Jester noob with a headache.

[FeArOfThEcLaRk]

Hi there,

 

I've just upgraded from an ancient Zero 88 illusion 120 (only because it died completely and the school that I work in were forced to put their hands in their pockets!) to a Jester ML24 desk. Literally opened the box yeasterday and had an initial play. All ok so far except one niggling issue.

 

We currently run 4 x betapack 2 dimmer racks which give me 24 channels of dimmers to play with. These 24 channels are automatically assigned to the 24 submasters on the ML24 desk (in wide mode). Right. Our performance space is due for an upgrade in the next couple of years which will mean the addition of a few more dimmer racks to allow for more parcans/fresnels/whatever.

 

Stupid question alert: Seeing as we will then have more than 24 channels - i.e. too many for 1 operated singly by each fader, how will I then access, for example a parcan on channel 25 via the desk? On the Illusion it was as simple as typing "channel, 25 @ 100%". The ML24 doesn't operate via this method. How do I find channel 25, 26, 27 and any number above??? (obviously for moving fixtures I would access these via the MFK keys - can this be done for generic pars and fresnels? If so, how?).

 

It's probably something obvious but I just cant see it. Stress and overwork leads to numb brain :blink:

 

Thanks

 

Em

[Shez]

Is it too late to swap it for an ML48? That one gives you easy fader control of 48 dimmers which is a little more future proof for your circumstances.

[PaulDF]

The spec of the desk from the Zero88 website says: "The console offers users a cost effective solution for control of up to 30 moving lights and 24 dimmer channels" hence to try and make it do more isn't going to work. I suppose you could try and assign dimmer packs as a fixture but isn't as nice as having lots of sliders!

[FeArOfThEcLaRk]

I asked for a 48 and they told me several times the budget wouldn't stretch. I had to fight for the ML24.

 

The zero 88 spec suggests "direct" control of 24 channels which I assumed meant directly via the faders. Since the faders also operate as the submasters I would assume that you'd be able to select individual dimmers via another method?

[itiba]

Not a lot you do then. When you get the additional channels you can soft patch the additional dimmer channels into the existing 24 channels (not sure how useful that would be to you tbh) or you could patch the individual channels as fixtures with only an intensity attribute at which point you won't have a fader for them but instead use the rubber wheels.

 

Would a normal generic only jester 24/48 be cheaper then an ML24 or is there a specific reason you need the moving light functionality?

[AfroAlex]

Hi

 

 

I have an ML24 and when I need to have more dimmers, I used the fixture editor programme to make a dimmer pack one.

 

 

I did the channel dimmers as beamshapes and then assigned them all to a virtual dimmer. As said above, its not as good as having actual faders but it works.

[Stuart91]

I'm not terribly familiar with Jesters, but I'm wondering if it is possible to set up the additional dimmers as fixtures, then set up submasters on the bottom row of faders, so you have one dimmer channel per submaster, giving you access to all 48 channels on faders?

 

Of course, this isn't ideal, but if all you need is quick access so you can set up scenes to program into the stack, then this should fit the bill.

[smalljoshua]

There are only 24 faders on the desk, you're already running in extended mode to access all 24 channels.

 

Josh

[Stuart91]

That makes sense.

 

The only other option might be to use another desk on the DMX input on the Jester. Even something like a basic Scenesetter style console would work. Channel levels from the DMX input are still recorded in scenes and submasters, so you could have the other desk in place for programming, then remove it for the show?

[smalljoshua]

That method is good and works for up to 48 generic channels IIRC. Anything above 48 just snap on and off and don't fade.

 

Josh

[Tomo]

Erm, is it too late to swap it for a SmartFade ML?

- 48 dimmers plus 24 moving lights, which sounds more like what you're expecting to need.

 

It's about the same price as a Jester ML24 as far as I can tell from Google.

[FeArOfThEcLaRk]

Hi guys thanks for your much-valued answers.

 

Can't swap the desk now as whoever purchased it kept it locked in a cupboard for months with no access as the performance space was being refurbed. Yeah I know......

 

I really will only need to access the extra dimmer channels when programming so if it's possible to add them as fixtures then add to the memory stack then hopefully that'll work. I think Itiba and AfroAlex that's what you're suggesting? I assume I could do the same using the fixtures menu to add colour groups to the subs for live busking? Now to find out how.................

 

Cheers,

 

Em

 

 

.....many moons ago in a different occupation, I had access to an Avo Pearl 2000 and I loved it. I miss that old bugger, *sniff*.........

[OTittering]

I also have a Jester ML24. I have also had this headache of not having enough physical channels - Dimmer Channels, I find it most annoying as this desk isnt an install but instead moves around several venues in the local area. One way I have found to combat this situation, is to go into the "Assign Fixture" Mode, and click on Fixture Library - Generic Fixtures - And then Dimmer Channel, This is the only way I have found that is a solution for me! If you have any more queries contact me via here, and ill give you some info!

 

Regards