Electronic Theatre Controls

Windows 7 Laptop PSA

dmclaughlin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:48:30 GMT

Hi all,

Just a friendly PSA I'll be passing along since being on the phone with a fellow technician. For those in the market for a new field service laptop, beware. The Windows 7 XP virtualization mode only works on a certain set of processors that support hardware assisted virtualization.

So, how do you know if your processor does? Well, unfortunately, only by finding the model number and going to the manufacturer's website to check. Make sure you check the specific model too. For example, processors in the popular Intel Core2 Duo line support Intel VT technology, but not all. So just because a laptop has a Core2 Duo doesn't mean that it has VT.

As I just learned on the phone, there are manufacturers advertising XP mode capability for a line of laptops, when only a few specific models will support it. In addition, some of those manufacturers are also choosing to not build XP drivers for their machines, so downgrading is not an option either. For those of you shopping in a store there is a hardware test tool available from microsoft to determine if a laptop will run in XP mode at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/configure-bios.aspx Maybe you can get the salesperson to run the program in front of you to confirm before you purchase.

Caveat Emptor

Libra-Wunsch: Steller anzeigen?

mstevens — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:50:57 GMT

Werte Gemeinde,

wir bauen immer mal wieder in die Sequenzliste Stellerfades ein, z.B. um ein Lauflicht einfaden zu lassen. Funktioniert soweit recht schön. Schade ist aber, daß man auf einer Focus z.B. den Wert des Effekt-Stellers ja nur abfragen kann, wenn man ins Effektregister wechselt und dann die Eff-Taste gedrückt hält. Das kann mitunter lästig sein.

Wäre es nicht denkbar / schön, bei einer Libra-Topografie auch Steller einbinden zu können?

Oder fällt noch jemand ein Workaround ein?

Schöne Grüße

Martin Stevens

Fine/Course on EOS only?

jeff_a_davis — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:14:53 GMT

I was curious if the fine/course switching using the encoder tap on the EOS would ever find it's way over to the ION. After working with movers over 100' throws day after day, the "move slower" to be more fine has proven troublesome. I wasn't sure if this was intentional to keep the EOS and ION separate in that respect of feature sets. But I know I'd love the option. Obviously without having to lose the tap to syntax line function of the encoders. Any thoughts?

Double Go w/ Wheel?

jeff_a_davis — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:49:46 GMT

On two different occasions I have had my ION, execute two cues if i am scrolling the intensity wheel as I push go. When it happened one night, I dismissed it as my error, but then I had to to the same type of function a few nights later and it did it again. I couldn't tell if this had been discovered before or not. Maybe It's some strange occurrence, thought i'd put it out there and see if it had come up before.

P.S. My software isn't completely up to date because we are in the middle of a show run.

-J

Fixtures stuck in certain colour palettes.

liamjf — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:46:39 GMT

Hi, we found another strange anomoly today.

First we had a VL3500 that was put into R13 via direct command line; [CHANNEL][1] @ [COLOUR] 6/13 [ENTER]

LD fancied something a bit darker so tried R15. Same command line but colour didn't change. Then tried R90 (just to make sure it wasn't changing) and same thing. Couldn't take the colour out or change it all until I selected COLOUR HOME on the encoders. After that it worked fine.

Thought it was a one off until later when tried to move a Rainbow scroller from one colour to another (this time via colour palettes) and again it wouldn't change colour until after a COLOUR HOME command. Is there some sort of colour lock or some other obvious answer I'm missing?

Cheers, Liam.

SFML - Deleting FX

GYates — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:58:34 GMT

Hi,

Can anyone offer advice on how to delete a prerecorded effect under the 24 shape/linear options .

Thx G

Eos Offline and WYSIWYG

loganistik — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:08:19 GMT

i know there are a number of posts liek this but none of them really helped me.

what im trying to do as u may guess is have both programs on one computer and have Eos offline control WYSIWYG, simple right.

anyways i cant seem to figure out all the nessisary network/setup bits and peices so what im asking is a complete idiots guide to this just so i dont miss anything

btw im running WYSIWYG r22 and vista ultimate 32 bit

thx in advance

Moving Lights Randomly Reset

mfarrow — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:02:03 GMT

I have 2 Mac 500's being used in a show that have been randomly reseting themselves throughout the workday and tech. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for the reset: sometimes we're cueing, other times no one is at the console. I'd think that it was a fixture overheating problem, but I've seen both units reset at exactly the same time.

Here's the setup: Ion (Master), Eos (Client), Net3 RVI, Net3 Touring Gateway with DMX passed through several SeaChangers and Mac 500's powered from 208v SmartSwitch controlled outlet.

If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

SmartBar hook up to Express 24/48 system

siamon — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:10:20 GMT

I'm new to this console and I'm trying to connect a 4-channel SmartBar to the Express panel. I have 2 12-channel SmartPacks and I need a few more channels. I've set the SmartBar DMX addresses to 25 through 28; tried every type combination of hookups, but I can't get the panel to turn on any channels. The bar works fine as a pass through and the 24 channels work fine. (The Express is set for Single Scene mode without subs).

Help!

Jeff

Gateway Input Merge w/Priority per DMX channel

Holztech — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:54:07 GMT

Is it possible to setup a pair of 4port gateways to merge 5 independent streams of DMX into one sACN/Net3 universe with a priority setup per range of channels on each of the inputs?

This is for a hotel Ballroom scenario where one large ballroom can be sub-divided into several smaller rooms, some of which will have a DMX input, some who won't.

The example desired is as follows-

Input 1 is located in Ballroom 1 and Ballroom 1 contains dimmers 1-24.

Input 2 is located in Ballroom 2, which contains dimmers 25-48

Input 3 is located in Ballroom 3, and contains dimmers 49-72

Input 4 is located in ballroom 4 and contains dimmers 73-96.

Input 5 is located in a control booth above the ballroom and would control dimmers 1-96.

Now, Can the priorities be setup like this-

Input 1- DMX 1-24 Priority 100, 25-96 Priority 90

Input 2- DMX 1-24 Priority 90, 25-48 Priority 100, 49-96 Priority 90

Input 3- DMX 1-48 Priority 90, 49-72 Priority 100, 73-96 Priority 90

Input 4- DMX 1-72 Priority 90, 73-96 priority 100

Input 5- DMX 1-96 Priority 110

This would allow the user to have control of just the respective dimmers in each ballroom if multiple consoles are plugged in, and have control over all of it if the console was plugged into either input 5 or if there were no other consoles plugged in if I remember priority settings right.

If I'm wrong, please let me know where I fouled up the idea and how to do it right.

Thanks.

Dennis Witte

Ion Questions and Ramblings

charcoaldabs — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:56:00 GMT

1. What happens when an Ion hangs on boot up? It just freezes, and doesn't work? This is a pertinent issue.

2. What's the quickest way to drop all channels to zero? I thought maybe hitting [Enter] would grab all used channels, and then I could double-tap [Out], but that's not the case. What's the quickest way for me to do this?

3. When patching a channel to multiple intensity only addresses, it makes an extra unused part. Case Example: One channel, two lekos: Channel 5 @ Address 10 + Address 12 --> 5.1 - BLANK, 5.2 - 10, 5.3 - 12. What's going on here?

About manual and Help

Pedro Alves — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:59:24 GMT

Can I ask if there is any intention to release the manual and the help on the consoles in other languages like for insteance Portuguese??? I've got some tecnician friends that always ask me why there isn't help or manual in Portuguese and I alwyas said to them that it's good for them to learn another language but in my opinion you should release the manual in the language of the countrys were is a Congo.

Just a opinion

Pedro Alves

Wybron Coloram 2's

BSmith — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:30:24 GMT

We have 184 Wybron Coloram 2's. Half are six inch, half are eight inch. They all have 26 frames. For the eight years that I have been around them, the have all always had exactly the same deviation. The frames land a little more off each time until halfway through then they drift back. The halfway point of the scrolls land at about DMX 122.

It just dawned on me today that if 184 of these things bought on at least three different occasions have the same deviation, maybe everyone else's do too. If that turns out to be true, then perhaps the fixture profile can reflect this.

Does anyone else have Coloram 2's? If so, do you see what I'm seeing? Would you find a less linear fixture profile useful?

Bonus Questions: Do you use the custon scroll function via the Encoder? If so, have you developed a simple procedure of not needing to calibrate you scrollers every show?

Enquiring mind wants to know.

Net 3 Gateway

Sabine Opitz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:50:39 GMT

Wir haben nun ein neues E Gate ,das Net3 Gateway - die Frage lautet:Muß ich dafür in den Sytemeinstellungen etwas freigeben?Leider ist die Beschreibung,abgesehen davon das sie auf englisch ist, leider nicht sehr hilfreich - wir haben es am Netz und am Netzwerk angeschlossen und es möchte eine IP Adresse.

Sabine

vom Theater Dortmund

V6.0.2 strange behaviour Master contents. Anyone else?

Gareth — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:42:32 GMT

We have a Congo Jnr running V6.0.2 with a master wing and extra 2 x 10 fader wing.

We are having problems with faders loaded up with Presets, channels and Groups as the contents stop outputting. The fader appears to have the relevant content as the text still appears in the fader window but when you push the fader up the content doesn't output. If you Modify + Preset or Group the content is programmed in correctly. If you reload the same content into the same fader the content then outputs again.

I did think this was just happening after I programmed something new into a fader and this does certainly trigger it but last night I was running the desk for about 5 hours on a show and it was just randomly happening.

We have noticed this for a while and not attached the extra fader wing to see if this would help but it happens with just the master wing attached.

1. Is this something your aware of and is there something I can do to resolve this?

-- I had assumed that changing the page on the Master wing would also change the page on the extra 2 x 10 wing. It doesn't.

2. How should I change it's page? It seems to be stuck on page 3??

-- Looking in the Masters view of various pages it shows faders 61 - 80 has contents loaded onto faders. I've not done this as we don't have those faders.

3. What might be happening here?

4. Is it ok just to have 60 faders and not a block of 40 or 80?

We have also noticed that sometimes the LED next to faders (with loaded content) don't always light up.

We have also suffered a full crash where the hour glass appears and the grey back ground with 'congo' written across both screens. (As it appears when it's booting up).

It would be great to hear from anyone who's having similar issues. Have you resolved this?

Might the above issues be resolved with next update?

5. Is there a likely time scale for next update? Wondering whether to move back to V5.1.

SUBMASTER option, RECORD screen option

Michał — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:01:20 GMT

Hi ALL.

There is possible to create two things:

1. Option for RECORD screen. When I REC Preset on a screen I write txt. I have two inputs: P text and S Text. First and defoult is P Text. Maybe Congo Crew create option to choice what text is in first input - defoult? Record will be faster, quickly

2. Masters option. In case when I put EFECT on master. Option what you want to master regulate in effect:

-size

-speed

-size and speed evenly

It not easy write abut questions and sugestuin in not my leanguage... sory for crashes :)

Thanks.

Making many channels into one channel

Toasty42 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:19:38 GMT

So I have a fully written show that we converted over to EOS from Obsession II. All of the moving light info made it except for the Mac 2K Performances. So I've tried a couple things, but thought I would ask the wisdom of the community: Is there a way to force the info of a range of channels, into a personality for a moving light? Or to put it another way, is it possible to take a light that was just a collection of single-parameter channels and make it a multi-parameter channel after all the cues have been written? Obviously this is an attempt to preserve the cue info for these lights, without having to rewrite them into the whole show. Thanks!! Stephen Graham, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA

GOTo CUE OUT brings up channel 3

chrisb — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:38:29 GMT

There might be a simple solution to this, but I'm at a loss. If I hit GOTO Cue 0 or GOTO Cue OUT, all lights black out and then channel 3 fades up to full. Why? I don't even have any cue lists recorded. Any suggestions?

Chris

Save As and Print to .pdf file names

Anne Valentino — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:03:56 GMT

As most of you have discovered, when you save as or print to a .pdf, we use a default "showfile" name. This was put in to allow users to save without putting in a label (so if you were using Ion or Element without a mouse or touchscreen, you had some way to save a file). To clear that, you have two options.

You can use the clear button as a backspace or

You can press the label button. That will clear the default name.

Just so you know, you know?

Dimmer Issue with Smartfade ML

Chip Cooper — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:38:06 GMT

I currently use a Smartfade ML for our lighting and have come across the following issue. Four of my dimmer channels have mysteriously quit working. Channels 1-3 on one dimmer and channel 5 on another dimmer have quit working. I went to the patch by channel to check and the nonworking channels will not turn on when I go thru the patches in live mode.

I ran a new cable direct to the dimmers form the smartfade ML and it did not change anything. I switched the two dimmers addresses and the problem follows the dimmers. Channels 1-3 and 5 do not respond. The system is properly terminated but I wonder if I should reload the software or reset the Smartfade ML.

Chip Cooper

Design Spots 250 Profile Wrong

VSP — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:41:55 GMT

I noticed that when i recently updated the software to 1.8 that the Gobo Graphics have changes in the Elation Design Spot 250 the first pattern had lines and now has a prism graphic. Is there anyway this can be changed in the next update. Thanks

is it possible

peb — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:33 GMT

a congo foh with wireless acces point ,on stage a computer with congo offline

the connection with the congo and the congo offlines is ok,

congo is the server congo offline is the backup , the show between is download , i want to know if it is possible to control channel ,load a cue etc...,like a remote, the synchronisation is not possible

Issues and questions about my new SmartFade ML

Magikman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:24:09 GMT

Basically learned the board in 4 days. During this crash course on learning some issues/questions came up that I'm hoping to get clarification on.

Memories & Sequences - The manual says there are 24 memories per page (faders 1-24) over 12 pages for 288 memories and there are 12 sequences per page (faders 13-24) over 12 pages for 144 sequences.

1. We programmed 24 memories on page 1 and then went to make sequences from them. When we pushed record sequence and selected fader 13 we got an error and it wouldn't let us do it. Come to find out we weren't able to record and sequences on faders that had memories in them. Is it supposed to be that way?

2. However if we first record a sequence for examples on fader 13 and then create a new memory and select fade 13 it allows us to save it.

So is it correct that you can't record sequences over memories but you can put memories over sequences?

3. With that being said how would you go about displaying the memory that is on the same fader as the sequence? When I push the MEMS buttong the fader glows yellow and there doesn't appear to be a way to recall the memory that is "under" it so to speak.

If all of this is correct then in all honesty you can't have 288 memories and 144 sequences then. One takes away from the other.

Copying - I was able to successfully copy sequences from page 1 to page 2 with no issues. However I wasn't able to copy memories from page 1 to page 2. I did the same process (COPY...SOURCE...then new location) and it wouldn't save on page 2. Should I be able to copy memories from one page to another?

Defective Fader - Fader 20 on my new board will not hold times for recorded sequences. I recorded a sequence and placed it on fader 20. All of the steps are there and the time was adjust for fades in between each. Set the sequence to Single Shot and ran it and it rapidly goes through all the steps and stops. However if I copy the sequence to another fader it works just fine and all the timing is there. If I copy it back to 20 the sequence doesn't work with the timing again. It's like fader 20 is defective and won't record/recognize the times. Has anyone else ever had this problem?

Any help is appreciated.

Effect Moving light?

Gilberto Amaro — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:04:12 GMT

Help, how to create effects with Moving light?

There is a step by step?

Console ION.

Thanks.

Hiding unpatched channels

Mr Jules — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:57:22 GMT

Hi y'all.

This might be a pretty basic request, but how do you hide unpatched channels in the live screen. I was shown once and instantly forgot.

Ta very much