Two basic styles of lighting consoles have evolved since computerized consoles were introduced in the early 1970s. These two styles can best be described as “tracking” and “preset”.
Preset consoles record cues the way manual preset consoles do. On a manual preset console, the user sets up a look on an active set of faders, then sets up the next look on an inactive set of faders, and then uses cross-faders to fade from one look to the next. In a computerized preset console, these looks are saved as cues, but each channel needs to be told what to do in each cue, and cue execution can only crossfade from one cue to another.
With a tracking console, when a cue brings a channel to a level, that channel stays at that level until it receives a specific instruction to change levels. This level then tracks through all subsequent cues until the level is increased or decreased by another cue. Tracking consoles are capable of much more sophisticated and complicated effects than Preset consoles because of their ability to have more than one fade executing at the same time.
Marquee is a tracking console.
Marquee offers the techniques of tracking consoles in an easy-to-learn environment.
The Timing options in Marquee are extremely flexible and easy to use. The interface for changing simple times is as easy to use as a spreadsheet and allows adjustment on individual attribute family's wait, fade and profile settings for every cue. Marquee also has a traditional cue part implementation that greatly reduces the number of keystrokes necessary to maintain these typically complex cues. In very demanding programming environments, Marquee extends timing options with the very powerful Independent Timing of every attribute in every cue.
Marquee deals with intelligent fixtures using Horizon Control's Abstract Control Model. This means that regardless of who manufactured the moving light and what protocol it is using, it is presented to the user the same way. Cues are stored using descriptions like "Blue", "3 RPM" and "11 Hz". This means that not only can you copy attributes from one type of fixture in your rig to another with predictable results, you can also swap your entire rig out for another and not have to re-program your cues.
Marquee uses a “Graphical User Interface” and replaces the hidden command structure of the DOS-based tracking consoles with modern computer interfaces like menus and dialog boxes. It can easily be understood and programmed by any computer-literate operator. Since each dialog box control has a softkey accelerator, your hands are not tied to the mouse. Pure keystroke syntax is not only possible, but quite often quicker than competing consoles. On the flip side, there is no need to memorize a strict syntax as the softkeys are always narrowing your choices to less than a dozen option. You can read the dialog box from top to bottom like a book and quickly find the options you are looking for, even resorting to the mouse if that suites you. Marquee will never beep at you and expect you to fix the command line.
Because Marquee's design leverages on consumer based technology (such as readily available operating systems, USB interfaces and Pentium® Processors) it allows lower budget theatres with operators who are not full time employees to have the sophistication that has previously been reserved for only the biggest of professional theatres using specialized and dedicated equipment.
Since a standard operating system is used and the hardware interfaces with USB, you already have your backup desk. In fact, you probably have over a dozen of them in your facility.
Marquee is manufactured by Entertainment Technology in Dallas TX, USA. The software is designed, written and owned by Horizon Control Inc.
See Also:
Blocking and Unblocking of cues