Paul

No, you can't do this on the original Frog series I'm afraid. This feature is available on the newer Leap Frog 48 & 96 desks though.

The Jester switched over to the r2 processor board in May 2008. There are no external visible differences - the only sure way to check is to switch on the desk and look at the version number in Super User. r1 or r2 will be shown. If neither is shown, it will be r1 running older software. We do an upgrade kit (order code 1175099) which is a replacement processor PCB and LCD PCB - contact your nearest Zero 88 dealer for pricing on this.

Memories are used when you're running the same show, night after night, and you want to pre-program the lot and just run through it using the Go button. A memory can be a static look (scene), or a chase (useful for effects). Submasters are used when you're not sure what might be coming up next in a live show, and you want lots of different looks available so you can mix & match (busk) live. For some general lighting background and terminology explanation, have a look at the Blue Room Wiki, particularly Lighting Desk Features.

The original Frog series does not support Fade Times for palettes, and to be honest this isn't something we're likely to add at this stage in the products life. You can achieve the effect you're looking for by programming a submaster containing just the position for those fixtures (the submaster can even reference the palette if you want it to). Then set an LTP Fade time on the submaster, and set position to Fade. When you trigger the submaster (either by raising the fader past the LTP Trigger Level - default 5%, or by pressing the flash button), the fixtures will fade to the programmed position in the LTP Fade time.

Illusion 500 Moving Light Software Release 1.8 This addresses a number of problems found in previous versions: Illusion Reference 4686 Autorepeat is now disabled on Go button. Illusion Reference 4692 VGA monitor timing is adjusted for better compatibility with monitors (especially flat panels). Illusion Reference 4728 Submasters now remember names and chase speed settings correctly. Illusion Reference 4767 The primary fixture is now indicated correctly in the Program Window. Illusion Reference 4769 Wheel Group information is now loaded correctly from fixture files. https://zero88.com/control/illusion

Most intelligent fixtures should be supplied with hard power (not from a dimmer). The dimming control is then done over DMX, using mechanical shutters or other controls internal to the intelligent fixture. If you connect an intelligent fixture to a dimmer output, you're very likely to damage either the intelligent fixture, or dimmer, or both.

The Bullfrog doesn't have an Ethernet port, and can't record DMX input, so you would need some sort of DMX merger to use Luminair with it, and you wouldn't then be able to record the results on the Bullfrog. So not really what you want I'm afraid. The newer Leapfrog48/96 and Frog2 desks have Ethernet, however in the current software the Artnet implementation is limited to output only. These desks allow you to mix brightness channels with DMX input, so with an Artnet to DMX converter you would be able to use Luminair as a limited remote (brightness only, no moving light control). We have our own remote software for PDAs / PocketPC which works with the Leapfrog48/96 and Frog2. A number of people have already asked if we can do an iPhone version of this - if there's enough demand then it is something we may consider in the future.

You can download the Frog series manual HERE. From the same link you can also download Phantom Frog - which is a simulation of the desk that you can run on your PC to learn it.

Is this the first time this system has been used or has it been working before? The reason I ask is that Pulsar use a different pinout to Zero88 on their analogue DIN connectors, which is a notorious source of problems. Try unplugging the control cables from the XL and see if the green LEDs come on then. If you haven't done so already, then try a Super User Desk Reset (details in the manual) to get rid of any strange settings that may be in the desk. If there's still no joy, then call our Service Manager Keith in the office (01633-838088) - he'll be able to talk you through some more diagnostics and what to do if it then looks like you need to get the desk repaired.

Many fixtures have menu options that allow you to invert Pan/Tilt on the fixture itself. At the moment you can't do this on the JesterML - however the idea has been logged for consideration in a future software update. What you can do however is to select both fixtures, and set the wheel editing mode to Fan V or Fan Middle (hold SHIFT & press POSITION). Then when you move the wheels with SHIFT held down, the fixtures will move in opposite directions from their current positions. The JesterML Movement Effects are pretty much identical to those on the original Frog series - you can change Size X, Size Y, Speed Rotation and Offset of the built-in shapes (ellipse, triangle, quad, figure8), but you can't add your own shapes at the moment. Additional movement effects are discussed HERE for the original Frog series. If you have any suggestions for additional movement effects we may consider adding them in a future JesterML release, however the really clever stuff will remain the domain of the effects engine used in the Leapfrog48/96 and Frog2 desks.

Assigned that fixture on the desk, selected it and press Home - Dimmer goes to 100%. Looks OK.

Values in the fixture editor are DMX values not percentages, so full is 255 for an 8-bit parameter or 65535 for a 16-bit parameter. Just tried it here and it works OK on the desk. If you're still having trouble can you attach a copy of your IFT file so we can check it?

Thanks for the information - very useful. The JesterML48 front panel image built into Phantom Jester is actually at a lower resolution than the others, so it could be that some machines can't handle the larger raw images. If you're not getting any out-of-memory warning messages from windows, this might be due to a graphics card limitation in scaling the raw image to the window. We've rebuilt Phantom Jester with lower resolution front panel images to see if this helps - new version is 1.2B4 - BETA TEST - download link updated in THIS TOPIC. Please can you try this version and let us know how you get on - hopefully this will be the final fix.

The green LEDs on the XL show you what the channels are doing - are these on or off? Are you using an analogue or DMX connection to your dimmers?

If you're still having problems, please can you try the latest beta test version of Phantom Jester - CLICK HERE, and let us know how you get on.

See THIS TOPIC for details of the beta test version that fixes this problem.

In advance of the next planned release of updated software for the JesterML, JesterML24 and JesterML48, we have released a beta test version (2.1B1) which includes the following changes: JES-1878 - Tagging/untagging of the generic channels is now supported when the Record Options Brightness setting is set to Channel. Since the desk does not support tracking, the main benefit to using the desk in this mode is that with careful programming you can exclude channels such as working lights & house lights from memories and submasters. For most uses it is still recommended to leave the Record Options for Brightness set to All. *Untagged brightness channels are shown on the monitor with their levels in dark grey. *Moving a channel fader tags that channel. Do this with TAG/UNTAG held down to untag that channel. *Moving A-Master or B-Master faders tags all generic channels. Do this with TAG/UNTAG held down to untag all generic channels. *Moving Grand Master tags all brightness channels (generics and fixtures). Do this with TAG/UNTAG held down to untag all brightness channels. JES-2065 - Virtual Intensity support for fixtures. Fixtures without a brightness channel (e.g. some LED products) can now have a Virtual Intensity channel on the desk which will govern the output levels of linked channels. Grand Master & Blackout will also then govern these channels. This information is already present in the fixture library for applicable fixtures. CLICK HERE for further details. If you create a showfile with this version that uses Virtual channels, it isn't recommended to go back to a previous software version, as the old software may not handle the virtual channels in the show correctly. JES-2256 - The bottom row of faders in the DMX Patch menu now preview the correct channels on the JesterML24. JES-2257 - Fixed a potential crash on exiting Setup. JES-2318 - When the cursor is on a numeric field, pressing a numeric key on the external USB Keyboard now starts typing in that field, without the need to press ENTER beforehand. JES-2320 - Pressing GO now correctly terminates the entry of a memory number and goes to that memory if it exists. JES-2328 - Palettes now replay for fixtures without Pan/Tilt channels. Download the update HERE. Unzip the file and update in the usual way - instructions are available HERE. There is also a beta test version of Phantom Jester (1.2B4 - BETA TEST) HERE. This includes JesterML Beta version 2.1B1, plus the following: JES-2082 - Phantom Jester monitor window drawing now uses less processor time. JES-2216 - Phantom Jester - reduced resolution of front panel images so they should now display on all machines. JES-2217 - Phantom Jester now has a Stop button which allows the desk to be stopped, restarted, and have the type changed. We would appreciate any feedback on this release as we continue to develop and test the functionality for the next planned release. As with all beta software, we would ask users to exercise caution before using it in a live show environment - we recommend testing all functions required for your show before going live with this version.

We've had some more reports of this problem and done some investigation and uncovered a bug: JES-2328 - Palettes do not replay for fixtures without Pan/Tilt. Hope to get a beta release out today to fix this, watch this space...

The first problem sounds rather odd - can you attach a copy of your showfile so we can take a look at this. The second problem sounds like you might not have the Master Intensity channel set up as a Brightness attribute in the fixture personality. Only the channel in the Brightness attribute will be governed by the Grand Master and Blackout - channels in the Colour/Beamshape/Position attributes are unaffected.

When editing a palette in Program Mode, the entire palette is output. However when replaying a palette in Run Mode, it will only be applied to the selected fixtures. Are the pixel pars selected in Run Mode? Do the Pixel Pars have a brightness channel?

This could be due to a flat battery in the desk, or it could just be other people meddling with the desk while she was away from it. You can protect against a potential battery problem by going into Super User and changing something (like desk defaults or remote switch setup for example) that will force the desk to update the showfile in FLASH with the latest changes from the battery-backed RAM. Then if the battery is failing, you won't lose the latest changes to the show when you switch off the desk. It's also worth saving your show to floppy regularly if you've invested a lot of programming time in it, in case the worst happens. And lock the desk while you're away from it, to protect against other meddlers...

The 'Update Fixture Library' option is there to update the main library - the one we publish with over 1800 fixture types in it. The desk won't let you overwrite that with your own fixture files created with the fixture type editor. To use your own ift files, select the 'Load from USB' option in the 'Assign Fixtures' menu (go down to the manufacturer select line, then press the left cursor). When you do this, the desk will keep a copy of your ift file internally, which you can access later using the 'Load User Type' option in 'Assign Fixtures'.

Before swapping the drive, it's worth trying with a few other disks first to make sure you haven't got a faulty one (it happens). Also double check that the write-protect tab on the disk is in the right position. If your desk is still within it's 3 year warranty period then contact the dealer you bought it from to arrange a warranty repair, or alternatively call our service manager Keith in the office. If you decide to open up the desk yourself, check that both the power cable and ribbon cable to the drive are securely plugged in.

The Virtual Channel functionality will be in the next update for the JesterML, which we're working on for the PLASA show. There is a beta-test version of this software HERE.

Guessing here - does your PC have plenty of spare memory? On my machine, PhantomJester seems to use up to about 16MB when running normally (depending on which panel you select), but needs more (seen it peak at 34MB) when first drawing the panel. It's possible that if any memory requests are denied by Windows, that the panel won't draw - although if this was the case you'd usually get a pop-up message from Windows saying it was low on virtual memory.