Avolites has unveiled a major new release of its renowned lighting and integrated media control Titan software.
Version 16 has two new main features developed to assist programmers and operators by providing fast access to the data they need. Freeform Layout view, for example, provides the ability to arrange and select fixtures in a 2D layout either manually, or automatically from the integrated Capture visualiser, streamlining the workflow from design to programming.
It provides a visual representation of the current state of the fixtures and is accessed from a new ‘Layouts’ window and ‘Layout’ handle type. With this new function, group handles can be included in layouts to further assist fixture selection. Multiple layouts can also be created providing the ability to have more than one arrangement of fixtures or to separate fixtures into specific layouts.
The view supports multi-touch gesture controls for zoom and pan. A new window called ‘Cue List Tracking View’ provides a way to view and edit the values and tracking of individual fixtures/attributes in a cue list. A ‘View Tracking’ button has also been added to the Playback View context menu. Selecting this will open the Tracking View window with the associated playback cues. Selecting the ‘Select Cue List’ option from the Tracking View context menu will open a menu where you can select other cue lists (either via the softkeys or by a cue list handle). The window will remember the last selected cue list when opened and if it is opened without a cue list it will prompt to select one.
Paul Smith, expert creative Lighting Designer/Programmer, who has been instrumental in the development of both Freeform Layout and Cue List Tracking View new features comments: “By my own admission, it’s the fastest that I can remember of any shows I have programmed, that have gone from Concept to Creation to Opening Night, and that’s in no small part, from a Visual Creative perspective at least; down to the work that the Avolites software and support team put in. (Freeform) Layout Views and Tracking Views using Avolites consoles have made a vastly more workable solution than when we first discussed the project”. Paul Smith goes on to add
“In fact, I’ve been continuing to use (Titan) v16, beta previews on my concert touring work for the last few months and it’s been exceedingly helpful in putting together four new concert productions and really helped me unleash some quite creative programming.
“Avolites always aims to bring to users intuitive and easier to use tools to simplify programming – the release of Titan v16 continues to deliver on this promise,” comments Paul Wong, Managing Director, Avolites. “We’re pleased to incorporate a new set of time-saving and practical features taken from user feedback. We believe it is very important to listen to what customers want and to provide them with the tools they have asked for.”
The upgrade also comes with a raft of new bug fixes (see the release notes for more details) and improvements to the software operating performance, as Avolites continues to take in feedback from customers to develop its software. Previously, for example, fading shapes would result in a non-linear fade. Now shapes fade in linearly. The speed of various software functions including update, selection and clear has been significantly improved. This is particularly relevant for large numbers of fixtures.
Populating the Attribute Editor for instance is now much faster for multi-celled fixtures with large layouts when set to show cells. Assigning masters for the first time is also now much faster, as is adjusting group layout position by wheel. Other new or improved features in Titan v16 include key profile buttons which now dynamically change their size to ensure the name and actions are all fully visible. The Synergy feature set now re-establishes NDI streams when the Synergy Multiview window is moved between console screens, taking only a few seconds. As well as a new demo show file that showcases all the new features from recent releases.
