How to control the FLX S Buttons remotely from ZerOS Monitor?

[MatthewD]

Hello,

Is there a way to trigger these buttons from the ZerOs monitor app:-

1. Z / Shift Key (toggle)
2. Channel / Playback (toggle)
3. Page Change 1..48:49..96 (toggle)
    
4. Record
5. Update
6. Delete
    
7. Setup
8. Clear
9. View 

Reason:-

Since the ZerOS Monitor displays what is on the FLX S external monitor of the console, therefore from my PC (or iPad), I can only control and see whatever is actually displayed on the external monitor.  So when the console powers on in "Channels" mode, if I am not near the console, there is no way I can control the "Playbacks" unless someone at the console presses the "Playback / Channels" button.

Likewise, pressing the "View" button will affect the monitor, etc.

So is there a way to have these buttons "pressed remotely" via the app?  Perhaps a keyboard shortcut?  It would be ideal to have full remote control of the console via an App.

There is already the ability to change between "Programming" and "Palettes" in the ZerOS Monitor App by pressing the on-screen button with a mouse or finger.  Perhaps additional buttons could be added here for: "Channels/Playbacks", "Views", "Page Change 1..48:49..96", etc.

Thanks in advance.

[Edward Z88]

Hi Matthew,

7 hours ago, MatthewD said:

Is there a way to trigger these buttons from the ZerOs monitor app:

I have replied to your other post regarding keyboard shortcuts. The only other one to mention is that CTRL + Z on an external keyboard is the same as tapping Z/Shift on the console.

6 hours ago, MatthewD said:

Since the ZerOS Monitor displays what is on the FLX S external monitor of the console, therefore from my PC (or iPad), I can only control and see whatever is actually displayed on the external monitor. 

This will change in the next software update, ZerOS 7.9.5, which will allow for the remote monitor to be viewing a different desktop to the console.

6 hours ago, MatthewD said:

So when the console powers on in "Channels" mode, if I am not near the console, there is no way I can control the "Playbacks" unless someone at the console presses the "Playback / Channels" button.

The ZerOS Remote app for iPad will allow you to control Playbacks irrespective of the channel mode on the console. To do this connect to the console, and choose Playbacks from the page chooser drop down at the bottom of the app.

6 hours ago, MatthewD said:

Likewise, pressing the "View" button will affect the monitor, etc.

To stop the VIEW button controlling the external monitor, and instead control the internal touchscreen, tap SETUP -> System Settings -> External Monitor -> Disabled.

6 hours ago, MatthewD said:

So is there a way to have these buttons "pressed remotely" via the app?  Perhaps a keyboard shortcut?  It would be ideal to have full remote control of the console via an App.

See your other post for keyboard shortcuts...

 

6 hours ago, MatthewD said:

There is already the ability to change between "Programming" and "Palettes" in the ZerOS Monitor App by pressing the on-screen button with a mouse or finger.  Perhaps additional buttons could be added here for: "Channels/Playbacks", "Views", "Page Change 1..48:49..96", etc.

You will notice in ZerOS 7.9.5 there are a couple of new desktops introduced.

Hope this helps, any queries let me know.

Edward

[MatthewD]

Thank you Edward for your response, and for all the developments in the new version.  

I have installed the latest Beta release and I can see the new options on the External monitor.  It's so much better, but still missing a few options to enable control when not at the console, (eg controlling the lights via an iPad or laptop):-

Could you please include the controls:-

1. A virtual button for changing the Fader Display to be "Channels" or "Playbacks".
   1. ie on the external monitor, in the bottom half, in the MFF display window, when "Fader" is selected: please include the ability to choose Playbacks or Channels on the ZerOS Monitor app.
2. The ability to select pages "1..48" or "49..96", on the ZerOS Monitor app.

I know you can change apps to the "Remote" app to change these, but it inconvenient during live support, and would be better if it was all in the same app, ie ZerOS Monitor.

Thanks in advance.

Matthew

[Edward Z88]

Hi Matthew,

Thank you for your comments.

We have had a couple of requests to remotely change the fader function. This is possible on the larger FLX console through programming a macro. This is already logged on our system. We haven’t currently scheduled which version of ZerOS this will be included in.

All the best,

Edward

[MatthewD]

Hi Edward,

Thanks for your reply.

If possible, can this please be escalated, as this feature is really important to our situation.  The use case is:-

1. A user turns on the whole venue from a Touch Panel inside the performance space, which powers up the FLX S48 (via a networked PDU).  (But the rack and FLX S is located 2 mins walk away, up many stairs in a BioBox.)
2. The user turns on the iPad and connects to the FLX S via "ZerOS Remote Monitor" app to control the lighting remotely.
3. The user still CANNOT control the lighting because they have to walk up to the biobox and press just ONE button, ie "Playbacks" in order to control the playback scenes from the iPad.
4. Once pressed, the lighting scenes can be fully controlled for the production via the iPad.

I am hoping it's a small change in code, and quickly implementable, as this would allow instant control of lighting upon startup on the console without having the inconvenience and delay of walking.

PS - we have just purchased 3x FLX S48's and 3x FLX S24's, under the impression that these could be controlled via an iPad, but this issue is currently preventing us from delivering this feature to a large Educational Institution. 

Regards,

Matthew.

[Edward Z88]

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for the explanation.

Planned for a future software update, there will be an option in Setup which will allow you to choose the boot Fader Function. Therefore you can ensure the console always boots in Playback’s if you wish, avoiding the need to change the function.

I will ensure that the priority is raised due to your request.

Hope this helps, any queries let me know. 

Edward

[MatthewD]

Thanks again Edward,

So is that Boot Option going to be in the next release?  That will be a good start.

Regards,

Matthew

[Edward Z88]

Hi Matthew,

Yes, we are hoping to include this in ZerOS 7.9.5.

All the best,

Edward

[MatthewD]

Hi Edward,  

Thanks again for your response.  This is a very productive thread.

So can you please confirm that this is the current answer to my initial questions, combined from multiple threads and messages:-

Controlling FLX S via a keyboard in "ZerOS Remote Monitor" App (on PC/Laptop or Tablet):-

• Z / Shift Key (toggle)                                   Cntl + Z   (To exit "Quick Access Functions", press Cntl + Z again.)
  (Enters "Quick Access Functions", but this is only displayed on the Internal screen, not the external monitor.)
• Channel / Playback (toggle)                      Not currently possible; however a "boot up option" will exist in ZerOS 7.9.5 when you can choose which option to display by default.
• Page Change 1..48:49..96 (toggle)          Not currently possible, and not planned for next OS release.
   
• Record                         Not currently possible, and not planned for next OS release.
                                        (To get out of this menu press "Backspace" ie Clear.)
• Update                         Not currently possible, and not planned for next OS release.
                                        (To get out of this menu press "Backspace" ie Clear.)
• Delete                          Not currently possible, and not planned for next OS release.
                                        (To get out of this menu press "Backspace" ie Clear.)
   
• Setup                            Shift + F10     (To get out of this Menu press Shift + F10 again.)
• Clear                             Backspace
• View                              In ZeroS 7.9.5 there are virtual buttons to select which view/desktop to display
   
• System Information    Shift + F9
• Help                               Shift + Left + Right     (To exit Help, press Shift + Left + Right again.)
                                          (or F1 , though this is often buggy.)
• Lock                               Left + Right + Enter
• Go                                   Spacebar
• Exit                                 Alt + F4      (This doesn't work in the App, and it closes screens on the external monitor !?!)
   
• Thru                               >
• @                                    * OR @
• Except                            -
• And                                 +
• Full                                 Page Up
• Rem Dim                       Shift + Page Up

There are also some shortcuts available:-

• Set Intensity to 100%         @@ 
• Set Intensity to 0%             @.      [ie at dot] 
• Select all channels that are currently on (ie above 0%)        Enter Enter [ie Enter Enter]  

References:-

1. Keyboard shortcuts compatible with a keyboard/ZerOS Remote Monitor [http://support.zero88.com/998481801]
2. Syntax Page in the FLX training notes is also applicable for FLX S, with the exception of a few buttons FLX S doesn't have. [http://support.zero88.com/1011387501]
3. Syntax Overview [ https://eaton.nanorep.co/storage/nr1/kb/2AD62C9/3879A76B/3C488C6D/2/Syntax Overview.pdf]

 

Please confirm if these are correct, and I will create a document to send to our Venue Supervisors for controlling the FLX S's.

Thanks in advance,

Matthew

[Edward Z88]

Hi Matthew,

Yes, these are correct.

The only one that isn't correct is Backspace is not mapped to the CLEAR button. Backspace simply allows you to go back through your command line to the next comma. This is shown at the bottom of the external monitor or above the encoders when you tap Z/Shift.

Hope this helps,

Edward

[MatthewD]

Hello Edward,

I have just installed Phantom ZerOS 7.9.5 and am having trouble finding the feature that you said was going to be included in this release, ie the "Boot up with Playbacks selected".  Please see the 4 posts above from March 5th.

I remember seeing this in a beta release, but can't find it in the official release.   This is critical for us, as I have 5 FLX S's waiting for this feature before I deploy them around the educational site that I manage.  It's been 6 months holding onto new devices waiting for this firmware upgrade.

Can you please confirm that it has been implemented?  

Thanks in advance.

Matthew

[Edward Z88]

Hi Matthew,

Rather than having an option in Setup, instead FLX S consoles will now remember the fader function they were in before power off.

You should therefore find if you change to playbacks, power cycle, the console will boot back up in playbacks. You can see this process happening, as now when you tap the fader function button, the save icon temporarily goes red, as that change is stored on the console.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.

Edward

[MatthewD]

Hi Edward,

Thanks for your response. 

Hmm, this isn't as ideal as what was in the Beta version.  Since we have staff and students of different "technical" competence including very low, and having the desk start-up in a known state was the ideal.  You know, "just turn it off and on again" and it should work, kind of thing.

With this feature absent, we'll just have to train everyone and leave a quick-start guide next to the unit.  But since people don't read in general, I can imagine it will be quite a few call-outs for tech assistance.

Let me know if you have any ideas of how to make this easier.  I suggest a "Base Scene" mode, with a password to lock out changes, such that it's always in a known configuration upon startup would be the best going into the future.

 

Thanks again,

Matthew

[Edward Z88]

Hi Matthew,

If the console recalls the previous fader function on boot, there is no need for the option in Setup. The option planned for Setup was only going to be a "Boot option", and therefore when booted the user could still change the fader function if they wished.

I appreciate, the ideal situation for your implementation would be to have a locked down "operator mode", where only faders can be operated from the iPad. When the console is locked, playbacks can be operated using the faders, however not via the remote.

If you have any queries let me know.

Edward