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Test
Xciter
user
manual
61
8.8
Test
Press {Test} in the setup menu.
K e y / F a d e r t e s t
A v a i l a b l e m e m o r y
P r e s e t m e m o r y
M i d i o u t t e s t
8.8.1
Key / Fader test
Warning: Disconnect lighting rig from DMX before entering!
Important: As soon as you enter the Key/Fader test, Xciter sends out a value pattern on all DMX channels.
This should not harm your fixtures but it may cause them to behave in the strangest ways.
Press {Key/Fader test} in the test menu.
There are several tests you can perform.
8.8.1.1
Key test
You can test all keys except the power and [ESC] key. Their working is obvious because you need them to
power the console and escape once you are done with the tests.
To perform a proper test, you should press all the keys at least once. A key that is working properly should
switch on its own backlight (except for the joystick push action). On the bottom line of the main LCD, two
different key codes should appear: one when you push (and hold) the button and one after you release it.
The key code is displayed in two formats: the first value is decimal, the second one hexadecimal.
The jog wheels also produce two different key codes when you turn them clock and counterclockwise.
8.8.1.2
Fader and Joystick test
Move all faders to their extremes (completely up and down) at least once. Their values are displayed in the
fader LCD. A normally working fader should bring the corresponding value in the LCD to 0 when it is
completely down and 255 when it is completely up. A fader should only modify its corresponding value. If
other values are affected, there may be a problem with the front panel hardware. Sudden jumps in a value
may indicate mechanical wear or excessive dust in the corresponding fader.
An extra test for the pitch fader is to put it on its centre click. That should bring the pitch value to 128 ± 5.
Move the joystick to all its extremes slowly. The values for Pan and Tilt should change smoothly in the
fader LCD. Sudden jumps in the values may indicate that the joystick has mechanical wear or is dirty. The
Pan/Tilt values may vary from console to console. They also depend on the how hard you push against the
plastic. The values should range from 40 to 220.
8.8.1.3
DMX test
Do not get upset if the second line in the key/fader test dialog says ‘DMX: Bad’. The reason is simple. The
Xciter has a built-in DMX cable tester. To test a cable you need to link DMX out to DMX in. Xciter will tell