Roland1234 Posted November 17 Report Posted November 17 This weekend I hired a FLX S24 console to test it out to see if it would be suitable for the venue. The lights are made up of 24 Dimmers + 6 Sparx. The patching went smoothly and the lights worked again. However, I found two problems for which I couldn't find a satisfactory solution: - First problem: In the Channel, the Sparx didn't light up when the fader was turned up. You had to choose an extra colour for it to light up. Second problem: in the effects, the pre-programmed intensity and movement effects worked, but when using effects with colours, the Sparx went out. Note that the combined Intensity-Colour effect only worked if I chose a colour manually. So the colour part of teh effect didn't worked but the intensity did. I got round the second problem by creating a rainbow chase in a playback, but this wasn't optimal, as the sparxes were used in pairs, so I had to block 3 playbacks for the rainbow effect. I wanted to know if this was a problem with the software, or if it was a setting that had been changed by a user on an earlier rental. I didn't have the presence of mind to check which version of the software the rental company had installed. I'm interested in the FLX S because it's intuitive and the venue is hired out from time to time to people with no knowledge of lighting. But if you have to know chase programming for a simple rainbow effect, it's not ideal. Regards. Quote
kgallen Posted Monday at 10:45 AM Report Posted Monday at 10:45 AM It sounds like the fixture definition from the library the console has doesn’t match the firmware function of the light. This is a constant problem especially with non-brand fixtures (I’m not familiar with Sparkx7). Firstly: Is the mode set on the light the same as chosen on the console? If you can get the manual for the light you could check it against what the console thinks controls each parameter. If need be you could create a new fixture definition using the tool built into the fixture patch section of the desk using the info in the manual or manual+whatever deviations you found with the light. Quote
Roland1234 Posted Monday at 04:05 PM Author Report Posted Monday at 04:05 PM Thank you for the Answer. 2 spotlights are only accessible with a lifting platform. So I wasn't able to check the modes. We tried all the modes of the library and they responds only to the mode 1 - 16 bits. Perhaps it is a mistake in the Library? I can't find the Library on Internet to check with the Manual. Quote
kgallen Posted Monday at 04:14 PM Report Posted Monday at 04:14 PM @Roland1234 do you have a pdf of the manual you could upload here? Quote
Davidmk Posted Monday at 05:48 PM Report Posted Monday at 05:48 PM Is this https://saleswl.com/product/jb-lighting-sparx-7/ Your fixture? Quote
kgallen Posted Monday at 06:03 PM Report Posted Monday at 06:03 PM Thanks @Davidmk. If I get time tonight I’ll have a bash at building a fixture profile for @Roland1234 to have a play with to see if it matches the function of his light better. Quote
Davidmk Posted Monday at 06:42 PM Report Posted Monday at 06:42 PM @kgallen If that link is his fixture then you are going to have your hands full with that. Sparx7_Manual.pdf Quote
Charlie Newman Posted Monday at 06:44 PM Report Posted Monday at 06:44 PM 5 minutes ago, Davidmk said: @kgallen If that link is his fixture then you are going to have your hands full with that. Oh man, that's gonna be fun xD Quote
kgallen Posted Monday at 07:23 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:23 PM 43 minutes ago, Charlie Newman said: Oh man, that's gonna be fun xD Yea I ain't doin' Mode 4, I want to go to bed before 4am! 😄 Me and my big mouth... Right, here goes... 1 Quote
Charlie Newman Posted Monday at 07:24 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:24 PM 4 minutes ago, kgallen said: Yea I ain't doin' Mode 4, I want to go to bed before 4am! 😄 Right, here goes... Haha can't blame you, have fun Quote
kgallen Posted Monday at 08:34 PM Report Posted Monday at 08:34 PM Here you go @Roland1234. I made this with the Windows Fixture Editor 2.6, but probably this should be a multi-cell fixture. I don't have any software to make those, so if my file below works well enough then you'll have to contact the Zero88 boys to make you a proper full-featured one. I've put detail behind some of the parameters, but not the long complex ones. Let's see if this as it is gets your light working better. I've made Modes 1,2,3 properly but whilst Mode 4 is in there, I've not done the pixel detail channels, but I've set the DMX allocate so you can patch it as a fixture that consumes 109 DMX addresses. Enjoy. I'm off to the moon now, so I'll not be contactable for a while 😉 BTW "thanks" @Davidmk 😬🤣 4 hours ago, Roland1234 said: We tried all the modes of the library and they responds only to the mode 1 - 16 bits. Not quite sure what you mean here. All of the modes have the same DMX map for the lower 20 channels. Only the colour segment details change in the upper channels. Pan/Tilt are all 16-bit parameters and in Mode 2 the colour parameters are 16-bit. JBL_Sparx7_Nov24.ift Quote
Charlie Newman Posted Monday at 08:39 PM Report Posted Monday at 08:39 PM Wowzers, I admire the dedication @kgallen, props to you! 1 Quote
Roland1234 Posted Tuesday at 08:44 PM Author Report Posted Tuesday at 08:44 PM Wow! @kgallen, Thank you! I didn't expected so much! As soon as we hire or buy the FLX, I will try it! And I am sur that the lights aren't in mode 4, the old light desk (which has given up the ghost), was not capable of handling such a complex mode. Thank you very much for the job! Quote
kgallen Posted Tuesday at 10:31 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 10:31 PM No worries @Roland1234. Let us know how you go on! Quote
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