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6.4 The Presets View

Presets simplify the programming process by allowing you to create user-defined "elements" that can be reused across cues. These elements, such as moving lights pointed at a particular position on stage, can be saved as presets and recalled at any time. Once recalled, these presets can be recorded into Playbacks or Scenes.

One key advantage of using presets is that they are stored in cues as references, not as fixed parameter values. This means that if you later modify a preset (for example, adjusting the position of a light), all cues using that preset will automatically update to reflect the change. This is particularly useful when working with dynamic elements, such as set pieces or moving lights that need to be repositioned. Rather than reprogramming each cue that references the preset, you can simply update the preset once, and all the cues will update accordingly.

Presets are organized into Pools, each filtering attributes according to their specific type. For example, the Color Preset Pool will only contain color-related attributes, while the Position Preset Pool stores position-related attributes. The available pools are linked to the feature group currently selected. For instance, if you select the color feature group from the toolbar within the Home Screen, you will see the Color Preset Pool. The same applies if you press the Color button on the front panel.

It’s important to note that presets are only applicable to fixtures that have relevant parameters stored within them. For instance, a preset containing only Pan and Tilt data will only be applicable to the fixtures that had active Pan and Tilt parameters when the preset was recorded. If Fixtures 1 through 10 have Pan and Tilt stored in the preset, but Fixtures 11 and 12 do not, the preset can only be recalled for Fixtures 1 and 4, but not for Fixtures 11 and 12. This is also often called “Selective” Presets.

Like fixtures and groups, presets can be accessed directly from the Home Screen by pressing the Presets button located at the top of the screen.

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Home Screen - Presets View

6.4.1 The Presets View Context Menu (Magic Wand Button)​

You can access this menu by clicking on the Magic Wand magicWand icon Button within the Presets View.

The menu includes the following options:

  • Link Attributes:
    This option allows you to link attributes of selected fixtures. This ensures that for example when “Red” is changed, the corresponding other colors are touched as well.
  • Show DMX Values:
    Enable this option to display DMX values for fixtures in the values table and encoders instead of ranges.
  • Generate Presets::
    Select this option to let EDGE automatically create presets based on the ranges in the fixture library. Presets are generated for selected fixtures and the selected feature group..

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Home Screen - Presets View Action Dialog

6.4.2 The Preset Item​

The Preset Item itself provides several layers of in regards to which and how these presets are selected for the current fixture selection and if they can be applied to the selection.

ItemMeaning
This Preset Item has the name “Not Selected” and is not selected.
This Preset has the name “Selected for Some” and is selected for a part of the fixture selection (dark yellow background).
This Preset has the name “Selected for All” and is selected for all of the fixtures selected (green background).
This Preset has the name “Applicable for All” and can be applied to all of the fixtures in the selection (green bar on the bottom).
This Preset has the name “Applicable for Some” and can be applied to some of the fixtures in the selection (yellow bar on the bottom).
This Preset has the name “Not Applicable” and cannot be applied to any of the fixtures that are currently selected.
This Preset is empty.

6.4.3 The Preset Item Long-Click Menu​

The long-click menu in the Presets View provides different sets of actions depending on whether the selected preset is empty or contains values.

If the selected preset is empty, long-pressing will prompt you to record a new preset using the currently selected fixtures and their settings. However, if no fixtures are selected, an error message will appear, indicating that fixtures must be selected before a new preset can be created.

When activated within a preset that already contains values, the long-click menu offers the following options:

  • Update: Updates the preset with the current fixture selection and their touched values.. See the Update Preset Dialog section for more information: Adding or Modifying Values in existing Presets..
  • Change Name: Renames the preset for better organization or clarity.
  • Set Appearance: Adds a colored border around the preset item for visual distinction.
  • Change Icon: Sets an icon (either a color or image) to be displayed for the preset.
  • Delete: Deletes the preset from the Presets View.

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Home Screen - Presets View - Long click menu non empty Preset

6.4.4 Working with Presets​

Selecting and Deselecting Presets​

To select or deselect a preset:

  1. Select at least one fixture.
  2. Open the Presets View on either the internal or external screen.
  3. Tap on a preset to apply it to the selected fixtures.
  4. To deselect a preset, tap on the selected preset again.
NOTE

If no fixtures are selected, tapping a preset for the first time will automatically select all fixtures stored in that preset.

Recording Presets​

To record a preset:

  1. Select at least one fixture.
  2. Adjust the fixture’s attributes by selecting an attribute group and modifying the values in the Fixtures View.
  3. Press Record on the console's front panel.
  4. Switch to the Presets View on either the internal or external screen.
  5. Select an empty preset slot.
  6. When prompted, choose to filter the contents by preset pool type or define custom filters to specify which functions should be stored. You can also enter a name for the preset at this stage.
  7. Press OK to confirm.

Alternative Methods:

  • Long-press an empty Preset item

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Preset - Record

Automatically Generating Presets​

You may have the console auto-generate Presets based on the ranges defined in the library.

  1. Select the fixtures you would like to generate Presets for.
  2. Select the desired Feature Group (eg. Color) by pressing on the color button in the feature group toolbar or by pressing the Color button on the frontpanel.
  3. Open the Preset View Context menu by clicking on the Magic Wand magicWand icon Button
  4. Select “Generate Presets”.

For more information please see the section 6.4.1 The Presets View Context Menu.

Adding or Modifying Values in existing Presets​

To add or modify values in an existing preset, please proceed as follows:

To add or modify values in an existing preset:

  1. Select some fixtures and set the desired values for them.
  2. Switch to the Presets View on either the internal or external screen.
  3. Press Record on the console's front panel.
  4. Select the preset you want to modify from the Presets View.
  5. When prompted, select the functions you would like to add and choose "Merge" to add or modify the values in the preset.

Alternative Methods:

  • Long-press the preset and select Update... from the long-press menu.
  • Press the Record button multiple times until the command line reads Merge, then select the preset to update.
NOTE

If you used this preset while programming Scenes or Playbacks, only the values that existed at the time of programming will be updated. New values are not automatically added to existing Playbacks and Scenes.

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Preset Exists - Merge

Removing Values from Presets​

To remove values from an existing preset:

  1. Select the fixtures you want to remove from the preset.
  2. Set new values for the attributes you wish to remove.
  3. Switch to the Presets View on either the internal or external screen.
  4. Press Record on the console's front panel.
  5. Select the preset you would like to remove the values from.
  6. When prompted, select the functions you would like to remove and choose "Remove" to delete the selected values from the preset.

Alternative Methods:

  • Long-press the preset and select Update... from the long-press menu.
  • Press the Record button multiple times until the command line reads Remove, then select the preset to update.

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Preset Exists - Remove

Replacing a Preset​

To replace all contents of an existing preset:

  1. Select the fixtures you want to use as the replacement and set values for them.
  2. Switch to the Presets View on either the internal or external screen.
  3. Press Record on the console's front panel.
  4. Select the preset you would like to replace.
  5. When prompted, select the functions you would like to replace and choose "Replace" to replace the values in the preset.

Alternative Methods:

  • Long-press the preset and select Update... from the long-press menu.
  • Press the Record button multiple times until the command line reads Replace, then select the preset to replace.
NOTE

If adding new parameters to a preset or removing existing ones, these changes will not be carried over into Playbacks and Scenes that are already using the preset. Only the attributes that were present when the Playback or Scene was originally programmed will be updated.

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Preset Exists - Replace

Naming Presets​

To rename a preset:

  1. Press the Name key on the console's front panel.
  2. Select the preset you want to rename by tapping on it in the Presets View.
  3. Enter the new name when prompted.
  4. Press OK to confirm.

Alternative Methods:

  • Long-press the preset and select Change Name. from the long-press menu.

Setting Appearance for a Preset​

To change the appearance (colored border) of a preset:

  1. Press the Name key on the console's front panel twice. The command line will change to "Appearance".
  2. Select the preset you want to modify by tapping on it in the Presets View.
  3. Choose a new appearance color when prompted.
  4. Press OK to confirm.

Alternative Methods:

  • Long-press the preset and select Set Appearance. from the long-press menu.

Setting a colored Icon for a Preset​

To change the appearance (colored border) of a preset:

  1. Long-press the preset and select “Change Icon” from the long press menu
  2. Choose an icon and left / right color for the preset when prompted.
  3. Press OK to confirm.

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Preset - Change Icon

Copying Presets​

To copy a preset:

  1. Press the Copy key on the console's front panel.
  2. Select the preset you want to copy.
  3. Select the destination preset where the copy will be placed.

When a preset is copied, the copied preset is entirely independent of the original, meaning both the source and the new preset can be modified freely without affecting one another.

Moving Presets​

To move a preset:

  1. Press the Copy key on the console's front panel twice. The command line will now display "Move".
  2. Select the preset you want to move.
  3. Select the destination preset where the preset will be relocated.

When a preset is moved, all references to the preset-such as Playbacks, MIDI commands, and other assignments-are automatically updated to reflect the new location.

Deleting Presets​

To delete an existing preset:

  1. Switch to the Presets View on either the internal or external screen.
  2. Press Delete on the console's front panel.
  3. Select the preset you want to delete from the Presets View.
  4. The console will prompt you for confirmation before deleting the preset.

You may select multiple presets to be deleted by holding down the delete key while selecting the items to be deleted.

Alternative Method:
You can also long-press the preset and select Delete from the long-press menu.

NOTE

Deleting a preset will also remove all elements that reference it, such as MIDI commands, and any other related configurations. Deleting a preset removes any data of the preset from cues or cuelists.

6.4.5 Edit Preset Dialog​

You can open the Edit Preset Dialog by pressing Edit on the front panel and selecting a preset from either the internal or external Preset View or MagicSheet..

The Edit Preset Dialog provides the following options:

  • Change Name: Allows you to update the preset.
  • Change Icon / Color: Allows you to set a colored icon for the preset.
  • Update: Allows you to update the preset.
  • Delete: Removes the preset from the system and all elements using it.
  • Set Appearance: Lets you adjust the visual appearance of the preset, such as adding a colored border.

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Edit Preset Dialog