Strobe & Independent Shutter Controls
The Strobe/Shutter channel type describes flashing and optical blackout. Its speed, mode and Shutter have independent controls and independent release actions.
Operate the fixture
- Shutter opens or closes the light gate. A shutter-only profile hides the speed control.
- Strobe speed is normalized
0–1. A positive speed runs the selected mode and overrides Shutter, regardless of the relative priorities. Changing Shutter during a strobe updates its stored state without stopping the flashes. - At zero speed, or after releasing speed, the current Shutter state takes effect.
- Release speed, mode or Shutter individually to restore that parameter's next source or default. Releasing the whole module clears all three.
- Multiple modes appear in a selector; a fixture with only one mode does not need that selector.
Configure the profile
In Fixture Editor enable Detailed shutter when the manual lists closed and open states on this channel. Set closed DMX and open DMX to the actual values; blank endpoints use zero and full scale. The off DMX value represents a non-flashing state, including mappings without a detailed shutter. These explicit states can be imported from compatible source ranges. Shutter control defaults to open, while an untouched explicit mapping can retain the profile’s raw DMX default. Without an operational configuration an existing strobe profile keeps its linear mapping.
Define each mode's name and Slow / Fast endpoints. Endpoints use the full parameter resolution; Slow can exceed Fast for a reversed range. Operational ranges must not overlap reserved off/closed/open values or imported closed windows. Suggested ranges help add modes into free space. Descriptive imported ranges remain available for reference but do not select the operational effect.
Mode names such as Random, Pulse, Ramp Up and Ramp Down select matching visual preview effects. Positive minimum/maximum Hz describe the simulated rate; without them the simulation uses approximately 1–20 Hz. Confirm real output with the fixture manual.
Scenes, tags and automation
Scenes can capture just speed, just mode or just Shutter. For fixture tags the mode is resolved by name on each member: a fixture that does not support the chosen mode keeps its own mode. Group mode selectors show names with coverage counts.
In node graphs enable the mode and Shutter parameters separately; enabling legacy Strobe does not implicitly acquire them. Keyframe speed tracks interpolate, while mode and Shutter tracks change in steps.
Visual preview
The 2D and 3D visualizers show regular, random, pulse and ramp effects from compatible profile settings. A closed shutter extinguishes the lens and beam while the physical fixture remains visible and selectable. A head's own and shared shutter stages each affect its light. These visual effects do not generate DMX commands.
