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samsc
13-03-2004, 06:01 AM
ftp://ftp.highend.com/pub/Products/CatalystV3/CatManual_052104.pdf

dont bookmark this page it will change

RobF
19-03-2004, 11:37 AM
Are the layer mute and solo buttons mentioned in the manual?

Have had a look through but could not find them.

Generally speaking though this is fantastic and a great help.

Rob

Bullen
31-03-2004, 10:09 AM
http://homepage.mac.com/bradpepe/.cv/bradpepe/Public/CatalystManual031204.pdf-binhex.hqx

dont bookmark this page it will change
How do I open it on a PC??

Bullen

samsc
31-03-2004, 10:47 AM
How do I open it on a PC??

Bullen

its a binhex file.

You need a utility to convert it from binhex.

Compression utilities should do this?

I know Brad got it to work on his PC.

Bullen
31-03-2004, 11:18 AM
its a binhex file.

You need a utility to convert it from binhex.

Compression utilities should do this?

I know Brad got it to work on his PC.
Got it to work!
The Play functions that uses intensity greater than zero, do they work in D56??
That's a extremly handy function, good work!

Bullen

samsc
31-03-2004, 03:38 PM
The Play functions that uses intensity greater than zero, do they work in D56??

Bullen

no. they dont work in d56

Chris
31-03-2004, 09:55 PM
Hello Bullen,

the manual in the catalyst you got are the print-out of this manual here!

Bullen
01-04-2004, 08:08 AM
Hello Bullen,

the manual in the catalyst you got are the print-out of this manual here!

Thanx!

Bullen

reagan
19-10-2004, 05:20 PM
Generally speaking, the latest downloadable Catalyst manual is available on the applicable High End support page here (http://www.highend.com/support/digital_lighting/).

samsc
19-10-2004, 07:38 PM
Generally speaking, the latest downloadable Catalyst manual is available on the applicable High End support page here (http://www.highend.com/support/digital_lighting/).

but there isnt a separate manual for each version?

Why dont you give a more direct link?

reagan
19-10-2004, 09:31 PM
but there isnt a separate manual for each version?

Why dont you give a more direct link?
As of this writing, there is not a separate manual for each supported product in the Catalyst v3 family as DV 1.0, Pro 3.0 and Pro 3.2 each have a current software release based on f28. As new products with new features are developed and documented, the manual will evolve accordingly, though not necessarily for each supported product - it's possible that a new manual may only apply to the new products.

The latest software release of each product is listed on its support page and will have a manual suitable for that product. Please refer to the support page as needed for the latest manual.

samsc
20-10-2004, 02:19 PM
thanks reagan.

Please tell us when you have a new manual or part of manual.

I know you have a new version of software ready---- because i wrote it.

I might also have to write additional documentation and place it here - for new features if your manual is not adequate.

samsc
21-10-2004, 11:28 PM
So reagan.

Have you guys proof read your new support pages correctly, and not repeated a lot of mistakes you made in the past?

reagan
09-11-2004, 07:05 AM
thanks reagan.

Please tell us when you have a new manual or part of manual.

I know you have a new version of software ready---- because i wrote it.

I might also have to write additional documentation and place it here - for new features if your manual is not adequate.

A new manual specific to v3.3 (Pro, DV, Xpress) is downloadable
here (ftp://ftp.highend.com/pub/Products/CatalystV3/Cat33Manual_102804.pdf)[pdf] 12.2 MB. New features are described in detail (though I'm sure Richard can comment further if the manual doesn't satisfy product questions). Use this form (http://domino-1.highend.com/feedback.nsf/comments?OpenForm) to report errors or omissions in the manual. Cheers!

samsc
09-11-2004, 08:50 AM
The stuff on presets isnt quite right.

The order in the chapter is confusing- and should be example led - not feature led.

you dont show someone how to use a phone - by telling them what each button does.

Spam Butterfly
10-11-2004, 05:10 PM
Since I wrote the presets section I guess I should answer this.

a) I write to a timeline - other people have to proof, format and typeset what I write. I had a limited amount of time to write this section.

b) It is very much work in progress.

c) We will be releasing updates regularly and revising existing documentation.

Hugh

samsc
10-11-2004, 05:18 PM
Hugh - in your next revision -


You should show people how to do things with presets.
Showing people how to do tasks is always a much better way of writing a manual.
You can show people how to do 3 or 4 things - and they can figure out everything else for themselves.
Describing features one after another makes manuals unreadable and unuseable.

I have repeated this message to everyone who has attempted to do manual writing.

samsc
10-11-2004, 05:27 PM
Presets are very important as their purpose is to remove the need for complex programming to be done on a lighting console - in certain situations.

There are very easy to set up and use, and hopefully much much easier to learn than to learn how to program a lighting console.

This is the approach that documentation needs to take.

You dont have to learn how to store and program cues, with complex parameters.
You can play back all parameters with great flexibility independantly of each other.
Presets are designed to be setup and used in seconds.

samsc
10-11-2004, 05:41 PM
these are the things you should show people..

you should show people they can do all the following from seperate presets:

1. fading a layer. without altering any other parameters.
2. fading a layer and changing other things.
3. loading a movie. without altering any other parameters.
4. loading a movie faded out, then fading it in.
5. playing with visual fx.
6. altering just visual fx.
7. moving the image in a layer.
8. moving the image to random positions.
9. moving the image in a circle, or a figure of 8.

10. storing or capturing all current parameters.
11. altering captured parameters.

12 setting up the keyboard to do different sets of things.
13. using keys to just alter certain parameters, like start and stop a movie.


etcetcetc

Mr_P
02-09-2005, 07:23 PM
Whats the latest manual for 3.3 - is it 102804 or 111204??? the former is what appears in the Cat3 folder afer installation. However, I seemed to have got version 111204 from somewhere too - which is the most recent... and whats the correct download address??

(I assume that its the usa date format... can it be included on the front page of the manual in full dd/mmmm/yyyy so theres no mistaking the latest version??)

Cheers
S

samsc
02-09-2005, 07:33 PM
i dont know. you will have to ask someone at highend.

Improve
07-09-2005, 11:13 AM
I was messing around with MTC to sync movies on the V3.3 server... I couldn't get it to work properly. I checked and rechecked the value of DMX for the MTC playback mode twice, in an old manual and the manual which is on the web....

I couldn't get it to work.

Finally I decided to download a hog disk from the HighEnd website with the cat v3.3 personality on it.... Voila....

In this LIB file the value for MTC and Deck sync is set to 20 and 21 etc... and NOT the 100 and 101 which is descriped in the manuals!!!!!

Doesnt make a lot of sense does it!!!!

Any way.. it works now... but it might be a good idea to change the manual????

And how does it then work when you want to sync to MTC +1hr...?????

samsc
07-09-2005, 01:25 PM
i dont write the manuals.
i dont get a chance to check them either.

i make the software as self-documenting as i can.
then highend gets to do whatever.

---

you dont need to access + 1hr or any other hour offset with mtc.
hours are just ignored.
you can use positive and negative offsets from this using the in and out points.

the maximum length of movie you can have is around 43 minutes because of the limitations of 16 bit dmx.

Improve
08-09-2005, 07:36 AM
Is it then so that the offset with in/outframe is in frames, so with 25 fps we have to calculate for 1 minute, 1500 frames...

But what if I have a kind of preshow, before a movie starts. I like the movie to start at 1hr, 0min,0sec.... and before that, at 55min,20sec orso i want to start a few clips and other things.....

Does Catalyst handles this automaticaly in the right way then, since you say that movie length is limited to around 43 minutes.....??????

samsc
08-09-2005, 07:51 AM
i intended that if you needed 55 minutes for the time code you use a negative offset of 5 minutes - 7500 frames.

I havent tested this recently.
It may or may not have issues.

----

'Catalyst' or quicktime is not limited to 43 minutes --- 16 bit dmx can only represent up to 65535 frames which is around 43 minutes - less at 30 fps.

Improve
08-09-2005, 08:26 AM
OK...

I will try this and see what happens....

I might come back to you in some time for additional info....

Maybe you will be at PLASA?? We will be there on monday and tuesday....

samsc
08-09-2005, 08:35 AM
please check. its a very obscure but sometimes important function which not many people ever get to check.

---

plasa? maybe