Eaton FLX Lighting Console User manual

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 1of 64
This product must be earthed
Apparatets stikprop skal tilsluttes en stikkontakt med jord, som giver forbindelse til stikproppens jord.
Laite on liitettävä suojakoskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan
Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt
Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag
Lighting Controls – FLX lighting console
FLX Lighting Console
User Manual
Version 1
Correct as per ZerOS Version 7.9.1

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 2of 64
Contents
Introduction ...................................................... 5
FLX Lighting Console ..................................................... 5
ZerOS (Operating Software) .......................................... 5
Phantom ZerOS (offline editor) .................................. 5
This manual .................................................................... 5
Getting started… ............................................................ 5
Turning the console on............................................... 5
Adding dimmers.......................................................... 5
Internal Display........................................................... 6
External Display.......................................................... 6
Using FLX without an External Display ...................... 7
Touch Scrolling........................................................... 7
Front panel ..................................................................... 8
Controlling Intensities ..................................... 9
Multi-Functional Faders (MFFs) ................................. 9
Commands ................................................................. 9
Encoder wheels .......................................................... 9
Groups .............................................................. 9
Groups window........................................................... 9
Automatic groups ..................................................... 10
Recording groups ..................................................... 10
Using groups ............................................................ 11
Referencing intensities ............................................. 11
Naming groups ......................................................... 12
Updating groups ....................................................... 12
Deleting Groups........................................................ 12
Controlling Attributes .................................... 13
Select a fixture(s)...................................................... 13
Home ........................................................................ 13
Choosing an attribute ............................................... 13
Encoder wheels ........................................................ 13
Central encoder button............................................. 13
Palettes ........................................................... 14
Palette Windows....................................................... 14
Automatic palettes .................................................... 14
Recording Palettes ................................................... 14
Using palettes........................................................... 15
Referencing palettes ................................................ 15
Naming Palettes ....................................................... 15
Updating Palettes ..................................................... 15
Deleting Palettes ...................................................... 15
Colour ............................................................. 16
Palettes..................................................................... 16
Picker (Colour Picker & Image Picker)..................... 16
Multi-Touch on the picker ......................................... 16
Faders (Static & Active)............................................ 17
Filters (incl. Mood boards by Lee Filters) ................. 17
Colour Edit Mode (RGB / CMY) ............................... 17
Beam & Shape ................................................ 18
Palettes..................................................................... 18
Position........................................................... 19
Palettes .................................................................... 19
Pan/Tilt Grid ............................................................. 19
Multi-Touch on the P/T Grid ..................................... 19
Effects............................................................. 20
Palettes .................................................................... 20
Speed, Size, Offset and Rotation Encoders ............ 20
Waveforms ............................................................... 21
Cues & Playbacks.......................................... 22
Playbacks ..................................................................... 22
Master Playback....................................................... 22
Multi-Function fader window .................................... 22
Playback window...................................................... 22
Naming playbacks.................................................... 22
Copying playbacks ................................................... 22
Deleting playbacks ................................................... 22
Advanced Playbacks................................................ 23
Playback settings ......................................................... 23
General..................................................................... 23
Chase ....................................................................... 24
Raise and Lower ...................................................... 25
Move on Dark ........................................................... 25
Advanced ................................................................. 26
Cues ............................................................................. 27
Recording cues ........................................................ 27
Record Window ........................................................ 27
Adjusting fade times................................................. 28
Naming cues ............................................................ 28
Updating cues .......................................................... 29
Coping Cues............................................................. 29
Deleting Cues........................................................... 29
Cue Settings................................................................. 30
Trigger (Go, Auto, Timecode etc)............................. 30
Next cue ................................................................... 30
Don’t Move on Dark settings .................................... 30
Macros...................................................................... 30
Playing back cues ........................................................ 30
Jumping to a cue (Go To cue).................................. 31
Snapping to a cue (Ignoring fade times) .................. 31
Cue 0 (Blank Cue).................................................... 31
Using the pause key................................................. 31
Releasing playbacks ................................................ 31
User Definable Keys ...................................... 32
Recording onto a UDK ................................................. 32
Naming a recorded UDK .......................................... 32
The UDK Setup Window .......................................... 32
Using a UDK as a shortcut........................................... 33
Group UDK............................................................... 33
Palette UDK.............................................................. 33
Macro UDK............................................................... 33
Assigning advanced functions to a UDK ...................... 33
Deleting User Definable Keys ...................................... 33

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 3of 64
Macros ............................................................ 34
Macro Window.............................................................. 34
Automatic fixture macros.............................................. 34
Recording macros ........................................................ 34
Naming macros ............................................................ 34
Using macros................................................................ 34
Deleting macros............................................................ 34
”Z” Key............................................................ 34
Save Show ............................................................... 35
Lock Console............................................................ 35
Patch Wizard ............................................................ 35
Calibrate ................................................................... 35
Error Tone ................................................................ 35
System Information .................................................. 35
Encoder Wheels ....................................................... 35
Blind Mode...................................................... 36
Patching –introduction ................................................. 37
Fixtures..................................................................... 37
Parameters ............................................................... 37
Attributes .................................................................. 37
Zero 88 Fixture library .............................................. 37
User fixture types...................................................... 37
DMX –introduction ....................................................... 38
DMX channels (and DMX start address).................. 38
DMX universes ......................................................... 38
16 bit channels ......................................................... 38
Composite fixtures.................................................... 38
Setup ............................................................... 38
Patch Overview ............................................................ 39
Views ........................................................................ 39
Repatching and deleting fixtures via syntax............. 40
Patch Wizard (adding fixtures) ..................................... 41
Edit Fixtures.................................................................. 42
Fixture names and number ...................................... 42
Default values........................................................... 43
Home values............................................................. 43
Topset values ........................................................... 43
Alignment (inverting and swapping pan & tilt) .......... 43
Patch ........................................................................ 44
System Settings............................................................ 46
Desk Name............................................................... 46
Set Date & Time ....................................................... 46
External Display Settings ......................................... 46
Internal Display Settings........................................... 47
Peripheral Settings (encoder wheel settings etc) ..... 47
Operational Settings ................................................. 47
Attribute Settings (Colour, Beamshape, Position).... 47
Tracking Options ...................................................... 48
Inputs & Outputs........................................................... 50
DMX Outputs ............................................................ 50
MIDI Timecode ......................................................... 50
MIDI Show Control ................................................... 50
Remote Switches ..................................................... 50
Defaults ........................................................................ 51
Default Times ........................................................... 51
Cue Stack Defaults................................................... 51
UDK Options ............................................................ 51
Save Show ................................................................... 52
File Types................................................................. 52
Phantom ZerOS ....................................................... 52
Load File....................................................................... 53
ZerOS Showfiles ...................................................... 53
ASCII Showfiles........................................................ 53
User Fixture Types................................................... 53
Zero 88 Fixture Library............................................. 53
Installing new software............................................. 53
Clear Options ............................................................... 54
Clearing specific areas of the console ..................... 54
Clear User Fixture Types ......................................... 54
Reset Desk / Factory Reset ..................................... 54
Remote (mobile apps) .................................................. 54
Art-Net .......................................................................... 55
Streaming ACN (sACN) ............................................... 56
Wings and ZeroWire .................................................... 57
Network devices ........................................................... 57
Tracking Backup........................................................... 57
Visualisation ................................................................. 58
Capture..................................................................... 58
Light Converse ......................................................... 58
WYSIWYG................................................................ 58
Networking Basics........................................................ 59
Ethernet basics......................................................... 59
IP Addresses ............................................................ 59
Subnet Masks........................................................... 59
Switch vs Crossover................................................. 59
DHCP ....................................................................... 59
Example system layouts .............................................. 60
Technical Information.................................... 61
Mains inlet .................................................................... 61
USB ports ..................................................................... 61
Ethernet........................................................................ 61
Kensington Lock........................................................... 61
Sound to Light .............................................................. 61
DMX output .................................................................. 61
Video output ................................................................. 61
MIDI.............................................................................. 61
Remote input ................................................................ 61
Trouble Shooting ........................................... 62
No DMX output?........................................................... 62
Fixtures not responding?.............................................. 62
No intensity output? ..................................................... 62
Console does not boot? ............................................... 62
Forgotten passcode? ................................................... 62
Front panel not responding? ........................................ 62

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 4of 64
External Touch Screen not responding? ...................... 62
MIDI Show Control not working?.................................. 62
Remote App not connecting? ....................................... 62
Want more training? ..................................................... 62
Basic Maintenance......................................... 63
Internal battery.............................................................. 63
Cleaning the surface .................................................... 63
Cleaning the faders ...................................................... 63
Transportation & storage.............................................. 63
Operating environments ............................................... 63
Reporting a problem ...................................... 63
Mechanical information ................................. 64
Dimensions................................................................... 64
Weight .......................................................................... 64
Operating temperature range ....................................... 64
Humidity........................................................................ 64

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 5of 64
Introduction
FLX Lighting Console
The FLX lighting console is a portable control system,
running the ZerOS Operating System to control up to 4096
channels (2048 as standard).
From design to manufacture, the FLX lighting console has
been developed to work in a wide range of demanding
situations, with specific considerations for live events &
hire, touring productions, multipurpose venues, theatres
and educational applications.
ZerOS (Operating Software)
ZerOS is regularly updated to bring new features and to
keep your console stable and secure. Software updates
are free of charge and can be downloaded from
zero88.com/software. It is strongly recommended to
always be running the latest release of software.
Phantom ZerOS (offline editor)
Phantom ZerOS is free to download, and can emulate any
console which runs our ZerOS software, including FLX.
Show files can be loaded, saved and transferred to “real”
consoles, useful to setup your show, or make slight
changes while you’re not at the console.
Phantom ZerOS can also be unlocked to output Art-Net or
sACN with the addition of the “Phantom ZerOS Unlock
Dongle”. This allows it to run as a console itself, or to back
up another console.
Phantom ZerOS can be downloaded from the Zero 88
website.
This manual
This manual describes the operation of the FLX lighting
Console. For detailed information on each function, the
manual has been divided into chapters - one for each
major area of the console
Throughout this manual the following conventions are
used:
References to physical front panel controls and buttons
appear within a solid border, for example:
Grand Master , Colour , UDK 3 .
References to “soft buttons”, which appear on the monitor,
are displayed in italics, within a dotted border, as follows:
Next , Picker .
Experience is the best way of fully learning the console.
Through time you will develop your own operating style.
Getting started…
Turning the console on
The mains cable should be connected to the FLX before
any other cables are connected. A safety earth is provided
through this connection to help protect both the user and
the product if there’s a fault with anything plugged into the
console.
If you are using an external monitor, plug this in prior to
powering up the console. Once done, power on the
console using the switch on the rear panel. When you
power on the console, FLX will run through its power up
routine.
Adding dimmers
Before you can control any fixtures, you need to “patch”
them into the console. When you first turn on your console,
FLX will offer to patch any number of basic dimmers for
you automatically. These will be patched as a “1-to-1
patch”, meaning if you choose 48 dimmers, they will be
patched as Channels 1 - 48, on DMX addresses 1 - 48, on
Universe 1. (See “Patching –introduction” on page 37 for more info).

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 6of 64
Internal Display
FLX includes a 7” capacitive multi-touch display which is
designed to follow your actions as you use the console.
For example, if you press Colour , colour options
automatically appear on this internal display. There is no
“home” screen for the display – as you’re working, it just
updates to the next window you may require.
External Display
An optional external DVI-D monitor displays the graphical
interface for the FLX lighting console.
The optional external display can view one of two different
desktops –“Programming” or “Palettes”. Which one is
currently being viewed can be switched using the two
buttons in the bottom right corner of the external display (or
by pressing Shift and View together).
“Programming” desktop
The Programming desktop shows the Output Window in
the top half of the screen, and either the Playback
window or the Multi-Function Faders window in the
bottom half. Which one is being viewed can be switched
by tapping the View button.
”Programming” desktop on the external display
The Output Window includes the following options:
Intensities / Source - the “source” button displays
what’s in control of each fixture. The following
descriptions are used:
C 1/1 Playback 1, Cue 1
C 22/5 Playback 22, Cue 5
UDK 1/1 UDK Page 1, UDK 1
P Programmer
D Default value
Pressing “Intensities” reverts back to the usual display,
showing the current intensity of every fixture.
Live / Preview / Blind - “Live” displays the usual
current output of the console. “Preview” displays the
intensities within the next cue (yellow bar) of the
currently viewed playback. Using the up/down arrows to
navigate the playback allows quick preview of upcoming
cues. “Blind” is both a visual indicator and a quicker
way to enter and leave “Blind Mode”.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 7of 64
“Palettes” desktop
The Palettes desktop shows the four attribute windows
(Colour, Beam, Position and Effects) in each corner.
”Palettes” desktop on the external display
Using FLX without an External Display
FLX can be used without the need of an external display.
The console will automatically detect that an external
monitor is not present and display the command line and
playback windows on the internal display instead, when
Shift is pressed. When Shift and View are pressed
together, the Output Window will be shown on the internal
display. See “External Display Settings” for more info.
Touch Scrolling
All windows can be scrolled through using either touch or a
mouse by simply dragging over a window or list, rather
than having to use the scroll bars.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 8of 64
Front panel
Multi-Function Faders (MFFs)
The FLX lighting console is equipped with 24 Multi-
Function Faders. These can quickly and easily be switched
between their two functions (“Channels” and “Playbacks”)
by using the Fader Funct. button.
Master Playback
For many shows, especially theatrical, a single playback is
often used with a long list of pre-recorded cues. For these
situations, an additional “Master Playback” is provided with
double-width play button and a dedicated pause button.
User Definable Keys (UDKs)
Four UDKs are provided, and can be assigned to a range
of functionality including recalling lighting states, Groups,
Palettes, and Effects, or accessing advanced functionality
such as RemDim or Highlight.
Function keys
The five function keys to the left of the touchscreen either
perform functions themselves (like Home and View ), or
change the functionality of other buttons when pressed at
the same time (like Setup and Shift ).
Attribute keys
Fixture’s parameters are grouped together into four
attributes for easy access and control. A fifth attribute,
called “Effect”, manipulates parameters to create effects
such as “Circle”, “Ballyhoo” and “Rainbow”. These five
attribute buttons can be found along the right hand side of
the internal touchscreen.
Encoder wheels
Four encoder wheels are provided, and used for accurate
control of various settings. The settings currently being
controlled by the four encoders are displayed in the four
boxes along the bottom of the touch screen, just above the
encoders.
Numeric keypad & command keys
The main keypad area is made up of a standard numeric
keypad and a range of “command keys”, such
as Record , Update and Delete . Channels can be
controlled using either the keypad or via the faders.
Grand Master & Blackout
The Grand Master fader allows you to temporarily
decrease the overall intensity of all fixtures. In normal
operation, the Grand Master should be at 100%. The
Black Out button takes all intensities to 0%, and the LED
within the button flashes when enabled.
“Z” key
The Z Key places a range of quick access settings &
functions on the internal display and encoder wheels.
USB
Multi-
Function
Faders
(MFFs)
Numeric keypad &
Command Keys
Arrow Keys
“Z” key
Encoder
Wheels
Grand Master
& Blackout
Master Playback
User Definable Keys
(UDKs)
Attribute
Keys
Function
Keys
Multi-Touch
Monitor

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 9of 64
Controlling Intensities
On FLX, all intensities can be controlled in exactly the
same way –no matter if the fixture is a basic dimmer, an
LED, a moving light or any other type of fixture. There are
three possible ways to control an intensity:
Multi-Functional Faders (MFFs)
Ensure that the MFFs are in channel mode by pressing
the Fader Funct. button.
When set to “Channels”, the 24 MFFs directly control each
light (or “fixture”) in the rig (this is often referred to as
“Channel per Fader”). Each fixture, no matter what it is, will
have a single “Channel Number”, and so will take up a
single channel fader. When more than 24 channels are
present, the Page Up and Page Down buttons can be
used to navigate through all the channels in multiples of
24. Grey outline boxes in the Output Window show which
set of 24 channels are currently being controlled on the
MFFs.
Channels can be adjusted by moving the appropriate
fader. If a channel already has a level, for example set
through commands, then you must ‘grab’ the level by
moving the fader up to the present value. Once that value
is grabbed, the fader gains control.
Commands
To control the intensity of a fixture(s) via the numeric
keypad, commands must be typed like this:
… Channel No(s). @ Intensity % Enter …
Examples of valid commands are below:
… 1 @ 1 0 0 Enter …
This sets the intensity of channel 1 to 100%.
… 2 And 3 @ 7 5 Enter …
This sets the intensity of channels 2 and 3 to 75%.
… 5 Thru 1 0 @ 5 0 Enter …
This sets the intensity of channels 5 through to 10 to 50%.
… 5 Thru 1 0 Except 7 @ 6 5 Enter …
This sets the intensity of channels 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 to 65%
… 3 Thru 9 Except 5 Except 6 @ 0 Enter …
This sets the intensity of channels 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 to 0%. Note how
Except is used twice to exclude two different channels from the range.
… 1 Thru 3 And 7 Thru 9 @ 2 5 Enter …
This sets the intensity of channels 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9 to 25%.
… 1 And 7 Thru 1 2 Except 9 @ 5 Enter …
This sets the intensity of channels 1, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 to 5%.
There are also some shortcuts available:
… 1 @ @ …
@@ is a shortcut which quickly sets the intensity to 100%.
… 1 @ . …
@. (at dot) is a shortcut which quickly sets the intensity to 0%.
… Enter Enter @ . …
Enter Enter is a shortcut which quickly selects all the channels that are
currently on (above 0%). In this example, it then takes them to 0% using
the @. shortcut (resulting in a blackout).
Encoder wheels
To change the intensity of a fixture via an encoder wheel,
first select the fixture(s) required. This can be done using
the buttons under the faders (MFFs must be in “channel”
mode) or by using similar commands described above (just
press Enter after the selection, in place of @ …).
… 1 Thru 6 And 9 Enter …
When the channel is selected, the LED in the button under
the fader will turn on, and an orange box will be drawn
around the channel number in the Output Window. You
can select multiple channels on the faders at the same
time by pressing and holding the first button, and then
tapping the last button.
Once selected, press the Z key and then use the encoder
wheel marked on the internal monitor as “intensity” to
adjust the level. The output value is shown above the
corresponding encoder wheel and in the Output Window.
Groups
Groups are selections of fixtures that are used together
regularly (such as a colour wash, or all the moving lights
on a specific truss). A group can hold any number of
fixtures, and a fixture can be in many different groups. FLX
can hold up to 240 groups of fixtures. Groups can also
store and recall intensities of all the fixtures stored within
that group.
Groups window
The Group window is automatically displayed on the
internal display when the Group button is pressed.
Groups can be selected and deselected directly within this
window.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 10 of 64
When groups are selected, they will be highlighted in the
Groups window. Selecting “All – Dimmers” will also
highlight “Odd – Dimmers”, “Even – Dimmers” etc, as by
selecting “All – Dimmers” you are also selecting these.
Automatic groups
The FLX lighting console can automatically generate a
group for each type of fixture you have, plus ‘odd’, ‘even’,
“1st half” and “2nd half” groups for each different fixture
type.
To create the automatic groups, view the Groups window
(by pressing Group ) and choose “Automatically create
groups”.
All automatic groups automatically store the intensities of
those fixtures at 100%.
Groups window after “Automatically create groups” has been selected.
Recording groups
You can create your own groups of fixtures, eg Blinders,
FOH movers, PARs on LX3 etc. Simply select the fixtures
that you wish to be in the group using either the channel
buttons or syntax, and then type either:
… Record Group 1 5 Enter …
This records Group 15
… Record Group touch group …
This records whichever group you touch on the touch screen.
Notice how Enter doesn’t need to be pressed after the
last number, as the Record command can take its place.
If the Group window is already displayed on the internal
monitor, instead of typing a number, just press an empty
group on the display.
If the selected fixtures have a tagged intensity value, this
will also get stored within the group. If there is no tagged
intensity value, those channels will get stored at 100%.
Only fixtures that are currently selected will be recorded
into the group, even if other fixtures have intensity values.
As well as the selection and the intensities, groups record
the order the fixtures were selected in. This is useful when
using the next / previous keys within Highlight, or when
offsetting effects across selections of fixtures.
For example, the following three commands would record
three slightly different groups:
… 1 thru 4 Record Group 1 Enter …
… 4 thru 1 Record Group 2 Enter …
… 2 thru 4 and 1 Record Group 3 Enter …
When groups are recorded, they will be automatically given
a name, based on what’s been recorded into them. This
name can be easily changed.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 11 of 64
Using groups
Groups can be used via syntax, or via the built in touch
screen. Using syntax, all the commands explained within
the “controlling intensities” section can also be used with
groups. Here are two examples:
… Group 1 @ 4 5 Enter …
This sets all the intensities of the channels within group 1 to 45%
… Group 1 And Group 3 @ 8 0 Enter …
This sets all the intensities of channels within group 1 and group 3 to 80%
If you wish to recall a group with all the recorded
intensities, use the same syntax as above, but press the
Group button twice, which will display “Intensity Group” in
the command line. When doing this, the “@ 50” will no
longer take the selection of fixtures to 50%, but instead to
50% of their recorded values.
… Group Group 1 @ @ …
This sets all the intensities of the channels within group 1 to their
recorded values within that group.
… Group Group 1 @ 2 5 Enter …
This sets all the intensities of the channels within group 1 to 25% of their
recorded values (so if the intensity of a fixture is recorded at 40% within
Group 1, this syntax would recall them at 10%).
Alternatively, Intensity Groups can also be used like any
other referencing palette, affecting only the selected
fixtures rather than all the fixtures recorded within the
Group.
… Group Group 5 Enter …
This recalls the fixture intensities from Group 5 to only the currently
selected fixtures. The fixture selection does not change by using this
syntax.
Using the built in touch screen, you can select and
deselect groups directly just by touching them. There are
two modes available - “Single Select” and “Multiple Select”,
selectable via the buttons along the top of the window.
In Single Select , only one group can be selected at a
time. Selecting a group will deselect any other channels,
unless syntax commands are used. And and Except
keys are shown on the touchscreen for convenience and
work identically to their equivalent front panel keys.
When Multiple Select is active, touching multiple groups
will select all of those groups. FLX will keep adding to the
selection until another command is entered (like changing
the intensity, or selecting a palette). After that, those
channels will remain selected until you press on another
group, which will start the selection again. The previous
channels being deselected can be avoided by typing “and”
first, and then selecting another group.
Intensity Groups can be recalled by simply double-tapping
a group on the touch screen. This also selects the fixtures
within that group (in line with the single select / multiple
select setting). If all fixtures are already at the Intensity
Group levels, double-tapping the group will turn the
intensities off (0%).
Groups window with various fixtures current selected highlighted in blue
The Clear Selection button is highlighted blue when there
are channels selected. Pressing it will deselect them all.
Referencing intensities
When a fixture is taken to its full intensity stored within a
group (using any of the previous methods), ZerOS
references the recorded value back to the group’s
intensity, so if the group is updated, the cues will
automatically be updated to the new intensity too.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 12 of 64
Naming groups
Groups can be named by typing:
… Name Group 2 0 Enter …
An onscreen keyboard will then be displayed to type the
group’s name. Press Enter or OK to confirm.
In the same way as when recording, if the Groups window
is already displayed on the internal monitor, just tap a
group after pressing the Name button to name that group.
Updating groups
To update a group, make the new select of fixtures, and
then enter one of the following commands:
… Group 4 Update …
This updates Group 4
… Update Group 1 4 Enter …
This updates Group 14
… Update Group touch group …
This updates whichever group you touch on the touch screen. You do not
need to press the “group” button if the groups window is already
displayed.
Updating a group will update the contents of that group,
but will not alter the name of the group.
Deleting Groups
To delete a group, enter one of the following commands:
… Group 4 2 Delete …
… Delete Group 7 Enter …
… Delete Group touch group …
The desk will ask you to confirm this action before the
command is executed. Once deleted, a group cannot be
recovered but can be recreated manually if required.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 13 of 64
Controlling Attributes
The intensity of all fixtures, no matter what they are, is
controlled in the same way –as described on the previous
page. Controlling all other parameters is described below.
Select a fixture(s)
Fixtures can be selected using the buttons under the
faders (MFFs must be in “channel” mode for this to work)
or by using the commands described on the previous page
(just press Enter after typing the last channel, in place of
typing @ …).
When the channel is selected, the LED in the button under
the fader will turn on, and an orange box will be drawn
around the channel number in the Output Window. You
can select multiple channels on the faders at the same
time by pressing and holding the first button, and then
tapping the last button).
Home
If you are unsure which fixture is which, the easiest way to
see which fixtures you are controlling is to “home” them.
This will set their position (Pan and Tilt) to 50%, the
intensity to 100%, and the beam to open white (no colour,
gobos or effects). The home values can be customised by
going into Setup and choosing Edit Fixtures (see “Home
values” on page 43 for more information).
After selecting a fixture(s), press the Home key. This will
send the fixture(s) to its ‘home’ values.
Choosing an attribute
Each fixture has its own set of parameters (eg Intensity,
Colour, Gobo, Pan, Tilt etc.), which are grouped together
into four attributes (Position, Colour, Beam and Shape).
See the “Terminology & Key Features” section for more
information, including examples (page 4 & 5).
Once a fixture, or group of fixtures, have been selected,
choose an attribute by pressing one of the attribute buttons
to the right of the internal display. This will open that
attribute’s window on the internal display, and put the
attribute’s parameters onto the four encoder wheels ready
to be controlled.
Encoder wheels
Parameters can be controlled directly by the four encoder
wheels. The parameters currently being controlled by the
encoders are displayed in the four boxes along the bottom
of the touch screen, just above the encoders.
Remember that each fixture will have a different range of
parameters available, depending on its feature set. Consult
the fixture’s operating manual for details. If the fixture has
more than four parameters in the attribute, pressing the
attribute key again selects the next group of parameters.
The sensitivity, mode and behaviour of the encoder wheels
can be changed in Setup. (See “Peripheral Settings (encoder
wheel settings etc)” on page 47 and “Attribute Settings (Colour,
Beamshape, Position)” on page 47 for more information).
Central encoder button
On parameters with discrete values (such as colour, gobo,
shutter, macro, control etc), these values can be displayed
on the internal touch screen by pressing the central
encoder button. For parameters involved in colour mixing
(Red, Green, Blue etc) the central button opens the colour
picker page. For parameters involved in position (Pan and
Tilt) the central button opens the position grid page.
Example of the display after the central encoder button has been pressed
on a “shutter” parameter. The highlighted value (in blue) shows the
currently active value.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 14 of 64
Palettes
Each attribute on the FLX lighting console has 240 palettes
(Colour, Beam, Shape, Position and Effect).
A palette stores all the values of a fixture (or group of
fixtures) required to create a particular effect on stage. For
example, a palette can be stored for the colour Red which
details the values required for each fixture to create a red
colour. Likewise a palette can be stored for a position on
the stage, with the relevant Pan & Tilt information for each
fixture in the rig.
Palettes can quickly recall parameter settings that are used
regularly, such as a range of colours for LED fixtures, or a
range of positions for moving lights. 240 palettes are
available for each of the five attributes (Colour, Beam,
Shape, Position and Effects). FLX can automatically create
palettes if required.
Palette Windows
Each set of palettes has its own palette window. This is
opened automatically when you press the appropriate
attribute key (POSITION, COLOUR, BEAM or EFFECTS).
The palette window contains a soft button for each of the
240 palettes. Each soft button contains the following
information:
Palette Number, content flags that indicate the attributes
that are programmed in the palette and a name.
Palettes can also be displayed on the external monitor by
pressing “Palettes” in the bottom right corner of the
external monitor, or pressing Shift and VIEW together.
Automatic palettes
FLX can automatically create palettes for all five of the
attributes, which can be a quicker method of controlling
parameters than via the encoders. If palettes are available
for your fixtures, an “Automatically create palettes” button
will be displayed.
Automatic palettes are created based on the fixtures you
have patched, so it’s recommended to fully patch your
console before choosing ”Automatically create palettes”.
Palettes window without any palettes, offering to automatically create
some.
Recording Palettes
To record a colour palette, set up the fixtures as required
(all red for example) and enter the following command:
… Record Colour 2 0 Enter …
If the Colour Palettes are already displayed on the internal
monitor, instead of typing a number (such as 20 in the
example above), just press one of the empty palettes on
the display.
To record the data as a different kind of palette, simply
replace Colour with Beam , Shape , Position
or Effect .

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 15 of 64
Using palettes
When using palettes, only the selected fixtures will move to
the values stored within that palette. This means you can
have a single palette of everything red, but then only select
a small number of fixtures to actually go red.
To use a palette, first select a fixture or group of fixtures.
Then, either choose a palette on the internal touchscreen,
or enter the command:
… Colour 2 0 Enter …
The fixture(s) will change to the colour they were in when
the palette was stored.
If any of the selected fixtures are not actually programmed
in the applied palette, but there are one or more fixtures of
the same type that are programmed, the fixture will use the
values programmed for the first fixture of the same type.
Referencing palettes
If you use palettes, and then record a cue or UDK, the
console will record the palette reference rather than the
actual parameter data. This means if you update the
palette, all the cues which used that palette will
automatically be updated. This is especially useful for
touring shows when using positions, to save updating each
cue individually when you move venue.
Naming Palettes
Palettes can be named by typing:
… Name Colour 2 0 Enter …
An onscreen keyboard will then be displayed to type the
cue’s name. Press Enter or OK to confirm.
In the same way as when recording, if the Colour Palettes
are displayed on the internal monitor, just tap a palette
after pressing the Name button to name that palette.
Updating Palettes
To update a palette it is often easiest to activate the palette
first by selecting your fixtures and touching the palette.
Now, make the changes you want, and then enter one of
the following commands:
… Colour 4 Update …
This updates Colour 4
… Update Beam 1 4 Enter …
This updates Beam 14
… Update Position touch position palette …
This updates whichever position palette you touch on the touch screen.
You do not need to press the “position” button if the position window is
already displayed.
Updating a palette will update the contents of that palette,
but will not alter the name of the palette.
Deleting Palettes
To delete a palette, enter one of the following commands:
… Colour 4 2 Delete …
… Delete Beam 7 Enter …
… Delete Colour touch colour palette …
The desk will ask you to confirm this action before the
command is executed. Once deleted, a palette cannot be
recovered but can be recreated manually if required.
When deleting a palette, ZerOS will go through all the
programmed cues and UDKs and replace any references
to the palette with the hard values from the palette before
deleting it. This ensures cues and UDKs are not changed.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 16 of 64
Colour
Palettes
The desk provides the following standard colour palettes
for fixtures with CMY or RGB colour mixing: White, Red,
Orange, Yellow, Chartreuse, Green, Spring Green, Cyan,
Azure, Blue, Violet, Magenta and Rose.
In addition to the above, the desk generates an auto
palette for each colour available on every colour wheel in
the fixture. These palettes are labelled with the stock
colour names as supplied by the manufacturer. The desk
compares the RGB values specified for each colour on the
colour wheel of the fixture with the RGB values of the
standard colours listed above. The desk combines the auto
palette of the standard colours and the auto palette of the
colour wheel for those which are within a certain tolerance
of the standard colour.
“Colour Palettes” window after “Automatically create colour palettes” has
been selected with colour mixing fixtures patched.
Note: the following features of the colour window will only
work with Colour Mixing fixtures (RGB or CMY).
Picker (Colour Picker & Image Picker)
The colour window can be switched to “Picker” which
displays a colour picker (show to the right), allowing you to
select a colour for use in colour mixing (CMY/RGB) fixtures
by just touching the built in touch screen, which sets the
colour of the selected fixture to the value pressed.
The cross (“+”) symbol indicates the current colour values
for the selected fixture. If multiple fixtures are selected,
multiple +s will be displayed.
“Colour Picker” screen
It’s possible to replace the colour picker with a photograph
or image, allowing you to select colours from that. This is
useful when wanting to use the colours of a companies’
logo, or wanting to recreate the colours from a particular
image you’ve photographed. Press one of the “+” symbols
along the left hand side of the picker to open the “Load file”
window which will display all the images on the external
USB drive.
“Image Picker” screen with four images already loaded in
To remove an image from the Picker, just press the
Delete button and then press the image from the left hand
side. This creates space for a new image to be loaded.
Multi-Touch on the picker
Both the colour picker and the image picker are multi-
touch. This means you can select multiple fixtures and
“fan” them across the image by using two fingers. The first
selected fixture will be at your first finger, the last selected
fixture will be at your last finger, and all the ones in-
between will spread between these two points.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 17 of 64
Faders (Static & Active)
Clicking “faders” along the top of the Colour Window opens
the Colour Faders view. There are two options available for
this view –“Static” and “Active”, as shown below.
In “static” mode, the faders control RGB (Red, Green and
Blue), CMY (Cyan, Magenta and Yellow) and HSV (Hue,
Saturation and Value). Moving one fader automatically
updates the others, meaning it doesn’t matter how your
physical fixture works, as long as it has colour mixing you
can use any of these methods to control its colour.
“Active” mode works in exactly the same way, but the
background colour automatically updates to show you the
colour you’ll end up at by moving that fader, rather than
just the colour you’re adding in or removing.
“Colour Faders” screen in “Static” mode
“Colour Faders” screen with exactly the same settings as above, but in
“Active” mode
Filters (incl. Mood boards by Lee Filters)
Clicking “Filers” along the top will take you to the Colour
Filter library. The first option shown is “Mood Boards by
Lee Filters” which collates colours together in “moods”.
Selecting a mood will give a brief description of where the
colours might be used, and gives a selection of several
colours that work really well together for that mood. Some
moods will have more than one selection of colours, such
as “Moonlight” which has “Realistic” and “Romantic”
selections.
“Mood boards by Lee Filters”
Also available are full filter libraries from Apollo, Lee and
Rosco (Cinegel, E Colour, Super Gel and Roscolux).
Rosco Super Gel filter library
Colour Edit Mode (RGB / CMY)
“Colour Edit Mode” allows you to switch between
controlling fixtures using RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or CMY
(Cyan, Magenta, Yellow). ZerOS will convert all fixtures to
this colour mixing mode. (For more information, see “Attribute
Settings (Colour, Beamshape, Position)” on page 47).

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 18 of 64
Beam & Shape
The “Shape” attribute has been included to support a
future free software update, when Zero 88 move over to a
new 3rd Party fixture library. Until then, “Shape” and
“Beam” will be combined together under “Beam”.
Palettes
The beamshape auto palettes generated by the desk are
based on the gobo wheel and shutter parameters of the
fixture in the schedule as follows:
An auto palette for each Gobo present on each gobo wheel
in the fixture. Naming syntax is Gobo 1/1 … Gobo 1/N (first
gobo wheel), Gobo 2/1 .. Gobo 2/N (second gobo wheel
etc.
“No Gobo” is an auto palette sends all the “Gobo”
parameters to their default values.
Shutter will be given two auto palettes (Shutter Open and
Shutter Closed).
“Beam Palettes” window after “Automatically create beam palettes” has
been selected.
(For more information on palettes, see “Palette Windows”
on page 14)

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 19 of 64
Position
Palettes
The desk generates a single Home Position palette which
sets the Pan and Tilt parameters to a value of 50%.
(For more information on palettes, see “Palette Windows”
on page 14)
“Position Palettes” window after “Automatically create position palettes”
has been selected.
Pan/Tilt Grid
The Pan/Tilt grid gives you a touch based input method of
controlling Pan and Tilt. The horizontal axis is “pan” and
the vertical axis is “tilt”.
The + symbol indicates the current position values for the
selected fixture. If multiple fixtures are selected, multiple +s
will be displayed.
“Pan / Tilt Grid” in the position window
Multi-Touch on the P/T Grid
The Pan / Tilt Grid multi-touch. This means you select
multiple fixtures, and “fan” them across the grid by using
two fingers. The first selected fixture will be at your first
finger, the last selected fixture will be at your last finger,
and all the ones in-between will spread between these two
points.

Zero 88 FLX Lighting Console –User Manual Page 20 of 64
Effects
Effects are different than the other four attributes, in that
they do not directly control features and parameters of the
fixtures patched. Instead, effects are used to manipulate
parameters to create effects such as “Circle”, “Ballyhoo”
and “Rainbow”. This is achieved by applying various
mathematical functions (sine, cosine, ramp etc) to the
outputs of different fixture parameters and adjusting the
size, speed and offset values. Using this, a wide range of
movement and other effects can be generated quickly and
easily. Effects can affect any parameter, from any attribute,
and can also control multiple parameters from multiple
attributes.
Palettes
The desk can generate a number of standard effects, as
shown below, by clicking the “Automatically create effect
palettes” button.
“Effect Palettes” window after “Automatically create effect palettes” has
been selected.
Each palette displays the effect Number, a set of content
flags indicating which attributes are programmed in the
effect palette (I = Intensity, C = Colour, B = Beamshape, P
= Position, E = Effects) and name, if defined.
(For more information on palettes, see “Palette Windows”
on page 14)
Speed, Size, Offset and Rotation Encoders
When you press effect, the effect parameters are assigned
to the control wheels.
If you apply different effects to different parameters of the
fixtures (e.g. Rainbow and Circle) you can use the Speed
wheel to control the speed of all the effects in one go.
When multiple effect palettes are being used together (for
example, Circle, Chaser, Rainbow and a user’s custom Iris
effect), each palette can be adjusted separately by
pressing Effect to cycle through the displays on the
encoders. The first press displays the global Speed, Size,
Offset and Rotation of the overall effect. Pressing Effect
again will then display Speed, Size, Offset and Rotation for
just the first effect. Pressing “Effect” again will page to the
second effect, and so on. Once the last effect has been
reached, pressing “Effect” again will return to the global
settings.
Rotation cannot be performed on a per parameter basis,
and can only be applied to the Pan and Tilt parameters
together. Therefore the Rotation parameter can be
adjusted via the control wheel, but is not displayed in the
Effects Window.
When applying one of the standard Intensity, Colour, Iris or
Focus effects, the base value of the parameter is
automatically changed to 50% to allow the effect to work
correctly. For these effects the size parameter is set to
100% as the default.
Apart from the effects specified above the default values of
the effect parameters for the standard effects are Speed =
25, Size = 20, Offset = 0, Rotation = 0.
Automatic fanning of offset or any other effect parameter
across fixtures is not done. Should fanning of an effect
parameter be required, hold down the Shift key and use
the control wheel to apply the selected fan function onto
the wheels in the same manner as fanning any other
parameter value. (See “Attribute Settings (Colour, Beamshape,
Position)”on page 47 for more information).