AJR, sounds like you need a PLAYLIST! We run a playlist with one generic macro effect for scripted transitions, but then use several specific macro effects for generic and often used transitions. We do the 0 pause thing but we're used to aborting out of them if we need to. We have a couple elemets where its standard procedure. This allows us to go from a macro run effect to a timeline effect. When I first started using the 8k I couldn't wait for macros in timelines but now its like.. eh... whatever. I do hope that someday they'll squeeze out another hundred or so macros out of this thing. If they can squeeze out 5 banks of 32 utility buttons for everyone then you think they could get the macros too.

There's no way I could remember what 999 macros do. The reason I say 999 is because of the way my plant has to handle all DDR elements. We're running a unique setup here where we have to use macros as our timelines for any DDR related events. Since we can't hot fire all our transitions, we have to put a 0 pause after we load the clip. The problem with the 0 pause is that we are now locked out of all other macros. We either have to finish running the macro that is paused or recall the same macro to abort out of it. One way around the dreaded 0 pause is to use macros in timelines. If we go that route, we need to burn various macros for M/E cuts, key cuts, key auto transitions. Looking through the show I'm about to do, we have probably close to 80 DDR elements that we need access to. In that situation, you can see how 99 isn't quite enough. With 999 macros, I could bury all those key cuts and auto transitions up in the 900's somewhere and make them the same across all shows. Then again, another 100 would probably be more than enough. Can't wait to get my hands on 7.2x -Allan

[quote="AJR"]Now if only they'd expand the switcher to be able to do 999 macros..... Best of luck! -Allan[/quote] Allan Out of intrest why 999 macros ? Yes it would be nice to have more but with respect could you remember what 999 macros do. ? BTW 7.21 is very cool Phil

On 7.2, you don't need a button for MACRO ONLY any more! You can hold down PRE and POST together :-) RE

Over here, we run M/E 1, 2 and 3 in MP2 mode. We reassigned the pre/post buttons into main/sub buttons. We're running PGM/PST in standard mode. We reassigned the pre/post buttons to enable/disable the key2/4 shotbox. As far as macro only, pre and post macro, we have those on prefs 1, 2 and 3 on the menu panel. We really don't have many macro attachments because we just assign what we need to the key2/4 shotbox. Personally, I'd probably stay away from assigning main/sub to the wipe direction buttons. I'm clumsy and would probably hit it at the worst time. But that's just me. And unfortunately, the only way to recall menu macros are through panel macros. Now if only they'd expand the switcher to be able to do 999 macros..... Best of luck! -Allan

I also have Main/Sub assigned to the Pre/Post Macro buttons, but that's just a holdover on my part from earlier software & I haven't gotten around to changing anything yet. Given the choice, I'd rather put them at the PTN Limit/LIMIT SET buttons, where they'd be close to the Trans Bar & Trans controls - that's where I think it would make the most sense if you're hopping back & forth between the sides to do transitions. Especially with upcoming software that'll simultaneously allow the PRE MACRO button to make the Key 2 bus into the utility box & POST MACRO button to activate the Shifted functionality, I'll want to free up those Pre/Post buttons again.

[quote="jbs"]Question for those of you using features such as dual bkgd bus or key 2 bus as a utilility box: where did you locate/relocate your main/sub buttons? We're using pre/post macro buttons on the crosspoint control block now but from reading the manual it appears the only button available to enable at least three features included in 7.1x is the pre macro button. To prepare for this, I've asked everyone to try out a relocation of main/sub to either the pattern limit buttons or the wipe direction buttons. Which one feels the best?[/quote] I assigned our Main/Sub to the pre/post macro buttons in the MEs only, leaving the pre/post macro ability assigned on P/P. You can do it on an ME by ME basis, so this config worked-out best for us. As for 7.22, stay tuned ... it has to be close!! Matt