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    JHarpur
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ML Profiles, and how to fix them? Like fixtures with inverted dimmers?

In general: Is there any place where there's a detailed explanation of the more in-depth usage for profile building? I realize that the console software is a work in progress, and truly appreciate where it's been brought so far, and that, considering the volume of fixtures out there now, having ETC-built profiles for all of them is an absolutely huge undertaking; but I'd like to get my hands on control of more detail for my fixtures, and either I can't right now because the software as is doesn't let me, or I can't because I don't know how do do that yet. Where should I be looking, or ought I stop looking at this point?

One specific problem I have is with a particular profile - The Chauvet MinWash 13-ch. The profile has an inverted dimmer (That is, open at low values, closed at higher) over a partial range of one channel, and other control functions in the same channel which I'm reluctant to ignore (fixture reset).

Currently, the profile is set up so the user-viewed range values are min 100, max 0, and the DMX range is max 8, min 134, and the home value for that channel set as 134. Which, just going by the fixture's user manual makes sense, but the console doesn't seem to like it. Selecting that fixture and rolling the intensity from 0 with the wheel results in a small, temporary change with the fixture being brought back to 0 when wheel movement stops. I'm assuming this is an issue with the max value being lower than the minimum value. In any case, it results in an inability to reliably control the fixture's intensity.

Now, if I get intensity control I can overlook not having the reset fixture command, if necessary. Is there anything I can do to fix this, or am I stuck waiting for a profile update before I can use these lamps?

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    Yes -- this is documented on page 85 and onwards of the Eos 1.7 Operations Manual.  This gives much of the basic information for how to adjust and modify fixture personalities.  I've been working on a guide in Tech Services, but much of that information is in the manual as well.

    You can get to the editor by going to Patch and then pressing S6, or {Fixtures}.  The list then displayed shows you all the fixtures patched in the show.  Select the profile you want to edit and press Copy.  You cannot edit console library personalities, but you may certainly copy them and modify those.  Once you have modified the profile, you must then repatch the fixture(s) as the copy of the personality.

    Now, the fixture's control parameters can be accessed through About -- this is where those functions will reside.  If the parameter has been greyed out in the fixture editor, meaning that you cannot modify it, that usually indicates that there is a Lamp Control associated with it, and you would need to delete those first.

    Again, these are all particulars for the situation you're dealing with.  I can examine on Monday what's going on with the personality, but the manual should give you the information you need to modify the personality to your needs.  

    Give me a shout on the forums or via email if you're still having difficulty.

     

  • 0 in reply to Hans.Hinrichsen

    Hey Hans -

    I've been through that section of the manual, I'm comfortable with most of the basics, and am with you until you start mentioning the control parameters, which I haven't yet gotten into (beyond actually using them, anyway). I'll have a look at those and see if I can figure out how to modify them, if I can at all, once I'm back at the console.

    I have just downloaded the 1.9.8 beta offline software - woot! - and noticed that one of the fixtures I'd actually been asking about is now in there: the Blizzard Lighting Flurry Wash 13ch, which is actually a carbon version of the Chauvet MinWash 13ch profile, from what I can tell. The Eos' profile for the Flurry has an error, however - the channels for pan fine and tilt coarse are swapped. [I think the Chauvet has the same error, but am not 100% on that.] The electronic copy of the manual I've seen is consistent with the console's default personality - but the hardcopy that came with the light, and the behaviour of the fixture IRL puts the order as (ch1-4: Pan, Pan Fine, Tilt, Tilt Fine). I've mentioned this in an email to Anne already, so by now this may be just an FYI.

    I've noticed a few other changes (from 1.9.6 to 1.9.8b) with the profile* as well (like reordering minimum and maximum values in the intensity range, and its home value), which I'm eager to test out on the console. I can also confirm that the Flurry has an inverted dimmer function, in that its brightest setting (8) (also its home value!?) is at a lower DMX value than its dimmest (134), so the default profile might have the fixture come up at Intensity Full, RGB Full as soon as it is patched, and rolling it's intensity from 0 to "full" may just dim it down, not make it brighter... I'll be able to confirm that, or not, as soon as I've got the new personality installed (tomorrow, maybe? Er, later today, now, actually).

    Thanks for your attention,

    Jonathan

     

    *and here I'm assuming the interoperability of the Chauvet personality, since 1.9.6 didn't have the Blizzard personality at all.

  • 0 in reply to JHarpur

    Update:

    The intensity for the fixture still doesn't work for me - either in the default profile, or the one I ended up using after modification attempts... So as a workaround, I've been setting the home values of these fixtures at full brightness and intensity, and colour values at zero. The downside of this is I then need to use one of the subs as a GM, inhibiting the colour values of these fixtures, and the intensities of everything else. :(

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  • 0 in reply to JHarpur

    Update:

    The intensity for the fixture still doesn't work for me - either in the default profile, or the one I ended up using after modification attempts... So as a workaround, I've been setting the home values of these fixtures at full brightness and intensity, and colour values at zero. The downside of this is I then need to use one of the subs as a GM, inhibiting the colour values of these fixtures, and the intensities of everything else. :(

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