I am starting a new thread as it seems the issue got confused in another thread I saw it mentioned. I want to explain this is as clear as possible. Since many of us are making use of RGB LED tape and the inexpensive controllers that allow us to control such lights via DMX, to me it seems this is a feature that would benefit many who use ShowXpress. These inexpensive controllers only provide 3 or 4 DMX channels and are assigned to control the intensity of each individual color channel independently and directly. There is no master dimmer like on regular fixtures. Why no master dimmer channels are provided on these LED tape DMX controllers are provided is a mystery, my guess is so they can be versatile with many different types of LED tapes. The solution to that shortcoming is a "virtual master dimmer channel" that can be added to a custom fixture profile.
I am aware of the assignable Master faders in Live mode. And while assigning a Master Fader in Live mode to the RGB channels of fixture without master dimmers is fine for overall "on the fly" adjustments, they cannot be programmed into step and generator scenes and the effect the overall intensity of the channels that are assigned to it for every cue. That's not helpful. What we need is a "virtual fader" that can be programmed and adjusted so that the RGB can programmed and adjusted in step or generator scenes. Essentially, it allows the separate color channels to be programmed and adjusted in unison and react like an RGB par can. This IS a feature that exists in Pro-Level consoles and software like Vista and Hog.
I like to program cues that vary Master dimmer intensity gradually to create the look of motion on stage, and currently it is VERY difficult to do with RGB tape controllers that don't have master fader channels. I can do it with a single color channel, but not a combination of RGB or RGBW. Since we need to create simple custom profiles to use these DMX LED tape controllers anyway, there should be an option included in the custom fixture profile creation panel for a "virtual master fader"... when added to a custom fixture profile, it would appear in the step and generator editors as a Dimmer fader that is not numbered or in a different color or something that differentiates it from a standard DMX channel, yet It can be programmed as if it were a DMX channel. It would force the fixture to work and act like any fixture that has a Master Fader channel. So, if a Virtual Master fader is added to a fixture profile, and extra fader would show up when I selected that individual fixture in the editor or generator. It could be a different color to indicate that it is virtual and has no actual DMX address, but once it was added to the fixture, it would respond exactly as if it had a Master Fader, so... that fixture will not illuminate until that Virtual Master Fader is engaged (even if the RGB channels are active), just like any other standard RGB(W) fixture.
I can't express just how much I want this!