Freeze freezes the entire DMX output while all Cuelists etc. continue running internally, as seen in the Stage View.
Overview
With the Freeze function, the entire DMX output is frozen. This means that all devices remain in the exact state they were in at the time the button was pressed in the quick access panel: all effects freeze, and the movement of moving-heads and scanners stops. Internally, the cuelists with their effects, etc., continue running.
Usage
Standard Version in Live Operation
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| Figure 1: Freeze button in the quick access panel. |
The Freeze function is particularly useful when:
- You want to make some programming changes and do not want the audience to see them
- The music track is completely quiet for a short moment during a party, club event, etc.
- After turning off the light-FOH, you still need light for the teardown (Freeze on Exit)
Here are a few points to consider:
- When you press the [Freeze] button, only the actual DMX value output is paused. In the Stage View, the effects and movements continue as usual.
- If you have a Flower or Derby effect with the light beam movement activated, or if you let the Gobos rotate on a moving-head, these will not be paused.
Freeze on Exit
Concerts or club events are well-known for ending deep into the night, with the teardown starting immediately after. But what if there is no "external" light available and only your own light equipment can provide the necessary illumination? As long as the light-FOH is still there, it is not a problem: simply start a suitable cuelist, and the "tear-down" can begin. Unfortunately, it happens that the light-FOH is the first thing to be packed up, and then it is very difficult to set the appropriate light for the teardown. Moreover, DMXControl 3 stops all cuelists, resets the DMX output, and deactivates the interfaces when shutting down. By this time, all lights are off, and the stage is dark.
If you need light on stage for the teardown, the option "Keep last DMX values" helps in this scenario. Here, any cuelist can be started that provides enough light on stage or elsewhere for the teardown, or you can briefly assemble something suitable in the Stage View and select this option in the additional settings of the Exit dialog before DMXControl 3 is finally closed by clicking [Yes]. This way, all the required DMX values remain active, and you don’t have to tear down in the dark.
For completeness, it should be mentioned that some devices tend to turn off or switch to an internal program when the DMX signal is turned off. For some devices, this behavior can be configured in the device settings. Also, some DMX interfaces may act unpredictably when no DMX software is sending data. This is because the DMX interface will still be turned off when the kernel is closed. The Freeze on Exit option only prevents the DMX values passed by DMXControl 3 from being reset on the connected or active DMX interfaces.
External Control
The Freeze function can also be controlled via Input Assignment by the following nodes, or you can get the current status through: