Losing Fixtures (homing up)

I just setup a show with the new software 3.0.0 and as I was wringing out the system I noticed that I would have to grab and shake some fixtures before they would "Home" down. At one point I went away for about an hour and when I came back about half the rig was homed up again. The units immediatly find themselves if either pan or tilt is touched. Is this some kind of DMX hickup I am getting with the new software? Nothing else on this system has changed so I am not sure what else this could be.
I am using a Whole Hog III with Playback Wing and 2 External Monitors and a DP 2000 with the following fixtures patched;
12 Mac 2k Profiles
12 Mac 2k Washes
12 575 Studio Spots
12 575 Studio Colors
This problem is not isolated to any one type of fixture. I am routed through an Iso Splitter on each of the three moving light universes in the DP 2000 but I have never had this problem with this system before. Any suggestions?
I am using a Whole Hog III with Playback Wing and 2 External Monitors and a DP 2000 with the following fixtures patched;
12 Mac 2k Profiles
12 Mac 2k Washes
12 575 Studio Spots
12 575 Studio Colors
This problem is not isolated to any one type of fixture. I am routed through an Iso Splitter on each of the three moving light universes in the DP 2000 but I have never had this problem with this system before. Any suggestions?
Comments
When you say "homed up" I assume that you mean the fixtures are pointing into the upper corner of their movement. This is usually the case if the DMX values for pan and tilt equal zero. When you see fixtures in this state, what does the output window indicate for the pan/tilt of the fixtures? This problem could be due to the ISO splitter as well... looking at the console output would help to further determine where the problem lies.
take a look and report back, also you can send me your show so we can try to reproduce the problem.. send it to me via http://upload.highend.com
thanks,
thanks for the update... again when this occurs what does the output window say for the pan/tilt values? Also you can look in the DMX window but you will need to know what channels are the pan/tilt. This will help us determine what is going on.
thanks,
Before grabbing the units there is nothing listed in the output window since I don't have the fixtures captured. Once I give them a pan or tilt command the percentages show normally and the unit responds as expected.
When the other console was connected, did you use the same show file, or was it a new one? Were you using the same DPs? Did you ever send your show file to us? http://upload.highend.com
thanks,
Here's a couple of thoughts. If the the fixture was losing data then instead of going to position 0/0 pan/tilt it would most likely just stay at 50/50 pan/tilt and eventually douce the lamp. So I think we can rule out a loss of dmx. Instead it sounds like we are dealing with the fixture explicitly being told to go to 0/0 pan/tilt which would be a dmx value of 0 for those channels. So, to confirm that the board is actually sending this value it would be best to open the dmx window (setup, dmx) and check to see what the actually dmx output values are from the board. Since all of your fixtures are going to 0/0 pan/tilt you should see tons, if not all, 0s as values in the dmx window.
im getting this issue as well when using Change Fixture type, and My Highlite pallette also blocks the shutter function... this is a real pain as im in the Balatics changing type every day.... and the only way to work around this is to Change type, and HARD RESET all DP and Desks... the reload the show...
seem to be the last unit in the group of units i have changed type in... so if i change 101 > 104 from Mac 700 to 2k Spots, unit 104 will home up... you have to grab it again from time to time to awaken it..
Also change Martin TW1 to Mac 2000 Wash (601 > 606)... if i bump them to line up with HIGHLITE pallette... then i lose control of 604 and maybe 605. again Full Hard Reset... get me going again.
Tom, Chris, Show file is James Blunt Arena - any of the Canada or European Files will be the same....
or shout if you need it sent.
i think someone else has reported problems with change type on 3.1.. but im on a late load in... so typing quickly....
system 1
Hog III
DP 2000
D link Switch
MAc 2k/ VL 3k and vl 2500
system 2
Hog III
DP 2000 (crossover cable)
DL 2
Mac 2k
VL 3500
Both systems running 3.0.1
Seems to be in pan and tilt on on all types of fixtures at random seems to have lost output. Happens when no cue lists are active and nothing is in the programmer. the output window show no value snd no source of control. As soon as you run a cue list, or grab the fixtures in the programmer they go where they are told...
Can you please send us your show file at http://upload.highend.com
thanks,
also after a few goes at patching using the @ key on the numeric keypad this stops working, and you have to use the PATCH @ button in the patch window. i also notice that my problems can be seen straight away when you press APPLY PATCH. if you come out of the patch window without pressing this sometimes (not always) you get away with it.
PS also the CP Alpha Spot 1200 have the Zoom back to front, and the Colours are all split after a fixture type change...
CP Alpha Spot 1200
So what I need to know is what were these CP Alpha Spot 1200 before you changed them to CP Alpha Spot 1200.
I think your change type bugs are seperate from what is going on in this thread. I believe patching is the real culprit for the "home up" issue, regardless of whether or not the fixture is changed type or not. In any case I still want to see how we are screwing up the change types to the CP Alpha Spot 1200.
they where Mac 700 Spot in 16bit Extended Mode.
they might have been changed to MAC 2000's as this was an file from Mexico and i think that was Mac 2k's..
thanks
ie Where all MAC 700 Spot : for mexico changed to MAC 2000 Spot : for Dubai show changed to CP Alpha Spot 1200
No problem. Mike and I just looked at the CP Alpha Spot 1200 in a new show file and it has the same problem dmx problems. It is simply an incorrect fixture profile. We will log a bug and get that fixture profile fixed.
thanks
Bug #12705, which deals with dmx values going to zero during patch/unpatch is currently under development and targetted to our next patch release (3.0.3). Bug #12707 deals with the DP8000 losing random programmer values when the programmer has been sitting idle with data for a long period of time. We are still gathering information about that bug and it will most likely be targetted to our next patch release as well. I have commented into bug #12705, regarding your pain.
attched devices : wing/superwidget/usb keyboard
Hi,
i'm sure you know this is happening but i saw this yesterday for the first time.
Changing from mac 700 spot to Clay paky Alpha wash 575.
Fixture 102 became unresponvie after change type with the only fix being to log off and restart the show.
I've got another 15 shows in the next few weeks with change type will this happen with every show?
Cheers Cormac
yes, if you change type and do patch changes .. yep.. best way (as you Know by Now) is get it all done, then restart.. and each and every time you go into the patch window and change things, do a restart.
i had this for the last 3 weeks of a tour, everyday!.
as the above from chris says, its slated to to be fixed in V3.0.3.
BUG 12705 for your ref.
ok i was restarting after change type but not after every patch change which i won't have enough hours in the day to do.
Cheers and thanks C