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Should you require support and you are asked to provide the operational and error log
files, the Software screen allows you to save these logs to a USB drive. Simply touch
the Copy Logs To USB icon. Once the operation is complete, you may then email the
logs to the address provided by your support contact.
Upgrade
This screen allows you to upgrade your Cognito Starter or Pro512, to increase channel
count or I/O support. Follow the instructions accompanying your upgrade certificate.
Cognito must be connected to the Internet to complete the upgrade process.
Preparing for a Show (Patching)
For Cognito to function properly, each light used in your show must be assigned a
location, or cell, in the Fixture Grid. By default, each light in the Fixture Grid is a
‘dimmer’, which is simply a light that only allows control over its brightness (intensity)
and only uses one DMX channel.
Although Cognito will control dimmers just fine, the strength of its interface lies in the
simplicity of control that it provides over color-changing LED lights and ‘intelligent’ lights
with pan and tilt, color-changing and other functions. These lights utilize a range of DMX
channels, called a footprint, beginning with the light’s ‘DMX start channel’. To properly
control the light, Cognito needs to know which light requires which range of DMX
channels. Positioning lights in the Fixture Grid, so that Cognito has this information, is
known as ‘patching the console’.
Placing lights randomly into the Fixture Grid is not a good idea. Programming a show is
easier and takes far less time if there is logic behind where lights are placed in the
Fixture Grid. Often, lights are positioned according to type of light or by function. This
patching plan, usually done as a chart or spreadsheet, also ensures the efficient use of
the DMX channels available. To plan and execute the ‘patch’, you will need to collect
some information about your lights.
You need to know the manufacturer and name of each light that you wish to use in your
show, and how you many you have of each. You also need to know the DMX start
address that each light has been set to. You will also need to know the operating mode.
LED lights may have as few as one or two operating modes, or as many as forty or
more. You should have a copy of each light’s manual, to you help set the light’s mode
and match it to the Cognito Fixture Library. Operating modes are usually identified by a
number (Mode 3, for example) or by the number of DMX channels each mode requires
(5 channel mode versus 9 channel mode). All lights of a given type should be set to the
same operating mode.
Once this information is collected, the console may be patched.
Summary of Contents for cognito
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