Pocket scan- getting out of focus

I can see where this can be an issue.

When a show is done, are you turning off the fixtures? This SHOULD cause them to reset to "zero".

What software are you using? Can you confirm the values between your initial set-up and your "calibration"? I'd say write stuff down so you can check your "before" and "after". If I was having such issues, I'd check them this way if I was having issues like this.

I also would think it should be safe to assume that since you used the term "installed" that your fixtures are installed in a building and are for the most part permanently installed and aren't moved.

Are you sure other things aren't moving? Such as wall panels? You say "shows", which suggest to me some lack of consistency due to things being moved around between events.

When I was working with a casino, I would regularly measure the stage's location and they never set it in the same spot twice. Close, always, but never perfect.

Have a few pictures to share? It might help.

It is possible the sound coming from the speakers could be causing the focus adjustment to jar loose. Try lok tight or nail polish on the thumbscrews that holds the focus in place.

That's a neat trick Service Boss, never thought of using nail polish before.

It's easier to break than Lok tight. Plus, I doubt the vibrations are going to be enough to break those type of securing measures.

Thanks for your replies.
The setup is a permanent setup having the pocket scanners on two sides of the room & focusing on the dioramas (live size sculptures) during the show. its a permanent exhibit.

The software being used is named SHOWFLOW running on a windows NT platform provided by a company named MEDIAMATION based in LA.

How we program them- i have a MAC & Logic Pro running on it. We connect a USB MIDI interface on my mac & the MIDI out from it goes to that computer running SHOWFLOW having a MIDI card. There is also a DMX out card on the Computer. So i go to the room having these scanners, then on the timeline program the whole show- the pocket scans & other intelligent lights. All the units respond in real time while programming & the focusing of the Scanners required at a given instance of the show are fixed.
The whole thing is then saved as a MIDI file which is put on the computer running showflow s/w. It is this MIDI file which has all the data of scanners positions. This MIDI file is processed by the s/w & sent as DMX data to the scanners.

The fixtures & the screws remain pretty much in place. As far as I understand-
1) may be these scanners are not meant to run whole day for 8 hours that too the whole week.
2) I think these scanners do some kind of POST ( power on self test) & the motors for pan & tilt moves during that time & then sets them at one particular place. That position is what i think is the ZERO position of pan & tilt. for the Gobo & the color wheel the Zero is set by the sensor in b/n the two wheels.
3) so may be when the show is run for 2-3 hours repeatedly, the physical location of the pan/tilt motors gets displaced & the on board controller accepts that false position as zero & so the wrong focussing. But the question is in such condition the scanners should focus when reset or when you turn on the whole system next day. but they remain out of focus.

what are your opinions? I will also observe if the fixtures move & gets displaced out of their position during the show.

thanks
niranjana

quote:

But the question is in such condition the scanners should focus when reset or when you turn on the whole system next day. but they remain out of focus.

I meant they should focus correctly when reset & let us suppose the Showflow s/w is the culprit but in that case when its turned on the next day the focusing should be fine, but that is not the case. The MIDI file stored on the Hard disk can't be modified by the Showflow. So it looks the problem lies with the scanner only.

I woud concur that the show itself is not the issue, that it appears to be more like the light.

Is there a reason why these lights were chosen?

Now, using your Mac with Logic and the now non-supporting Windows NT platform, it may be time to think "upgrades". By upgrades, you may want to think about going to MyDMX, but I have no idea how complex your show is, but I know it could be done. If you're just calling scenes to MIDI triggers, re-create your scenes, assign them the trigger notes and you're good to go on a currently supported product and platform.

But, the issue is also "What was the reason behind the Pocket Scans? I'mg going to break a little bit mainly due to a bit of ignorance here, so bear with me.

Using my Chauvet Intimidator Color lights, I could do the same thing. The light only has a color wheel as far as "moving parts" is concerned, but it also has a focus ring that is stuff as hell, so it SHOULDN'T move once you set it. I don't want to push this fixture because it has some "fatal flaws" pertaining to its design because that sucker BREAKS bulbs a lot, which shouldn't affect you since yours is a fixed location(show).

Another idea might be to move to an Elation or ADJ LED-type fixture, even a moving head fixture or a fixed wash light. Mainly because the bulbs theoretically last what amounts to forever so you don't have to swap bulbs out every couple of weeks, thus saving operating costs.

But ADJ makes other fixtures as well that should be suitable. Without a hard copy catalog from ADJ, I find it difficult to cruise their web site and quickly find what I need.

In the case of the Chauvet site, they've made it impossible to find what you need unless you already know what you're looking for.

Since the Support Boss said these lights are a "fixed focus" fixture, that SHOULD work in your favor. I'd try his idea because it's the cheap solution but may also be the exact solution you're looking for.

I don't see the need for a complicated fixture like a scanner or mover if you're always going to a fixed point. Simplification is key, especially in a repeatable show. By removing pand and tilt functionality, now we're eliminating motor issues.

Are you sure we're talking FOCUS or POSITION? This does make a difference.

If it was me, I'm thinking Disney here. Of course, Disney has money coming out the butt and has money to spend because they make it back and usually fast. Thinking the "Hall of Presidents" or "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln", Disney is most likely using some sort of fixed light fixture(s) PER audio-animatronic. No fussing about with motors. Motors move, movement leads to errors, errors lead to people complaining, complaining leads to talking to others and soon enough everyone is complaining and people aren't seeing it. As complex as those shows are, they have the luxury of a fixed location and fixed spots for the figures. You also have this luxury.

Sorry for the back and forth, I'm still waking up and NO, I can NOT stand coffee. Looks, smells and tastes like filth, not gonna go there.

I think we have to define what we mean by focus. The PocketScans are a relatively speaking inexpensive light, which for DJ and show applications(say, live sound shows or DJ-type shows), such accuracy is not absolutely necessary. You get what you pay for. While the Pocket Scans are a decent fixture, I don't think they are intended for 8 hour a day use every single day. With a relatively cheap light(by price, not by quality), you're not going to get super fine motor control.

Take another Chauvet example. My Q-Spot 150's in 16-bit mode give me a lot of control and fine tuning control, and I use them all day during a 3 day event every year and those suckers are spot on perfect, left on for 14 hours or more per day and hitting their mark dead-on every single time. But this is three days, not a week. It is entirely possible that should the festival go longer(this year it is 4 days) that little glitches may develop. But these are a moving yoke light. The light also has other issues that would rule it out, such as no dimming channel and the bulb is either ON when the fixture is ON or it's OFF when the fixture is off. ADJ has equivalent fixtures to this.

Going LED, you're going to save energy costs and theoretically less maintenance.

First we need to define what you mean by focus. Is the positioning out or are we talkng actual focus?

Thanks for your detailed reply & views on the issue.
Well i am talking about positioning only. The reason we choose the Pocket scan was that there was not enough space to install the big scanners, the pocket scan was the one & only scanner which fulfills our requirements. I think you are right when you say that these scanners are good but not exactly meant to be run all week long.
I would love to have the fixed lights but the show is such a dynamic one that we need to have these moving lights.
I will do a little more research on some other products that can help solve my problem.
Any suggestions on this.

Niranjana

What are you doing to make this show so dynamic?

You're talking a STILL item in a FIXED position being hit by the same light over and over again. Not saying your show isn't exciting.

For a reasonable price comparable with what you paid for the PocketScans, you could have gotten some moving yoke ADJ lights and given yourself "more options" for down the line.

You've share a good bit of information. By focus, you are referring to "positioning". I mainly state that to confirm and to ensure other readers are seeing the same thing.

At $450 list and a dicontinued item, the PocketScan must have some feature other than just compact size that required that particular fixture. It also doesn't have "fine control" and so that tells me that ths fixture isn't going to exactly be as reliable position wise as a higher end item. Let's be practical at who this fixture was designed for, which was DJ's. In their defense(since I'm known to be anti-DJ), in the hands of a DJ, they don't need such FINE precision, mainly since they are hitting a dance floor and not a fixed/stationary object.

Since you need "precision", I recommend something that has a 16-bit mode. They often have better stepper motors and "fine control" over pan and tilt. This fine control often equates to better control and more reliable repeatable behavior. Looking at the ADJ line, I didn't see anything in their "intelligent lighting" that told me "fine control" and I did download a few, but not all manuals, on their listed moving yoke units. Not to push a brand I use, but my pair of movers have 16-bit control and seem super solid, but my applications almost NEVER require pinpoint precision. While the cost is considerably more from a list/MSRP point of view, the Accuspot Pro would probably fit your bill quite nicely. My movers are much cheaper than these, but work great. The Accuspot Pro has dimming, which mine does NOT have. You get 8 AND 16 bit motor control, gobo and color wheels, gobo bounce/shake and rotation/spin,, shutter control, dimming and lots more for the 14 DMX channels they provide. Yes, it does cost more than your Pocket scans. It also advertises it comes in multi-voltage so you can get it for your 240/50 power mains you have over there.

I guess it come down to what do you need from your fixture. I think knowing this would help drive more definitive answers.

Also, since you need moving lights, please discuss why you need moving lights. Just trying to get as much information as possible so as to make better recommendations.