A quick update regarding your Vari-Lite Support team

[Jon Hole]

Hi all,

To ensure Vari-Lite can provide the best possible support, I’d like to quickly remind everyone of the three active support routes:

1. Emailing entertainment.service@signify.com or calling +1 214 647 7880
   (While the legacy Zero 88 contact methods are still monitored by the UK-based support team, the above contact details are the “official” routes which are monitored by the global support team).
    
2. This “Vari-Lite Controls Support Forum”
   (Over the years this has become a fantastic resource of data and is home to some very knowledgeable users. The Vari-Lite team regularly monitor the forum (your forum admins are Darren - @DMH and Ryan - @RJP from the UK-based support team). However, if you require immediate direct support from Vari-Lite, the contact details above are the correct method).
    
3. “Vari-Lite Console Programmers” Facebook Group

 

Lastly, I’d like to take a moment to say farewell, as I’m stepping down from the team.

I’m so proud of the products we’ve launched over my time - FLX, ZerOS Wing, FLX S24 & S48, ZerOS Server, RigSwitch, AlphaPack 3, BetaPack 4, Splitter 8, Gateway 4, Gateway 8, Neo X15, Neo X5, Neo X Server and RigSwitch+. And I’m delighted to have finally released ZerOS 8!

Here’s a couple of ZerOS screenshots comparing when I started (ZerOS 5.4), to now (ZerOS 8):

   

But it’s not all about the products - there’s been so much more too. Three (1, 2, 3) PLASA Awards for Innovation, several patents, our industry’s best RDM implementation with RigSync, the first console to implement Art-Net 4, Zero 88’s 40th Anniversary and the “Me and My Zero 88” competition, being ahead of the curve on natively supporting GDTF, the Simplifying Jargon videos, “Live at the Congress” Events and #WeMakeEvents campaigns over COVID, updating the Zero 88 website, our yearly Advent Calendars, our April Fools Day posts (anyone remember FLX switching to Roman Numerals or the new ZerOS Wing SD?) and the High Altitude Balloon into near space competition.

So many great memories, fun, experience, knowledge and friendships have been made during this time which are, and will continue to be, very, very special to me.

The Vari-Lite team are committed to continuing this good work – with plans to develop and support both ZerOS & FLX S, along with RigSwitch+, Neo X and VisionNet. I wish them all continued success with those projects.

So, from me, it’s Time to Say Goodbye. And thank you.

[Charlie Newman]

Wasn't expecting to see this, thank you for all of your support @Jon Hole, hopefully the other support reps will be able to match your knowledge and activity. I wish you all of the best in the future, you'll be sorely missed!

[Davidmk]

10 hours ago, Charlie Newman said:

I wish you all of the best in the future, you'll be sorely missed!

My sentiments exactly. Keith, Edward and now you. My disappointment knows no bounds.

[mikeb]

Wow, is really the end of almost an era and of those I knew in Cymbran. Thank you for all your help and guidance over the years. Will miss catching up with you when I was driving by and also at the trade shows 😢

@Jon Hole all the best for the future

[Simonkbike]

What? No!  I only just discovered Edward had gone. Pantos will never be the same again.  Many thanks for your above-and-beyond support for a little minnow.

Simon in Wargrave.

[thierry]

 

Que dire de plus, sinon la même chose qu'à Edward : 

Merci Jon pour ta pédagogie, ta patience, la pertinence de tes réponses, cela a toujours été un plaisirs d'échanger avec toi, un grand professionnel qui m'a toujours bien aidé ...

bonne continuation à toi

[Tassal]

I expect I am one of the older (age) members of the Forum doing my first stage lighting in January 1975 when I was 19. In the 50 years since I have hired and owned many types of lighting desks including those from Zero 88. For 12 years I was using an American computer based desk which was fine untill the company was taken over and things started to change. Support staff left and software development slowed to a crawl. At this time I knew I had to change and along came the FLX S48 which a school I was working in had just bought. Afterwards I went to one of the Zero 88 roadshows at Exeter University and shortly afterwards bought my own because I liked it so much. Fast forward 6 years and I am sorry to see the main support team change so much. I wish everyone well in their new ventures. I hope this is not the thin edge of the wedge.

 

Best wishes to everyone for their productions for 2025. I hope you all enjoy things as much as I do for many years to come.

 

With kind regards

Trevor Steer

Edited January 8 by Tassal
spelling

[kgallen]

I notice the two support personnel Jon quotes above have a combined contribution of posts on this forum of exactly zero (since Sept/Nov 2024 when they joined). Looks like we're on our own folks, or they've got some work to do to establish their credibility and start making an active contribution - which I guess is part of what they are paid to do (unlike us). A 'hello' and a short resume would be a start…

[Davidmk]

On 1/6/2025 at 6:26 PM, Jon Hole said:

your forum admins are Darren - @DMH and Ryan - @RJP from the UK-based support team

I took "forum admins" to mean they sort out the forum when it dies and deal with inappropriate posts.

3 hours ago, kgallen said:

Looks like we’re on our own folks, or they’ve got some work to do to establish their credibility and start making an active contributio

So, yes, my assumption has been that the prompt and helpful days of Edward and Jon are over and we are, as you say, "on our own".

I,  for one, would be delighted to have this cynical and depressing assumption proved wrong. The newish thread - 16 bit intensity really 8 bit - is one that seems to require their attention (even though you have tried to help).

 

[Charlie Newman]

17 hours ago, kgallen said:

I notice the two support personnel Jon quotes above have a combined contribution of posts on this forum of exactly zero (since Sept/Nov 2024 when they joined). Looks like we’re on our own folks, or they’ve got some work to do to establish their credibility and start making an active contribution - which I guess is part of what they are paid to do (unlike us). A ‘hello’ and a short resume would be a start…

Yup, couldn't agree more. I guess the days of technical support here on the forum from official sources are done, hopefully we'll be shown otherwise.

[SimonH]

Good luck Jon but I'm not surprised. TBH since the Varilight take over it's felt like the beginning of the end.

The issue of the latest software will probably be the last so I hope we all got our wish list items sorted.