Demystifying Tracking in Lighting Programming
When programming a show, cue lists are the backbone of any lighting design. They are sequences of cues or playbacks arranged to automate lighting changes for a song, scene, or event. On the surface, it seems straightforward enough—just set the changes in order and hit play. But behind the scenes, there’s a concept that lighting programmers need to understand: tracking.
Tracking can be a complex concept to grasp at first, but it’s essential for efficient programming, especially in more intricate productions. This guide breaks down what tracking is, why it was developed, and how you can leverage it to streamline your cue lists and improve your overall workflow. ⬇️
The Problem Before Tracking: Repetitive Data Overload
To understand why tracking is such a game changer, let’s first look at how cue lists work without it.
Look at this simple cue list where every single value is recorded in every single cue. For instance, if your backlight levels remain constant across cues 2 through 6, the console still records the same values repeatedly, even though nothing is actually changing. This might seem trivial, but when you scale this to thousands of lights and hundreds of cues, it exponentially grows.
Not only that, but updating this cue list becomes unnecessarily complicated. If you want to adjust your backlight in cue 2, you would also have to update cues 3, 4, 5, and 6 to ensure consistency.
THIS is where tracking steps in.
What Is Tracking and How Does It Work?
Tracking was introduced to resolve these very issues by essentially only recording value changes in cue lists. Instead of storing every value in every cue, the console simply allows values from previous cues to “track forward” until they are deliberately changed again.
Let’s revisit our earlier cue list, but this time in a tracking situation. In this scenario, the backlight levels would only be stored in cue 2, and those values would track forward automatically until a new value is set in cue 7.
This streamlined approach drastically reduces the amount of data being processed and makes updates far more manageable. Now, if you want to adjust your backlight in cue 2, you only need to update that cue—everything else remains consistent.
The Benefits of Tracking:
Optimized Memory Usage: By storing only changes instead of redundant data, tracking conserves processing power, which is especially important in larger productions. This isnt a problem so much any more, but decades ago consoles werent able to be build with as much processing power because, well, it didn't exist yet.
Streamlined Updates: Making changes to cues is simpler and quicker because you only need to adjust the specific cue where a value change occurs, not every cue that follows.
Handling Tracking Challenges: Block Cues
While tracking offers significant advantages, it can become tricky when managing complex productions with multiple scenes. One of the biggest risks is that changes made in one scene can unintentionally “snowball” forward into future scenes, leading to unexpected results.
To counteract this, lighting programmers use Block cues at the end of each segment or scene. Block cues ensure that all values are stored at that point, effectively “catching” any tracked values and preventing them from affecting subsequent scenes. This technique gives you precise control over when and where tracking occurs, making it easier to keep your cue lists organized and predictable.
PRO TIP: Use Block cues strategically to break up sections of your cue list, especially if you’re programming a multi-act show or a complex scene with many changes.
Cue-Only Mode: For When You Prefer a Traditional Approach
What if you’re not a fan of tracking or want a more straightforward cue list structure? Most modern consoles allow you to toggle between tracking and Cue-Only mode.
In Cue-Only mode, values do not track forward. When you record a change, it only applies to that specific cue—just like in a conventional cue list. This can be particularly useful for smaller shows or situations where you want to ensure that each cue is fully self-contained.
PRO TIP: If you need to insert new cues into an existing list but don’t want those changes to track forward, most consoles let you add cues as Cue-Only. This is perfect for minor tweaks or last-minute adjustments that shouldn’t affect the rest of your show.
Mastering Tracking for Better Programming
Tracking is a powerful tool that, when used effectively, can make your lighting programming more efficient and flexible. By understanding how and when to use tracking, block cues, and Cue-Only mode, you’ll be better equipped to tackle complex productions while maintaining control over your design. Whether you’re programming a small concert or a large-scale theatrical production, mastering tracking will take your lighting design skills to the next level.
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