(2018)
Vis Insita
Vis Insita
Vis Insita
Vis Insita
Vis Insita
(2018)
Vis Insita
(2018)
(2018)
(2018)
(2018)
A software interface that provides instant control of Eos parameters
(faders, fixture attributes, level wheel, snapshots, etc.)
using the hardware Midi Fighter Twister controller.
Twistereos
(The video is a bit outdated but gives you the idea !)
ABOUT
1. TwisterEos
2. The Midi Fighter Twister (MFT)
3. Why this controller ?
IMPLEMENTATION
2.1. Downloading and launching
2.2. Overview of the interface
2.3. General information
2.5. Presets
2.6. FCB (Focus Color Beam) mode
2.7. FADER mode
2.8. Eos Snapshots
VARIOUS NOTES
1. Futur dev
2. Versions
3. Contact
4. Thanks
TECHNICAL COMPLEMENT
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Midi Fighter Twister - DJTech Tools
Main interface of TwisterEos
Foreword
- TwisterEos is an interface designed primarily for my own use which I am making available here. Although it seems to work great for most users, it is neither developed nor tested with the specifications of a commercial application. Please use it knowningly and take note of the limitations and known bugs at the bottom of this page.
- I am not affiliated to ETC or DJTech Tools with this app.
- TwisterEos requires very little configuration and learning. As this documentation is meant to be as explanatory as possible, it may seem the opposite.
ABOUT
1 - What is TwisterEos ?
TwisterEos is an application intended for master electricians and light designers working with the ETCnomad Eos software and wishing to have a handy hardware controller to manage parameters such as faders, fixtures attributes, snapshots, macros or the level wheel.
It offers a pre-assignment of the Midi Fighter Twister (MFT) encoders and buttons optimized for Eos while allowing customization of certain elements via a simple graphical interface.
It works on Windows 10, and can work on W11 and on Mac via the trial version of Max for the moment.
It offers the advantage of making the Fighter Twister directly ready to use in Eos with an already thought ergonomics.
Unlike most control interfaces for Eos, TwisterEos realistically emulates the behavior of the encoder wheels on physical Eos panels, making control of FCB parameters much more efficient.
In addition, it offers animated visual feedback (via the LEDs of the Fighter Twister) and combinations of buttons that are impossible to achieve otherwise.
The application communicates in MIDI with the Fighter Twister and sends the information to Eos in OSC.
It also receives OSC information from Eos in order to update the controller's LED displays in real time (faders level for example)...
TwisterEos allows the MFT to :
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Control 6 pages of 10 faders, with for each fader the level, the Bump, the Group/Assert and the Load keys.
-
Control the Master fader and the Rate.
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Emulate the behavior of Eos encoders to control FCB parameters, with coarse/fine/superfine adjustment and Home position recall.
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Emulate the level wheel with a permanently accessible rotary knob.
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Recall 12 customizable Eos Snapshots.
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Recall 6 customizable Eos Macros.
Once the app opened and configured, it runs in the background and does not need to be operated.
Each configuration can be saved as instantly recallable presets via the GUI , thus extending the possibilities of the MFT.
Finally, it is possible to export these presets in a file that can easily be re-imported if necessary.
2 - The Midi Fighter Twister (MFT)
The Midi Fighter Twister is a MIDI control surface designed by the American firm Dj TechTools. It is composed of 16 precision rotary encoders with push button, ring of LEDs for feedback, and 6 surface buttons on the sides (3 on the left side and 3 on the right side).
These controls are replicated within 4 banks , thus offering access to up to 134 different MIDI parameters, all configurable via the Midi Fighter Utility, the dedicated Mac/PC editor.
3 - Why this controller?
Never having found a cheap control surface with motorized linear potentiometers quiet enough to use during an indoor show in the middle of an audience, I ended up abandoning the idea and only using rotary knobs with endless course and feedback (= encoders with LED segments).
Certainly the feeling is not the same as a fader but for me it is the best compromise for the moment, while waiting for the miracle control surface (reliable, compact, silent, easily configurable and cheap!).
But even a good rotary controller is not so easy to find.
My choice fell a few years ago on the MFT mainly for the following reasons:
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Build quality, robust, compact, easy to carry on tour.
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Accuracy of rotary potentiometers.
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Fully configurable, with features that few other control surfaces have.
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Simple and powerful PC editor.
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Can be used for other purposes with other software.
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Is easily resellable.
Disadvantages:
-
A little bit expensive, but the price is justified in my opinion (it is found fairly regularly used at less than $180).
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Push buttons maybe a bit stiff.
To sum up, the Fighter Twister is confined to only 16 physical rotary knobs, but with a high quality design and with a powerful and well thought-out editor allowing them to be exploited to the maximum of their possibilities.
IMPLEMENTATION
1 - Configuring the Fighter Twister
First of all, you have to configure the controller internally using the Midi Fighter Utility, the dedicated editor provided by DJTech Tools.
You will also need the configuration file specific to the use of MFT with TwisterEos "TEos_MFT_config" (Google Drive link).
Once these files have been downloaded and Midi Fighter Utility installed on your computer, connect the Fighter Twister via USB without going through a hub .
You can go through a hub later to use it, but it is not recommended to do so to configure it.
- Open Midi Fighter Utility.
- Reset the MFT to factory settings (especially if you bought it used) by going to Tools/Midi Fighter/Factory Reset and confirming the reset.
- Go to File/Import and select the downloaded TEos_MFT_config file.
- Click on the blue "SEND TO MIDIFIGHTER" button at the bottom of the editor to transfer the configuration to the controller.
- Close Fighter Utility.
The configuration is saved in the MFT's internal memory. This operation therefore only needs to be carried out once.
However, it is possible that an update of TwisterEos may require the MFT to be reconfigured with a new file. This will be specified in the release notes.
If this is the case, it is necessary to disconnect and reconnect the MFT after the transfer for the new configuration to take effect.
Midi Fighter Utility interface
2 - Using TwisterEos
2.1 - Downloading and launching
This version of TwisterEos has been updated and developed on Windows 10 version 22H2 and with reference to Eos version 3.1.5 Build 8.
Any version of your Eos software and Windows that is different from this ones greatly increases the likelihood of malfunction.
You can download TwisterEos via the Google Drive link below:
Once the file is unzipped, open the main directory.
Inside is a directory named "resources" and the files "TwisterEos.exe" and "TwisterEos.mxf".
These files must always stay together in the same directory and the "resources" directory must not be deleted, modified or renamed, otherwise the application will not work.
• Windows
TwisterEos doesn't require any installation. Simply double-click on the "TwisterEos.exe" file to launch the application in Windows.
For Windows 11, there may be some problems with the application. A version of TwisterEos specific to W11 is planned but in the meantime you can use the free version of Max (see Mac OS below).
When you first open TwisterEos, you may see a Windows Defender firewall window. You must allow access to use the application. Maybe you will need to disable TwisterEos in your firewall too.
• Mac OS
At the moment there is no version of TwisterEos compiled for the Mac. However, it is possible to use TwisterEos on a Mac using the free trial version of Max and the mxf file in the TwisterEos directory:
- Go to the Cycling `74 website.
- Download and install the latest version of Max on your computer.
- Go to the TwisterEos folder and open the file "TwisterEos.mxf" with Max.
If TwisterEos does not seem to be working properly, you may need to manually install the external "CNMAT" library that is present in the TwisterEos directory but is sometimes not recognized. Please have a look to the Troubleshooting section to check if this is the case.
Note: the trial version of Max allows you to create and save patches for a period of 30 days. After this period, the backup will be disabled but you can continue to open patches, including TwisterEos.
The mxf files are read-only Max patches, it is not possible to modify them.
2.2 - Overview of the interface
[A]- Network configuration.
[B] - Presets management.
[1] - Active view (Fader or FCB).
[2] - Snapshots.
[3] - Alt (alternative) buttons.
[4] - Page window.
[5] - Level wheel
[6] - Selection of the FADER mode.
[7] - Selection of the FCB mode.
2.3 - General information
TwisterEos can be seen as an interpreter allowing the MFT and Eos to communicate with each other.
On the one hand, it receives MIDI commands from the MFT and translates them into OSC to send them to Eos.
On the other hand, it receives OSC messages from Eos that will, for example, modify the LED display on the MFT in MIDI.
No command to Eos can be made directly from the TwisterEos graphical interface (by clicking on an encoder symbol with the mouse for example).
To control a parameter in Eos, you must use the MFT.
The TwisterEos graphical interface is used to visualize and customize certain parameters such as fixtures attributes, Snapshots and Macros.
These customizable parameters are all highlighted in dark blue (except for the network parameters [A]).
It is these parameters that are stored in the TwisterEos preset system ([B]).
This interface is divided into two main areas: the upper panel, which allows general management of the application (network configuration and management of presets) and the large lower window showing the Midi Fighter Twister controls.
TwisterEos is completly designed around two distinct modes:
► The Fader mode for managing the Eos faders.
► The FCB mode for managing the FCB parameters of the automatic projectors.
The two buttons [6] and [7] on either side of the MFT (and in the TwisterEos window) are used to select the mode and to display the corresponding commands in the window [1].
Important note: window [1] is therefore relative to both modes, and the commands found there vary according to the mode chosen.
The other windows are independent of the mode and the associated commands are always the same, whatever the mode selected (with a small exception, however, for the Page window [4]).
• Page window [4]
Both Fader and FCB modes are organized in several pages that can be recalled via the Page buttons.
Although the function of the Page buttons is always the same (i.e. to select pages), they have some subtleties depending on the selected mode. These features will be detailed later in the Fader mode and FCB mode sections.
In addition, the color of the Pages buttons changes according to the selected mode (fuchsia or blue-green): this is your way of identifying the active mode on the MFT when the TwisterEos window is minimized or hidden.
A special page for each mode can be accessed by pressing the Page1 and Page2 buttons simultaneously, namely the MacroFad page and the EncoDis page respectively in Fader and FCB mode.
- PUSH : page selection (fader or FCB).
- PUSH Page1 + PUSH Page2 : selection of the sepcial page.
- ROTATION : no action.
• Alt buttons [3]
The Alt1 and Alt2 buttons can be seen as the SHIFT key on a computer keyboard: used in combination with some of the other buttons on the MFT, they allow you to give them a different functionality than the basic one.
Only the Push of these two encoders has an action. The rotary has no effect.
- PUSH : Alt1 (or Alt2) to be used in combination with the encoders of the active window [1].
- ROTATION : no action.
Fader mode
FCB mode
• Level wheel [5]
The level wheel is common to all modes in order to be permanently accessible whatever the selected view.
- PUSH : [Select Last].
- ROTATION : level wheel.
• Contextual help
In order to simplify the use of TwisterEos without having to resort to this online documentation, a small contextual help appears after one second when you hover the mouse over an element of the graphic interface.
2.4 - Network configuration
Before you can use your MFT with Eos, you must configure the network settings in TwisterEos, in the top left window:
The IP address to be entered in TwisterEos is that of the online network adapter in Eos.To find out this address, launch Eos, then in the launcher (ETCnomad shell) go to Settings / Network and check the IP address displayed for the online network adapter in green:
Another way to check this IP once Eos has started is to open the CIA and press the "Y" (About) key on your computer keyboard with the Eos command line empty:
Note: even if TwisterEos and Eos are on the same computer, it is necessary to have an active connection.
The Localhost address or 127.0.0.1 does not work in Eos.
Then, for TwisterEos to receive the OSC information from Eos, you must configure the network settings in TwisterEos, in the top left window:
- Launch Eos (in Master mode)
- Open the CIA at the bottom of the main screen (keyboard shortcut: F9 + up arrow)
- Go to Setup / System Settings / Show Control / OSC
The transmit (TX) and receive (RX) OSC ports in Eos must be enabled and must match those in TwisterEos:
- The TX OSC port in TwisterEos must be the same as the OSC UDP RX port in Eos.
- The RX OSC port in TwisterEos must be the same as the OSC UDP TX port in Eos.
The default ports in TwisterEos are those of Eos, namely 8000 and 8001. If you have no particular reason to change them, you can leave them as they are.
IMPORTANT: in order for Eos to send OSC data to TwisterEos, the IP address must also be entered in the "OSC UDP TX IP Address" field (exactly the same address, not another one from the same range).
4
4
If you have problems communicating between TwisterEos and Eos, please try disabling your firewall for TwisterEos (or for Max if you are on a Mac).
The network configuration is not saved in the TwisterEos presets except in preset 1 (see next paragraph 2.5 - TwisterEos presets).
To avoid having to reconfigure the network parameters each time you open the application, you can fill them in and then create a preset 1 (or update it if it already exists), export your project and import it again.
As the preset 1 of the last imported project is loaded by default when the application is opened, its network parameters will become the default ones.
When a network setting is entered that differs from the one saved in preset 1, it will turn white instead of light blue.
2.5 - TwisterEos Presets
The TwisterEos preset system allows you to save and instantly recall all of your custom settings manually in the interface (in the dark blue fields).
These include FCB settings, Snapshot and Macro numbers, color forcing pads, and CustoMap button status.
You can save up to 11 presets:
- Save a preset: [Shift] + Click in a small grey box.
- Update a preset: select the preset to be modified, make the changes, then do [Shift] + Click in its box again.
- Copy a preset : select the preset to be copied then [Shift] + Click in the destination box.
- Delete a preset: select the preset to delete and click on "Clear active".
- Delete all the presets: click on "Clear ALL".
You can enter a name for each preset in the text field below the boxes. This name will be saved in the preset itself when you save it.
- Preset 1 is loaded by default when you open the application.
- Preset 11 is an empty preset by default allowing to start from scratch without having to empty all the fields one by one. It is therefore advisable not to overwrite it (although it is of course possible).
All the presets can be exported to a file and then re-imported via the Import and Export buttons.
TwisterEos automatically loads the last imported file when it is opened (not the last savede file).
If a change is made to a preset, a save window will open automatically when you close the interface to propose you to save the file again.
2.6 - FCB (Focus Color Beam) mode
The FCB mode is obtained by clicking on the FCB button [7] on the interface or on the controller.
It allows you to check the MFT's button specifications for this mode and to choose the machine attributes you wish to control with the MFT.
To choose a parameter you want to control with an MFT encoder, select the fixture in Eos and then select the parameter from the drop-down menu of the encoder in question in TwisterEos.
Note: this process makes the interface easier to read by avoiding having dozens of useless parameters displayed in the drop-down menus all the time.
The list of parameters in the drop-down menus is automatically updated in real time according to the fixture(s) selected in Eos. If several different fixtures are selected, their parameters are added together in the drop-down menus.
A parameter remains assigned to an encoder until a new parameter is selected to replace it.
If the parameter assigned to the encoder is common to different types of projectors (such as pan or tilt, which are regularly found) the encoder will work for all fixtures with that parameter.
Parameter button
- ROTATION: adjustment of the parameter.
- PUSH + ROTATION: fine adjustment.
- ALT1 + ROTATION: super fine adjustment.
- ALT1 + PUSH: Home position of the parameter.
- ALT2 + ROTATION: Min and Max of the parameter (counterclockwise=Min, clockwise=Max).
- ALT2 + PUSH: writes the name of the parameter in the Eos command line
Note: animations of the LED rings confirm that the ATL1 or ALT2 button combinations have been executed.
The color of the MDT LED segments is set automatically according to the parameter categories from Eos:
- Intensity: red
- Focus : green
- Color : fushia
- Shutter: orange
- Image: yellow
- Form : purple
Note: these colors were chosen arbitrarily for TwisterEos and the MFT and have no correspondence in Eos.
About the Page buttons in FCB mode
- PUSH: selection of parameter pages 1 to 3
- ROTATION: no action
Note: this system of organization by page of 10 FCB parameters is specific to TwisterEos; it does not reflect an identical system in Eos (unlike the fader pages).
CustoMap option
- Activation/deactivation button of the CustoMap mode
When this option is enabled, the FCB mode in TwisterEos controls the display of the categories and parameter pages of the selected Custom Map in the Encoder Display in Eos.
Thus, if you create a Custom Map with the same settings in Eos as your FCB mode in TwisterEos (in the same order, with the same distribution within the different pages) you will be able to view your settings in the Encoder Display when you adjust them.
This option does not change the overall working principle of the standard FCB mode in TwisterEos. It is only a "convenience" option that allows you to view the parameters you are adjusting with the MFT in the Encoder Display in real time.
When the CustoMap mode is activated in TwisterEos:
- The MFT's page buttons select the Intens, Focus and Color categories respectively in the Encoder Display of Eos (the Shutter, Image and Form categories cannot be selected).
- Successive presses of a page button increment the page numbers from 1 to 3 in the corresponding category (= small white dots under the category name in the Eos Encoder Display).
► The white LEDs on the MFT's Page buttons correspond to these white dots.
► Due to the fact that in TwisterEos there are only 10 possible parameters per page, the number of pages is necessarily between 1 and 3 (depending on the number of parameters configured and their distribution):
• The first line of encoders in TwisterEos corresponds to page 1 of the selected category --> 4 parameters maximum.
• The second line corresponds to page 2 --> 4 parameters maximum.
• The third line corresponds to page 3 --> 2 parameters maximum.
Adjusting a parameter with the MFT automatically selects its category and page in the Encoder Display of Eos.
With the Custom Map option enabled in TwisterEos, the 3 "page" buttons select the Intens, Focus and Color categories in the Eos Encoder Display.
The first 3 LEDs on the encoders indicate the currently selected page.
Warning: since Eos does not return any OSC information for selecting parameter categories, TwisterEos has no way of knowing what changes the user has made directly from the Encoder Display. The CustoMap option in TwisterEos is therefore unidirectional, i.e. it only works in the TwisterEos to Eos direction.
This is not a problem in itself, but it does require some care. If a category has been selected directly in the Encoder Display and a difference in display appears with the MFT, simply reselect a page or category from the MFT and the two will match again.
Note 1: Page 1 of the categories is systematically called up by default when a category is changed.
Note 2: As a reminder, custom maps are configured in Eos from the Encoder Map Editor Tab 40. Although the categories remain named Intens, Focus and Color in Eos custom map mode, you can configure any type of parameter, including parameters that do not belong to these categories!
EncoDis page
The EncoDis page of TwisterEos allows you to manage FCB parameters using the first four encoders of the MFT by displaying them in the Encoder Display of Eos, in the same way as the programming wing of ETC.
{1} - Selection of the EncoDis page.
{2} - Selection of the FCB categories.
{3} - Parameter wheels.
The EncoDis page is accessed by pressing the Page1 and Page2 buttons simultaneously in FCB view.
The encoders at the top of the MFT then become four parameter wheels and the Push of the next six encoders selects the categories (Intens, Focus, Color, Shutter, Image and Form) in the Encoder Display .
The fixtures you select in Eos automatically map to the four encoders according to the selected category and the page in that category.
The LED segments take on the color of the category, in this case orange for the Shutter category (see Frame 4 below).
Successive presses of the category encoders increment the pages within this category.
The white LEDs around the MFT encoders also indicate the page: one LED = Page 1, two LEDs = Page 2, three LEDs = Page 3, etc. (see frame 5 below, example of page 1 selection for the Shutter category).
{4} - The 4 "parameter" encoders on the MFT.
The LED segments automatically adjust to the color of the selected category.
{5} - Example: Page 1 of the Shutter category is selected.
The other five category buttons each have their own color, identical to the colors of the standard FCB mode.
The functionalities of the four encoders as well as those related to the Alt1 and Alt2 buttons remain unchanged compared to the standard FCB mode:
- ROTATION: parameter adjustment.
- PUSH + ROTATION : coarse adjustment.
- ALT1 + ROTATION : super fine adjustment.
- ALT1 + PUSH : Home of the parameter.
- ALT2 + PUSH : write the parameter name in the Eos command line.
Similarly, for the six Category buttons :
- ALT1 + PUSH: Home of the category.
- ALT2 + PUSH : button of the category (name written in the Eos command line).
Note1: just like the CustoMap option in standard FCB mode, the EncoDis page is unidirectional, i.e. it only works in the TwisterEos to Eos direction. If a category has been selected directly in the Encoder Display and a difference in display appears with the MFT, simply reselect a category from the MFT and the two will match again.
Note2 : a short video tutorial is available here.
To exit EncoDis mode, simply reselect a standard FCB page.
2.7 - Fader mode
The Fader view is obtained by clicking on the FADER button [6] on the interface or on the controller.
It allows you to view the MFT button layout for this mode, to manually configure the six snapshots that can be recalled when changing fader pages, and if necessary, to force the color of the LED segment of the encoders to match the fader mode selected in Eos.
The display of the 10 encoders in TwisterEos and on the MFT automatically adapts to the content of the selected fader page.
Fader button
- ROTATION : level of the fader
- PUSH : [BUMP]
- ALT1 + PUSH : [Grp/Assert]
- ALT2 + PUSH : [Load]
Automatic adaptation of the color of the encoders LED according to the faders content
When changing fader pages, the color of the LED below the MFT's encoders adapt automatically to the type of content of the Eos faders. The ETC color code was tried to be respected as much as possible: golden yellow for Subs, green for Cue Lists, red for Grand Master, brown for Palettes and Presets, etc. (a bit difficult with the rather basic color of the MFT's LEDs).
In addition, a fader with no content in Eos will appear off in TwisterEos and on the MFT.
Manual color forcing of an encoder according to the fader mode
Unfortunately, it was impossible to do the same thing with the fader mode chosen (Additive, Inhibit or Effect) because Eos does not send this information when changing pages. If you change the mode of a fader in Eos, it can happen that its color and the color of the LED below the MFT encoder differs.
To avoid this visual inconvenience, it is possible to manually force the color of an encoder in TwisterEos using the small dots to the right of each encoder :
- Cross: cancels the "forcing" of the color
- Red dot: forces the color of the encoder to red (i.e. for a fader in Inhibit mode)
- Yellow dot: forces the color of the encoder to yellow (i.e. for a fader in Effect mode)
Just like the FCB settings, the color forcings (and their cancelation) need to be saved in a TwisterEos preset so that they can be retrieved in a later session (the dots are on a dark blue background! ;-) ).
Warning: when you change presets, it is necessary to recall the fader page you are on with the MFT so that the forced color of the encoders is updated (both in the TwisterEos interface and on the MFT itself).
About the Page buttons in Fader mode
- PUSH: selection of fader pages from 1 to 3
- DOUBLE PUSH: selection of fader pages from 4 to 6
- ROTATION: no action
To select fader pages 4 to 6, you need to double push the encoder, i.e. press it twice as fast as you would with a double click on a mouse.
An Eos snapshot number that will be called up at the same time as the fader pages can be specified in the small boxes under each button (see Eos Snapshot).
A snapshot of each of the six fader pages can thus be created in Eos (Tab 28) and recalled each time the corresponding button is pressed on the MFT.
The same applies to the special MacroFad page.
Use the mouse hover in the TwisterEos interface to check which page the boxes correspond to.
Special MacroFad page
In Fader view, the key combination Page1 + Page2 gives access to the special MacroFad page allowing to control the Master fader and the Rate of Eos with the encoders 1, 2 and 3 of the MFT.
It also gives access to 6 customizable Macros as well as the Eos [Fader] key.
{1} - Master fader.
{2} - Rate Fader.
{3} - Eos [Fader] key.
{4} - Customizable Macro buttons.
{5} - Selection of the MacroFad mode.
The MacroFad page is accessed by pressing the Page1 and Page2 buttons simultaneously in the Fader view ({5}).
MacroFad page on the MFT.
{1} - Master Fader.
Important note: In order to obtain the expected behavior with the Rate encoder programmed in TwisterEos, you need to configure Eos fader 8/page 100 as in the screenshot below.
It must be configured with cuelist 1 and in "3x" so that the Rate fader corresponds to the tenth fader on the page:
- PUSH : Go (encoder 1).
- ROTATION : adjustement of the level of the Master Fader.
- ALT1 + PUSH : Stop/Go Back (encoder 1).
{2} - Rate Fader.
- PUSH : Reset the rate to 100%.
- ROTATION : Rate adjustment between 0% and 200%.
- ALT1 + PUSH : Reset the rate to 100% (second possibility).
- ALT2 + PUSH : Eos [RATE] key.
{3} - Eos [Fader] button.
- PUSH : Eos [FADER] key.
- ROTATION : no action.
{4} - Customizable Macro buttons.
- PUSH : triggers the macro configured in the field below.
- ROTATION : no action.
The box under each encoder allows you to choose the Macro number that will be called.
This number is highlighted in blue, so it will be saved in the TwisterEos presets.
To make sure that no Macro is called, enter "0" (the box turns dark blue).
You can enter the number either with your computer keyboard or with the mouse wheel (hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard for more precise scrolling).
2.8 - Eos Snapshots
Each of these boxes in TwisterEos allows you to select a Snapshot that will be recalled in Eos when you press the corresponding button (note the number in the Snapshots box in orange, which differentiates it from the Macro box in light green)..
It is thus possible, for example, to create a "Fader" and an "FCB" snapshot in Eos which will be recalled each time the "Fader View" or "FCB View" button on the MFT is pressed.
The other two buttons on either side allow you to recall any snapshot of your choice.
Similarly, you can create snapshots with an individual view of each of the six fader pages that will be called up when the corresponding Page button is pressed and thus view your virtual fader in Eos at the same time as you operate your fader encoders with the MFT.
The Snapshot numbers are in boxes with a blue background, so they will be saved in the TwisterEos presets.
If you don't want any Snapshots to be recalled, enter "0" (the box turns dark blue).
VARIOUS NOTES
1 - Futur dev
- Control of Min and Max of the FCB parameters.
- TCP IP protocol (will avoid the configuration of OSC ports and will probably resolve the stuck faders issue)
- Compiled version for Mac and W11.
2. Limitations and known bugs
Limitations:
- Only the Intens, Focus and Color categories (with 3 pages per category) are managed by TwisterEos via the Custom Map mode. The Shutter, Image and Form categories are not taken into consideration (but remain of course usable directly from Eos).
- In a network configuration (with one Eos in Master and another in Backup for example, or another with distant Augment3D), TwisterEos will only work if all Eos are configured to the same user.
Known bugs :
- Some users have experienced malfunctions when they first opened TwisterEos, but these have usually been resolved after a few exchanges.
A Troubleshooting section has being written to help you solve the most common cases.
- There may sometimes be some small mismatches in the parameters on the EncoDis page, depending on the fixtures. To be seen in use in the next few weeks... Do not hesitate to send me your feedback.
3 - Versions
Version 2.1 (current) - March 23, 2023
(This version does not require any hardware reconfiguration of the MFT).
In FCB view
- Added control of the Min and Max of FCB parameters via the command Alt2 + Rotation.
- Added global Home for selected fixtures via the special command Alt1 + Alt2 for 0.5s (see "special commands" in the Tips and Tricks section).
In Fader view
- Fixed the bug that sometimes blocked the faders at 100% when using the Bump repeatedly and quickly.
- General improvement of the Bump implementation to reduce involuntary fader value changes when pressing the Push of the encoder.
Version 2.0 - January 17, 2023
This version requires the hardware reconfiguration of the MFT with the provided file.
(disconnect and reconnect your MFT after uploading the file).
In FCB view
- Implementation of the EncoDis page to manage FCB parameters using four automatically mapped MFT encoders and their display in the Eos Encoder Display.
In Fader View
- Added features to the MacroFad page (formerly called Master Fader Page), including the management of the Eos Rate and the ability to call customizable Macros.
- The boxes for color forcing are now highlighted in light blue when a forcing is activated in order to keep the same logic as the other parameters that can be saved in the presets.
General
- Improved ergonomics and readability of the GUI.
- Improved the preset system (automatic selection of created presets).
- Detection of wrong IP addresses or wrong format (the address blinks in red for a few seconds).
- Added informative popup messages.
- Fixed minor bugs.
- Version 1.6 - 11/17/2022
- Version 1.51 - 08/30/2022
- Version 1.5 - 07/07/2022
- Version 1.4 - 05/21/2022
- Version 1.3 - 05/02/2022
- Version 1.2 - 04/26/2022
- Version 1.0 - 03/24/2022
4 - Contact
For any questions or suggestions, if possible please use the comments below the posts on the TwisterEos Facebook page to share with others (unfortunately there is no forum dedicated to TwisterEos) or direct messaging for more specific things.
You can also contact me via the links at the top of this page.
5. Thanks
A big thank you to Thibault d'Aubert, head of the lighting department of the Théâtre National de Strasbourg and Eos trainer, for his constructive feedback and beta tests.
Thanks also to the users who give me bug feedback and who contribute to the improvement of TwisterEos!
And finally, thanks to those who tell me that it works fine and that they are happy! :-)
TECHNICAL COMPLEMENT
1. Troubleshooting
This section will give you some ideas for investigating malfunctions in TwisterEos or your MFT.
If you still can't get your MFT to work and you plan to contact me, please specify your operating system, its version, the version of TwisterEos and Eos you are using, and describe what seems to work and what doesn't (and/or tell me if you are in one of the following cases), having of course read carefully sections 1 and 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 of this online documentation.
Note: It is also a good idea to have in mind the small diagram in section 1. TwisterEos to understand how the MFT, TwisterEos and Eos communicate with each other.
In any case, to identify the problem:
- Start by eliminating all potential external sources of problems: use only a minimal configuration with your Eos computer and the MFT connected directly (without using a USB hub). Disconnect the computer from any network (but leave your network card or Wi-Fi enabled). Disconnect any other USB and MIDI devices.
- Next, open only TwisterEos (give it time to launch) --> at this point the three LED segments of the Page encoders at the bottom should be blinking alternately, indicating that the MFT is receiving MIDI from TwisterEos.
- Now try selecting the Fader view and FCB view with the MFT's side buttons facing you the most, as well as switching pages with the Page encoder push buttons --> the TwisterEos GUI should respond to these commands, indicating that it is receiving MIDI from the MFT, even though it hasn't yet set up anything on the network.
- If this is not the case, your MFT is not communicating with TwisterEos (so there is no need to open Eos) --> see the first point below.
- If it does, you can continue prospecting using the other points below.
• Problem: my MFT doesn't seem to communicate with TwisterEos.
The MFT communicates with TwisterEos via MIDI.
To check if your MFT is recognized by TwisterEos, go to File / MIDI setup.
--> "Midi Fighter Twister" must be checked in the Inputs and Outputs columns in the "On" column.
If this is not the case, it may be that the MFT is recognized by Eos or another software (a MIDI device can only be recognized in one application at a time).
For the same reason, think to close Fighter Utility after uploading the MFT config file and before launching TwisterEos.
Check if MIDI is enabled in the Eos setup. Go to System / Show Control / USB MIDI/SMPTE and check the status of the "USB MIDI/SMPTE" button. If it is activated and you see the Midi Fighter Twister in the table on the right it is probably Eos that has taken over the MFT and TwisterEos cannot see it.
For this reason, it is recommended to disable MIDI in Eos if you don't need it, and to start TwisterEos first, before Eos, and before any other third-party application.
• Problem: my MFT controls the intensities in Eos (Level Wheel) but not the faders or FCB parameters.
This problem is usually encountered when TwisterEos is running but not receiving OSC messages from Eos.
To be sure, select and deselect projectors in Eos --> the little white dot next to Rx Port OSC in the upper left corner of TwisterEos should be blinking.
If it is not, make sure:
- You have entered the correct IP address in the Eos setup, and that it is the correct IP address.
- You have disabled your firewall for TwisterEos and/or Max.
- Be in User 1 (bottom right of the main Eos window).
- Isolate your computer from any other computer networks in order to limit the sources of problems and do your tests.
Furthermore, to synchronize with Eos, TwisterEos needs you to manually call up a fader page and an FCB page from the MFT after launching the application (this is why you see these flashing messages at launch).
So don't hesitate to switch pages several times at the start, especially after setting up your IP address in TwisterEos.
• Problem: I use the trial version of Max and it doesn't work.
Check that there are no problems when starting TwisterEos in Max.
To do this, open the Max console with Ctrl+M and check that no lines in the console are highlighted in red.
If this is the case, there is a problem.
In particular, Max may not be able to find certain external libraries that are necessary for TwisterEos to function, such as the library named "CNMAT" containing the [OSC-route] object.
If this is your case, you can install it manually. To do this:
- Check that your computer is connected to the internet (to be able to download the package).
- In Max, go to the "File" tab then to "Show package Manager".
- In the search bar at the top right, type "CNMAT" and install the proposed package.
- Restart TwisterEos
• Problem: TwisterEos controls some parameters in Eos but not others, and seems to react erratically.
Sometimes a new version of TwisterEos requires you to update the MFT via the Fighter Utility with the configuration file provided . When doing this, I strongly recommend that you disconnect your MFT from the USB port for a few seconds after the transfer is complete and then reconnect it so that the new configuration can be reset in the internal memory.
Sometimes the configuration file is not loaded correctly into internal memory during the transfer, and the buttons do not configure themselves with the MIDI messages they are supposed to send.
To be sure, you can monitor the MIDI messages that the MFT sends directly with TwisterEos :
- In TwisterEos, click in the lower right corner of the Network Setup window, in the area just to the right of the white OSC receive indicator dot. This will open three small fields below with the MIDI signals that are coming into TwisterEos.
- Operate the various MFT controls and check that the incoming MIDI messages match those in the four illustrations below for each of the two modes and two sub-modes of TwisterEos.
►The first number shown is the MIDI channel (Ch) number and the second is the note (or CC) number. For example 1-12 means Channel 1, Note 12 (or CC 12).
►For each encoder, the message in the center corresponds to the Push and the one in the upper left to the rotary potentiometer.
MIDI messages for the FADER mode (MFT bank 1).
MIDI messages for the MacroFad mode (MFT bank 2).
MIDI messages for the FCB mode (MFT bank 4).
MIDI messages for the EncoDis mode (MFT bank 3).
If you notice differences between the signals sent by the MFT displayed in the small monitoring windows and those it is supposed to send, you can try to:
• Do a factory reset of the MFT:
With the Fighter Utility, go to Tools / Midifighter / Factory Reset.
• Load an alternative factory firmware:
With the Fighter Utility, go to Tools / Midifighter / Load Factory Firmware and try one of the four suggested firmware.
• Reload the configuration file.
For unexplained reasons, some users have experienced errors when loading the configuration file into the MFT. They apparently managed to solve this problem by "persisting", i.e. by trying to load the file several times in a row (unplugging/plugging the MFT each time) until the MIDI messages sent by the MFT ended up being the correct ones...
It also seems that being connected to the internet when opening Fighter Utility can also help loading the configuration file (since the application, when opening, checks the firmware version and suggests an update if necessary).
2. Tips and tricks
In this section you'll find some tips on how to use TwisterEos with the MFT as well as some "hidden" or slightly "exotic" key combinations, especially with the Alt and Pages rotary knobs (supposed to have no action!... 😉 ).
Beware, even if these key combinations (and the associated commands) keep a certain logic with the rest of the interface, some of them are a little odd! They are therefore for users who are already familiar with TwisterEos.
If you are a new user, please skip this section for the moment !
Special button combinaisons
There are two kinds:
- Those common to all modes, located on the Pages buttons (and only there).
- Those specific to each mode --> located on the Alt buttons (and elsewhere !)
Some of them are a special kind of manipulation that we will call "Hop-hop!" and that consists in quickly turning an encoder about 1/8 turn counterclockwise and then immediately clockwise about 1/4 turn.
A little tricky, but very handy!
• Common to all modes:
►Hop-hop! on Page2 encoder: Sneak Enter
►Hop-hop! on Page3 encoder: Shift+Clear (clears the Eos command line).
Note: no Hop-hop! on Page1 encoder for the moment !
• Specific to each mode:
In Fader mode:
► Holding Alt1 + Alt2 for 0.5s: initializes the 10 faders of the current page to Home.
(Note: this command clears the Eos command line beforehand).
► Hop-hop! on the Alt1 encoder: deploys/folds the CIA.
► Alt1 + Fader View side button: activates FCB View (equivalent to FCB View button).
(Explanation: since I place the MFT on the left side of my computer, this sometimes saves me from having to use my right hand to switch to FCB View. This way I can access almost all the commands with my left hand only).
In FCB mode:
► Holding Alt1 + Alt2 for 0.5s : clear the Eos command line and sends "select_last home enter".
This command thus allows to instantly put in Home the selected fixtures in Eos.
► Hop-hop! on the Alt1 encoder: deploys/folds the Eos Encoder Display.
This combination only works for Windows users and requires that the active Windows window is the Eos window.
► Hop-hop! on the Alt2 encoder: activates/deactivates the Eos Custom Map soft key (in the Encoder Display).
Tips
• Since it is very quick to switch between the standard FCB mode and the Encodis mode thanks to the Page buttons that are always accessible, it is convenient to use both modes in parallel:
- the standard FCB mode to manage your current or favorite parameters, organized on the three pages as it is most convenient for you and as you are used to,
- the EncoDis mode to manage more occasional parameters.
• Nothing prevents you from selecting the same parameter several times among the three pages of the standard FCB mode. So you can decide for example to dedicate each page to a type of machine, and put back in each one the parameters they might have in common (like pan and tilt perhaps for example).
• It's handy to be able to call up Snapshots with the Page buttons in Fader view, but this can sometimes be bother, especially in show playback.
Since it's easy to duplicate a preset in TwisterEos, don't hesitate to make a second preset by clearing these Snaphots boxes.
Also, don't hesitate to make a "basic" Snaphot in Eos that you can come back to whenever you're a little lost, and that you can configure on one of the MFT's side buttons, which are permanently accessible.
• All the MFT buttons that have an encoder behavior have their central LED lit (blue for the FCB wheels, red for the level wheel).
These LEDs are sometimes difficult to see when the MFT is laid flat. A small support to tilt it at 45° (or more) allows to see all the LED rings and to materialize the location of the side buttons at the same time. ;-)
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© 2023 Nicolas Bazoge
All rights reserved
