In the November 2009 Issue:

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Introduction

Welcome to the first issue of the Pangolin Post! The Pangolin Post is intended to be a newsletter that we will be distributing periodically, as a means of keeping our users up to date and informed on the latest from Pangolin.

We welcome your comments regarding this newsletter, and if you have any stories that you would like us to highlight in the next issue, please feel free to contact us. 

LD 2000 Version 5.0

Within LD2000 version 5.0, almost every program, utility, and sub-component has been updated in some way.

For both the LD2000 drawing program and Showtime timeline programs, we have completed the Chinese-language version, and tremendously improved the quality of the French-language version. We have also made internal changes to the networking, projection zones, timeline editing and show playback portions for smoother performance, especially when operating over a network.

Within LD2000, we have changed the text rendering engine to correct a problem where certain Chinese characters were not reproduced correctly. And within Showtime, we have improved the quality and capability of the video player, using a Windows Media Player component.

Within Showtime and Autoplay, we have added the ability to automatically load beam frames after loading the show and frames. For example, if you have many beam shows that use the first 100 frames for beams, you can have Showtime or Autoplay automatically load this “beam frame” file after loading the show and normal show frames.

Autoplay now features the ability to “pre-load” frames, either automatically (as each show is loaded, it will be stored in memory for faster playback if played in a loop), or manually, by using the “Preload frames” menu. This “preload” capability can allow essentially uninterrupted playback of multiple shows. (Autoplay will load as many shows and frames that will fit into your QM2000 memory.)

As part of LD2000 version 4.50, some users may have discovered a small utility program called QMX_24. This is a small add-on utility program, which is an easy-to-use DMX console. For version 5.0, this program has been improved. It can be used either as a stand-alone DMX console (or DMX monitor, allowing you to watch an incoming DMX stream) or it can be used alongside any of the other programs within the LD2000 software suite.

Within LivePRO, we have added a Master Brightness capability for beams, and corresponding ability to control beam brightness with DMX Input. Various other internal and external improvements have been made, including changes to the MIDI system, Snapshots system, and copy/paste system.

For Lasershow Converter FLASH, we have made internal changes related to how the program looks for objects within a FLASH file. The change should improve LC-Flash's compatibility with some of the FLASH files out there in the public domain.

For Lasershow Converter 4D and Lasershow Converter MAX, we have new features which allow you to apply multiple contours to an object or even part of an object. Lasershow Converter 4D supports Cinema 4D version 8 through 11.5, and Lasershow Converter MAX now supports MAX version 4 through 2010.

Probably the most significant change for LD2000 version 5.0 is the ability to visualize the output of all LD2000 programs (including customer-written programs that use the LD2000 SDK) through the third-party visualization program called LIGHT CONVERSE.

For those who have never seen LIGHT CONVERSE in action, this is a program that does real time photorealistic rendering of lights, trusses, staging, and now lasers. Professional users will enjoy the ability to show clients mock stages of how their laser shows will look along with other multimedia content.

You can see a video showing LIGHT CONVERSE in action, along with Pangolin lasers here

In addition to the software changes noted above, we have also added 20 new shows to the LD2000 distribution, bringing the grand total to 120 shows. These include the Pangolin Prize winners from 2008, some additional Lightspeed content, updated versions of shows previously offered by Rupert Morse and a few from some of the folks on Photon Lexicon.

Powered by Pangolin

At Pangolin, we wanted to find a way of showcasing the great work being done by Pangolin clients around the world. As a result, we created the Powered by Pangolin web page. We feel that it is important for others to see the caliber of shows and events that are produced by clients, and we want to help promote a sense of pride among those who use Pangolin systems to control their lasers. As you can see on the page, the biggest and best events around the world, are being Powered by Pangolin.

In addition to the many others on that page, we would like to recognize Laser Image for their wonderful work on the Jean Michel Jarre World Tour.

For his first World Tour, Jean Michel Jarre wanted to give his audiences a chance to see his music, and immerse themselves in a sensory experience. The team at Laser Image used RGB lasers as well as yellow and blue OPS lasers, each controlled with a Pangolin QM2000.NET system controlled by LivePRO to create an amazing spectacle of laser light. The combination of artistry and professionalism resulted in a great show for the audience to enjoy.

We invite everyone to submit photos, news and press releases to us at Pangolin, so that they can be added to the Powered by Pangolin page. Please contact us for more information.

LASORB

Coming soon from Pangolin

Lasershow Designer QuickShow

See us at the upcoming LDI tradeshow