60 Ion Operations Manual
About Patch
Ion treats fixtures and channels as one and the same, meaning each fixture is assigned a single
control channel number. Individual parameters of that fixture, such as intensity, focus, color, and
beam are also associated with that same channel number but as additional lines of channel
information.
Patching can be done via two different methods: manually entering a patch and by patching devices
using RDM via the Device List in patch. RDM allows bi-directional communication between the
desk and any RDM devices over RDM or Ethernet.See “Using Device List” on page 82.
For manual patching, you are required to enter only the simplest data to patch a device and begin
programming your show, such as the channel number, the device type (if needed), and address.
When you provide more information in the patch, you will have more detailed control and improved
function during operation.
One or more devices may be patched to a single channel. For example, you may want to patch a
group of dimmers to the same channel. In addition you may patch multiple devices to the same
channel for building a compound or accessorized fixtures. For example a Source Four® with a color
scroller and a gobo changer may be patched to a single channel. This is referred to as a compound
channel.See “Creating multi-part and compound channels” on page67.