Frequently Asked Questions


What is HERDS?
HERDS is a collaborative lighting workflow platform for theatre education and production environments.

It converts prepared ETC Eos lighting states into a structured, participant-friendly design system, allowing creatives to build cue sequences without needing console-level programming skills.

The result is a clean, import-ready CSV that integrates directly back into ETC Eos.

Who is HERDS for?
HERDS is designed for:

Technical theatre educators
Lighting tutors and lecturers
Conservatoires and drama schools
Production managers
Visiting lighting designers working with students
It is particularly effective where students design and technicians programme.

Production Workflow

  1. Prepare Lighting States in ETC Eos

    Create the lighting states you want participants to use.

Cue-Only mode is recommended for predictable behaviour, though tracking mode can also be used.

  1. Capture Reference ImagesPhotograph each lighting state from a consistent fixed position. This may be:

A visualiser screenshot
A fixed camera position in the auditorium
Consistency ensures accurate comparison between states.

  1. Export the Eos CSV
    Export your cue data from ETC Eos as a CSV file.

  2. Upload to HERDS
    In LX Uploads:

Upload the CSV
Attach each reference image to its corresponding lighting state
This creates your lighting template.

  1. Add Users
    Participants can be:

Created individually
Uploaded in bulk via CSV
A downloadable CSV template is provided for batch uploads.

  1. Create and Configure the Project
    Create a new project
    Add participants
    Attach the lighting template
    Adjust settings via the gear icon

  2. Invite Participants
    Participants log in and:

Build their cue sequences
Arrange lighting states
Set timings
Structure their piece
They work within a guided interface without needing direct console access.

  1. Export Back to ETC Eos
    Download the generated CSV and import it into ETC Eos. Cues are:

Ordered
Labelled
Timed
Structured for clean integration
Manual spreadsheet editing should not be required.

Optional: Generate a QLab Cue List
Download the AppleScript file. To use:

Paste the script into a QLab Network Cue
Trigger the cue
This automatically generates your project's cue list inside QLab.

Does HERDS work in tracking mode?
Yes.

Cue-Only mode is recommended for clarity and predictable imports, but tracking mode is supported.

What settings should I use when exporting from ETC Eos?
Two settings matter when exporting your CSV from ETC Eos:

Encoding Format — select UTF-8
ASCII/Latin1 will usually work, but if your cue labels contain any non-standard characters (accents, smart quotes, etc.) they may come through garbled. UTF-8 is the safest choice.

Which sections to include — leave all ticked
Only the Cues section is required by HERDS, but we recommend leaving all sections ticked. The extra data won't cause any problems, and keeping a complete export means you have a full backup of your show file.

Use Decimal Format (Multi Cell) — optional
It doesn't matter if this is ticked or unticked. HERDS handles both decimal and integer cue numbers without issue.

What audio formats are supported?
You can upload:

WAV
MP3
All exported audio downloads are provided as WAV files.

How do I configure OSC triggering from QLab to ETC Eos?
Ensure:

The QLab Network Connection used is configured as an ETC Eos network connection
The correct connection is selected in the Network Cue settings
Incorrect configuration may prevent cue triggering.

What if something isn't updating?
If content appears delayed:

Press the Refresh button within the project to reload the view.

How do I report a problem?
Email: info@abrighteyeddeer.com

Please include:

A description of what you were attempting
The exact error message (if shown)
A screenshot (if possible)
The exported CSV file (if relevant)
A debug report from your project settings
Including the debug report significantly speeds up diagnosis and resolution.