Paul

Jester Operating Software version 3.1 has been released, and is available for download from the Zero 88 support website. CLICK HERE. Release 3.1 includes a number of minor improvements to the software - full details can be found in the Release Notes available from the link above, together with instructions for performing the update.

JesterML Operating Software version 2.0 has been released, and is available for download from the Zero 88 support website. CLICK HERE. Release 2.0 adds more submasters, improved DMX Input capability, improved monitor displays, and USB keyboard support. Full details can be found in the Release Notes, available from the link above. New versions of the Online Help (Quick Start) and User Manual are also available, together with instructions for performing the update. Because this release adds significant functionality to the JesterML, show files are not compatible with previous versions. Show files created with version 1.x software cannot be loaded onto a desk running version 2.0, and show files created with version 2.0 software cannot be loaded onto a desk running version 1.x. It is therefore recommended that all JesterML desks be upgraded to version 2.0 before programming, to avoid compatibility problems. Users who have tested beta versions of Release 2.0 should also update and begin programming again, to avoid showfile compatibility issues.

The only thing to watch with older versions on the Frog Box, is that you don't program any submasters in your showfile, otherwise they may be output at spurious levels. This issue (Frog Reference 5573) was fixed in version 10.9.

The manual (download HERE) has a Quick-Start section which walks you through setting up the desk and programming memories and sequences. Is there a particular operation that you're getting stuck on?

At the moment (V10.9) the original Frog series desks do not use the Virtual Intensity information in the fixture library. However (particularly because of the recent trend towards RGB LED fixtures) this is something which we are now considering providing a software update for. Frog Reference 5593 - Virtual Intensity support for fixtures. The Leapfrog48/96 and Frog2 desks already use the Virtual Intensity information from the fixture library.

This is a bug introduced as an unfortunate consequence of implementing FR 5378 and FR 5422 in version 10.8. Because the Frog Box does not have master faders, it is wrongly stopping chases, which is behaviour that was intended for the desks only. Frog Reference 5592 - Chases, movement effects and FROG effects do not replay correctly on Frog Box. We will be fixing this, however with other work that's going on at the moment, I can't give you a timescale right now I'm afraid.

In the early stages of booting it's worth having a monitor connected, as you will get some indication on this about how far the loading process has got and if any problems are encountered. If the fault follows the floppy ribbon cable when you swap it into another desk then yes, this is very likely the problem. The desk looks for an upgrade disk at startup, and if it's getting corrupt information from the drive then it could hang at this point. Hope this helps, let us know how you get on. Paul.

The Illusion500 has had a full feature set for a considerable time, and there aren't currently any plans to add new features to this product. However we are hoping to release a new version of the Illusion500 software shortly to address a number of bugs that have come to light. Watch this space...

Hi John, I don't think the cause of your problem is the same as the one reported with Chauvet Colorstrip LED fixtures reported in THIS TOPIC. That problem is fades not being smooth when controlled from a Fat Frog, which is possibly a DMX compatibility issue. Your problem sounds more like you're either getting a fade or a snap, which seems more likely at this stage to be a programming issue. Can you attach a copy of your showfile and let us know in which memories/submasters the fixtures are not fading as expected? You should set the fixture profile up (using the Fixture Type Editor software on your PC) so the R,G,B channels are under the Colour attribute, and the Dimmer channel is under the Brightness attribute. RGB will then be mixed LTP (Latest Takes Precedence) on the desk, and the Dimmer will then be mixed HTP (Highest Takes Precedence). The Dimmer will then use the Fade Up/Down times that you program for a memory/submaster. The RGB will use the LTP Fade time that you program if Colour is set to Fade(F), or will snap if Colour is set to Snap(S). The Dimmer channels for fixtures are controlled by 'virtual presets' on the Fat Frog, which are mixed HTP with memories/submasters. So once you've finished programming, be sure to lower these by selecting your fixtures and wheeling down the brightness, otherwise all your lights will get stuck on, and you won't have control from memories/submasters. Grab Mode is described fully in the release notes, however in brief: - Hold WHEELGROUP and press PRESET CONTROL to enable grab mode - Move a channel fader or brightness wheel to the current output level of a channel to pick-up control of it - Adjust the fader/wheel as required Hope this helps, let us know if you have any further questions. Paul.

Hi John, Please can you PM me with the serial number of your desk so I can check which hardware version you have? Thanks, Paul.

The tagging / untagging behaviour in 10.9 is the same as in versions 10.0 onwards - see the list above for available options. The changes are to improve brightness tagging / untagging, which won't affect you if you leave the desk in it's default state of always recording brightness. It's always worth reading the release notes, available from the same downloads page as the software upgrade, to familiarise yourself with the changes in the latest versions.

It pauses a crossfade from one memory to another on the Playback X.

To clear a palette, try to over-program it (any old data, doesn't matter). You will get a popup asking if you wish to cancel, program or clear. Select clear...

If by "subchannel" you mean patch a duplicate DMX address to a channel, then this can be done in Super User -> Desk Setup -> Patch Functions -> Manual Patch. Press the INSERT button to add another DMX address to a channel. Up to 100 DMX addresses can be patched to a channel (version 10.8 software onwards).

You can hold plus and minus together to change the memory number to memory 1. To quickly access any memory number it's best to plug in an external keyboard so you can type it in.

Have you got the single phase linking bar fitted across the three sets of supply terminals inside the dimmer? Are all the screws done up nice and tight? Are all the breakers on (yes I know it seems silly to point this out, but we do get calls sometimes...!) If you hold down the ENTER button, the top 6 LEDs on the display will show you which channels are on (above 20%), which should rule out any problems with addressing / topset / dimmer laws.

"Pantone Green 3305C"

Make sure the file you created has a short name without any spaces, and a .IFT extension, e.g. CHAUVET.IFT Try loading the file onto the offline editor Phantom Frog. Also try loading fixture personalities on the desk from the standard fixture library disk supplied with it. These tests should tell you whether the problem is with the file or with the floppy drive on the desk.

The floppy disk drive is a standard 3.5in PC floppy drive (TDK/Teac drives are fitted in most desks). However you might find that if you have an old BIOS chip in the desk (before version 5.2.1), that you may get problems with certain disk drives if they don't initialise themselves to the first sector at power-up. In BIOS 5.2.1 (released March 2004) and later, the BIOS forces this initialisation for better compatibility. Having an old BIOS isn't the end of the world - it just means you might have to try a few times to get a software upgrade disk to be recognised. Saving/loading shows, fixture data, formatting the disk etc. is all handled by the desk software independantly of the BIOS. If you're having problems with these functions, then there's probably not much hope of getting your drive to work and it would be best to try another. If you give Keith a call in the office (01633-838088), he'll be able to let you know if we are still able to supply the drives we used as a spare part.

With the desk in test mode, do those channel faders go to zero? Are those channels outputting from a submaster or the playback X, which might be holding them at that minimum level?

Right click on the picture below and do Save Target As... to get a better resolution tif format version of the Frog Icon.

If you want to copy data from one fixture to another, THIS TOPIC should answer your question.

Can you attach a copy of your showfile and let us know which memory you're having trouble with?

Have you got the Playback X fader up?

Panel test mode has nothing to do with the show data stored in the desk, it simply checks that the hardware is working correctly. You select a page of faders (using the channel flash or SX buttons), then move the faders one by one, and check that the correct level is shown on the LCD. There are also test pages for checking buttons and the sound-to-light input. It's really meant for factory and dealer testing only, hence it's not documented in the user manual.