Control/Dimming - Zero 88's New Console

[NickJones]

Zero88, the English lighting company, has launched a new console. The "Orb" I think it's supposed to be a competitor for the EOS or Strand's Palette.
Zero88 makes reasonably low end consoles. So hopefully, this will do all the things an EOS can do but for a lower price.



* Control channels : 2048 (Patchable to any DMX address)
* Playbacks : 10 (Plus 2 Master Faders)
* Submasters : 600 (20 pages of 30, via DMX In)
* Cues : 1000 stacks x 1000 cues (Maximum 2000 total cues)
* Control Wheels : 4 (3 Panel Mounted Encoders, 1 Control Wheel)
* Trackball : 38mm IP65 Panel Mounted Trackball
* Power supply : Internal switched mode power supply
* Mains inlet : via switched CEE22 connector
* Supply voltage range : 100-240V, 47-63Hz
* DMX Output : 4 x DMX512A opto isolated via 4 x XLR 5 fixed sockets, over-voltage protected
* Ethernet protocols (RJ45 port, 100 Base T): Artnet (4 universes), Zero Wire DMX, LightConverse, Capture, WYSIWYG and PDA Remote
* DMX Input: 1x DMX512
* Sound to Light input : Stereo ¼” Jack socket. 100mV – 10V
* Monitor Output : 2 x XGA via standard 15 pin D connector
* USB : 4 ports for connection of accessories or for storage
* Data Storage : USB memory stick (included)
* Desk lamp supply : 12V 5W. 1 x XLR 3 pin female. For Littlite ® or compatible lamp
* Rear mounted control inputs : SMPTE, MIDI in/thru, CAN
(iCan and ChilliNet), Remote (8-pin DIN) and Line in/out
* Dimensions : 201mm(H) x 1000mm(W) x 462mm(D)
* Weight : 20kg
* Operating Temperature Range : +5 to +40 °C
* Humidity : 5% to 95% Non condensing


The website had this to say about it:

The ORB has been designed for 21st century theatrical lighting control.
Extensive market research and customer feedback has driven the design of the Orb. The ZerOS software suite which underlies the Orb’s operating system has been tried and tested in leading entertainment controllers, the Leap Frog and Frog 2. The ZerOS software has now been adapted to meet the stringent requirements of theatrical lighting designers and programmers in the 21st Century.

The 2048 DMX control channels offered by the Orb allows users to control multiple LED fittings, intelligent lights or media servers controlling video, as well as the standard generic dimming systems common to theatres and television. All of these devices are programmed through intuitive user interfaces incorporating custom designed encoder wheels, multiple playback stacks, user definable keys and optional touch screens.

Programming is via a numeric keypad using standard, familiar industry style syntax. Tools like the integrated track ball, automatic palettes and syntax keys, allow for speedy programming when used by a seasoned lighting operator.

The graphical user interface on the dual monitors provides tools to allow anyone to quickly select and program colours via the colour picker or gobos via the gobo image display. User definable screen views mean operators can set the graphical user interface up to meet their own specific needs.

The power of the ZerOS system allows users of the ORB to make dynamic ‘on the fly’ changes to a show, provides advanced tracking updates and enables the creation of powerful effects via the intuitive effects engine with over 40 effect foundations to build on.
Fixture swap out to any of the internal fixture library of 1900 fixtures make the desk ideal for touring shows or updating of long running shows to newer fixtures.
There are 1000 cue stacks of 1000 cues and two theatre style playback masters adding conventional A/B crossfading for users preferring this operating methodology.

Show files can be cross-loaded between the Leap Frog 48 & 96 and Frog 2 lighting consoles

Industry standard Ethernet protocols and 5 pin XLR connectors gives flexibility in selecting DMX output options. Ethernet support for all common visualisation software packages is standard. By adding a suitable Wireless Access Point and Windows Mobile device running free ZerOS software, the desk can support a wireless remote for channel and syntax control. A free Off Line Editor is also available from the Zero 88 website.

From the website: ORB

I'm not sure how I feel about this console. What about you guys?

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by NickJones

I'm not sure how I feel about this console. What about you guys?

Well, since chances are no one has used it yet, how can we feel about it? Designed to or not, it will never compete with ETC, Strand, MA Lighting, or Hog. However, having another choice on the market is not a bad thing. People will buy it, some will swear buy it and some will hate it.

[Les]

I am a fan of all the blue!

[NickJones]

Originally Posted by icewolf08

Well, since chances are no one has used it yet, how can we feel about it? Designed to or not, it will never compete with ETC, Strand, MA Lighting, or Hog. However, having another choice on the market is not a bad thing. People will buy it, some will swear buy it and some will hate it.

I was talking about how they feel it will go.

I'm not a fan or a hater of Zero88, they make some OK gear. Considering this is there first "Real" console (the first one to use more than one universe at least) I doubt it will compete with anything, but this signifies that they are attempting to pull themselves up there. It's allways good to have more competition. The new Jester (from Zero88), has command line interface, ML control, and would be a good solution for schools, churches ect, after a 200 channel desk, with ML, LED and Conventional support.

So this "Orb" will offer a solution that gives you the same amount of channels for less price, sure it may not have the reputation, all of the features or the support of an ETC, Strand ect, but I presume it will give you quite a few features, and with over 2000 channels, it certainly would deal with all the MLs and LEDs, but if you are going to use 2000 channels, then chances are you have a high budget anyway. So it seems a lot like overkill to me. I don't think they thaught this one out though. As you aren't going to go for a product that is new for your huge theatre with more than one universe, with a companies brand new console. I think it will flop, but we will find out.
Nick

[Raktor]

Originally Posted by NickJones

It's allways good to have more competition.

Hmm, I somewhat agree, but mainly disagree.

You think more competition would make MA Lighting/ETC/Strand/HES/Chamsys etc. push down their prices to compete, but they don't have to. They know they have the advantage of industry knowledge and respect, and they don't have to fight for that.

Having another desk in the mix makes it harder. It may have similar specs to the others, but probably serious design flaws as well. The issue is that when a less knowledgeable person is deciding what desk to buy for their venue, they see the specs and go "Oh, it looks equivalent but at a much better price, I'll get that". Then people come into the venue, and spend 80% of their time troubleshooting a sub-standard console. I know when I go into a venue, I expect them to have a 'name-brand' console, because I know I can operate it, and that there are decent resources out there if I get stuck (HES forums, ETC forums, Strand helpline, ETC helpline etc.).

Also, I used the Jester, and it sucked.

[NickJones]

Originally Posted by Raktor

You think more competition would make MA Lighting/ETC/Strand/HES/Chamsys etc. push down their prices to compete, but they don't have to. They know they have the advantage of industry knowledge and respect, and they don't have to fight for that.

Yeah, It's a bit like the whole Apple thing with there complete control. However, if a few more consoles like this come out. then there may be a bit more chance of them going down.

Originally Posted by Raktor

Having another desk in the mix makes it harder. It may have similar specs to the others, but probably serious design flaws as well. The issue is that when a less knowledgeable person is deciding what desk to buy for their venue, they see the specs and go "Oh, it looks equivalent but at a much better price, I'll get that". Then people come into the venue, and spend 80% of their time troubleshooting a sub-standard console.

I presume that's where they intend to get most of there market from. I know if I was designing a venue that had 4 DMX Universes, I definitely wouldn't want a no-name console. That's a major design flaw. But I think that so many people designing venues for collages and big schools will look at stuff like this and do as you said. As far as Zero88 is concerned, they have already made there Money. But Zero88 still value there costomers, I haven't had a huge amount of contact with there products, but the Jester has had a few software updates, so they must semi care. In the war between ETC, Strand, ect, if one console has one feature, the other will have it in no time. If Zero88 work hard on the updates, this could be a great console. I doubt it, but if they really wanted it to it could be. [/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Raktor

Also, I used the Jester, and it sucked.

Yes, totally with you there, however, today we pulled out the Precept 12, made in the late 70's. Things that are legends should die young, like Elvis, John Lennon ect, as Elvis wouldn't have been quite as legendary if he was in a retirement home wearing adult dippers unable to string a sentence together. Unfortunately, this is what's happening to our oldest console, the Precept, sad as it is. Today she decided that faders being pushed up to bring lights up, was a silly idea, and so now, we push faders down to bring lights up. This will all change by the time I go in tomorrow, and I will have the task of resuscitating it again. And again. And again. Today, we also discovered, while moving the console, that when I stood away from the console, everything blacked out. Discovered that the lights only came on if you were standing on a piece of the cable that runs to the dimmer. I can flash lights by jumping. Loki and I got some good entertainment out of this. It's time for a refit of that space...
And you said the Jester sucked. I spoke to an electrician today, I'm having the old dimmer un-hard wired, so then we can plug in some of the newer gear... YEY!

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by NickJones

Today, we also discovered, while moving the console, that when I stood away from the console, everything blacked out. Discovered that the lights only came on if you were standing on a piece of the cable that runs to the dimmer. I can flash lights by jumping. Loki and I got some good entertainment out of this. It's time for a refit of that space...
And you said the Jester sucked. I spoke to an electrician today, I'm having the old dimmer un-hard wired, so then we can plug in some of the newer gear... YEY!

You do realize that the LSC Precept is an analog console, so you can't just plug new gear into the control cable, it isn't DMX. Unwiring it from your dimmers won't help you at all. So, unless you are talking about some other console, I wouldn't not suggest changing anything except maybe fixing the short in your cable.

[NickJones]

Originally Posted by icewolf08

You do realize that the LSC Precept is an analog console, so you can't just plug new gear into the control cable, it isn't DMX. Unwiring it from your dimmers won't help you at all. So, unless you are talking about some other console, I wouldn't not suggest changing anything except maybe fixing the short in your cable.

Yeah, I know that its 14Cannon and I need a Mux to use anything DMX, we have a new desk and new LSC dimmer we use for non permanent set-ups, so the gear is sitting the the back room, waiting to be used, but there was no 3phase point at the dimmer, well, it was hard wired, so I'm having it un-hard wired, taking out the old dimmer and putting a new dimmer, in its place. I just came back from a 9 hour rehearsal, where I sat with my head in the dimmer rack for each cue, as the console went even more AWOL today. I think this will be it's last show.

As for the short in the cable, we did realise that's what it was, but the console still has a mind of its own.
Today antics included: Push up fader to bring up random lights, this changes every time you un plug it. So it chooses different channels each time.
The most frustrating part is knowing that all it takes is a guy with an electrical licence, a 3phase plug and a pair of wire cutters 10 minutes and we could use all the new stuff.

LSC gear is used primarily in Australia, do you use much of it in the US?

[KeeperoftheKeys]

To be fair this is not their first multi universe desk, the frog 2 also does 4 universes and has been out for a few years now, and if I'm not mistaken the leapfrogs do 4 universes (though they only allow a set amount for dimmers and the rest is movers only).

How good or bad it is time will tell...
But to the best of knowledge and limited experience with them their service is excellent, you seem to have a glum and cynical view of them...


* KeeperoftheKeys thinks that the choice for Linux as OS of the desks shows better judgment then ETC's choice for MS on their desks...

[pkirkup]

Dear all,

Many thanks for raising the topic of the ORB - we're really proud of this console and feel that it will be an exciting product for the industry as a whole.

You may or may not be aware that 2 years ago Zero 88s parent company, Polaron Plc, were purchased by Cooper Industries making us part of a large corporation with access to all of the resource and funding which that brings. The ORB is the first significant development from the Zero 88 brand as a result of that takeover and as such is a significant departure from the "comfort zone" in which many people would place Zero 88. The ORB has undergone a not insignificant development process including public field tests, feedback sessions and many new staff members being brought on-board in the development team to cope with the major comitment which a manufacturer needs to make to a product like this. We see this product as a true competitor in its marketplace and certainly hope that with time ControlBooth members will grow to love the console.

There have been a number of comments in this topic which I would like to address here:

Originally Posted by NickJones

So hopefully, this will do all the things an EOS can do but for a lower price.

The ORB isn't aimed to be as fully featured as EOS, but neither is the price - the US$ list price is just $7249 at list (ex-works). We're aiming the desk at venues where you would find the Strand 300 and 500 series or ETC Express ranges, and feel that it's feature set and price point very closely reflect what this marketplace is asking for.

Originally Posted by NickJones

Considering this is there first "Real" console (the first one to use more than one universe at least) I doubt it will compete with anything, but this signifies that they are attempting to pull themselves up there.

That's not strictly true - Zero 88 have had multi-universe consoles for the past 10 years including the Bull Frog, Mambo Frog, Frog 2 and the newer Leap Frog 48 and Leap Frog 96, the latter three all featuring 4 universes as standard. The newer three consoles (Frog 2, Leap Frog 48 and Leap Frog 96) all feature Ethernet, Colour Pickers, Gobo Image Previews and pretty much every other feature you would expect from a true moving light console. We are often pidgeon holed by users as a low-end brand, however once people take the time to try our consoles, they are often surprised at how closely they match the features of their favorite "brand". Over the past few years development has been swift - our original Frog range consoles have had no less than 13 major software releases, with the Frog 2 and Leap Frog 48/96 being on their 6th major release.

Originally Posted by NickJones

It's allways good to have more competition. The new Jester (from Zero88), has command line interface, ML control, and would be a good solution for schools, churches ect, after a 200 channel desk, with ML, LED and Conventional support.

The Jester TL range is aimed exactly as you say - the schools and churches of this world who require upto 200 channels with basic ML an LED control. We see this as sitting alongside the ORB very closely to facilitate the two market areas from a single manufacturer.

Originally Posted by NickJones

So this "Orb" will offer a solution that gives you the same amount of channels for less price, sure it may not have the reputation, all of the features or the support of an ETC, Strand ect, ... As you aren't going to go for a product that is new for your huge theatre with more than one universe, with a companies brand new console.

Originally Posted by NickJones

I presume that's where they intend to get most of there market from. I know if I was designing a venue that had 4 DMX Universes, I definitely wouldn't want a no-name console.

That's an interesting way of looking at it, and one which isn't going to help the industry move on as a whole. Remember, just a few years ago MA Lighting were a small German manufacturer who had made a couple of basic moving light controllers. Without early adopters, nobody would have picked up a GrandMA and taken it seriously.

Originally Posted by Raktor

You think more competition would make MA Lighting/ETC/Strand/HES/Chamsys etc. push down their prices to compete, but they don't have to. They know they have the advantage of industry knowledge and respect, and they don't have to fight for that....
I expect them to have a 'name-brand' console, because I know I can operate it, and that there are decent resources out there if I get stuck (HES forums, ETC forums, Strand helpline, ETC helpline etc.).

You mean, something like the Zero 88 Forum(which has been running for 6 years) and the Zero 88 telephone support line, together with free training courses and distributor based support world-wide.

Also, I used the Jester, and it sucked.

I'd really like to hear what you feel it was that sucked about the Jester - we sell in the 1000s of Jesters per anum worldwide and have very feed negative comments expressed about these products.

But Zero88 still value there costomers, I haven't had a huge amount of contact with there products, but the Jester has had a few software updates, so they must semi care. In the war between ETC, Strand, ect, if one console has one feature, the other will have it in no time. If Zero88 work hard on the updates, this could be a great console. I doubt it, but if they really wanted it to it could be.

We certainly intend to work hard on the updates. I can assure all ControlBooth members that their feedback is valued and Zero 88 fully intend on developing and supporting the console as it reaches the marketplace.

Thank-you once again for taking the time to read about and discuss our new product developments - please feel free to contact me on the details below should you have any comments you wish to share, or if I can be of any assistance with any Zero 88 product.