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    Jeff Toussieng
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Off Line Vs On Line

So had a dumb thought that I'm sure has already been discussed however I am unaware of it so here we go.

I used to use my Smart Fade console for basic back up in case my other brand console froze.  I used it simply to be able to bring up white light to get by while I rebooted the other one.  Fortunately it never froze during an actual production, only during rehearsals and programming.  Never the less I still always had my SF connected in line so both consoles would do the same thing with conventionals.

Well now with so many Non_Conventionals; led's, movers, etc. and using my ION it's very limited what I can do with the SF so I really don't use it much any longer for a back up.  Some events don't even use conventionals.  Depends on power issues and finances.

So I wondered if anyone has ever discussed converting the Eos Family Off-Line software into an actual working system using a usb to dmx dongle.  This would be done for ONLY current owners of EOS consoles to keep people from purchasing just to do events.  It would be used as a back up console on a laptop for all of us who can't afford two actual consoles and it would be set up in such a way it could run dual with the actual console in the event of an issue something quickly can be brought up, perhaps even the frozen cue or next cue.  I realize a SF ML could be a back up however that's double programming events and with the off-line/on-line thought both identical events would be loaded and ready after only needing to only program one.

I don't know.  Only a thought and I realize that would probably require a whole bunch of work for the already overworked staff, but thought I'd address it.

My bullseye is up and I'm ready to receive the arrows.

  • Hi Jeff,

    Do you know about the DMX backup mode for the smart fade?

    This allows you to take a snapshot of 1 universe of DMX and then should you require it you can play it back. You connect your console to the DMX input on the Smartfade then the output of your smart fade goes to your rig. You then put the state up on your Ion and record it into the smartfade.

    This means it doesn't matter what is on that universe it will just record the levels then play them back when you pull a memory up. Of course moving lights and LEDs will do a live move if they are recorded but it will allow you to get a state up quickly.

    You can find the details on page 69 of the V3 manual.

    Tom

  • Jeff Toussieng said:
    ... So I wondered if anyone has ever discussed converting the Eos Family Off-Line software into an actual working system using a usb to dmx dongle.  ...

    I'm sure it's been discussed at length in the halls of Middleton.  Until recently, ETC has been in the business of selling consoles, not dongles and giving away free software.  With the recent release of PC Congo, a paradigm shift may be occurring, and one might expect an EOS version in the near future.

     

  • Hey Jeff,

     

    First of all, I agree wholeheartedly with Tom - the DMX backup mode on the regular SmartFade is a great but probably lesser-known feature that I would highly suggest you explore.  Keep in mind that you can snapshot multiple looks, so if, say, you have a bunch of relays that keep your moving lights and LEDs powered, you could snapshot those addresses and keep them on all the time from the SmartFade as backup.

    As to your question regarding Eos Family Offline outputting DMX :  ETC has just released a product called PC Congo.  This is essentially the Congo software for a PC, along with a dongle for streaming ACN output.  You still need something like a Net3 gateway for 5-pin XLR DMX output, but the computer essentially becomes a console at that point.  The product page is currently here :  http://www.etcconnect.com/product.overview.aspx?Id=22138.

    -Matt Pumplin

    Tech Support Specialist

  • in reply to derekleffew

    Since the PC client already supports ACN, the mostly likely scenario would be to require an I/O gateway to support DMX devices rather than some USB-to-DMX dongle.

  • in reply to Matt Pumplin

    Hey thanks for the replies thus far.  I will look into the SF backup.  It's funny but when I was doing the ION training back then I think I ran across this and excited I mentioned it to ETC at training and was told nope, that's for SF to SF.  SF doesn't work with other consoles.  So I let it go.  When it is in that mode does that allow manual control also of channels or would each snapshot get recorded to individual faders allowing whatever that fader to be that control?  I'm sure that doesn't make sense.

    Regarding the Congo software.  Long story about Congo but bottom line, wouldn't work for me.  Looking more for EOS family to EOS family so the whole event can be opened on the back up and ready to go.  But this is promising that hopefully that means they might be considering or working on the same thing for EOS family.

    Last thing.  I suppose since it hasn't been mentioned that EOS Family Client is only for editing EOS Family consoles and not as a back up as I have inquired.

  • in reply to Jeff Toussieng

    The SF Back will only playback the information store on those faders so you would not be able to pull up the individual channels.

    You are correct the Client is only a client. It can be used to connect to a console but it would not take over should the console go offline it will be disconnected.

    Tom

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