Fixture Schedule
Change Fixture
The Change Fixtures / Modes column can be used to change the currently patched fixtures in your show.
Upon choosing a replacement fixture, ZerOS will attempt to apply all the programming that was done with the original fixture, to the replacement fixture. This is also done at cell-level for multicell fixtures.
ZerOS will use the following rules:
- Original parameters will be applied to matching parameters present in the replacement fixture
- If the original fixture's parameter and the replacement fixture's parameter have details, ZerOS tries to find a detail with the same name in the replacement fixture. If unable to, the DMX value is just copied across.
- The original colour mixing space will be converted to the replacement fixture's colour mixing space
- If the original fixture has a colour wheel and the replacement fixture has colour mixing (or vice versa), the closest colour match is used
- Parameter data in the original fixture that does not exist in the replacement fixture is lost
- Parameters in the replacement fixture that didn’t exist in the original fixture are left unprogrammed.
If the new fixtures require more DMX channels per unit than the previous fixture type, you will be required to add in the new DMX start addresses.
If you select multiple different types of fixtures, the "Change all Fixtures / Modes" button will be greyed out. This is because only a single type of fixture can be changed at a time. This is stated in the message displayed if you tap the greyed out button.
You can therefore just choose a single type of fixture, using the patch groups.
After changing a fixture, it is strongly recommended to ensure they play back as expected by checking any cues the fixture was programmed in.
There are four key reasons you may wish to change a fixture:
Swap
It is possible to swap out a fixture that has been patched, in situations where a mistake has been made. For example, the wrong model or mode may have been patched.
Swapping allows for a complete change of the physical fixtures from one type to another, for example if there’s a fault and you can’t get an identical replacement fixture, or you are touring and one venue has different fixtures to another.
To swap a fixture, touch the appropriate cell in the Change Fixtures / Modes column, or select all the fixtures to be changed and touch the column header button labelled Change all Fixtures / Modes. The Change Fixtures / Modes window will open with the list of manufacturers, models and modes available.
Upgrade
Software updates and ZerOS Library updates, regularly include improvements to how your fixtures can be controlled.
If you load in a show file following a software update, or perform a ZerOS Library update, your show file may continue to use the fixtures that you originally patched. These fixtures might not fully support the latest ZerOS features.
A "Non-library fixtures" patch group will be created, to allow you to quickly filter to see any fixtures that are not contained in the fixture library.
Change Fixtures / Modes allows you to upgrade these fixtures to their latest versions from the installed ZerOS Library, to take advantage of the latest features and improvements.
To do this, tap a red "patch group" button at the bottom of the Fixture Schedule, to select all fixtures of a particular type.
Then click the column header button labelled Change all Fixtures / Modes. The Change Fixtures / Modes window will open with the list of manufacturers, models and modes available. You should see the latest version of the chosen fixtures shown in white. Click this mode, and then click OK. The console will then upgrade your fixtures.
Convert
Sometimes, your show file may be using fixtures in the ".ift" format. This may be because your fixtures are from one of the following sources:
- Fixtures from show files saved in ZerOS 7.9.7 software or earlier
- Custom fixture files created using the Fixture Editor
- Fixture profiles created by importing an ASCII show file
Fixtures in the .ift format will be displayed in red, meaning these fixtures are not from the ZerOS Library currently installed on the console.
A "Non-library fixtures" patch group will be created, to allow you to quickly filter to see any fixtures that are not contained in the fixture library.
These fixtures may not fully support the latest ZerOS features. However, there may be a new version of that fixture in the latest ZerOS Library installed on the console. To take advantage of the latest features, personalities highlighted red can therefore be converted to the latest version of the fixture from the installed ZerOS Library.
To do this, tap a red "patch group" button at the bottom of the Fixture Schedule, to select all fixtures of a particular type.
When selecting a single type of fixture that is not in the library format, the Change Fixtures / Modes column becomes a "Convert all Fixtures" column and can be used to convert the non-library fixture, to a library fixture.
After clicking Convert, ZerOS will show you the library fixtures that it reckons this fixture is. You can then choose the correct one, and click OK to confirm, and your fixtures will be converted to use the library format fixtures.
If you click "Clear Filter" at the bottom of the Convert window, you will be able to access the standard "Change Fixtures / Modes" window, giving access to all fixtures currently on your console.
Check out this video, for more information on converting fixtures.