FLX S48 Custom Fixture Macro Select / Colour Mix Editing

[Rye]

For context, we have these lights (AVE Pro-Can HEB12) that, as far as I can tell, are discontinued and also the manual for it just doesn't seem to exist.

It also doesn't appear in any exisiting lighting fixture libraries as from what I've seen.

 

I was able to figure out how to make a custom fixture, and even using the filter setting to find an existing one that's similar enough to it, so no problems there

 

It has a Colour Mix/Macro Select for the last 2 channels on it's 10 Channel mode - and when you click on the parameter for lights for these it takes you to another window with with all the options for that Macro

For example, for the BeamZ BBP96 (the closest similar light I found), on the 9th channel it has Colour Mix Macro Select, with a bunch of options like Colour Auto Run, Colour Gradient, Sound, Strobes etc.

The lights we have have a similar selection of Macro options, but not quite the same. But as far as I can tell, you can't seem to be able to edit/create the options for these.

 

Is there some way to do this that I just haven't found? Either for making a new fixture or editing an existing one.

[Archie D]

Hi @Rye,

The extra window that opens when you press the encoder wheel's centre button is to display the 'Details' of that parameter on that encoder wheel. These are defined within the fixture profile itself. 

The on-board fixture editor (found in SETUP -> Add Fixtures -> Create new fixture, or from editing an existing fixture) is designed for quick and easy operations and doesn’t contain the ability to add or edit details of parameters.

Details in a parameter are defined ranges that can be labelled, have a colour or image attached etc. For example, 0-20 is Macro 1, 21-40 is Macro 2. You'll notice the labels changing as you scroll through ranges on the encoder wheels. Details are then assigned as buttons in the window you found, its a quick way to jump to parameter ranges saving endless scrolling on the encoder wheels.

To add details to parameters, you’ll need to use the Fixture Tools application. This requires a Windows PC, or a computer running Wine to emulate the Windows application (works on my Mac). Within each parameter is a 'Details' tab. Note that Fixture Tools will export fixture files in a .ift file format rather than the modern .zfix format. This means multi-cell can only be done in the on-board fixture editor in ZerOS - just something to be aware of. I’ve had a look for the manual of that fixture too, and it doesn’t seem to be anywhere. If you can find out what each channel does on your fixture, you can start to build up a fixture profile in Fixture Tools. Then, you can specify parameter detail ranges for the Macros along with any other parameter that requires the same.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions. Apologies if any formatting went weird, typing this up on a phone!

[Rye]

Thanks Archie

It took a bit of experimenting, trial and error and then a while inputting all of the details but I was able to get it all working.

The fixture is showing up Red in the Fixture Schedule - which I assume is because it's a non-library fixture

The only very minor gripe I had was the Fixture Editor only let me have parameter names with a max of 7 characters, so I had to shorten the parameter names - but not actually a big deal.

I didn't end up needing to - but is there a way to like, export an existing fixture from the desk to then edit in the Fixture Editor? I tried to do something like that, but since the desk exports as .zfix files and the Editor only uses .ift I'm guessing you can't edit an existing fixture, so you'd have to create a new one from scratch, which is what I did

[Archie D]

Hi Rye,

Great to hear you were able to get it working.

7 minutes ago, Rye said:

The fixture is showing up Red in the Fixture Schedule - which I assume is because it's a non-library fixture

Correct, fixtures that have red text in the Fixture Schedule are non-library fixtures.

12 minutes ago, Rye said:

the Fixture Editor only let me have parameter names with a max of 7 characters

Yes, the on-board Fixture Creator & Editor within ZerOS allows for longer parameter names than Fixture Tools does. This is because Fixture Tools supports legacy desks (such as the Frog Range, Jester Range, Illusion 500 etc.) which only supported a certain amount of characters for parameter names. The ZerOS Fixture Editor allows for longer names because it doesn't have to contain compatibility for legacy desks which hold that limitation.

18 minutes ago, Rye said:

I didn't end up needing to - but is there a way to like, export an existing fixture from the desk to then edit in the Fixture Editor? I tried to do something like that, but since the desk exports as .zfix files and the Editor only uses .ift I'm guessing you can't edit an existing fixture

Fixture Tools only supports loading .ift files and not .zfix files. This means that zfix files cannot be loaded into Fixture Tools to be edited, and can only be modified on the desk. One of the reasons of that is zfix files can contain multicell information, and Fixture Tools does not support multicell functionality. However, once you load in a .ift fixture file into the desk (SETUP -> Load), you can actually edit it in the ZerOS Fixture Editor from Add Fixtures. Beware though, making any edits to anything in that fixture personality within ZerOS will remove all parameter detail information you have added from Fixture Tools as it writes new parameter information when you re-save the file (in the zfix format this time), so lengthening parameter names once loaded into ZerOS isn't possible. I would only recommend doing so if you don't have any parameter detail information in that profile that is important.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.