Updates that could be really useful.......

[hhs]

OK, just added the new update for our fat frog (ver 9) and we've been wondering why it is that the F3 key works from the keyboard but none of the other "F" keys do.

 

Also we want to know if it would be at all possible to be able to pull out a channel from a memory when running a show, but without affecting the saved memory, we figured you could do this with the flash "off" button and then holding the desired flash button down and manually moving the faders ourselves to adjust the output for that particular channel. For example this could be really useful when taking out a special because a performer has missed a cue etc.

 

We have also noticed that when a moving light chase is running on a submaster and a generic chase from a submaster is added in, sometimes the moving light chase can be affected as if the generic chase is taking priority, not to sure if this is a bug or whether it was "dodgy" programming on our part.

 

We have also and experimented and used smoke machines as fixtures, we made our own fixture for it but it might be worthwhile if you could create a fixture control for smoke machines.

 

Is there anyway of changing fade up and down times in groups rather than individually, for example changing the fade up/down times in a snap sequence would take a long time to go through each individual memory but if multiple memories could be selected and adjusted at the same time this would save a lot of time whilst programming. Maybe pressing an "F" key like a shift key so multiple memories can be selected and their values edited at the same time.

 

Also the fixture groups gave me an idea of creating pages of fixtures, like pages of submasters, I know this kind of defeats the idea of having a bigger expensive desk for more fixtures but you could still put more pages on the bigger desks, its just that when you start putting in scrollers etc you rapidly begin to run out of fixtures and pages of fixtures could be an option.

 

And please, please, get the backspace to work when naming items! That can be so annoying.

 

But overall we use the fat frog everyday and for every show, production and event there is at school and we think its great, so keep up the fantastic work and if you ever have a new product or update that needs a vigorous testing don't be afraid to send it our way and we'll put it through its paces!

 

Thank you for your time

 

Yours Sincerely

 

Hemel Hempstead Performing Arts School and AB Lighting and special Effects

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[K-Nine]

Thanks for your comments, I will try and answer them individually

 

OK, just added the new update for our fat frog (ver 9) and we've been wondering why it is that the F3 key works from the keyboard but none of the other "F" keys do.

 

The Function keys on the external keyboard should simply mimic the function keys (F1 - F4) on the front panel of the desk.

If they don't, then you have discovered a bug, and we will investigate further :oops:

 

Also we want to know if it would be at all possible to be able to pull out a channel from a memory when running a show, but without affecting the saved memory, we figured you could do this with the flash "off" button and then holding the desired flash button down and manually moving the faders ourselves to adjust the output for that particular channel. For example this could be really useful when taking out a special because a performer has missed a cue etc.

 

This function has been suggested elsewhere in these forums and one possible solution would be a 'Topset' function.

 

Frog Reference 5417 - Topset

 

Check the following links for further discussions:

 

Pre-Heat Setup

 

Topset

 

We have also noticed that when a moving light chase is running on a submaster and a generic chase from a submaster is added in, sometimes the moving light chase can be affected as if the generic chase is taking priority, not to sure if this is a bug or whether it was "dodgy" programming on our part.

 

Is the desk in full or partial mode ? Even in partial mode the generic channels and brightness parameters for moving lights are ALWAYS recorded into the chase. You should always ensure that any generics or fixture brightnesses that are not required in a scene/chase are set to zero before pressing the Program button. As brightness is mixed HTP then with two chases running simultaneously, you will get the HTP value of each channel being output.

 

 

We have also and experimented and used smoke machines as fixtures, we made our own fixture for it but it might be worthwhile if you could create a fixture control for smoke machines.

 

If all smoke machines operated in the same manner and used the same number of DMX channels, with the same values doing the same operations, then we could write a 'generic' smoke machine fixture personality file, but if they are anything like moving light personalities, albeit with much fewer channels, then that simply won't be the case 8O

 

If you could send me details of the particular machine you are using and it's DMX control details etc, maybe I can start adding smoke machine 'fixtures' into our library.

 

If you want simple manual control of smoke machines you can always use one/two generic channels and control the output values with the preset faders.

 

Check out THIS TOPIC

 

Is there anyway of changing fade up and down times in groups rather than individually, for example changing the fade up/down times in a snap sequence would take a long time to go through each individual memory but if multiple memories could be selected and adjusted at the same time this would save a lot of time whilst programming. Maybe pressing an "F" key like a shift key so multiple memories can be selected and their values edited at the same time.

 

While this may sound relatively simple from a user point of view it would require some major changes to the software to provide this functionality. Although the memories/submasters screens etc may look like a table/spreadsheet on the monitor screen, the underlying data structures are much more complex and so the sort of functions you could do on a PC are not simply translatable onto a lighting desk. However, it is these sort of suggestions that we are noting with regards to future projects :wink:

 

Also the fixture groups gave me an idea of creating pages of fixtures, like pages of submasters, I know this kind of defeats the idea of having a bigger expensive desk for more fixtures but you could still put more pages on the bigger desks, its just that when you start putting in scrollers etc you rapidly begin to run out of fixtures and pages of fixtures could be an option.

 

The number of fixtures provided on each of the Frog series of desks is fixed, and there are several reasons for this which have been covered elsewhere in these forums. See THIS TOPIC for details, especially the post from NZ

 

The only desk which has pages of fixtures is the Mambo Frog, because it was designed specifically to be a fixture based desk.

 

And please, please, get the backspace to work when naming items! That can be so annoying.

 

I guess this will be on the list for the next update package

 

However, you will need to ask NZ as to when this might be. We have already made a significant number of functional improvements to the series of desks, since the frogs were released a few years ago, and we are now looking to develop the successor to Frog.

 

 

But overall we use the fat frog everyday and for every show, production and event there is at school and we think its great, so keep up the fantastic work and if you ever have a new product or update that needs a vigorous testing don't be afraid to send it our way and we'll put it through its paces!

 

If we release any more Beta versions, I will add you to the list of testers

[hhs]

Thankyou for your quick response, as for smoke machines in our experience most smoke machines only have 1 channel. We generally use JEM ZR 12 and the JEM ZR 22, both of which use 1 DMX channel, the 1 channel being the output of the smoke machine.

 

We have created our own fixture for the smoke machines, but obviously if you could create one it would be a lot better than ours. What we would like to know is if you could create a smoke machine fixture that could control multiple smoke machines using the wheel group button and wheels, that way for example 3 smoke machines and 3 haze machines could be controlled from 1 fixture using the wheels and the wheel group button, the only thing users would need to be aware of is that the first smoke/haze machine must be set to the first channel of the fixture and the other smoke/haze machines must follow in sequence.

 

Thankyou for your advice on our little moving light and generic chase problem, we think its probably just our programming :oops:! But we had this idea of maybe being able to select a sub and let it take presidence over other subs that are running or even memories that are being played back. So could there be a way of selecting a sub moving state to take presidence over a playback/sub moving state? Perhaps by holding the flash button under the sub as you fade it up for it to take presidence? This would probably be a pretty big software update, and i don't know if anyone else would find it useful but it could be used in a variety of different situations and applications. Sorry if that doesn't quite make sense, ask any questions and i'll try and explain lol.

 

As for the topset idea, we would love this to be developed and introduced to the frog range, I know we would find it very useful, if anyone else thinks so please post a reply or something so maybe we can try and push and get that on the next update.

 

But we do love the frog range of desks, they're perfect for teaching students on how to use them, they're much better than the Sirius and XLS Series desks that we used to have, and being computer based they fit in perfectly with our curriculum. If there is ever any other equipment we could demo etc it would be perfect for demonstrating the students about a wider range of equipment and technology, it's good seeing how the students adapt to the different desks and equipment and we could get lots of feedback from that and pass that on to you. If there is anything, information, feedback that you would like please don't hesitate to ask or contact us.

 

Just a thought could we have a nice female voice instead of that bleep when we make stupid mistakes, it would be much more sympathetic , or even a fully voice activated frog with a nice husky female voice?

 

Thanks again

 

The guys from Hemel Hempstead Performing Arts College, in association with AB Lighting and Special Effects

[K-Nine]

What we would like to know is if you could create a smoke machine fixture that could control multiple smoke machines using the wheel group button and wheels, that way for example 3 smoke machines and 3 haze machines could be controlled from 1 fixture using the wheels and the wheel group button, the only thing users would need to be aware of is that the first smoke/haze machine must be set to the first channel of the fixture and the other smoke/haze machines must follow in sequence.

 

... Thanks again

 

The guys from Hemel Hempstead Performing Arts College, in association with AB Lighting and Special Effects

 

If you download a copy of the Fixture Type Editor from the Zero 88 website, you can create your own fixture type as required. What you are suggesting would be relatively simple to create, for example;

 

Manufacturer = K-Nine

Fixture Type = My Smokies

 

Parameter 1: Smoke1, Beamshape, Channel 1

Parameter 2: Smoke2, Beamshape, Channel 2

Parameter 3: Smoke3, Beamshape, Channel 3

Parameter 4: Haze1, Beamshape, Channel 4

Parameter 5: Haze2, Beamshape, Channel 5

Parameter 6: Haze3, Beamshape, Channel 6

 

Save the fixture type to floppy.

Assign one of the fixture buttons on the desk to this new fixture type.

Patch the start address of the fixture as required, for example, if you patched the fixture to 201, then you would set up the individual smoke machines and hazers as follows:

 

Smoke Machine 1 - DMX address = 201

Smoke Machine 2 - DMX address = 202

Smoke Machine 3 - DMX address = 203

Haze1, Beamshape - DMX address = 204

Haze2, Beamshape - DMX address = 205

Haze3, Beamshape - DMX address = 206

 

If you ask me nicely, I might create the above example and send it to you