Heptagon

Kudos Don and timsabre. the A number is advanced - 3 channel mode, while the d is single channel. The trick is it that the display doesn't look any different - you have to bring up d017, and press enter. It still shows as d017 or A017 on the display. Anyone else bothered by the fact that you can pay $1.5k for a piece of equipment, and not get a decent manual - and have to speculate on how to operate it?

Thanks for the replies - The link from Alister Morton actually links to the manual for "1x200W COB LED SPOTLIGHT" which is almost identical to the paper version that came with the lights. Only the name has been changed. But the documentation implies 2 channels - the unit is clearly running in a 3 channel mode - so Tim Sabre seems to be on the money. But more confusing is that changing the d also changes the A value and visa versa. I will allocate 3 channels to each of the units and hope for the best. Thanks again

I have 2 of these beasts, and thought they were 1 channel each, but they seem to be at least 3 (so starting channel + 2 starts strobing). I only got a 2 page quick start manual with the lights, and it doesn't explain how to set the number of channels. The display shows A019 and d019, but if I change the A value, the d value changes as well. Ideally I would like to download a manual. Regards

Thank you for your replies. The play is now over, and I used a sophisticated method of linking the boxes - an Operator. One hand for the sound and projections using SCS, the other for the Hog. He did surprisingly well. But I am still trying for future shows. The people at Hog can't tell me which USB to USB devices will work, or even if I should find one that works for Hog4PC whether it will work for the Hedgehog. (I don't want to spend $900) I have bought a Datalink usb to usb, but I am fairly confident it won't work - it tries to run an exe file on each computer it is plugged into. And again, we only get access to the board after bump-in unless we make special arrangements. So if anyone can give me the name of a device that is known to work, I would be very grateful. (ed_id - I'll give you £5.50 for yours). Regards

Yes - thanks Robin and Gyro - I was mislead by the manual. I don't get to see the board until bump-in, and was working from the manual. Apparently you need a "Hog USB MIDI/LTC Widget". Only another $900 purchase.

The theatre we are hiring has a Hedgehog (10 masters). I am trying to trigger cues from SCS using the MIDI connection (MIDI Show Control. The manual says (as the first step) "Connect the output end of a third party MSC device to the "MIDI In" port on the back of the console", but there is nothing resembling a MIDI input port (5 pins, in a circular plug) on the back of the console. There are some oblong sockets, which are labelled with symbols like the old serial ports. Any ideas?

But now there is an added complication - the theatre we are using has a Yamaha QL5 mixing console (heavy overkill for the size of theatre, but there it is). Now I am being told that it can run all the sound FX we need from the thumb drive. Looking at the manual this doesn't seem likely, as it seems to be only capable of playing one file at a time. Has anyone tried to run plays with any level of complexity on a mixer like this? (without SCS, Qlab or any similar software).

Thanks again for the advice. I discussed with our tech-artists, and bought an SCS license.

Thank you - problem solved within 20 hours - impressive. (How good are Brisbane-ites?)

Thanks again I am coming to the conclusion that SCS is good value for the power it supplies - I have been trying it out on a free copy, and apart from one problem, it seems ideal. Qlab is great and I have used it, but the cost of the fruit to run it on, and the unfamiliarity of that fruit is a limitation.

Referring back to an earlier post "Sound advice needed" Thanks for the replies - it seems to me that SCS may be the solution, giving our am-dram members the chance to use real software. The only issue I have is that in the cue lists I set up, the volume level display at the bottom of the editor screen, and the smaller one against the cue in the operating screen are both blank - no trace is showing. (both cues are .wav files) By contrast, in the demo show, there is the usual wavy line. Anyone come across this problem?

Thank you for the useful replies. No magic solutions - pity. It seems to come down to a question of ensuring quality standards versus coming the heavy. Personally I think we as amateurs should train new operators in as "professional" an approach as possible, but any of the good software offerings seem have a fairly similar look-and-feel, so training in any of the good ones should be an advantage if they go professional (and quite a few of our members do). On further question - is there any sort of advice (similar to the "A Computer Prepares") for Windows machines? I use windows at home myself, but it is forever making noises, popping up windows over what I am doing, and even doing windows swaps for no apparent reason. Has anyone done a "Computer Prepares" for windows? Thanks again

Forgive the bad pun. I have used QLab, and found it very good, but others want to use a windows-based system. QLab have a very useful document "A Computer Prepares" - how to get the machine into a state where it won't download software and is less likely to lock up as the cue approaches. We are plagued with people wanting to use their own computer and do it "their way" - which usually means double clicking in explorer when the cue arises. (We are an amateur group that perform drama in hired premises, that do not provide a sound source but do provide a mixer, amp and speakers). Should we: Tell our (volunteer) operators NO you will use the company's computer and do it our way? Give them the software to operate, and instructions on how to prepare their machine? Let them go, and hope it works? Any other ideas? What is the done thing?

A subsidiary question - if that is OK. The venue owners told me that the lighting contractors told them that the repairers told then that the lighting units logged the events that caused the trouble (This is the PLprofile1 and PlFresnel1), and that failure was definitely caused by the units being connected to a dimmed supply. The more obvious cause (obvious to me as an ignorant old man) might have been related to the power supply to the theatre (notoriously noisy), the massive construction work next-door (inc welding), and the fact that the units are connected to the hot and spiky 24hrs per day. It is also noteworthy that the architectural led lighting on the outside of the building is constantly failing (sorry - don't know model numbers or details). Any thoughts on how they can be certain that the first reason for failure is most likely?

The Australian 3 pin plug/socket has flat pins, and the only difference between 10 and 15 amps is the earth pin - marginally thicker, but significantly wider for 15 amps. A 10 amp plug fits into a 15 amp socket, but not visa versa. The rig uses all standard-type 10 amp plugs and sockets. The theatre has only "hard" power connected, so the culprits (unknown) must have either removed the units from the battens, or insinuated their own dimmer into the rig. Sorry for the vagueness - they are led profile and fresnels. I don't have the actual model numbers, but they are PLProfile and PLFresnel units (LED).

We have had several lighting units (profiles and fresnels) out for repairs for several months (from a shared venue). The repairers have stated that they have been plugged into dimmed 240v power, and this caused the damage. Two questions - 1. What is the effect of plugging a DMX-controlled lighting unit into a dimmer output? 2. Why would anyone do such a thing? (they apparently hadn't been removed from the theatre rig so the dimmer would have had to be patched into the distribution system).

Again, thanks for the quick and useful replies. I see the error in my ways - looking at the brochures rather than the manual. Now I understand the 15 channels. I think we will probably go down the "alternate universe" worm hole. I must say I like this forum - masses of useful info - congrats to the regular posters.

Thank you for these replies - I have been lighting for more years than I care to remember, but I'm new to LED. David - I could only find reference to a 5 channel mode on these lamps. The theatre specs show no of channels for the other lighting (e.g. EK EProfile FC is shown as 9ch), but the PL profiles and fresnels are shown as 16 bit (but without number of channels) - is this significant? Shez - I suspect this might be the case - 5 channels used, and 10 left spare. I will try to confirm. (The documentation supplied shows DMX starting address only - not the full range). Timmeh2 - There is a second universe, but not with cabling connected. It is a Hog4. "Beware" - I am not familiar with LED conventions - is this something we should observe? Thanks again

Greetings - I have a question about a DMX channel mapping in an all-LED lighting setup. We are hiring a theatre, and having to supplement the standard lighting with our own - but there is a shortage of DMX channels. Does anyone know why the Selecon PL Profile, and Selecon PL Fresnel units are taking 15 channels each? The tech details show them as 5 channels. - or do we have older Mk1 units? Thank you in advance.