K-Nine

Well, I am of course incredibly biased, but here we go : Reasons you should buy one : 96 moving lights, 1024 DMX channels 216 submasters (24 playing back at the same time) for tons of flexibility 48 'SX' Playbacks for layering even more scenes and chases together making 'busked' shows fast and flexible Compatibility with any other Frog desk will provide you with a backup if the worst happens It looks really cool ! No nasty layers of operation to get through... you want to select a moving light... hit the button ! It looks really cool ! Online support direct from the factory and *real* users of the product via this website Ongoing development of the features, and regular software releases.. put together *with* the real users of the product Did I mention it looks really cool ? Reasons not to buy : None that I can think of ;-)

Eighteen months ago I upgraded to Girlfriend 1.0 from Drinking Mates 4.2 which I'd used for years without any trouble. However there are apparently conflicts between these two products and the only solution was to try and run Girlfriend 1.0 with the sound turned off. To make matters worse, Girlfriend 1.0 is also incompatible with several other applications, such as Lads Night Out 3.1, Football 2 and duck 6. Successive versions of Girlfriend proved no better. A shareware beta-programme, Party Girl 2.1, which I tried, had many bugs and left a virus in my system, forcing me to shut down completely for several weeks. :cry: Eventually I tried to run Girlfriend 1.2 and Girlfriend 1.0 at the same time, only to find that when these two systems detected each other they caused severe damage to my hardware. 8O Sensing a way out, I then upgraded to Fiancé 1.0 only to discover that this product soon had to be upgraded (at great cost) to Wife 1.0, which I reluctantly agreed to because, whilst Wife 1.0 tends to use up all my available resources, it does come bundled with FreeSex Plus and Cleanhouse 2000. Shortly after this upgrade however I discovered that Wife 1.0 can be very unstable and costly to run. For example, any mistakes I made were automatically stored in Wife 1.0's memory and could not be deleted. They then resurfaced months later when I had forgotten about them. Additional costly problems are that Wife 1.0 needs updating regularly, requiring Shoe Shop Browser for new attachments and also Hairstyle Express which needs to be reinstalled every other week. Wife 1.0 also spawns unwelcome child processes that also drain my resources. It also conflicted with some of the new games I wanted to try, stating that they are an illegal operation. When Wife 1.0 attaches itself to my Audi TT programme it often crashes or runs the system dry. Wife 1.0 also has a rather annoying pop-up called Mother-in-Law, which can't be turned off. Recently I've been tempted to try Mistress 2000, but there could be problems. A friend has alerted me to the fact that if Wife 1.0 detects the presence of Mistress 2000 it tends to delete all your MS Money files before un-installing itself !! Perhaps I'll just go back to Single 2002, and blow the rest on Whisky 35ML and Quiz Nights 4.0 :wink:

Frog Reference 5263 - fixed in software release 7.0. Having just checked this out on a desk for my own piece of mind ... the actual upgrade process is not started until after two user confirmations are given. Therefore the user must have selected continue following the first upgrade message and selected continue again after the warning re overwriting shows is displayed on the LCD, before deciding to pull the plug, after it was too late ! Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool :twisted:

I think you've hit it on the head... most of the 'large theatre desks' Frog is a sub-2000 pound hybrid desk. And whilst we should never, and have never stopped developing it, you must understand that there is a difference. Our rationale for the inclusion of features is quite simple and, I'll go as far as to say more open than a lot of other manufacturers... If a feature can be implemented in the product and there is a good commercial or operational case to do so... we'll implement it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be defensive or negative, just trying to stop us going down the route of... 'well the xxxx desk can do it, so why doesn't yours ?' Dimmer curves are in our database of feature requests, at some point in the future, we'll be reviewing all of them, and trying to come up with a list of features for the next update... I hope that you will all be ready to vote, and to help us with the specifications :-) Since this topic has diversified into a number of different features the following Frog Reference numbers covers the items to be reviewed: Frog Reference 5416 - Pre-Heat Frog Reference 5417 - Topset Frog Reference 5418 - Dimmer Laws

With regards having to work with existing dimmers, then that is a fair point. I believe Tim's suggestion earlier in this topic re setting up a preheat state on a submaster may offer a solution. With regards dimmer laws, this is a new area as far as desk functionality goes and will need to be reviewed with all the other suggestions we receive on the functionaliity and operation of the desks. I suppose if both the desk and the dimmers have law capabilities, you would have to be careful that they didn't interfere with each other and produce some weird output curves :twisted:

What may appear on the surface to be a simple function to the user is not necessarily simple to design and implement. Having spent over two years on the development of the Frog series from the beginning I know :roll: One major difference to consider is that unlike the Sirius 250/500 desks the Frog desks have a single operating mode. Therefore the Edit button will perform its normal 'Edit' operation depending what is displayed on the main LCD at the time, ie it may result in editing a scene, chase, chase step, submaster, memory on a submaster, SX button, memory on an SX button etc. Similarly, pressing a submaster flash button will flash or solo whatever data is currently on that submaster. In some circumstances, it will also select that submaster if the main LCD is showing a related screen. There is also the issue of whether this operation would be a temporary or permanent edit on the chase speed, especially as chases transferred onto submasters reference the memories in the memory stack, and do not have their own independent modifiers (cf Illusion). If it was only temporary, how do you output the chase at its original programmed speed ? What if the chase on a submaster (or playback X or SX button) was also used elsewhere, would the speed change for those instances also ? Would the temporary edited speed need to be stored for each instance where the chase occurred etc ? These are just some of the reasons why it could get complicated :? On a more positive note, live editing of chase speed has been mentioned by several users, and will therefore be reviewed along with other items next time we look at putting together an updates package.

TOPSET - I would agree with topset being a desk function (cf Illusion). It is almost certainly one of many items raised by users which have been logged and will be considered for future software upgrades, though I cannot say if, or when, that may be - that decision is up to THE MANAGEMENT Initial thoughts: The function must be easily accessible without having to go into Desk Setup. Topset would only apply to the generic (dimmer) channels on the Frog desks ? The default setting for each generic channel would be 100% The user could set each individual channel to any value between 0 - 100%. A reset topset function to return all channels to the default 100% ? FUNCTIONALITY: There is also a great deal of functionality on the Frogs that was never available on the Sirius desks PRE-HEAT and DIMMER LAWS - I tend to agree with Paul on this one and believe that this functionality should lie in the dimmers. Have you looked at our Chilli Range of dimmers, which have preheat, dimmer laws and more :wink:

Hi, You must first put the desk into partial program mode. You need to do this before programming or it will not work Keith was close :wink: It is actually an option under Desk Setup in Super User. See The Frog Series Operating Manual pages 6-2 and 6-9 for details.

Hi Mike, No, there is not a topset feature on the Frog range I'm afraid, however it has been logged for future consideration... Frog Reference 5417 - Topset The easiest way to mix scenes and chases is to stick your chases on a submaster, and put your scenes in the Playback X stack. You can overlay chases on any other cue.

There were 3 guys, 2 smart ones, and a dumb one and they were all going hunting one day. The first smart guy went out and came back with a huge grizzly bear. The dumb guy asked him "How did you get that huge grizzly bear?" The smart guy said, "I followed the tracks, went in the cave and shot the bear." Then the second smart guy went out and came back with a huge black bear. The dumb guy asked him, "How did you get that huge black bear?" The second smart guy said, "I followed the tracks, went in the cave, and shot the bear. So the dumb guy went out and came back all battered, bruised and covered in blood. The smart guys said, "What happened to you?" The dumb guy said, "I followed the tracks, went in the cave, and got hit by a train."

You are absolutely right, there is no reason that you should have to purchase a drive. I think the suggestion was given in good faith, in the hope that it would get you going again. The Frog range comes with a 3 year warranty. Please contact your local distributor, and they will be able to organise a drive for you. Apologies for any confusion.

The teacher gave her class an assignment to get their parents to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it. The following day the kids came back and one by one began to tell their stories. Ashley stood up first and said, "My father's a farmer and we have a lot of egg laying hens. One time we were taking our eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the car when we hit a big bump in the road and all the eggs went flying and broke and made a terrible mess." "So what's the moral of the story ?" asked the teacher. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket !" "Very good," said the teacher. Next little Sarah raised her hand and said, "Our family are farmers too. But we raise chickens for the meat market. We had a dozen eggs one time, but when they hatched we only got ten live chicks, and the moral to this story is "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched." "That was a fine story Sarah. Michael, do you have a story to share?" "Yes, my daddy told me this story about my Aunty Karen. Aunty Karen was a flight engineer in the Gulf War and her plane got hit. She had to bail out over enemy territory and all she had was a bottle of whiskey, a machine gun and a machete. She drank the whiskey on the way down so it wouldn't break and then she landed right in the middle of 100 enemy troops. She killed seventy of them with the machine gun until she ran out of bullets. Then she killed twenty more with the machete until the blade broke. Then she killed the last ten with her bare hands." "Good heavens," said the horrified teacher, "What kind of moral did your daddy tell you from that horrible story?" "Don't mess with my Aunty Karen when she's been drinking !! "

Hi, The Mambo Frog desk has 48 SX Buttons which serve a number of purposes. They can be loaded with channel data or a transferred memory and be used as another source of outputs. They operate in a similar manner to the submasters, except they do not have an associated fader. They are also used as palette and fixture group selection buttons. See Mambo Frog Operating Manual - chapter 5 for full details. Cheers, K-Nine.

The latest release of Frog series operating software is now available for download. The software can be found in the 'Downloads' section of the main Zero 88 website (www.zero88.com) Release notes are as follows (a properly formatted, PDF version of these notes is available for download in the same location as the software) : 1. Introduction This document describes the additional functionality provided in Frog Series Software Release 7.5 compared with the previous official software release (Version 6.2): · Partial Recording down to attribute level on memories, submasters and SX button data. · Improved Movement Effects generator with X and Y size, rotation, offsets and synchronisation. · Fixture editing modes providing absolute, relative and new “fan†functions. · Entry of numeric data (eg fade times, DMX addresses) from external keyboard. · Simplified programming of palettes and fixture groups. · Bug fixes and other minor modifications. 2. Partial Recording The partial recording function has been improved so that it is now possible to specify individual attributes, or combinations of attributes to be recorded for the tagged fixtures when programming and editing memories, submasters or SX buttons. 2.1 Programming Partial Memory, Submaster or SX Button Data Using the attribute selection buttons it is possible to choose a single LTP attribute, pairs of LTP attributes, or all three LTP attributes to be recorded, as follows: · Ensure that the desk is set up to record in partial mode (Desk Setup in Super User). · Select the required memory, submaster or SX button to be programmed. · Adjust fixture parameters as required. · Ensure that all the required fixtures are tagged. · Press and hold down the required attribute button(s) · Press the Program button. The parameters for the selected attribute(s) of the tagged fixtures will then be recorded into the memory, submaster or SX button data. Notes The output levels of all generic channels and the brightness levels of all fixtures will always be recorded, regardless of which fixtures are tagged and which attribute button(s) are pressed. To record only the brightness levels of the fixtures (ie no LTP channels), all fixtures must be untagged prior to pressing the Program button. To record all the parameters for the tagged fixtures, simply press the Program button. In chase memories, the fixture/attribute selection applies to all steps in the chase. 2.2 Editing Partial Memory, Submaster or SX Button Data When editing a partial memory, submaster or SX button, the user will be able to adjust any of the generic channels and/or fixture channels as normal, regardless of which attributes were previously programmed. If generic or fixture channels have been changed or any fixtures have been tagged or untagged, a message will be displayed on the LCD when the Edit button is pressed to exit edit mode. This message will show which LTP attributes (colour, beamshape, position) will be recorded on saving the changes to the memory/submaster/SX button. It will default to the attribute(s) previously programmed, but will allow the user to change the attribute selection to be saved, if required. For example: · Select a programmed memory/submaster/SX button with Colour only programmed. · Press the Edit button to enter edit mode. · Edit the generic channels and fixture channels, as required. · Ensure that all the required fixtures are tagged. · Press the Edit button to exit edit mode. The following message is displayed on the main LCD: *** Data Modified ** Attributes recorded: C{Yes} B{ No} P{ No} Save ? [Yes] {No} Line three of the LCD shows the LTP attributes which will be recorded in the data if the edits are saved (in this example colour only). If the LTP attribute field says Yes, the LED in the corresponding attribute button on the front panel will flash. To save the edits (with same attribute selection as previously recorded) - press the Enter button. To save the edits (with a different attribute selection) – use the up or down arrow keys to select the C (Colour), B (Beamshape) or P (Position) field. Use the + or – keys to toggle the field as required. Alternatively, pressing the corresponding attribute button on the front panel will toggle the field. When the field is set to Yes, the LED in the corresponding attribute button will flash. Use the up or down arrow keys to move the cursor onto the ‘Yes’ button and press Enter. To lose any edits and exit edit mode - Use the up or down arrow keys to move the cursor onto the ‘No’ button and press the Enter button. Notes The new warning message shown above is only displayed when the desk is in partial recording mode. On the Frog desk, or any of the other desks in the Frog series operating in Full mode, the following warning message will be displayed on exiting edit mode after making changes: ***** WARNING ****** Data Modified Save Changes? [Yes] {No} 2.3 Indication of Partial Programming on the Main LCD 2.3.1 Memories The Colour, Beamshape and Position action fields on the Memories screen on the LCD are used to indicate partial programming down to attribute level as follows: If the attribute is programmed in the memory – the field will show Snap or Fade and will be editable. If the attribute is not programmed in the memory – the field will show “----“ and will not be editable. 2.3.2 Submasters There are no changes to the Submasters screen on the LCD, but additional columns have been added to the Submasters screen on the monitor to indicate which attributes are programmed in the channel data or transferred memory. 2.3.3 SX Buttons There are no changes to the SX screen on the LCD, but additional columns have been added to the SX Buttons screen on the monitor to indicate which attributes are programmed in the channel data or transferred memory 2.4 Indication of Partial Programming on Monitor Screens 2.4.1 Memories The Colour, Beamshape and Position action fields on the Memories screen are used to indicate partial programming down to attribute level as follows: The attribute is programmed in the memory – the field will show S (snap) or F (fade) as normal. The attribute is not programmed in the memory – the field will be blank. The following example shows memories programmed with single LTP attributes, pairs of LTP attributes or all three LTP attributes: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEMORIES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NO | NAME |MT|FADE UP|FADE DOWN|LTP FADE|C|B|P| DWELL | TRIG | JUMP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 |RED WASH |SC| 3.0| 3.0 | 5.0 |S| | | 10.0|09:00:00| 2 |STAR GOBOS |SC| 3.0| 3.0 | 5.0 | |S| | 10.0|AUTO | 3 |CENTRE STAGE |SC| 3.0| 3.0 | 5.0 | | |F| 5.0|AUTO | 4 |BLUE SPOTS |SC| 3.0| 3.0 | 5.0 |S|S| | 30.0|AUTO | 2 5 |GREEN FRONT |SC| 3.0| 3.0 | 5.0 |S| |F| 10.0|10:30:00| 6 |STARS BACK |SC| 3.0| 3.0 | 7.5 | |S|F| 10.0|AUTO | 7 |RED STAR LEFT |SC| 5.0| 5.0 | 10.0 |S|S|F| 5.0|AUTO | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.2 Submasters Three new Colour, Beamshape and Position data fields have been added to the Submasters screen to indicate partial programming down to attribute level as follows: The attribute is programmed in the channel data or transferred memory – the field shows S (Snap) or F (Fade) according to the following rules: · Channel Data – S · Transferred Memory without Time – S · Transferred Memory with Time – S or F (as defined in the memory itself) The attribute is not programmed in the channel data or transferred memory – the field will be blank. The following example shows submasters programmed with channel data and memories containing single LTP attributes, pairs of LTP attributes or all three LTP attributes: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBMASTERS – PAGE 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------NUMBER | NAME | CONTENTS | FADE | FADE UP |FADE DOWN|LTP TL|C|B|P| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 |BLUE WASH | CH DATA |MANUAL| | | 25% |S| | | 2 |CIRCLE GOBO | CH DATA |MANUAL| | | 25% | |S| | 3 |CENTRE STAGE | CH DATA |MANUAL| | | 25% | | |S| 4 |YELLOW STARS | CH DATA |MANUAL| | | 25% |S|S| | 5 |PINK STAGE LEFT | CH DATA |MANUAL| | | 25% |S| |S| 6 |GREEN STAR RIGHT | CH DATA |MANUAL| | | 25% |S|S|S| 7 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 8 |RED WASH | MEM 1 s|TIMED | 3.0 | 3.0 | 10% |S| | | 9 |STAR GOBOS | MEM 2 S|TIMED | 3.0 | 3.0 | 10% | |S| | 10 |CENTRE STAGE | MEM 3 S|TIMED | 3.0 | 3.0 | 5% | | |F| 11 |BLUE SPOTS | MEM 4 S|TIMED | 3.0 | 3.0 | 5% |S|S| | 12 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 13 |RED STAR LEFT | MEM 7 S|TIMED | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5% |S|S|F| … | | | | | | | 23 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 24 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.3 SX Buttons Three new Colour, Beamshape and Position data fields have been added to the SX Buttons screen to indicate partial programming down to attribute level as follows: The attribute is programmed in the channel data or transferred memory – the field shows S (Snap) or F (Fade) according to the following rules: · Channel Data – S · Transferred Memory without Time – S · Transferred Memory with Time – S or F (as defined in the memory itself) The attribute is not programmed in the channel data or transferred memory – the field will be blank. The following example shows SX buttons programmed with channel data and memories containing single LTP attributes, pairs of attributes or all three attributes: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SX BUTTONS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------NUMBER | NAME | CONTENTS | FADE UP |FADE DOWN|ACTION|LTP TL|C|B|P| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 |BLUE WASH | CH DATA | 3.0 | 3.0 |FLASH | 25% |S| | | 2 |STAR GOBO | CH DATA | 3.0 | 3.0 |FLASH | 25% | |S| | 3 |CENTRE STAGE | CH DATA | 3.0 | 3.0 |SOLO | 25% | | |S| 4 |BLUE SPOTS | CH DATA | 3.0 | 3.0 |FLASH | 25% |S|S| | 5 |STARS LEFT | CH DATA | 3.0 | 3.0 |FLASH | 25% | |S|S| 6 |CENTRE STAGE | CH DATA | 3.0 | 3.0 |SOLO | 25% | | |S| 7 |RED STAR LEFT | CH DATA | 3.0 | 3.0 |SOLO | 25% |S|S|S| 8 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 9 |RED WASH | MEM 1 S| 3.0 | 3.0 |GO | 10% |S| | | 10 |STAR GOBOS | MEM 2 S| 5.0 | 5.0 |GO | 10% | |S| | 11 |CENTRE STAGE | MEM 3 S| 10.0 | 10.0 |GO | 5% |S|S|F| 12 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 13 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 14 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 15 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 16 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 17 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 18 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 19 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 20 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 21 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 22 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 23 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | 24 | | EMPTY | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Movement Effects The following movement effects and control parameters are now provided: Parameter Range Default Control Wheel Effect None, Ellipse, Quad, Tri, Figure8 None Group 1 – Thumb Size X 0 – 100 0 Group 1 – 1st Finger Size Y 0 – 100 0 Group 1 – 2nd Finger Offset 0 – 100 % 0 Group 2 – Thumb Rotn 0 – 359 degrees 0 Group 2 – 1st Finger Speed - 100 to + 100 0 Group 2 – 2nd Finger By using the Size X, Size Y and Rotn parameters, a much greater range of shapes and effects can now be defined. All the movement effects can be rotated allowing horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, diamonds (rotated square) etc. to be created. For example: · A circle is an Ellipse where Size X = Size Y · A square is a Quad where Size X = Size Y · A line is an Ellipse where Size X or Size Y = 0. 3.1 Offsets and Synchronisation The movement effect control parameter, Offset has been introduced to allow synchronisation of movement effects. The rules for synchronisation are as follows: · Synchronisation is achieved by setting the progress through a movement effect to the Offset parameter. · Synchronisation will occur when a memory is output on the Playback X, or when a submaster or SX button is raised above it's LTP trigger level. · In Partial mode, only the tagged fixtures with position programmed will have their movement effects resynchronised. · In Full mode, all fixtures will have their movement effects resynchronised. 4. Fixture Editing Modes The new fixture editing function has a number of modes which are user-selectable from the front panel and apply when editing several fixtures at the same time. This function is designed primarily for use with Pan and Tilt parameters, but will be available to all four attributes (Brightness, Colour, Beamshape, and Position). 4.1 Absolute Mode When several fixtures are selected and a fixture parameter is adjusted using a control wheel, the adjusted parameter for all the selected fixtures goes to the same absolute DMX value. For example – Select fixtures 1 – 5 (Fixture 1 is the Primary Fixture) and adjust a parameter: Fixture Parameter Fixture 1 Fixture 2 Fixture 3 Fixture 4 Fixture 5 Original DMX Value 30 20 40 10 50 New DMX Value 15 15 15 15 15 Change in Value -15 -5 -25 +5 -35 4.2 Relative Mode When several fixtures are selected and a fixture parameter is adjusted using a control wheel, that parameter on each of the selected fixtures will increase or decrease by the same amount from its original value. For example: Fixture Parameter Fixture 1 Fixture 2 Fixture 3 Fixture 4 Fixture 5 Original DMX Value 10 20 30 40 50 New DMX Value 15 25 35 45 55 Change in Value +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 4.3 Fan Modes Three different fan modes are provided (Fan-First, Fan-Middle, Fan-Last). When several fixtures are selected and a fixture parameter is adjusted using a control wheel, that parameter on each of the selected fixtures will increase or decrease by a different amount from their original values, depending on the fixture number and which fixture is ‘locked’ in that mode. 4.3.1 Fan-First Mode (First Selected Fixture Locked) Fixture Parameter Fixture 1 Fixture 2 Fixture 3 Fixture 4 Fixture 5 Original DMX Value 10 10 10 10 10 New DMX Value 10 15 20 25 30 Change in Value 0 +5 +10 +15 +20 4.3.2 Fan-Middle Mode (Middle Selected Fixture Locked) Fixture Parameter Fixture 1 Fixture 2 Fixture 3 Fixture 4 Fixture 5 Original DMX Value 50 50 50 50 50 New DMX Value 40 45 50 55 60 Change in Value -10 -5 0 +5 +10 4.3.3 Fan-Last Mode (Last Selected Fixture Locked) Fixture Parameter Fixture 1 Fixture 2 Fixture 3 Fixture 4 Fixture 5 Original DMX Value 50 50 50 50 50 New DMX Value 30 35 40 45 50 Change in Value -20 -15 -10 -5 0 4.4 Default Fixture Editing Modes Each attribute has its own default fixture editing mode as defined in the table below: Attribute Brightness Colour Beamshape Position Default Mode Absolute Absolute Absolute Relative 4.5 Changing Fixture Edit Modes The user will be able to temporarily change the fixture editing mode for a particular attribute as described below: · Hold down one of the attribute buttons (Brightness, Colour, Beamshape or Position). · The Wheel LCD will change to show the current editing mode for the selected attribute (Absolute, Relative, Fan-First, Fan-Middle or Fan-Last). · Use the first finger control wheel to change the editing mode, as required. The new mode is displayed on the Wheel LCD and the PSI section of the monitor screen (see section 4.6). · Release the attribute button. The Wheel LCD returns to its normal display. Note – Fixture Edit Modes After pressing the Program button when programming a memory, submaster or SX button, the edit mode for each attribute will be reset to its default value (see section 4.4 above) After exiting edit mode when editing a memory, submaster or SX button, the edit mode for each attribute will be reset to its default value (see section 4.4 above). 4.6 Monitor Screen Display The fixture edit modes for each attribute will be displayed permanently in the last line of the PSI section of the monitor screen as shown in the example below: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUR 123.4 NEXT 123.5 FADES 00:05.0/00:05.0 LTP 00:05.0 DWELL 00:30.0 TRIG AUTO --------------------------------------------------------------------------------SUBS | 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 PAGE 3 | 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIX BR | FF FF FF FF 50 50 50 50 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRI ABS COL ABS B/S ABS POS REL | SCR LOCKED | GM: 100% | 12:23:49 23/12/2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The fixture edit modes will be abbreviated as shown in the following table: Edit Mode Absolute Relative Fan-First Fan-Middle Fan-Last Abbreviation ABS REL F-F F-M F-L 5. Keyboard Functionality The external keyboard functionality has been extended to allow numeric entry for all numeric fields on the various main LCD screens. 5.1 General Rules for Numeric Entry The following rules apply when entering any numeric value from the external keyboard: · Either set of numeric keys on the external keyboard may be used. · The backspace key will work and delete the last digit entered. · All numeric entry must be completed by pressing the Enter or Carriage Return key (or the Enter key on the front panel of the desk). · The ‘.’ Key will be used to separate values in multi-part fields (eg Fade Times). · An invalid number will be ignored; the numeric field on LCD will return to its original value. · Keyboard input will be ignored if user moves off the numeric field before completing the entry. · The Esc key will abort a numeric entry; the numeric field on LCD will return to its original value. 5.2 Fade Times On the main LCD ‘fade times’ are divided into three sections (minutes, seconds, tenths). If the cursor is on any of the three sections, a time can be entered from the external keyboard. The time may be entered as seconds only, seconds and tenths, or minutes, seconds and tenths. For Example: Keyboard Entry Value Main LCD Display 0.5 ENTER 0.5 seconds 00:00.5 3 ENTER 3.0 seconds 00:03.0 7.5 ENTER 7.5 seconds 00:07.5 12.8 ENTER 12.8 seconds 00:12.8 1.30.0 ENTER 1 minute 30 seconds 01:30.0 2.34.5 ENTER 2 minutes 34.5 seconds 02:34.5 45.0.0 ENTER 45 minutes 45:00.0 5.3 Real Times On the main LCD, the real time field is divided into three sections (hours, minutes and seconds). If the cursor is on any of the three sections, a time can be entered from the external keyboard. The time field uses the 24 hour clock and is entered as hours.minutes.seconds. Keyboard Entry Value Main LCD Display 7.30.0 7:30 am 07:30:00 12.0.0 12 noon 12:00:00 16.45.0 4:45 pm 16:45:00 0.0.0 12 midnight 00:00:00 6. Programming Palettes and Fixture Groups The popup window and additional key press(es) have been removed from the situation when the user programs an empty palette or fixture group to make programming simpler and quicker. 6.1 Programming a Colour Palette Select the required fixture(s) using the Fixture Page and Fixture Selection buttons. The red LEDs in the buttons will show the currently selected fixtures. Press the Colour button. The wheel LCD will show the colour parameter(s) for the “Primary†fixture. Use the control wheels to adjust the colour of the selected fixtures, as required. Repeat this procedure for other fixtures, as required. If the desk is in Partial mode ensure all required fixtures are tagged. Press and hold down the Colour attribute button. Fat Frog, Leap Frog, Bull Frog - This will turn the channel flash buttons into palette selection buttons. The red LEDs will indicate programmed palettes (on = programmed). The red LED next to the Shift button will go out, the red LED next to the Flash Function button will change to “OFFâ€. Mambo Frog - The red LEDs in the Palette selection buttons will indicate the programmed palettes (on = programmed). Press and hold down the required palette selection button for approximately 1 second. If the selected palette is empty - the red LED in the palette selection button comes on. The Colour and palette selection buttons can then be released and the palette will be programmed with the output values of the tagged fixtures. If the selected palette is programmed – the LED in the palette selection button flashes and the LCD changes to the following: Colour Palette xx {PRG} {CLR} [CANCEL] The Colour and palette selection buttons can now be released. To program the selected palette – select the PRG button on the LCD and press Enter or press the Program key on the front panel. To clear the selected palette – select the CLR button on the LCD and press Enter or press the Clear key on the front panel. To cancel the operation – select the CANCEL button on the LCD and press Enter. 6.2 Programming a Beamshape Palette This will use exactly the same method as programming a Colour palette. 6.3 Programming a Position Palette This will use exactly the same method as programming a Colour palette. 6.4 Programming a Fixture Group Select the required fixture(s) using the Fixture Selection buttons. The red LEDs in the buttons will show the currently selected fixtures. Press and hold down the Group button. Fat Frog, Leap Frog, Bull Frog - This turns the channel flash buttons into group selection buttons. The red LEDs indicate the programmed fixture groups (on = programmed). The red LED next to the Shift button goes out, the red LED next to the Flash Function button changes to “OFFâ€. Mambo Frog - The red LEDs in the group selection buttons will indicate the programmed fixture groups (on = programmed, off = not programmed). Press and hold down the required group selection button for approximately 1 second. If the selected fixture group is empty - the red LED in the group selection button comes on. The Group and group selection buttons can then be released and the fixture group will be programmed with the selected fixtures. If the selected fixture group is programmed – the LED in the group selection button flashes and the LCD changes to the following: Fixture Group xx {PRG} {CLR} [CANCEL] The Group and group selection buttons can now be released. To program the selected group – select the PRG button on the LCD and press Enter or press the Program key on the front panel. To clear the selected group – select the CLR button on the LCD and press Enter or press the Clear key on the front panel. To cancel the operation – select the CANCEL button on the LCD and press Enter. 7. Bug Fixes and Other Minor Modifications The following Fault Reports relating to bugs, perceived bugs or other minor functional modifications have been fixed in Version 7.0 of the Frog series software: FR No Function/Fault Action 5055 Battery Status Warning message now appears on startup and in desk information screen when battery is low. 5259 Wheel Groups Remembers which wheel group was displayed when changing between attributes. 5261 Auto Repeat on Buttons Auto repeat on the Program button removed. 5263 Outputs Dim on Edit The outputs no longer ‘dip’ when the memory being edited is the current one on the playback X. 5339 Autopatching – selecting multiple channels and fixtures Multiple selection of generic channels and fixtures now available in Autopatch. 5344 Test Software - Wheels The wheels work correctly in test software. 5353 Cross Fade Bug Pressing the Go button during a crossfade; the current fade now stops and the outputs fade to the next memory. 5370 VGA Output – LCD Screens LCD screens now work correctly with desks. 5377 Overwriting Objects The name field is now preserved when overwriting memories, submasters, SX buttons or palettes. 5384 Operating System Installation Speed Upgrading desks with new OS via floppy disk has been improved. Floppy disk access also improved when loading show file. 5386 Mambo Frog Manual Patch LCD Screen Corruption The corruption of the LCD screen has been fixed.

Hi again, I must apologise :oops: I have just checked the Zero 88 website and the latest frog software, release notes, and the updated Frog Series and Mambo Frog manuals are all there !! However, there is nothing on the website to highlight the fact that the new software and documentation downloads have been added. Cheers, K-Nine.

Good Idea, The latest Frog series software (Version 7.5), the accompanying release notes, and the updated Frog Series and Mambo Frog manuals have all been issued .... just waiting for someone to put them on the website :wink:

Hi, There appears to be a bug in the software whereby it is not possible to extract certain fixture types from the fixture library file on floppy disk. In the mean time I will produce a file containing the 'missing' Martin fixtures and email it to you. Frog Reference 5391 - Max number of fixtures per manufacturer prevents some fixture types being loaded from floppy disk.

One of the main problems with different fixture profiles especially when they are from different manufacturers is that the same "functions" are often called different names, work in different ways and are on different DMX channels relative to the start address of the fixture. They therefore will appear on different wheels/wheel groups for different fixtures. One of the limitations of being able to select several fixtures of different types at the same time is that corresponding parameters on wheel groups may be different. See Frog Series Operating Manual - Issue 3 - Page 4-6 for details. Cheers, K-Nine.

Hi, The above suggestion is correct. If you do not want the brightness (HTP) outputs from the previously programmed step in the chase then you should keep the Playback X Master fader at zero while you are programming the chase. However, when you want to run the chase to adjust the modifiers, you have to put the Playback X Master fader to full to see the HTP outputs. Ref: The Frog Series Operating Manual - Issue 3 - Page 4-7. Cheers, K-Nine.

...split from here and updated. I doubt if the following lists everything which has been added or improved since Version 1 but it should cover the major functional upgrades to the software. The original Frog Range was just the Frog and Fat Frog desks. Since then we have added the Bull Frog, Leap Frog and Mambo Frog desks and the Frog Box replay unit. Version 3 Partial Programming of memories and submasters to fixture level. Colour, Beamshape and Position palettes added. Naming of memories, submasters, palettes and fixture groups from external keyboard. Multiple fixture selection of different fixture types. LED indication of tagged and primary fixture selection. Automatic triggers on memories. Dwell Times on memories. Monitor screens added. Ability to change Common Fixture Types on desks. Version 4 This was the first version of software which supported the new Bull Frog and Leap Frog desks. 24 Intelligent Fixtures. DMX patching to 1024 channels on two universes. Version 5 This was the first version of software which supported the new Frog Box replay unit. The features added for the Frog Box were also included in the Frog Series of desks. Real Time Triggers on memories . Jumps in the memory stack. Configurable remote switches. Home function down to attribute level. Version 6 This was the first version of software which supported the new Mambo Frog desk. Version 7 Partial recording down to attribute level (colour,beamshape,position). Improved movement effect generator including offsets and rotation. Fixture editing modes added (includes the 'fan function'). Numeric entry of values from external keyboard. Version 8 SMPTE/MIDI timecode, CAN and Frog Screen support added for Frog Box. Version 9 Beat Drive modifier for Chases. Live Adjustment of Chase Modifiers (Direction, Attack, Drive, Speed). Pan/Tilt Reverse and Pan/Tilt Swap Functions for fixtures. Submaster pages increased from 9 to 20. Fade Times and LTP actions editable on submasters/SXs programmed with channel data or transferred memory. Submaster/SX names displayed on main LCD. N-Shot Chases - new parameter which determines how many times the chase runs when triggered. Palette Lock Function. Edit Blind Function (Memories, Submasters, SX Buttons). Additional keyboard functionality. Version 10 Partial recording down to individual parameter level. Tracking. Grab mode for brightness channels. Duplicate fixture patching. Virtual Intensity support for fixtures.

HI, Text naming of items was first added when palettes were introduced (Release 3, I think) and was extended to include memories, submasters, fixture groups and SX buttons (Mambo Frog). As the text field was not originally included on the memories or submaster screens, it was decided to provide a general naming function which could be applied to a variety of objects, hence the use of the F2 button. Ensure that the main LCD is showing one of the main screens (Memories, submasters, outputs), then press F2. A message is displayed asking you to select type of item to name ... For memories: press MEMORIES button, then enter the required memory number and ENTER. For submasters: select the required submaster page using the page up or page down buttons, then press the required submaster flash button. For palettes: press the required attribute button (COLOUR, BEAMSHAPE or POSITION), then press the required palette selection button. For fixture groups: press the GROUP button, then press the required group selection button. When you have selected the item to name, use the up/down and +/- keys to enter the text from the front panel, or use an external keyboard. Cheers, K-Nine.

A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet. "My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him ?" "Well," says the vet, "Let's have a look at him." So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth, ears, nose and mouth. Finally, after a while the vet says, "I'm going to have to put him down." "What - just because he's cross-eyed ?" said the man, horrified. "No, because he's really heavy" said the vet.

Hi folks, I have been investigating the information on the Movitec website and have discovered that the Movitec fixtures listed there have exactly the same profiles as some of the ELITE fixtures which are currently defined in our fixture library. It would appear that they are the same physcial units with a different badge on them. If you are using any of the following Movitec fixtures with your Frog desk, here is a list of the ELITE fixture names which have the same profiles. MOVITEC SL250 (16 Bit Mode) = ELITE SERVO SPOT 250 (16 Bit Mode) MOVITEC WL250 (16 Bit Mode) = ELITE SERVO COLOR 250 (16 Bit Mode) MOVITEC SL575 (16 Bit Mode) = ELITE SERVO SPOT 575 (16 Bit Mode) MOVITEC WL575 (16 Bit Mode) = ELITE SERVO COLOR 575 (16 Bit Mode) See, the fixture data was there all the time, just cunningly disguised under a different manufacturer and fixture name :?

As paul says, this is a 16 bit fixture, so the totoal number of steps between 0 and 100% is no longer 256, is is 256*256 = 65536 The messages from the fixture utility are correct - If the pan and tilt parameters use two channels each they are regarded as 16 bit parameters with a range of 0 - 65535. Therefore the mid-point or 'home' value should be set to 32767 or 32768. The pan and tilt values are handled as 16 bit values by the desk, they are just displayed as 'coarse' and 'fine' or MSB and LSB on the wheel LCD for clarity :? The middle of that range = 32768, so that will be the centre point. I hope this makes sense. Any new information will be gratefully received. Since the Frogs first went on sale we have been constantly updating our fixture library with new fixtures as requested by users. Wherever possible we try and verify the fixture profile data with the original manufacturer first before adding it to our official library. An updated fixture library (containing approx. 580 fixture types) will be released with the next version of Frog software. If you have any further questions on fixture profile data, please let us know,

Paul, The Edit button also switches between universe A and B in autopatch 8) In the new version of software it is also possible to select a range of generic channels or fixtures for patching using the press and hold the first and press the last technique. This should make DMX patching a piece of pizza Cheers, K-Nine.