Tracking with Cue Only

[droiddk]

Hi all

Am I correct that when working with tracking, its actually not important that Tracking is enabled ( “Cue Only” disabled and for example “Track forwards” enabled)  when recording into a simple cue-stack, like first cue 1, then cue 2 and 3 and so on. Tested with a simple cue-stack with Smart Tag on and “Cue only”. 6 cues recorded into a cue-stack all with 1 fixture-fader at 100% intensity. When running cue 1 intensity is at 100% and value is blue in output. Now I go to second cue and intensity is now purple and intensity still at 100% so tracking must be working. All recordings made with “Cue only”.

So, am I correct that tracking-options (for example “Cue Only” disabled  and “Track forwards” enabled) is first relevant when I want to record a new cue into an existing cue-stack or wants to update an existing cue in a cue-stack? I mean, its possible to use tracking-options even if the “original” recording into the cue-stack was made with “cue only”.

Kind Regards droiddk

[Edward Z88]

Hi @droiddk

1 hour ago, droiddk said:

So, am I correct that tracking-options (for example “Cue Only” disabled  and “Track forwards” enabled) is first relevant when I want to record a new cue into an existing cue-stack or wants to update an existing cue in a cue-stack? I mean, its possible to use tracking-options even if the “original” recording into the cue-stack was made with “cue only”.

If you'd like to understand how the tracking options and SmartTag work together, I'd recommend watching the in-depth training video below...

 

1 hour ago, droiddk said:

Am I correct that when working with tracking, its actually not important that Tracking is enabled ( “Cue Only” disabled and for example “Track forwards” enabled)  when recording into a simple cue-stack, like first cue 1, then cue 2 and 3 and so on. Tested with a simple cue-stack with Smart Tag on and “Cue only”. 6 cues recorded into a cue-stack all with 1 fixture-fader at 100% intensity. When running cue 1 intensity is at 100% and value is blue in output. Now I go to second cue and intensity is now purple and intensity still at 100% so tracking must be working. All recordings made with “Cue only”.

This is to do with SmartTag. When you have SmartTag enabled, the console is deciding what does, and what doesn't get included when you record your cues.

In this situation, you have recorded six cues, where a fixture was at the same level in every cue. SmartTag has therefore taken the decision to not record this fixture into every single cue, as there is no need. Instead, it can simply be recorded in cue 1, and then track through. If you were to update any of your cues, or record a cue out of order when Cue Only is enabled, ZerOS will make sure that the cue that follows looks exactly how you programmed it.

Hope this helps.

Edward

[droiddk]

1 hour ago, Edward Z88 said:

This is to do with SmartTag. When you have SmartTag enabled, the console is deciding what does, and what doesn't get included when you record your cues.

Hi Edward

I see the same behaviour when Smart Tag is not enabled.  Like this: "Snapshot" and "Smart Tag" with blue line (disabled) and "Cue Only" with red line. Six cues recorded. First cue was recorded with one fixture intensity at 100% and the other 5 cues I just recorded right after without taking the intensity fader down. Intensity at 100% (blue text in output) when raising the playback fader and when pressing the button the next cue is triggered and now 100% output is show with purple text.

I do see where Smart Tag and Tracking used together or on their own can be very handy when recording into existing cue-stacks or updating cues but I'm not 100% sure about if i can "lock" myself out (from using Tracking) if I don't enable Tracking in the beginning when recording a cue-stack. Do I need to care about tracking-options when I start recording a cue-stack from scratch? From my "reseach" I have found that using Tracking when recording into existing cue-stacks or updating a cue is always possible even when the current cue or cue-stack was recorded with "cue only" and Snapshot and Smart Tag disabled.

Playing around I think I do get the point about tracking and cue only: Tracking will keep the value through the cue-stack until another value "is found". Cue Only will actually not just touch the just recorded cue (into an existing cue-stack) or an updated cue, but will also "un-do" the changes in the coming cue so it will look like before the cue before was inserted or updated.

Please note, I do not try to say something is wrong with the software, I just wants to know  if I got the basic right

Thanks Ed, I was hoping for a yes/no answer but of cause in-depth is always better 🙂 I actually did watch that video some time ago but maybe I need to recall.

Have a nice evening.

Kind Regards droiddk

[Jon Hole]

I think your general concept is correct - if you start at Cue 1, and program sequentially into a single Cue List - never making any mistakes, updates or inserts - and so long as you always use the programmer (not other Playbacks / UDKs) then the tracking options shouldn’t affect what you see on stage.

(however, they might affect the data recorded into your cue, which might affect the behaviour / output if you go back and make edits)

[droiddk]

10 hours ago, Jon Hole said:

I think your general concept is correct

however, they might affect the data recorded into your cue, which might affect the behaviour / output if you go back and make edits

Thanks Jon (and Edward) 🙂

I think I got it (for now 🙂 ). I can see where it can go wrong if I don't think about the recording options when inserting and updating cues.

And one more time: Phantom ZerOs is great! It is so handy when at home working with the fundamentals of the software, thank you very much for it!

Kind Regards droiddk

 

[Edward Z88]

Hi @droiddk

On 2/4/2022 at 6:02 PM, droiddk said:

Do I need to care about tracking-options when I start recording a cue-stack from scratch? From my "reseach" I have found that using Tracking when recording into existing cue-stacks or updating a cue is always possible even when the current cue or cue-stack was recorded with "cue only" and Snapshot and Smart Tag disabled.

That is correct - when you record cues, the cues will be recorded using the tracking options at the point of recording. It therefore doesn't matter how you start recording a cue stack, as you could go and make changes with different tracking options later.

We find that most people program with Cue Only, but then enable Tracking for those situations where you need to edit a value for a light, or add a new value for a light, and want that change to take affect in multiple subsequent cues.

On 2/5/2022 at 10:43 AM, droiddk said:

And one more time: Phantom ZerOs is great! It is so handy when at home working with the fundamentals of the software, thank you very much for it!

Really pleased to hear it.

Edward

[droiddk]

On 2/7/2022 at 10:18 AM, Edward Z88 said:

That is correct - when you record cues, the cues will be recorded using the tracking options at the point of recording. It therefore doesn't matter how you start recording a cue stack, as you could go and make changes with different tracking options later.

We find that most people program with Cue Only, but then enable Tracking for those situations where you need to edit a value for a light, or add a new value for a light, and want that change to take affect in multiple subsequent cues.

Thanks Edward. That is also how I think I will use it.

Kind Regards droiddk