue List 110 Numerics Cue Only/Track 117, 118 Delete –10 77 Cue Only 117, 118...
Page 352 Obsession User Manual Groups 135–147 Clear Channels Independent 74 Enable/disable 57 Levels 77, 78 Clear Channels in Cue Only 118 Out 77 Colors Rem Dim 78 Channel 23 Replace with 107 Cue List 44 Selecting channels 76 Cues 128 Setting level in Patch 74...
Page 353 Index Block cues 99 Renumber 111 Clear all 245 Replace with 107 Copy 105 Spreadsheet 106 Copy range 109 Tracking 114, 116 Create loop sequence 96 Update 102 Cue List 43, 110 Cue check 131, 201 Cue Only 115, 116 Cue List 42, 110, 128 Default Fade Time 54 Colors 44...
Page 354 Obsession User Manual Installation 313 Patch Label 68 By Channel 33 Loads 278 By Label 32 Multiplex 73, 314 Playback 42 Park dimmer 219 Profile 205 Patch 61–67 SMPTE Event List 47 Pinout 313 SMPTE Events 298 Ports 314 Submaster List 45...
Page 355 Index Range of groups 146, 147 Record as cue 185 Range of submasters 168, 170 Reverse 176 Renumber cue 111 Step time 172 Replace with 107 Steps 172–173, 182–183 SMPTE 302, 304 Test 184 Submasters 160–162 Test steps 184 Update cue 102 Up/Dwell/Down time 178–179 Effect Effect List 190...
Page 356 Obsession User Manual All Channels 38 Modifying cues, groups or sub- Current Channels 40 masters 144 Preview 40 Park 221 Printing 240 Playback 138 Selecting channels 38, 76 Print 242 Show Channels 39 Print group list 242 View Channels 41...
Page 357 Index Independent channels 74, 82 Inhibitive submasters 150, 163 Label Input/Output configuration 314 Cues 100 Insert SMPTE 302 Devices 252 Installation Dimmer 68 Alphanumeric keyboard 316 Effect 188 Console 311 Group 141 ETCNet 320 Profile 217 MIDI 327 Submasters 158 Monitors 312 Learn Printer 317...
Page 358 Obsession User Manual Edit 199 Cues 101 Hold for input 195 Groups 138 Insert mode 199 Submasters 160 Learn 193 Monitor Link macro 196 Connectors 312, 324 Link to 97 Installation 312 Macro wait 194 Pinout 312, 324 Modify 199...
Page 359 Dimmer label 68 Dimmer profile 69 Display 31–33 New Features 16, 34 Multiplex 73 One-to-one 62 Profile 203–217 Obsession Device ID 292 Proportional patch 66 Obsession Off-Line 289 Read from diskette 227 Off-Line Reset 246 Macintosh 290 Unpatch dimmer 67...
Page 360 Obsession User Manual Effects 242 Using profiles 204 Flexichannel 240 Zero 69 Group list 242 Proportional patching 66 Groups 242 Macro 242 Options 240 Rack Status 284 Pause printer 240 Range edit Printer 317 Cue Spreadsheet 106 Profile 242 Effect steps 174...
Page 361 Index Follow cues 95 Group minus sub 137 RFU 253, 263, 318 Groups 136 Backlight 253, 319 Link cues 94 Number 253, 319 Loads 279 Run, SMPTE 305 Loop sequence 96 Modifying existing cue 101 Multipart cues 120–125 Secondary messages 288, 348 Next sub 153 Select show 234 Range of cues 106...
Page 362 Obsession User Manual Loop 301 Enabled 152 Move 303 Solo 152 Pause 305, 306 Changing shows 151 Pinout 328 Changing type 150 Play back 305 Clear 166 Print 242 Clear all 245 Run 305 Copy 166 SMPTE Event List 47...
Page 363 Index Submaster display edit 160 Default fade 54 Submaster List 45, 169 Default Sneak 55 Time 153–157 Effect fade time 178 Types 150 Effect In/Dwell/Out time 172 Update 161–162 Effect step time 172 Submaster List 169 Effect Up/Dwell/Down 178– Submaster Spreadsheet 167 Suppress Dimmers 65 Follow time 95 Suppress Labels 63...
Page 364 Obsession User Manual Wait time Record cue 94 Warranty ii Wheel Channel levels 77 Rate wheel 133 Use with profiles 212 World Wide Web 20...

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