Hello all -
We have released the Cobalt version 7.0.0 software, available here. While considered a Cobalt operating system, this software is designed for use on both Cobalt and Congo Family products. Cobalt v7.0.0 contains an updated graphic look and some new features listed below.
The recommended resolution of Cobalt v7.0.0 is 1280x1024. Higher resolutions may cause performance slowdowns. Otherwise operation is unchanged. All the shortcuts and functions that you know now are still available and functioning Congo show files are fully compatible with Cobalt software so and you can continue to work as you have been with no problems.
Designed from the ground up to provide time saving features, here are some of the new features in Cobalt v7.0.0:
Direct Select Dock
The Direct Selects dock is an on-screen view of the direct selects that give you access to configurable setups of direct select areas (type, number of visible buttons, assignments of types to the four blocks of DS buttons) and can be used with a touch screen or mouse. This dock allows you to see all of each data type, so you can access all 999 groups or FCB/All Palettes as direct selects rather than only the first 100. Using this dock with a mouse will allow you to use the Cobalt click & drag control of groups (click on the group button and drag up or down to increase/decrease the intensity of those channels).
Device Control Dock
The Device Controls dock displays all the parameters of selected channels. You can also filter to just Focus, Color or Beam parameters or to your U1-U3 pages of encoders. These parameter boxes are displays, showing the value for the first selected channel in a group, or the focused channel in a selection, and they are buttons that can be used for entering a value directly or to access the film strip controls for framed parameters (scrollers, color wheels, gobo wheels, strobe ranges, etc.). These boxes work with click & drag to function like wheels.
Color Picker
A color picker is also included in the Device Controls dock and contains new color mixing tools to adjust colors, especially on devices with more than four additive color parameters. There is also a gel picker tab so that you do not need to place the gel manufacturers onto direct selects. These buttons work just like the direct selects- type the gel number and then tap the manufacturer button to apply that gel number.
Installing Cobalt v7.0.0 software on Congo family consoles:
Cobalt v7.0.0 software installs in a new folder as a parallel installation. This means that the existing Congo software installation folder and plays folder are unmodified and remain accessible and useable.
When you install Cobalt V7.0.0, the contents of the existing plays folder are COPIED into a new Cobalt plays folder, so all the existing show files are immediately available in Cobalt V7.0.0.
Opening a Cobalt v7.0.0 show in Congo v6.4.1
When make a show file in Cobalt v7.0.0, you can open it in Congo v6.4.1 by saving the file to USB, then switching to Congo v6.4.1 and opening the file from USB.
Switching your Congo between Congo v6.4.1 software and Cobalt v7.0.0 software
During this time of transition, if you need to return to Congo v6.4.1 use on your console (For example guest users who want to use the older version, touring shows, etc.) simply do the following:
Launching Congo v6.4.1
Press F1 on an external keyboard while powering up the system to start using the Congo software installation. From this point onward, the system will start as Congo v6.4.1.
Launching Cobalt v7.0.0
Press F2 on an external keyboard while powering up the system to start using the Cobalt software installation. From this point onward, the system will start as Cobalt.
Remember, you can switch between Congo and Cobalt as you need to - the two installations will not interfere with each other.
Thanks -
