He'll answer it too!
Strand Palette/Light Palette Upgraded
- Thread starterSlurpy
- Start date
He'll answer it too!
Jane, you ignorant slot! In December 1980, the commissioning for my university's LightPalette was done by Joel Epstein*, Head of Field Service, and training was done by Don Lammers, the author of the User's Manual.
At that time, Strand-Century's reputation was beyond reproach, as was reflected in their prices. Every other manufacturer was a very distant "also ran."
While I'll admit the possibility that levels of service have fluctuated in twenty-seven years; both individuals mentioned are still working for/with Strand Lighting. Want to hear stories of poor customer service, ask the man who owns Kliegl! (With apologies to Packard Motor Company, and Robert Kliegl).
*Century Lighting Service, Inc
18-02 River Rd
Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410-1201
USA Tel: 201-791-7001
Fax: 201-791-3167
Contact: Joel Epstein
And here's an (to me) interesting bit of trivia: The first London production of Cats was done on a Kliegl console. (I'm guessing it had to be the Command Performance--still the best console name ever, so very self-important!)
My complaints to Strand about the training have been heard and they appear to be working hard to make it up to us with a new training session. I'll post a follow up at the end of the week to let you know how it all plays out.
Today I sat at my office desk in the shop and wirelessly logged onto the lighting network. I then proceeded to mindlessly run lighting cues from the shop without any idea of what is happening on stage. That's pretty cool. I might be able to run light cues from my truck...
Today I sat at my office desk in the shop and wirelessly logged onto the lighting network. I then proceeded to mindlessly run lighting cues from the shop without any idea of what is happening on stage. That's pretty cool. I might be able to run light cues from my truck...
Sounds like a severe safety violation to me. Did you have your DMX Confetti Cannons, Kabuki Drop, Projector Dowser, and Pyro and Rigging Systems active also?
That WiFi network better be locked down tighter than a <fill in the blank>. But please post the IP address and Password here so we can all look at your new lighting system. I want to sit outside your theatre and "fix" your levels during tech. It would help if you'd send me the VW2008 and LW4 files, but a "Channel Magic" sheet in Excel would probably suffice.Wait, what? Is there any other way? Can one really mindfully run lighting cues?
Last edited:
Uh... I don't know I wasn't in the room at the time.
That's actually something I'm concerned about. The network is not connected to the internet. From what I can tell it's a mindless network that anyone can access but they will get nothing off of it unless they have the Strand console software and know the ip address of the console. So short of a disgruntled tech who wants to mess with a show there isn't a lot that the general public can do to it.
Haven't we already discussed the movie War Games? And isn't the average age of the common hacker the same as that as of your students? Free Kevin!
Back to topic: (From now on I'll just use the tla: BTT) You said you were going to ask about the Windows Embedded programs you were unlikely to want/need. Are you waiting for more training for that?
I guess I need to find out what "tla" means before I use "BTT".
For those staying up with the saga. Strand appears to be working hard to make things right. They are flying a guy in from somewhere in Canada to train me on Friday. This guy is apparently the guy who wrote the software. So he should be able to fully explain why they chose to leave that other stuff in the Embedded software as well as if it's removable and if it's potentially any sort of problem in the first place. As far as my install goes, the console's not connected to the real internet so there's no chance of the board op miss a cue because he's reading Derek's blog.
Anyone got a question for me to ask the software guy?
TLA=Three Letter Acronym. Don't feel bad--I didn't know either, until that guy from Cornell told me!
How's the vision of the display(s)? What about the concept of "predictive channel selection on the command line," or the expression of "position correction," or the obsession with "20-channels across displays." My idea: I get the impression that the developers have shown true insight on the Light Palette/Palette series. Can the desk do logic?: express "all of the blue frontlights, except areas two and five, to a 'set' level of 75%." I suspect it will be ions before the desk can do that, possibly not in this eos. I'm sure your system uses distributed processing, to allow for smartfades. Can multiple systems work together in unison? And finally, if Dave Cunningham was not involved in the development of these consoles, why not?
Oh, you mean about the console software?
How's the vision of the display(s)? What about the concept of "predictive channel selection on the command line," or the expression of "position correction," or the obsession with "20-channels across displays." My idea: I get the impression that the developers have shown true insight on the Light Palette/Palette series. Can the desk do logic?: express "all of the blue frontlights, except areas two and five, to a 'set' level of 75%." I suspect it will be ions before the desk can do that, possibly not in this eos. I'm sure your system uses distributed processing, to allow for smartfades. Can multiple systems work together in unison? And finally, if Dave Cunningham was not involved in the development of these consoles, why not?
Last edited:
I Had an OUTSTANDING 6 hour training session today with one of the Horizon software writers for the Strand Palette. Strand really stepped up and made things right flying in a guy from Calgary to spend the day with me (for you Bobby Harrell fans, I'm told they tried to get him for me but he was already booked for a trip to Europe).
He REALLY knew his stuff and was an excellent teacher. The guy even bought me lunch.
There are apparently several issues with the Black and Tan software so there is an update coming out in a few weeks. He tells me that they have four people who have the full time job of fixing bugs and adding new features to the software. There must have been a dozen times in the training that we talked about a feature that would be kind of cool. Many of them are already in the works to be added to future software updates, others were possible and just a matter of them deciding there was enough demand to make it worth writing the software. For example the bump buttons are all momentary. There's no reason they couldn't be toggles... it's just a matter of them deciding it's worth adding that feature and write the code. It sounds like they plan on releasing regular software updates every few months reacting to the requests of their customers. He said they try to turn around requests for new fixture personalities in a day or two. As I've said in other posts in the past I've always liked the Horizon software and I'm really impressed with what they've done with it since I first used the basic PC version about 4 years ago.
They now have a website with forums for the new software. He says their software developers and the Strand Console experts are hanging out there all the time to answer questions and get feedback about bugs, new gear that needs personalities written, and for ideas of new features to add. You can even become a beta tester through the site.
Sorry guys I may have to spend a little time over there now too... please don't feel like I don't love you anymore it's just that I've found someone new.
Coolest thing I learned today... You can lie to the Palette software and create your own intelligent fixture.
How:
Take your three cell cyc light and load the correct color RGB gels
Load the personality for a generic RGB fixture.
Patch the three color attributes to the correct fixtures' dimmers.
The Palette software now sees that as one unit. You can go into the color picker and click on a color and the software will balance the output of the three fixtures to blend that specific color. It even has the full library of Rosco, Lee, Apollo, and Gam Gel to choose from. Just click a color from the gel book and the console does it's best to mix that exact color.
In theory you could triple hang your whole rig and set up the console to think of the entire rig as a bunch of RGB lights. That's some crazy cool.
Along with this we finally got my Seachangers working today. Oh they are SO BEAUTIFUL. And amazing when combined with that color picking software. You want Fatherless Amber you've got it just a couple clicks away.
My only remaining complaint is the DMX nodes require Power over Ethernet. Of course my system didn't get designed with a hub that has PoE built in so I have to add it with PoE injectors. I've been to all the local computer places and most of them have no idea what a PoE injector is. The manual says there is also a power adapter option but it's not exactly a user friendly option either. For the $750+ I paid you would think they could throw in a power adapter or PoE injector instead of make me run all over town to find a PoE injector. Of course you can just order one on-line but with my state institution purchasing laws I can't just do that it may take me weeks to get one ordered if I can't find one locally. Apparently they have a new and improved node coming out. Hopefully it'll come with it's own power source.
He REALLY knew his stuff and was an excellent teacher. The guy even bought me lunch.
There are apparently several issues with the Black and Tan software so there is an update coming out in a few weeks. He tells me that they have four people who have the full time job of fixing bugs and adding new features to the software. There must have been a dozen times in the training that we talked about a feature that would be kind of cool. Many of them are already in the works to be added to future software updates, others were possible and just a matter of them deciding there was enough demand to make it worth writing the software. For example the bump buttons are all momentary. There's no reason they couldn't be toggles... it's just a matter of them deciding it's worth adding that feature and write the code. It sounds like they plan on releasing regular software updates every few months reacting to the requests of their customers. He said they try to turn around requests for new fixture personalities in a day or two. As I've said in other posts in the past I've always liked the Horizon software and I'm really impressed with what they've done with it since I first used the basic PC version about 4 years ago.
They now have a website with forums for the new software. He says their software developers and the Strand Console experts are hanging out there all the time to answer questions and get feedback about bugs, new gear that needs personalities written, and for ideas of new features to add. You can even become a beta tester through the site.
Sorry guys I may have to spend a little time over there now too... please don't feel like I don't love you anymore it's just that I've found someone new.
Coolest thing I learned today... You can lie to the Palette software and create your own intelligent fixture.
How:
Take your three cell cyc light and load the correct color RGB gels
Load the personality for a generic RGB fixture.
Patch the three color attributes to the correct fixtures' dimmers.
The Palette software now sees that as one unit. You can go into the color picker and click on a color and the software will balance the output of the three fixtures to blend that specific color. It even has the full library of Rosco, Lee, Apollo, and Gam Gel to choose from. Just click a color from the gel book and the console does it's best to mix that exact color.
In theory you could triple hang your whole rig and set up the console to think of the entire rig as a bunch of RGB lights. That's some crazy cool.
Along with this we finally got my Seachangers working today. Oh they are SO BEAUTIFUL. And amazing when combined with that color picking software. You want Fatherless Amber you've got it just a couple clicks away.
My only remaining complaint is the DMX nodes require Power over Ethernet. Of course my system didn't get designed with a hub that has PoE built in so I have to add it with PoE injectors. I've been to all the local computer places and most of them have no idea what a PoE injector is. The manual says there is also a power adapter option but it's not exactly a user friendly option either. For the $750+ I paid you would think they could throw in a power adapter or PoE injector instead of make me run all over town to find a PoE injector. Of course you can just order one on-line but with my state institution purchasing laws I can't just do that it may take me weeks to get one ordered if I can't find one locally. Apparently they have a new and improved node coming out. Hopefully it'll come with it's own power source.
Last edited:
Hey smart guy they do have predictive channel selection in the command line. If you select channels "1+3+35+57 etc" the next time you start to type that combination it will pop up in the box and you just hit shift enter to accept that combination... texting technology on my console.
As for position correction:
If you program one point in the show that every mover in the rig is pointed at one spot you are set. You load in, fire up that cue, hand adjust all the fixtures to get all the instruments looking at the correct spot and click. The software adjusts all Pan, tilt, and zoom values for the entire show to compensate for the new space. You go have dinner. Not bad.
Oh and for all those afraid of the PC crash with the console. Strand installed a PC that sits next to the console. This PC is also on the network and is used to monitor activity on the network and run WYG. If the Console were to die mid show all I have to do is reach inside the desk and pull the dongle out, and grab the USB key that has the backup show file in it out of the back of the console. Plug both USB keys into the adjacent computer, fire up the software, load the show, and go to the next cue. Instant backup system. I could also do the same thing wirelessly off my laptop and run the rest of the show from my office.
Hog3 anyone?
And that "free" lunch only cost your college, what, about $250,000?
And once it finds out, it will NEVER trust you again.
You'll soon discover this to be both a blessing and a curse. MARK (MIB/auto-move when dark/Gafftaper) MY WORDS!
PoE=NFG! You certainly have a valid complaint here, which should be directed to both the manufacturer and your (on-)crack Theatre Consultant.
Isn't that why I instructed you to ask about it? Want to know whose idea it was? (Not mine; but a friend's.) I thought you'd like that feature.
Hmm, FPS HogII could do this in 1999. How very revolutionary! You record the position into a cue? Not a "preset focus"? Not using palettes on something called a *.Palette is just, well, wrong.
Instant? Do you think this negates your not needing to know the location of the nearest identical console? Want to hear how the #1 concert touring Lighting Control System handles a multi-user, multi-console, redundant back-up; environment?
Sorry if I appear argumentative, I've had a rough week, see other thread(s).
I'm truly happy for you, and can't wait for you to send me your showfile so I can take it to my new-found "friendly local Lighting Shop" and have them demo the board to me using your cues. Next best thing to being there. Don't forget to include the Wyg™ file also.
DL
Last edited:
Well Grumpy Derek... I think you've got your perspective all backwards and you've missed the point. We are talking about a middle of the price road conventional desk here (in the $15k range). Accept now it has features that are standards on moving light desks. NO it's not a Hog but I don't need a hog. However, some of those features will come in really handy with my collection of basic intelligent gear. The point is that a conventional desk has many features of a desk three or four times it's price. That's cool.
While it's true ETC has already countered with Ion and Jr. (the direct competition of my Classic Palette) which also have features of a ML desk. The interesting thing is that this Strand/Horizon software and features are also available on consoles that start around $5k or so. So we are talking about direct competition of the good old Express in the High School/community theater/house of worship market. In my option Strand has really laid down the gauntlet to challenge ETC to replace the Express with something much more powerful. My apologies to the ETC regulars here on CB, but there's no way I would take an Express over a basic Preset Palette at this point. We've talked in the past about ETC working on replacing the Express. It'll be interesting to see what they do and how long it takes for the new Express to come out.
Another interesting thought is someone who masters the $5k basic Palette consoles has also mastered the $50k Light Palette. The software is all the same it's just a matter of power processor, a desk with more buttons, and more channels and universes unlocked. That seems like a really cool sales pitch to me. Wouldn't it be great if the student whose school purchased a basic 2 scene preset console was learning how to use the same software they use on Broadway?
Final random note... Strand is working on a way for you to rent a dongle that will temporarily unlock more channels. So you are a small college operation like me and you have a big show coming up and you need a couple dozen movers for a one time gig. You rent a dongle that for a month will allow you that many channels. When the time is over the dongle goes dead and you are back to your old channel count. Very Cool.
While it's true ETC has already countered with Ion and Jr. (the direct competition of my Classic Palette) which also have features of a ML desk. The interesting thing is that this Strand/Horizon software and features are also available on consoles that start around $5k or so. So we are talking about direct competition of the good old Express in the High School/community theater/house of worship market. In my option Strand has really laid down the gauntlet to challenge ETC to replace the Express with something much more powerful. My apologies to the ETC regulars here on CB, but there's no way I would take an Express over a basic Preset Palette at this point. We've talked in the past about ETC working on replacing the Express. It'll be interesting to see what they do and how long it takes for the new Express to come out.
Another interesting thought is someone who masters the $5k basic Palette consoles has also mastered the $50k Light Palette. The software is all the same it's just a matter of power processor, a desk with more buttons, and more channels and universes unlocked. That seems like a really cool sales pitch to me. Wouldn't it be great if the student whose school purchased a basic 2 scene preset console was learning how to use the same software they use on Broadway?
Final random note... Strand is working on a way for you to rent a dongle that will temporarily unlock more channels. So you are a small college operation like me and you have a big show coming up and you need a couple dozen movers for a one time gig. You rent a dongle that for a month will allow you that many channels. When the time is over the dongle goes dead and you are back to your old channel count. Very Cool.
You miss the point about the backup system to Derek. Unlike the shows that come through your place. I can't afford to have a couple of rack mounted versions of the console that take over if anything goes crazy. However it's not very expensive to have a PC sitting nearby on the network. I'll make it standard procedure to have the the PC watching the show and following along. That way if anything happens it's just a matter of swapping the dongle... something that can be done in seconds. Again it's something that's been available to high end users for years at a high end price. Now a similar solution is available to lower end users at a very reasonable price.
jmabray
Active Member
List price on the basic ION console package is $6,750.00. Street price will be less than that - more around your 5K range I would imagine. While ETC will tell you the ION is not the Express replacement- the still make the Express - it is geared toward that price range.
When you couple the ION with the SmartFade ML that has the capability to do some more of those "Hog-Like" functions (i.e. pallettes, Fan, etc) at a very low list price ($2,995.00) you have a very good range of consoles.
Ummm... Ion uses the same software as the EOS. It is the exact same stuff. There are already several shows on Broadway who are using EOS.
That is a very cool thing. ION comes with the ability to upgrade channel counts as well. The base model comes with 1000 channels/outputs. You can then move up to 1500 channels/outputs and then up to 2000 channels/outputs.
I don't know how it would be any different for an ION to to this, as it gets it's channel count from a dongle inside of the desk as well. But it is a really great little feature.
jmabray
Active Member
When you purchase an ION console and register it with the factory, you get a dongle shipped to you that is a Client Dongle for free. This is a dongle that allows a laptop computer running EOS/ION software to log into the desk and not only see what the desk is doing, but also control the rig just like you were sitting at the desk.
I'll be honest that I don't know how it deals with the ability to function as a backup console, but I can ask the question on Monday and find out.
If you are interested, let me know.
Also - don't get me wrong here. I am not trying to knock Strand. I like alot of their new product, I just want to educate everyone as to what the ETC product will do. While it is true that work for an ETC representative, I am, first and foremost, a lighting controls geek and love to see all the new functions that are coming out in the new desks. Strand's "Compute linear" or what ever it is that it is called is a pretty neat little function. I think that the competition is great and am looking forward to what comes down the line in the next few years.
Last edited:
Jmabray... didn't realize ION was that low of price... I thought it was up in the $10k-$15k range with Jr... also didn't realize it's the EOS software. Forgive me I haven't actually seen an ION yet. Sounds like both manufacturers have the right idea with the one software multiple platforms approach. Although Strand has the lead with 7 consoles running the same software. ETC should either expand or come up with a bunch of different wing panels.
As for the backup/alternate console with Strand. Like everyone else, the ole software is available for free and you can run it on all the machines you want on the network. I can run cues wirelessly from my office on my laptop. The key is you need one machine to have the magic dongle that unlocks the system. So that dongle stays on the main desk, but if it has a problem then all you do is plug that dongle into another computer on the network and you are good to go from there. Apparently the ability to watch the network and the ability to run the network remotely are both options you pay for with strand. It would make sense that ETC's system would work similarly.
With both ETC and Strand the channel count is purely a matter of how much you pay for and you can easily unlock more by buying an upgrade. The cool thing would be if they do work out a reasonably priced temporary upgrade.
Thirdoctive, I'm really happy with the console. I was a big fan of Horizon and Marquee but a little afraid of going that route since it was a small independent company. Since the be buyout, I'm getting the same product but with a much larger company.
A few more random thoughts on stuff I like about my new Strand Console:
I love the way the Horizon software deals with concepts and not with DMX values. For those that don't know, with an intelligent light you choose a color, and the console thinks about it in terms of the color, not in terms of DMX settings on that instrument. So if you have to change from a Mac to a VL the console will do the work and create the same color for you. Pan and Tilt are in degrees, Iris is in % open, Gobo Rotators are clockwise/counter clockwise and RPMs... real world concepts not hard to master values. Any of the position settings are all easily transfered between instruments you just make sure that they point to the same place at 0/0 and the console will make any needed adjustments.
Oh and hows this. Let's say you have moving light that pan's 360 and another that pan's 540. If you were to simply assign their pan control to one slider and bring it to full they would both spin at different rates. The Strand software knows this and will adjust speeds so they match and move at the same rate.
Another cool Horizon concept that some may not know about is how it tracks moving lights. If you go from point A to B on an older console the moving light will create an arc as it travels there not a straight line. The Horizon software does the math and makes it move in a straight line by generating a whole bunch of tiny pan and tilt movements.
There is a set of "S" soft key buttons and a set of "M" buttons. The M buttons were macro triggers on the first addition of the software. In the new version they are secondary level soft key buttons. My trainer seemed to think that may not be permanent. It seemed like a poor change to make to me. My feeling is if they need a second set of soft keys what about hold down Shift and press the same soft keys? Don't just toast all the macro buttons. Either that or make it an option in the setup menu so if you like macros you can use them one way and if you don't you can use them another way.
Another thing I haven't heard people say about the Palettes is that there are some nice effects generator things pre-programed in. Stuff like circles, ballyhoo's, chases, etc... Makes it really easy to throw a little flash and trash in. I know Jr. has this feature. Does ION?
I was a little critical of the need to use they keyboard from what I saw in demos in the past. However, yesterday my trainer almost never used the keyboard or the mouse. ETC made a big deal about how their desks don't require the mouse/keyboard. But from what I can see the Strand really doesn't either. Although it's a nice feature for naming fixtures or doing a text search for a gel color in the color matching features.
I'll probably keep rambling on here as I think of interesting new things to report about the console and software.
As for the backup/alternate console with Strand. Like everyone else, the ole software is available for free and you can run it on all the machines you want on the network. I can run cues wirelessly from my office on my laptop. The key is you need one machine to have the magic dongle that unlocks the system. So that dongle stays on the main desk, but if it has a problem then all you do is plug that dongle into another computer on the network and you are good to go from there. Apparently the ability to watch the network and the ability to run the network remotely are both options you pay for with strand. It would make sense that ETC's system would work similarly.
With both ETC and Strand the channel count is purely a matter of how much you pay for and you can easily unlock more by buying an upgrade. The cool thing would be if they do work out a reasonably priced temporary upgrade.
Thirdoctive, I'm really happy with the console. I was a big fan of Horizon and Marquee but a little afraid of going that route since it was a small independent company. Since the be buyout, I'm getting the same product but with a much larger company.
A few more random thoughts on stuff I like about my new Strand Console:
I love the way the Horizon software deals with concepts and not with DMX values. For those that don't know, with an intelligent light you choose a color, and the console thinks about it in terms of the color, not in terms of DMX settings on that instrument. So if you have to change from a Mac to a VL the console will do the work and create the same color for you. Pan and Tilt are in degrees, Iris is in % open, Gobo Rotators are clockwise/counter clockwise and RPMs... real world concepts not hard to master values. Any of the position settings are all easily transfered between instruments you just make sure that they point to the same place at 0/0 and the console will make any needed adjustments.
Oh and hows this. Let's say you have moving light that pan's 360 and another that pan's 540. If you were to simply assign their pan control to one slider and bring it to full they would both spin at different rates. The Strand software knows this and will adjust speeds so they match and move at the same rate.
Another cool Horizon concept that some may not know about is how it tracks moving lights. If you go from point A to B on an older console the moving light will create an arc as it travels there not a straight line. The Horizon software does the math and makes it move in a straight line by generating a whole bunch of tiny pan and tilt movements.
There is a set of "S" soft key buttons and a set of "M" buttons. The M buttons were macro triggers on the first addition of the software. In the new version they are secondary level soft key buttons. My trainer seemed to think that may not be permanent. It seemed like a poor change to make to me. My feeling is if they need a second set of soft keys what about hold down Shift and press the same soft keys? Don't just toast all the macro buttons. Either that or make it an option in the setup menu so if you like macros you can use them one way and if you don't you can use them another way.
Another thing I haven't heard people say about the Palettes is that there are some nice effects generator things pre-programed in. Stuff like circles, ballyhoo's, chases, etc... Makes it really easy to throw a little flash and trash in. I know Jr. has this feature. Does ION?
I was a little critical of the need to use they keyboard from what I saw in demos in the past. However, yesterday my trainer almost never used the keyboard or the mouse. ETC made a big deal about how their desks don't require the mouse/keyboard. But from what I can see the Strand really doesn't either. Although it's a nice feature for naming fixtures or doing a text search for a gel color in the color matching features.
I'll probably keep rambling on here as I think of interesting new things to report about the console and software.
soundlight
Well-Known Member
jmabray
Active Member
I actually believe that a base version of the congo desk can be had for around the same cost (or at least in the neighborhood) but that won't get you a training session on the desk. What you are mostly paying for with that 10-15k is for a factory certified tech to come out and spend a day or a day and a half with you going over all of the functions of the desk and how it works and everything.
There are 3 different versions of wing panels for the ION. A 2x10, a 2x20 and a 1x20. The 2by's mount on the sides of the desk and can either mount directly to the desk whereby they get their power and data from the desk, or mount as a USB connection to the back of the desk with a seperate power supply. Th 1by mounts in a slot at the top of the desk so that in spaces where there are really tight quarters, you can still keep the same 19" wide footprint of the desk. You can attach up to 6
wings of any flavor to the desk at this point. That gives you a desk with 240 faders (but it's really really long)
The beauty of them being USB devices, is that when you are running a client desk (laptop) like we talked about earlier, you can plug that fader wing into the laptop and get it to output data to the system.
Ion deals with those fixtures in the same way. Pan and tilt are in degrees available. So if a desk goes 540 degrees rotation is goes from +270 to -270 passing through 0 along the way. Color actually deals with the color that the fixture comes with. It is part of the library information about the fixture. If you want to change the color in the fixture, you can always edit the color wheel information about that particular fixture and have it available on your encoders. If your fixture is a CYM color mixing fixture, you have full access to a color picker as well as a full Gel library. Meaning you can tell your CYM fixture to mix to R80 to match an blue wash that you have on stage and it will match it.
The EOS encoder section is really great. If you haven't seen it up close and personal, you really should take a look at it. The encoders are magnetic clutched so that you click on them and they go from coarse to fine adjustments. When they do this you can actually feel a difference in the way the encoders spin. I.E. in coarse mode, a color encoder "clicks" into each frame. You feel is notch into the full frame of the color. You want a split color, click the encoder, put it in Fine mode, and it will spin in as much of the split color as you want.
Plus the display near the encoders is a touch screen as well. So if you want, you can open up a window that displays all of your gobo choices (as an image) right there. You touch the one you want, and it goes into the gobo frame.
This was the whole "Compute Linear" thing that I was talking about in the other post. A pretty cool feature. I hear that ION/EOS will have something like this, but I haven't seen it yet.
What is does have, however, is the ability to apply curves. Ok no big deal, even an express can do this to dimmers. But in EOS/ION you could also apply those same curves to cues now. So if you want to see a moving light move happen onstage, but you would like to see the light move slowly at the first part of the cue, then speed up through the middle part, and then move slowly again as it nears the completion point, you apply a slow bottom and top curve to the cue and it does just that.
You can also apply discrete timing to any particular attribute in a cue, down to a channel level basis. So, for instance, you want a light to pop on and then see the move happen 10 seconds and see the color fade from blue to red in the middle 5 seconds of that cue, it is all done in one cue now, as opposed to the 5 or 6 that is would have taken previously. You put a 0 time on the intensity attribute of that channel in that cue, a 10 count on the focus attribute, and a 5 count with a delay of 2.5 seconds on the color attribute on that cue and it does it all just like you want it to.
As pointed out before, yes there is an effects engine on both the ION and the EOS.
You're right. ETC does make a big deal of that. It is a big shift away from the way some desks used to work, and a very good thing IMHO. You can spend way too much time finding the mouse, then finding the mouse cursor, and then moving it to where you want to when you are programming on a mouse intensive desk.
There are some things that you need the Mouse for with the ION that you don't with the EOS. But if you have touch screens with your ION, those pretty much go away as well.
Again all this is great for the end user. With the buyout of Strand, Genlyte has decided to pump some real money into the brand, which is a good thing all around. Better competition makes for better products.
Last edited:
Similar threads
