diff --git a/bin/gyrocontroller b/bin/gyrocontroller
--- a/bin/gyrocontroller
+++ b/bin/gyrocontroller
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 # vi: syntax=python
 
 import run_local
-from light9.Submaster import Submasters, Submaster, combine_subdict
+from light9.Submaster import Submasters, Submaster, combine_subdict, \
+    get_sub_by_name
 from light9.subclient import SubClient
 import light9.Patch as Patch
 
@@ -49,25 +50,7 @@ class AbstractSimpleController(SubClient
         self.subnames = subnames
         self.refresh()
     def get_sub(self, name):
-        if name in self.submasters.get_all_sub_names():
-            return self.submasters.get_sub_by_name(name)
-
-        try:
-            val = int(name)
-            s = Submaster("#%d" % val, {val : 1.0}, temporary=True)
-            return s
-        except ValueError:
-            pass
-
-        try:
-            subnum = Patch.get_dmx_channel(name)
-            s = Submaster("'%s'" % name, {subnum : 1.0}, temporary=True)
-            return s
-        except ValueError:
-            pass
-
-        # make an error sub
-        return Submaster('%s!?' % name)
+        return get_sub_by_name(name, self.submasters)
     def refresh(self):
         # reload subs from disk
         self.submasters = Submasters()