bigclive
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The peril of new lights
🕑 Added 2024-08-15 02:15:37 +0000 UTCThese lights are so new that they didn't even have flightcases for them. Instead they were shipped to us in their sealed cardboard boxes.
They're interesting lights, but the Nandos in particular had many issues with their software.
The first and most obvious bug was that they would randomly start panning back and forth with no data on the DMX network to make them do that. They rushed a software fix to stop that and we had to manually load it into each group of lights.
Next problem was one we called "smarties", because the lights would gradually accumulate random low intensity colours in their LED modules until hard-reset. Two more firmware updates later and we have that resolved too.
The little Kyalami lights have been OK, but initially had an issue with losing their index positions after a few movements. That also required a firmware update!
That's the peril of new lights.
We've got another test-light coming, which is interesting. It's got another laser-phosphor source, and is so bright that it apparently has a LIDAR type sensor on it to detect people and objects in its vicinity, and dim the output for safety.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PWhZm4p5Z0k
Comments
Big Clive
To be fair, the modern units probably do run Linux internally.
Zach Nelson
I’m going to essentially replace their boards with new consolidated ones. A lot of their chips die due to static problems and you can’t get them anymore. But when you break it down they’re just stepper / servo controllers and some position sensors, etc. So my thought is just pull it all out and replace it with basically a Raspberry Pi and whatnot.
Big Clive
That's quite ambitious. The first VLs I worked with were VL5's and 5A's.
Zach Nelson
I’m about to embark on a project to revive some Vari*Lite VL2C and VL500 fixtures from the 90’s. If any hardware experts are interested please reach out!
Mike Page
That's what I thought: the hassle is worth it to minimize risk. Thanks! There's a bit of a generational divide over this kind of thing. Your opinion from the coal-face is highly valued.
Russell Levine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZJAIkmT3Rg
Big Clive
I've not explored their options too much. I might plug my DMX-cat into one and see what options there are.
Big Clive
We prefer to test an update on a few lights for at least one show before deploying it across the others. So manual update is much preferred. Having an unexpected update that either bricked lights or affected their colour palette and positioning would not be a good result.
Big Clive
There have been lots of Nando chicken jokes.
Keri Szafir
Oh yes, those were the good times. Software development comes to my mind, but not just that.
Russell Levine
I'm sorry, but... are Nandos running some spicy voltage?
Mike Page
Interesting thanks Clive. What's your view on OTA firmware updates?
Michael Brenkley
The Nandos have lime chips in them. Would be good to see them working.
Big Clive
That's the nature of the industry. The lighting designers want all the latest gadgets.
Big Clive
Dedicated programming tool via the DMX network locally.
Big Clive
It's a dedicated programmer that can update up to about 5 at once via the DMX network. But it takes a while, since it updates lots of individual modules within the light.
The Griffiths Family
The peril of having enough money to be able to afford cutting edge new toys. Having to update each light individually is considerably less than ideal, though safer I suppose in case of an update going bad. Hope it’s just a matter of plugging in a usb key and a reboot rather than toting a laptop around to each one.
IamFubar
Remember when companies used to actually TEST their products BEFORE selling them?
Zac
How is the firmware update applied? You have to go around to each one with a laptop and USB cable?
RonNona
Who thought purchasing lights still in the development stage was a good idea?
