Editing Lighting control console (section)

=== Preset boards ===
[[File:Avolites Pearl Expert and Wing.JPG|thumb|An [[Avolites]] Pearl Expert with optional Touch Wing, running the Titan control system.]]
Preset boards are the most basic lighting consoles&mdash;and also the most prevalent in smaller installations. They consist of two or more identical fader banks, called '''scenes'''. The faders (control slides) on these scenes can be manually adjusted. Each scene has the same number of channels which control the same dimmers. So the console operator can build a scene offline or in "blind", a cross-fader or submaster is used to selectively mix or '''fade''' between the different scenes.

Generally, at least with a preset board, the operator has a cue sheet for each scene, which is a diagram of the board with the faders in their positions, as determined by the lighting designer. The operator sets the faders into their positions based on the cue sheets. Typically during a cue, the operator sets the next scene. Then the operator makes the transition between the scenes using the cross-fader.

Preset boards are not as prevalent since the advent of digital memory consoles, which can store scenes digitally, and are generally much less cumbersome but more expensive than preset boards. However, for small setups such as that of a [[Disc jockey|DJ]], they remain the board of choice for their simple to use interface and relative flexibility. Preset boards generally control only conventional lights; though some advanced hybrid consoles can be patched to operate intelligent lights in a round-about way by setting the control channels of the light to channels the preset board can control. However, this is not recommended since it is a cumbersome process.