ZerOS
Patching
After powering your console for the first time, or after resetting the console, or after a software update, there will be no fixtures patched. This means your channel faders will not be controlling your rig, as currently the console does not know what fixtures you may have.
The “patching” process is therefore a required to tell your console about the devices, known as “fixtures”, being used in your lighting rig. From this information, ZerOS will be able to provide you the controls required on-screen (and on the fixture encoder wheels) to control all the functions, known as “parameters”, of these fixtures.
When FLX S is first plugged into a lighting rig, “RigSync” will set it up automatically and continue working in the background to ensure FLX S and your rig are always synchronised and problem free. RigSync removes the need to understand DMX (if your fixtures support “RDM”). This feature is also available on FLX, but must be enabled first within Setup.
Fixtures
Every device controlled by ZerOS is known as a “Fixture”, will be assigned a “Fixture Number”, and its intensity will be controlled using a "Channel fader". Fixtures can be a simple generic dimmer channel or a more complex device such as a colour scroller, LED fixture, moving head, strobe light, smoke machine or media server.
Parameters
A parameter is a function of a fixture. A fixture with ten different functions has 10 different “parameters”. Dimmer channels are simple fixtures with only one parameter - the “intensity”. More complex devices (such as moving lights, LEDs etc) are fixtures with multiple parameters (for example “pan”, “tilt”, “red”, “green”, “blue”, “strobe” and/or “focus”).
Some fixtures may contain multiple operating “modes”, which can vary the amount of parameters that are available. For example, some users may want less control than others, so they can choose a mode that has less parameters. For more information on this, please consult the fixture’s operating manual.
Attributes
Parameters are grouped together into four attributes for easy access and control. These attributes are called “Colour”, “Beam”, "Shape" and “Position”. A fifth attribute, called “Effect”, manipulates parameters to create effects such as “Circle”, “Ballyhoo” and “Rainbow”.