Q Light Controller+

Hello,
first of all thanks to all the developpers, I'm really starting to enjoy qlcplus.

Personally I'd find very usefull to have a fast way to freeze the outuput but being able to swicht of the virtual console: during rehearsals in theatre I always need to adjust everything while the performers are on stage (patch, groups, fade configuration etc.).
Is there a way I'm missing?
Or could it be possible in the future to apply the function dumps dmx values to the cue stacks too?
regards

There are many ways to skin a cat. There are 2 ways I have done this, both with their advantages:

1. Create a test frame with as many pages as you want. Now put the fixtures that make sense together on those frames/pages. I typically have a rgb slider for colour and dimmer for the par/washes and a more complicated set of sliders for moving heads. You can also group levels together if your stage is divided into acting areas etc. Now switch to operate mode and start setting the values for the individual fixtures as per your preference. When it is right use the dump dmx function and dump it to a set of created empty buttons in a solo frame. Once the rehearsal is over fine tune the scenes and eventually put them in a cue list. I use a numbering system of act.scene.cueno.scriptpage: 01.04.020.14 with short name and cue details in the notes.

2. When I get good idea of cues/lighting cues and script from the director, I try to create all the scenes as functions ahead of the rehearsals. I use the same numbering system and these functions go into a folder of their own. No during rehearsal I can "play" the cues by just clicking on them in design mode and then I can also adjust the channels and the changes are saved immediately. I also use cloning a lot here.

Once we get to more serious rehearsals I tend to run the show from the cue list and then use the live edit mode if I want to fine tune the scene.

Of course our big limitation is that we need to move our entire rig in and on the next day do top & tail rehearsals with director and cast, I do not have the benefit of a kitted theatre.

You can also run the cue list in its chaser in design mode and then adjust the timings immediately.

nice to meet you Chris,

maybe I should have written "cue stack in the simple desk tab": my wish would be to have a fast way to switch off the play mode without changing the lighting state on the stage.
At least for me, the time to work is becoming less and less - contemporary theatre/dance in Europe - and often I even don't have anymore the stage for myself but I've to do everything during the rehearsals.
(e.g. in this last production I even focused with the performer starting the rehearsing, we had just 2 days on the stage)
Of course it depend in the artist but in this a case I'm having the premier tonight at 11pm and during the last tryout - 20pm - the performer has changed part of the text and several actions, now he needs to rest and we won't have another tryout. (I'm writing while they're cleaning the stage)
I've tried to work directly in the functions tab but then there are many other downsides.

Another example: what do you do if you need to change a dimmer during a show, or a lamp breaks and you could easily refocus another one?
It's not common but it's happened to me.

One things that I do often is to unplug the DMX but it depends on dimmer system of the venue if I can do it or not.

I never use the the simple desk cue stack and I do not know its functionality. The simple desk is, for me, an place of last resort. As it tends to override other things, I try and stay away from it.

The one time a dimmer played up during a show, I killed it in the simple desk and that overrode it.

On the balance, I work almost everything through functions on to cue lists. It does limit one in a live setting but hopefully there will be some changes to QLC+ in the future to help with that part.

If there is a sudden, late change, I will update the affected functions or replace them with a new one. I expect the actors and director to agree on who stands where, when, and says what.