Production
Preparing a Companion surface for live shows
A practical pre-show routine for control surfaces: label review, macro dry-runs and the checks that catch problems before doors open.
Published 18 Sept 2026Updated 18 Sept 20268 min read
A control surface is only as reliable as the rehearsal behind it. This guide walks through a repeatable pre-show routine that takes about twenty minutes.
Verify the surface before the room fills
Power the surface, load the show configuration and press every button once. Buttons that do nothing are usually a stale connection rather than a broken deck.
Dry-run the macros that matter
Focus on the macros an operator would reach for under pressure: programme and preview swaps, DSK toggles, audio follows and emergency fallbacks.
Keep printed labels truthful
If a printed label sheet no longer matches the configuration, either update the sheet or remove it. A wrong label is worse than no label.