Block flags prevent edited levels from tracking into a cue, and force a move instruction on any tracked value in that cue. For example, if channel 1 is at full in scene 1 and scene 2, and you want to make sure it stays at full in scene 2 when you edit scene 1, place a block flag on the cue at the top of scene 2. A block also forces a move instruction on playback (blackout cues typically get blocked to ensure that they fade any moving levels from the previous cue to zero.)
You can apply a block to a cue, a cue part, to any channel (or group of channels), or parameter (or group of parameters) within a cue.
Note: On other Eos Family consoles, the block command is split into block for editing and assert for playback. See Block and Assert.
A cue level block causes all tracked values in the cue to be treated as move instructions for editing and playback purposes, which prohibits any data changes from tracking into the cue. Parameters that are not included in the cue are not impacted by the block instruction.
Blocks do not protect a cue, channel or parameter from being modified by a range edit, nor are they protected from a trace instruction (see Update Using Trace). It is assumed that if you use the trace instruction, then you really want the initial value to change. A block will stop the trace from moving any further backwards through the cue list.
Blocks that you have applied will display parameter data in white.
Blocks can also be applied to a channel or a channel parameter. This can be done in live or blind. When applied in live, the block instruction must be stored or updated to the appropriate cue.
Element also supports an auto-block function. Auto-block can protect your cue data from unwanted changes. For example, in cue 5 you set channel 1 to 50%. It is stored as a move instruction. Then, you later go back to an earlier cue and set channel 1 to 50% and it tracks forward to cue 5. Channel 1 will be auto-blocked in cue 5. Even though it is now at the same value as the previous cue, the original concept of a move instruction is maintained.
When the block instruction has been recorded, updated, or stored while in blind, any tracked values the block was applied to will be displayed in white. Auto-blocks are displayed in white, with a white underscore.
Channel level blocks are indicated in the cue list by a “b” and auto-blocks are indicated in the cue list by a “b”, representing a partial block. To remove auto-blocks, see Auto-Block Cleanup.