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I expect I am one of the older (age) members of the Forum doing my first stage lighting in January 1975 when I was 19. In the 50 years since I have hired and owned many types of lighting desks including those from Zero 88. For 12 years I was using an American computer based desk which was fine untill the company was taken over and things started to change. Support staff left and software development slowed to a crawl. At this time I knew I had to change and along came the FLX S48 which a school I was working in had just bought. Afterwards I went to one of the Zero 88 roadshows at Exeter University and shortly afterwards bought my own because I liked it so much. Fast forward 6 years and I am sorry to see the main support team change so much. I wish everyone well in their new ventures. I hope this is not the thin edge of the wedge. Best wishes to everyone for their productions for 2025. I hope you all enjoy things as much as I do for many years to come. With kind regards Trevor Steer

Hi all, To ensure Vari-Lite can provide the best possible support, I’d like to quickly remind everyone of the three active support routes: Emailing entertainment.service@signify.com or calling +1 214 647 7880 (While the legacy Zero 88 contact methods are still monitored by the UK-based support team, the above contact details are the “official” routes which are monitored by the global support team). This “Vari-Lite Controls Support Forum” (Over the years this has become a fantastic resource of data and is home to some very knowledgeable users. The Vari-Lite team regularly monitor the forum (your forum admins are Darren - @DMH and Ryan - @RJP from the UK-based support team). However, if you require immediate direct support from Vari-Lite, the contact details above are the correct method). “Vari-Lite Console Programmers” Facebook Group Lastly, I’d like to take a moment to say farewell, as I’m stepping down from the team. I’m so proud of the products we’ve launched over my time - FLX, ZerOS Wing, FLX S24 & S48, ZerOS Server, RigSwitch, AlphaPack 3, BetaPack 4, Splitter 8, Gateway 4, Gateway 8, Neo X15, Neo X5, Neo X Server and RigSwitch+. And I’m delighted to have finally released ZerOS 8! Here’s a couple of ZerOS screenshots comparing when I started (ZerOS 5.4), to now (ZerOS 8): But it’s not all about the products - there’s been so much more too. Three (1, 2, 3) PLASA Awards for Innovation, several patents, our industry’s best RDM implementation with RigSync, the first console to implement Art-Net 4, Zero 88’s 40th Anniversary and the “Me and My Zero 88” competition, being ahead of the curve on natively supporting GDTF, the Simplifying Jargon videos, “Live at the Congress” Events and #WeMakeEvents campaigns over COVID, updating the Zero 88 website, our yearly Advent Calendars, our April Fools Day posts (anyone remember FLX switching to Roman Numerals or the new ZerOS Wing SD?) and the High Altitude Balloon into near space competition. So many great memories, fun, experience, knowledge and friendships have been made during this time which are, and will continue to be, very, very special to me. The Vari-Lite team are committed to continuing this good work – with plans to develop and support both ZerOS & FLX S, along with RigSwitch+, Neo X and VisionNet. I wish them all continued success with those projects. So, from me, it’s Time to Say Goodbye. And thank you.

Good luck Jon but I'm not surprised. TBH since the Varilight take over it's felt like the beginning of the end. The issue of the latest software will probably be the last so I hope we all got our wish list items sorted.

I notice the two support personnel Jon quotes above have a combined contribution of posts on this forum of exactly zero (since Sept/Nov 2024 when they joined). Looks like we're on our own folks, or they've got some work to do to establish their credibility and start making an active contribution - which I guess is part of what they are paid to do (unlike us). A 'hello' and a short resume would be a start…

My sentiments exactly. Keith, Edward and now you. My disappointment knows no bounds.

@Jon Hole I wish you future success in your forthcoming move. I think Zero88 now have their work cut out to maintain the support levels we have enjoyed in recent times.

I'm my red mist I've so far failed to acknowledge @Jon Hole. My apologies. Thanks for so much Jon over the years - great products, accurate and timely support, recruiting some other great team members, and putting up with some quite strong feedback and comments from us on here. You will be missed as will all of the legacy Z88 team. Good Luck!

I took "forum admins" to mean they sort out the forum when it dies and deal with inappropriate posts. So, yes, my assumption has been that the prompt and helpful days of Edward and Jon are over and we are, as you say, "on our own". I, for one, would be delighted to have this cynical and depressing assumption proved wrong. The newish thread - 16 bit intensity really 8 bit - is one that seems to require their attention (even though you have tried to help).

Que dire de plus, sinon la même chose qu'à Edward : Merci Jon pour ta pédagogie, ta patience, la pertinence de tes réponses, cela a toujours été un plaisirs d'échanger avec toi, un grand professionnel qui m'a toujours bien aidé ... bonne continuation à toi

What? No! I only just discovered Edward had gone. Pantos will never be the same again. Many thanks for your above-and-beyond support for a little minnow. Simon in Wargrave.

Wow, is really the end of almost an era and of those I knew in Cymbran. Thank you for all your help and guidance over the years. Will miss catching up with you when I was driving by and also at the trade shows 😢 @Jon Hole all the best for the future

Thanks guys, saving a group with intensity is a great help. Confirmed it doesn't link the group level into the cue, so unlike a palette, changes to the Group levels don't affect existing cues. I also found the trick to turn off Smart Tag so I can save lights into the Group with zero intensity. Allowed me to clean up existing cues that were a bit randomly balanced so they're all identical. S

Wasn't expecting to see this, thank you for all of your support @Jon Hole, hopefully the other support reps will be able to match your knowledge and activity. I wish you all of the best in the future, you'll be sorely missed!

I have some Lanta Fireball par64 quad rgbw parcans on my rig which, when set to the same colour palette are receiving different dmx values. Our Panto baddie always has his own colour but it changes from year to year. I saved a new palette "Baddie Green", then a few options to choose from (nos 31-34) , using Lee filters, see photos. If I use palettes 31-34 I get consistent colour on all lights, but I'd have to update each cue if I want to change it. If I <update> Baddie_green with the selected colour, then apply it to my lights, I get different dmx values output to different lights. On the photo 1, the six lights start at dmx 151 and the 1st intensity values are set to 10, 20, 30 etc. In that test the 3rd light gets different values. I can reproduce this when I use any of the renamed colour palettes e.g Undersea_blue. In that case in photo2, lights 1-3 get 120-255-0-43 and lights 4-6 get 120-212-0-43. I noticed this as I've been programming the show, where one light was wrong. When I corrected it, all seemed fine for a while then it reverted to the error. Any ideas anyone? Simon

Try the following command in the SCS Control Send Cue, Device = zeros, OSC Message = /zeros/cue/go/4 . If you put /zeros/cue/go it will operate the next cue in the stack. SCS setup - Production Properties, Devices, Control Send , Device Type=Network Out, Name used in cues=zeros. In the lower panel Remote Device=Other OSC Device, Network Protocol = UDP (defaults to TCP), Network Role = SCS is a network Client, Dummy Connection = unticked, IP address matches the Desk , Port = 8830

@Davidmk Thank you for your response. I'm not back in the theatre until Tuesday evening but will check out the Event Monitor then to see if anything is reaching the desk. All network connections are wired and the PC doesn't have WIFI so shouldn't be a network issue but you never know with networking.

@kgallen Yep, seen it but busy ATM. @saitekx830 Settings both ends look good will give it some thought later.

Yup, couldn't agree more. I guess the days of technical support here on the forum from official sources are done, hopefully we'll be shown otherwise.

I'm a big convert of using groups as much as possible! Definitely speeds up programming no end, and as David has mentioned I'm 99.9% sure you can save intensity within a group. (From a FLX user) I've also found sensible fixture numbering really helps (although it sounds like your venue is fairly small) to pick up your Fresnels, PAR side lights, cyc etc. e.g. 1X fixture numbers for Fresnels, 2X numbers for PARs etc (add the hundreds digit as required..!) I'm not experienced on Solution to understand how this would translate, but I'd definitely be looking at doing syntax based control via keyboard if it allows. Copy/Paste of cues is obviously another big time saver for when you're moving back and forward between locations.

What a great early Christmas present, was just going to start needing the extra addresses!. Thanks to the whole team. Hopefully your all taking a well earned break, enjoy the festive season!