Headquarters
Robe Subsidiaries
Business Development
We have released an extensive software update for Robin Esprite, delivering new features for it's NFC enabled Transferable Engine. This update is also providing enhancements to several Esprite's hardware components, for example improved reset and movement of framing shutters, FollowSpot mode support and more. The framing shutters improvements have now been added to T1 Profile, for which software update has been made available. In this Technical Newsletter we have also prepared a special Software related section, listing all important software changes for Robe products for the past year, to give you a chance to review them quickly, to have the opportunity to perhaps utilize this unplanned downtime to get all your units up to speed with latest software releases.
Software Updates
We have released an extensive software update for ESPRITE® , delivering new features for it's NFC enabled Transferable Engine (TE). This update is also providing enhancements to several Esprite's hardware components, for example improved reset and movement of framing shutters, FollowSpot mode support and more. We have also updated documentation (User manual), describing the Transferable Engine features, allowing reading parameters with NFC (Near Field Communication) on mobile devices. The companion ROBE COM mobile app is available in the Android Play Store as well as in the Apple App Store.
Robin MMX WashBeam™ has been added into the list of supported devices. New DMX readout screen (DMX In, DMX Out) can now be used to check what DMX values are being received/send. We have also added much improved RDM discovery logic, providing improved RDM discovery results even on high traffic, high noise DMX connections and also behind DMX splitters.
Robe Uploader, the desktop software tool to update Robe devices via DMX or Ethernet networks, has been updated to version 4.4, adding RDM discovery improvements to it's core. The self-updating nature of the Robe Uploader takes care of the automatic installation, but if you need to grab the latest installer packages, you can do so from the download page. Thanks to Vincent Bouquet of Robe France, we have also published French translation of the Technical Bulletin 54 ROBE Uploader, all versions of this bulletin (English, German and French) are downloadable here. On related note, RDM Manager, our RDM desktop application for RUNIT WTX™ and Robe Universal Interface™ has been updated to include the same RDM discovery performance improvements. Download is available here.
User documentation is regularly being updated so make sure to always download latest version of required file. It is easy to keep the documentation up to date with our mobile apps and also with Resilio file sync. New Technical Bulletins have been uploaded online, one RoboSpot related document - TB71 RoboSpot DMX Galvanic isolation and second one being the above mentioned French translation of the TB54 ROBE Uploader. Make sure to sign-in to see listing of all provided support documents.
Work on GDTF Specification and also on Robe GDTF files has been ongoing, the amount of our files going up, together with growing list of manufacturers implementing GDTF and MVR into their products. You can checkout our files in the GDTF Share and send us your feedback on dedicated email address: libraries@robe.cz .
All training classes have temporarily been suspended due to COVID-19.
New service manual for FS version of ESPRITE® , plus updated part list of spares have been uploaded to the Support section of our website. Make sure to sign-in to see listing of these files. The Spares catalog site http://spares.robe.cz/ has been updated as well.
As many shows have been canceled and postponed due to Covid-19, we have compiled a special list of software changes since January 2019 to give you an easy opportunity to review these updates and perhaps to utilize this unscheduled downtime to bring your Robe fixtures up to date with latest software. Please see the detailed changelog of each update for full list of details. Few notes before the list:
Software updates typically do not change light output of devices, meaning that software updates have no effect to already programmed shows, but in case where software would possibly have effect on the light output, we always note this in the dedicated changelog of the software update (as can be viewed via ROBE Uploader). There is only one possible output affecting change in the list below (Viva CMY and SilverScan).
Throughout 2019 we had been implementing LED frequency adjustment settings into newly developed devices but also into some of the previously existing products. This allows you to select and fine-tune LED driving frequency. Please check User Manuals and DMX charts for details, we have already implemented and released it for these devices: CycBar 12™, CycBar 15™, pixelPATT™, Spiider®, Tarrantula™, T1 fixtures (T1 Profile™, T1 Fresnel™, T1 PC™...), SuperSpikie™, LEDBeam 150™. It is important to mention that this is a power tool with some effect to color temperature stability and it requires careful considerations when applying.
We have been implementing web based interface to remotely check and adjust parameters and personality settings via web browser. This has been added into newly developed devices but also in some of the existing products, like T1 and BMFL fixtures. It is especially useful for cases where there is only network based connection to the fixtures - for example when using sACN DMX transmission. While this system management interface doesn't replace the multi-device automation workflow based on RDM, it provides a very convenient way of viewing and adjusting personality settings, with some icing on the cake like DMX capture, to see real DMX data as received by the device.
Recent addition to the software has been a Quiet fan mode, while previous updates had been dealing with performance improvements in pixel driving, internal communication and faster movement.
19030722- fixture errors test fix (dv) 20012151 - hotspot movement improvement (c1,c2) - prism wheel 1 and prism wheel 2 resets improvement (p1,p2)
Small but worthy improvements for initializing of Prisms, together with improved error handling and better HotSpot motor driving.
19030564- HTTP server added (dv) 19070139 - fan errors log fix (dv)
Implemented system management interface allowing remote checking and adjustments to all Personality items vie Ethernet networks, directly from any web browser. Also few fan error fixes.
19030563- HTTP server added (dv) 19031239 - rotating gobos change tool added (dv,g,o,fs2) 19051654 - fix initialization in function "Rotating gobos change" function (g) 19070143 - fan errors log fix (dv)
Implemented system management interface allowing remote checking and adjustments to all Personality items vie Ethernet networks, directly from any web browser. New gobo assistant tool has been added to the menu, to speed up cleaning and gobo replacement procedures, very useful in rental day to day business. Also few fixes in resets and fan errors.
19030564- HTTP server added (dv) 19103139 - ArtNET ArtPoolReply will be sent to unicast address (dv) - added beam angle switch (Standard/narrowed) (dv,m,i)
Implemented system management interface allowing remote checking and adjustments to all Personality items vie Ethernet networks, directly from any web browser. Additional extra narrow beam settings.
19022534- fix maximal DMX adress (m)
Allows setting of DMX address until 505 (was 492).
19121154- DMX In/Out menu added (dv) 20021943 - RDM discovery improvements (dv) 20030355 - support for Robin MMX WashBeam added (dv,rpi)
Year 2019 was a big year for the RoboSpot, so make sure to run latest updates to have all the features and also to have support for all currently supported devices. As of recent, PosiStageNet support was added to provide positional data to external systems, Robin MMX WashBeam™ has been added into the list of supported devices. DMX readout screen (DMX In, DMX Out) can now be used to check what DMX are being received/send. We have also added much improved RDM discovery logic, providing improved RDM discovery results even on high traffic, high noise DMX connections, behind DMX splitters.
LightMaster has benefited from all the work being done on RoboSpot, so the control panel changes here are almost identical.
Besides the Frequency settings addition we have also implemented support for RoboSpot remote control, plus several important fixes to the LED controlling.
In 2019, we have done a lot of work on implemented features as requested by theatrical professionals. Since then, only small updates are being released, the most recent one being much improved framing shutter reset and movement control.
19011141- zoom improvement (o) 19053151 - LEDs frequency adjust added (dv,l) 19061038 - LED current fix (L) (dv) 19061344 - virtual colour wheel fix (l)
There have been very few updates, mostly dealing with small improvements and fixes to the LED driving and zoom movement.
19021547- internal communication fix (dv)
Improvements to inter-PCB communication.
19010734- calibrations save fix (dv) 19051757 - LEDs short error added to log (dv) - LEDs on time fix (dv)
In 2018, we have added the possibility to access LED calibration via Service menu. The above listed updates are providing improvement to this procedure and also add new errors to the log file. LED counter issue has been resolved (only related to DL4F and DL4X).
19052952- maximum power reduction (l,l2)
LED PCB initializing power reduction.
Small changes related to LEDWash X series and to hardware adjustments.
19110128- fix footprint (m) - fix 6. dmx mode (m) - fix identify (m,l) - fix synchronization (l)
Addition of DMX Mode 6, improvements to RDM Identify command and LED driving.
There have been several improvements to the LED driving and Pixel control procedures, ensuring synchronized operation, and smooth color mixing. We have also added support for RoboSpot control.
Besides several additions to the logistics of IP protected display control (buttins locking, NFC support), we have also implemented system management interface allowing remote checking and adjustments to all Personality items vie Ethernet networks, directly from any web browser.
19021549- LED high frequency mode (m,dr,l) 19051435 - default settings fix (m) 19051451 - onepatt driver communication fix (dr)
Improvements to inter-PCB communication.
Small CTO adjustments additions.
19021132- DMX mode 6 (RGB) added (m) 19021553 - LED high frequency mode (m,l
New media server specific DMX mode. Possibility to set LED frequency to 300Hz or 600Hz with+/- few Hz for fine adjustments.
19021552- LED high frequency mode (m,l)
Possibility to set LED frequency to 300Hz or 600Hz with+/- few Hz for fine adjustments.
There have been very important updates to the thermal management in Viva and Viva CMY fixtures and we strongly advice you to update all devices. Also, we have improved dimmer approximation, so please check your programming after the update. RoboSpot support has been added for Viva CMY and SilverScan.
19030136- fix software version show on display (l1,l2,l3,l4) 20021950 - led init fix (l1,l2,l3,l4)
Improvements to LED initialization procedure and a fix to the software version screen.
20020751- new Shiederwerk ballast (m) 20030353 - definitions for RoboSpot added (dv)
This software provides compatibility with a new lamp driver. If you replace a driver in any of the MMX Spot™, MMX Blade™ , MMX WashBeam™, make sure to update the software first. We have also fixed a software bug, causing lamp dousing during reset (MMX Spot only).
Service manuals for Robin iFORTE® and Robin PAINTE® had been released as well as important software updates for many devices including the iFORTE® and LEDBeam 350™. Read on for more details.
Here is an update on the status of Robe GDTF development, read on for more details.
We have released software updates for several Robin series devices to improve color mixing, add smoother framing shutters movement and enhance gobo wheel behavior. Read on for more details.
Before installation and rigging of devices, make always sure to read instructions provided in documentation.
All rights reserved. Created by Appio