kgallen

Hi Fixture is just the generic term for a light, from a simple tungsten fresnel to a LED moving head with gobos etc. Programming a fixture to 0 intensity should just work. However zero intensity is ‘special’ in that with SmartTag enabled, only the intensity (of zero) will be recorded for that fixture, not any changes to other fixture parameters (colour etc). This is deliberate, to support (amongst other things) move on dark, but sometimes it’s a little inconvenient (for example when also wanting to do Effect Off in the same cue). Maybe you could elaborate when setting intensity to zero is not working for you? Inserting cues is possible for sure. These are called point cues and you can have 2 decimal places (so possible 99 point cues between integer cue numbers). On FLX S you don’t have a keypad to type numbers as I do on my ‘full’ FLX so the touchscreen keypad needs to be involved. I’ll have to look this up. Having an external USB keyboard plugged in would get you to most of the programming syntax available on FLX and other higher end consoles. https://www.zero88.com/manuals/zeros/cues-playbacks/recording-cues-2 On FLX S, the cue number you require can be defined by tapping Record Z/Shift and using the on-screen number pad to type your cue number. Then, tap the playback's button to record as usual. Regarding tracking, there are a bunch of ‘terminology’ videos I’ll link shortly which will give you the idea. But some of these are ‘complex’ topics so you’ll have to learn the nitty gritty from the more specific training videos. Much of this terminology is industry standard so will benefit you on a whole range of consoles not just your FLX S. Please start working through these videos. Your FLX S has capabilities well beyond a basic fader-based lighting desk you may have been used to at this point. It’s a big step up, there is a significant learning curve.

@Davidmk I suspect you are pretty much bang on with all you say. I don't think Vari-Lite are interested in the console business, or any of Zero88's products. I think Zero88 was just a tiny operation that came along with their bigger purchase of Signify (or whatever transient companies bought the stable that included Zero88 on the way). Zero88's Cwmbran manufacturing operation is (/was, if it still exists) pretty much over to subcontract electronics build. They'll make a few Zero88 product batches as and when demand requires it. I suspect that will dwindle and drop off as demand drops and the lack of successor products means the Zero88 brand disappears. This forum will be funded until someone high up in VL realises they are spending money on it and/or the traffic drops off to a level they think there is no need for it any more. We've probably missed the boat but it would be desirable to get the schematics, Bills-of-Materials and if possible software source code out of the remaining Z88 databases and into the "public" domain before VL type "rm -rf /*" on it all and forget it ever existed. The software source code might be tricky as it might contain sub-licensed IP such that it doesn't have a GPL type license, I don't know, this is not my area. I've not heard anything about any new products with the Z88 brand and there is no evidence to date on the beta forum of ZerOS development work post 8.0 (although JonH did suggest there was an ongoing development plan on his leaving speech). But I don't think there is "anyone" left from Z88 to do this. I think Simon, the key software guy, was probably a sub-contractor [I could be wrong], so will have moved on to other ventures to keep paying his mortgage. If he is about, he's been very quiet and hasn't posted on here at all to say "don't panic guys, we're still here (just)". Time will tell. But I'm not holding my breath.

I believe the FLX S are based on Raspberry Pi and the touchscreen is essentially a generic peripheral you can buy for it. FLX is more a custom hardware and screen.

Hi 1. [Fader Funct] is one button and it’s to the right of the fader bank. It’s what switches the faders between channel control and playback control. So no not the individual buttons under each fader! 2. Also there is no ‘delete’ going on, no data is being lost. This operation *releases* playbacks. Release means to stop a playback from controlling fixtures. If you release all playbacks and the master playback that means no playback is controlling any fixture. If the programmer is also clear (clear-clear) fixtures will revert to whatever default value is set for the fixture (which is usually the same as its Home values but with intensity zero). 3. If you are in Cue Only then you should never see purple digits in the Output Window. This means any fixtures are only controlled explicitly by any cues (from playbacks) you have done ‘GO’ on (or triggered by raising the associated playback fader) or any values overridden in the programmer (values will show in red text). CLEAR-CLEAR will fully clear the programmer CLEAR+[Fader Funct] will release playbacks 1-48 (or however many playbacks S24 has, I can’t remember) and CLEAR-[Master GO] will release the master playback. Doing those three things should mean all fixtures are released to their default. Unless you’ve reprogrammed default for any fixture I’d thus expect your stage to be dark. You have SmartTag enabled which is useful unless you’re an advanced user. Cue Only is the most basic mode of the console and means your cues will only ever contain exactly what was on stage when you recorded. However Cue Only stops you overlaying playbacks or controlling individual fixture attributes in more complex and creative ways - you need to be in Tracking mode for that. How are you doing with the training videos?

Hi Ben, Can you attach a showfile here? It sounds like you have those other lights live on stage when you record the cue, or you have other playbacks active when playing back the (master?) playback? Do you have SmartTag enabled when recording? Is Tracking enabled or disabled when recording? You can look at the colours of the intensity values in the output window. Usually you would expect to see blue and green numbers. If you see purple numbers these intensities have "tracked" from another cue. If you see white numbers then these are "snapshot" (blocked) values. If they have a red background then these are "parked". Maybe you could attach a screenshot. Another idea is to install PhantomZeros on a PC/laptop, then start it in FLX (not FLX S) mode then load your showfile. FLX has a Sources screen that shows where control for each channel is coming from. This might help you debug your programming method until you are more used to the console. All colours are documented here: https://www.zero88.com/manuals/zeros/desktops-windows/output-window CLEAR+Fader Func will release all non-master playbacks. CLEAR+Master GO will release the master playback. https://www.zero88.com/manuals/zeros/cues-playbacks/playing-back-cues/triggering-releasing-playbacks Hope that helps! Kevin

You need to be in tracking mode - or at least not using snapshot. If your intensity values are in white in the Output Window then you have programmed "blocking" cues which will stop move on dark from working. If you programme with SmartTag then if a fixture is dark (intensity=0) in a cue and needs to reposition/re-gobo/re-zoom, then move on dark will do this automatically. If you have programmed snapshots then you could change to tracking then use Update with SmartTag to un-block cues to allow MOD to work. There is also an UNBLOCK you can do on the whole cue-stack. However as with all such bulk changes you should check your programming afterwards, not on a live show! If you are busking with playbacks then you can exploit the playback GO button to execute the move before you raise the fader for intensity, otherwise raising the fader will trigger the move etc as the intensity builds so you see the move etc. Other users here will be able to advise you better if you're busking. There is this video:

They do now! Thanks! 🙂

The answer to that lies in this forum over the last few months. As a 30 year user/buyer myself, it’s spelled out in big fat letters. It’s the end of the line folks I’m afraid, they’re not interested. Jon managed to get in a last gasp with ZerOS 8 before he left. That will be the last, I’m sure of it. Zero88 and its beloved products and employees are no more.

@jeansté Here you go, all of them in one file. I'm sure the 1ch profile fixture is not much use over just patching a generic dimmer, but at least it would have the right name. The 2ch version has 16-bit dimmer which will benefit you if you are programming a cue stack (but note if you are busking on a fader then you will get 8-bit resolution). Let me know if you have issues with them or you spot an error. Enjoy! FOS.ift

I’ll do you a fixture in a bit so you can use that 16-bit dimmer mode properly.

@jeansté COB PAR 200 and TV Mini Fresnel done. Put on a USB stick and Load as you would a showfile. When patched, they will be in a red font in the fixture list. FOS.ift

@jeansté Thanks for those. Have you a manual for the profile?

Yea I just saw that too…

I’m not sure if some of David’s links are working. This page effectively gives a flow chart: https://www.zero88.com/manuals/zeros/patching/add-fixtures/missing-fixtures If you’re really stuck and can post a link to the pdf manual for each fixture, I’m sure I could make you fixture files tonight.

Those don’t look fancy, likely pretty basic fixtures. Your easiest options: - Ensure you have ZerOS 8 on it and check that library. - Use the fixture patch to search for other fixtures with the same or a usable DMX map. - Write your own with the on-console fixture editor.

Hi. Can’t help you with a card but some info on here if it helps you search for one. https://www.vari-lite.com/b-dam/vari-lite/discontinued-products/illusion/english/illusion-500-specification.pdf

I said you'd probably get me here too! 😄 This would probably be a better place to continue the conversation otherwise we'll probably end up cluttering up the Blue Room forum with a level of chatter and detail many others there will get irritated with. Also on here you can post pictures/screenshots etc which you can't do directly on Blue Room. Kevin

For the benefit of others I’ve been ‘helping’ Ben with this on the BlueRoom forum. However as yet we’re not ‘on the same page’. Maybe other users can help us see the light! For those who aren’t familiar with the Zero88 Alcora it’s a basic entry level non-tracking memory console with a single memory stack with a Master Fader and a Grand Master Fader (since you could mix memory levels with other ‘manual’ fader levels). There is nothing ‘quirky’ with the Alcora in this respect. The BR thread is here: https://www.blue-room.org.uk/topic/79592-flx-s24-setting-grand-master-on-master-playback/#comment-616676 Thanks! Mods: @DMH @RJP ideally this post would be moved to the FLX S24 forum.

Interesting. I have an FLX which has hard keys for these functions. However it does put different information on the external screen compared to the internal screen. I'm not familiar enough with the S48 to know if it moves certain functions to the external screen when one is attached (but it would need to know that was a touch screen to move a function such as "play"). Having said all of that, I'm not sure I know what the "play" icon is for on S24/S48, since you still have a "go" button on master and for each other playback! Sorry, I'm not helping much. This sounds like a subtle implementation question that we would need an answer from the folks who have now departed our tiny bit of universe 😞

… we need pictures! 😆

Did you accidentally switch the view to another (unprogrammed) playback? (I'm sure not, but just checking).

Here you go. Lots of controls will be under Beam/Shape. I've added a virtual dimmer for the LEDs plus a few "detail" entries for some channels to make usage easier. Put this on a USB stick and just Load as you would a showfile. When you patch the fixture it will show up in red as a "non-library fixture". It will save in any showfile you save. Let me know any issues with it. Enjoy. QTFX_LBF1.ift

Hi Leigh, Thanks for following my guidance on BlueRoom. If nobody beats me to it, I’ll aim to do this for you tonight. Regards, Kevin

Hi. You have to use the Monitor App on an external device. There is no video output port on the S24.

Wow I’m with you there. Not so young myself! Well that’s some rig you’d put together. Given the ‘full’ FLX is not available new (and for me is spades above the FLX-S), I hope it finds a good home and some kind of return for you. Good luck and hope to still ‘see you around’. (And sorry for polluting your thread with ‘chat’!).