Avolites Pearl 2000

Avolites Pearl 2000

The Avolites Pearl is the most commonly lighting desk used we own. It is best suited to Bops and Live band events. While it can do theatre lighting, other desks like the ETC are better suited.

Though our Pearl is a Pearl 2000, for maintenance reasons her mainboard and software has been updated to those from the Pearl 2004. The graphics tablet which is supplied with the Pearl is sadly no longer functional.

Setting Up

Quick Start

The Pearl takes an IEC input for power. She must also be connected to the Optosplitter via 5 pin DMX. When being used on a single universe (our usual setup) this will be connected to Output 2. If using 2 universes, the Dimmers are usually connected to Output 1, while the intelligent lighting optosplitter is usually output 2.

Loading Shows

We have a collection of floppies with saved shows on them. To load one, press the blue Disk button on the left hand side, insert your floppy disk and press the Load Show softkey. Wait for the load to finish, then press the Exit key. Once the Pearl has Energised, she will be ready to use.

Saving Shows

Saving is a similar process to loading - press the blue Disk button on the left hand side and insert your floppy disk. Now choose the Format Options softkey, followed by the Format a 1.4MB Disk Then Save Show, and then the Enter key. Finally, once the show has saved, press the Exit key twice to return to normal mode.

You should now eject your floppy, and mark it with the contents of the disk - eg the event name - and the date it was saved.

Programming the Pearl

Patching Fixtures

Before anything can be done with the Pearl, she must have fixtures patched. This process differs slightly depending on the type of fixture you wish to patch.

Press the blue Patch button on the left hand side then choose the type - Dimmer for Generics & Single Channel Fixtures, or Choose A Fixture for Intelligents.

If you wish to patch an Intelligent light, the Pearl will now load up her Personality cache. Personality files tell the Pearl how many DMX channels each light requires, and what each channel is for. Press the More softkey until you see a name matching the description of the fixture you are patching - for example, CPASHPE3001 for Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 300s - then press the corresponding softkey.

If there is no matching personality, you will need to retrieve the Personalities floppy disk. Press Exit, insert the disk, then press the Choose A Fixture softkey again. If there is still no matching personality, the Personalities disk will need updating. Please contact your nearest technical coordinator, who will add the required personality to the disk.

Now, Ensure you are patching on the correct DMX Line - you may need to press the Select a DMX Line softkey. Lines A, B, C and D match DMX outputs 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Type the address of the fixture, then press a blue Swop key to patch the fixture to that handle. If the Pearl thinks that address is already patched, she will ask if you wish to overwrite or park the fixture - choose yes if you are sure you have the correct address.

The LCD display will change to show the next available address. Press another blue Swop key to patch another fixture of the same type on this address, or press Exit to stop patching fixtures of this type.

When you are finished, press Exit again to leave the Patch menu.

Notes

• You may patch multiple fixtures to the same handle, but you cannot patch one fixture to multiple handles.
• There are four pages of handles, numbered 0-3. Handles are identified by their page number followed by the number printed printed on the strip above them. Change page with the Pages of Fixtures keys, underneath the numeric keypad.
• To unpatch a fixture, press the blue Patch key, then the blue Delete key. You can now either delete all fixtures on a handle by pressing that handle's blue Swop key, or type the DMX address of a fixture to unpatch and press the Enter key.

TODO: Finish programming palettes, shapes and memories/chases

Troubleshooting

If you're having trouble using the Pearl, try following the steps in the appropriate category, in order, until your problem is resolved.

Intelligent lights are not responding

1. Select the fixture(s) using the blue swop keys. Press the grey "ML Menu" key beside the LCD. Press the "Locate Fixture" softkey.
2. Check the address and personality of the patched fixture match the physical fixture.
3. Make sure the fixture has power and is receiving DMX, and the DMX run is properly terminated
4. If possible, check the DMX cables with a cable tester

Intelligent lights will not shine

1. Select the fixture(s) using the blue swop keys. Press the grey "ML Menu" key beside the LCD. Press the "Locate Fixture" softkey.
2. Select the fixture, then press the "Dimmer" attribute button (on the right hand side). Use the Wheels to set the intensity to 100%. Press the "Shutter/Iris" attribute button, and slowly scroll the shutter wheel forwards and backwards - the shutter may have fallen and sometimes doing this can get it back.
3. Select the fixture, and press the "ML Menu" key. Press the "Macros" softkey, then the "Lamp On" softkey. You may need to wait a few minutes.
4. Select the fixture, and press the "ML Menu" key. Press the "Macros" softkey, then the "Reset" softkey. You may need to wait a few minutes.
5. Check the lamp has not blown.

I dont recognise the menu I am in

1. Press the "Exit" and then "Clear" keys. Repeat once or twice.
2. Check the mode key is in the correct position - usually, this should be "program"
3. Press the "View" key and select a different view using the softkeys.

Intelligent lights are a different colour/gobo from that which I've selected

1. Select the fixture(s) using the blue swop keys. Press the "Gobo" or "Colour" attribute key. Use the wheels to try selecting a different gobo/colour.
2. Select the fixture(s) using the blue swop keys. Press the grey "ML Menu" key beside the LCD. Press the "Locate Fixture" softkey.
3. Select the fixture, and press the "ML Menu" key. Press the "Macros" softkey, then the "Reset" softkey. You may need to wait a few minutes.

Lights are not responding or have all gone dead

1. Check the Master faders, at the bottom left, are all at 100%
2. Make sure that no DMX cables have been disconnected
3. Make sure there is still power to the desk, the lights/dimmers and the optosplitter
4. Check if the Pearl has frozen. Restart her if necessary. Move any mobile devices (eg phones, tablets) away from the Pearl.
5. Check you are on the correct fader page, and that fixtures are patched on the program you are using. If necessary, patch them or load a show from a disk.
6. Check if the fader itself is damaged.

Pearl starts smoking

1. Advise Pearl that smoking in a workplace is prohibited by the Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Premises (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Links

Avolites - The manufacturer of the Pearl

Manual - A link to the manual from Avolites (can also be found in Lighting Manual drawer or on Entsputer)

Personalities - The Avolites Personality Library