The Avolites Discussion Forum

1-Recently I programmed a concert with some DTS fixtures (XR250) and a couple desk channels and saved it to my usb stick on a Pearl 2008. If I load this show in another Pearl with lets say some SGM Giottos instead of DTS, re-patch fixtures and rebuild the palletes/groups I used previously,the programming (fades, chases, wait in/out etc) will be maintened? Or do I need to reprogram every cue for the replaced fixtures?

2-If I add more fixtures to groups/palletes, do I need to reprogram all cues using those fixtures, or just by recreating a pallete/group with more fixtures it will automatically load the new fixtures on the previously recorded cues/playbacks?

In both cases, I always program my cues by group/locate/palletes.

3-How to save a custom shapefile into a 1.44" disk? I dont have any floppy in my laptop, so there is anyway to use the save function of the desk? (load the shapefile and then save it to disk)

4-Is there any problem if I load my custom shapefile for my programming/concert and in the same desk latter ou previously others LDs program/run the same desk (different pages/playbacks) loading other shapefiles? Or should I wipe the console in order to use my custom shapefile?

This is a commom festival situation over here: one desk for a lot of artists and some of the LDs dont save their work - program some playbacks and leave the rest for other artists' LD's.

you have to rewrite the entire program.

Fixture exchange and copy are in Titan but not 2008.

For custom shapefile why the need to change during a show? As long as you have only added new things or maybe changed default speed/size which isn't too important there should be no problem.
I think it very unlikely other LD's will have anything custom. Few people do this in my experience.
So all they need is to ensure any standard shapes they are using in their show are unchanged.

As for floppy can't you find a machine that has one?

a USB powered floppy drive is a life saver

Thanks, Nic


For example.. last week I was on the opening act for a concert and the main LD programmed the desk earlier than me using avocache shapefile. Then he left the console for my programming on remaining playbacks and I use to run my custom shapefile which have less shapes (only the ones I use) and custom shutter/pan-tilt shapes on it. I was afraid by loading my shapefile to mess up the programming on the desk, because I dont know if just re-loading the avocache shapefile prior to the main show would restore the LDs shapes used so I used it how it was-no custom shapefile at all.

About my first questions, I thought once the desk recognizes groups/palletes it would load'em on the programmer/playbacks when used, transcripting onto the DMX signaling/addressing only at the output. So alterations on the addressing could not alter the programming, but only the output. If this is possible in terms of software, I leave it as a suggestion for future updates.

I don't know about changing shapefile like that. I'm not sure if there's anyone that would know! Perhaps you can experiment? Essentially the programming will reference the shape defined in the file. If it's not there then chances are it just won't do anything (certainly that's what happens in Titan). But personally I would try to avoid this situation completely.

Regarding changing patch, it is possible to re-address existing fixtures and retain programming. It is even (partially) possible to adjust elements of an existing personality. But it is not possible to change one fixture into another type. You must use Titan on Expert/Tiger Touch/D4 for this. If you program shared palettes and reference these in a memory then additional fixtures will respond to this but that's about all.

As for updates I think is fairly unlikely unfortunately. If not for any other reason then almost certainly because the hardware is simply not capable.