MA Lighting grandMA2 User Manual - page 1176
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Version 3.3
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Setting a time
Wrong timing is the major pitfall when creating complex macros. The console is multi-tasking so when a command
immediately follows another, the second command will start processing, even if the previous has not yet finished
processing.
If a macro-line depends on an earlier line, to be processed correctly, you may need to add a wait-time, to prevent
the next command to follow immediately and be processed too early. If you experience that a command works if
you type it manually but not when you run it in a macro, then it can also be a sign that you need to add a small wait
time.
Example:
Let us create a Macro that Parks Channel 10 at 50%:
No.
CMD
Wait
1
Channel 10 At 50
Follow
2
Park Channel 10
Follow
With the default "Follow" trigger, this macro does not work. Setting channel 10 to 50% takes a little bit of time, and
our second macro line parks the channel before the first line has been fully processed.
Giving the first line 50 millisecond to be processed, before proceeding to the next line, solves the problem in this
case:
No.
CMD
Wait
1
Channel 10 At 50
0.05
2
Park Channel 10
Follow
When creating complex macros it is wise to start with a small timing of something like 100 milliseconds per line (0.1
seconds). Then you might be able to speed it up by setting a smaller wait or set lines to "Follow" if the commands
are running correctly.
Important:
Necessary processing-time is not fixed. You may experience that a timing that worked when in
Standalone is not enough in a session with multiple stations and NPUs.
Using Go
You can use a "Go" instead of a wait time or the "Follow" time. This means that the macro will halt when it reaches
a "Go" in the wait column. It will continue running only when receiving a go command.
Go is the default function for an executor key, when the macro is assigned to executors.
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