Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Christie's 3Q Automation

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Posted by Matt Hollis (Member # 2954) on 05-26-2005, 10:26 AM:

How is it possible to get a "lights up early" cue on this automation for the beginning of the credits? In the manual it only mentions a start cue, a feature cue, and an end cue.

Matt

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 05-26-2005, 10:37 AM:

A QX10 cue expander was used in a instalation here where we took out an old CFS automation and wired in a Christie 3Q automation. That gave us the ability to have the Rolling stock cue and the Half light cue for credits.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-26-2005, 10:38 AM:

If the automation is not capable then you can add a proximity sensor or add an extra cue to your detector(or switch it out) to get the mid light cue at the credits. Just wire that extra cue dorectly to the dimmers mid light control input. This may also work fine for a mid light level during previews depending on what dimmer you have there. Also, unless the dimmer is in a handy position you may want to consider adding a manual mid-light switch somewhere on the automation just in case a cue is missed or one comes off the film.

As Darryl mentioned the QX-10 expander will also work but it may be a bit more than you really need.

Mark

Posted by Jason Whitlock (Member # 3077) on 05-26-2005, 11:16 AM:

putting a start cue at the beginning of the credits will give you a mid-level light setting, but will also put the sound back to the start cue default, which will throw DTS back into analog, and DD will revert out for a second then kick back in..

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-26-2005, 02:35 PM:

(I'll get more info for you on this later tonite..) On the TB-1 board, one can switch four wires around where one can place a cue in the middle of the film lengthwise about an inch to bring up the lights for 'credit cue'

It's been a few years since I've done this modified rewiring, but I've done about a hundered consoles with this wiring.

-monte

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 05-26-2005, 03:37 PM:

If I recall correctly, you'll use a Center queue (Same as trailer queue) to take the lights to half. This will also revert sound to whatever is selected for the trailer package.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-27-2005, 03:25 AM:

Okey, got the info:

On the TB-1 board: one notices that the white wires are numbered and begins with the letter "W".

1- On TB-1, Terminals 20 and 21, remove W87 and W89 and wirenut these two together.
2- On TB-1, Terminal 7, remove W63 and let this one hang loose (or put a wirenut on the end).

3- On TB-1, Terminal 22, remove W90 and put W90 in Terminal 21

This should allow a cue about an inch placed lengthwise in the center of the film where it will be picked up by the center sensor of the Q3 failsafe, this will bring up the lights to full for credit presentation. The other two cues (start and end) remains the same -inboard for the start, and outboard for the end, and an inch is all one needs for cueing.

Give this a whirl and see what happens.

(please don't hold me responsible for this help, since I'm only giving suggestions, if it doesn't work, for I had to call up a theatre to get this information since I don't work there anymore and there has been some modifications at this theatre (they installed TA-10 automations at the head of the string and still let the 3Q do the final operations)

..good luck - Monte

Posted by Tristan Lane (Member # 1169) on 05-27-2005, 03:26 PM:

I have to agree with Mr. Whitlock on this.

Monte's method will provide you with a mid-light cue, but will eliminate the feature cue part of the automation all together. The automation's logic is completely relay-based and can only do so much.

If you want to retain the three existing cues: (start, feature, end) you will need to do one of two things:

Place an additional start cue at the beginning of the credits. As Jason stated this will give you an additional sound pulse and C/O open pulse. -OR- Install a cue expander device. Some 3Q automations were supplied with cue expanders, you may want to make sure one is not installed on your automation. The outputs are not located on the TB-5 console termination strip, but on another board located above and to the right of the Automation relay board.