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Fresco Version 1.5 - Ready to Download Now!
Fresco version 1.5 is the first version that runs on Mac OS X. It uses TCP/IP communications to control most devices, connects to serial ports via Ethernet to serial adaptors and supports standard Midi interfaces (generally connected with USB). We fixed the interface up a bit, to fit with Mac OS X, and to make your lives easier, but it's the same workhorse cue engine running behind the scenes.Since OS X supports multiple TCP/IP addresses, you can connect to various devices directly with Ethernet, support a small network of Ethernet to serial adaptors, and connect to other networks, such as ArtNet and lighting.
Plug-ins are mostly unchanged, with updates for devices that support TCP/IP directly and serial devices via easily available, reasonably priced Ethernet to serial adaptors. No proprietary hardware is required. We recommend the Extron IP Link range, and Fresco can set all your serial port parameters on these boxes.
To use TCP/IP and built-in Midi connections in Fresco 1.5, drag a TCP/IP or Midi icon into your show Blueprint, then connect them to your devices as normal.
TCP/IP connections have the choice of client, server or UDP mode, the IP number of the remote device, and a port choice. In general, after connecting the connection and device, you will only need to set the IP address. With a Midi connection, you set the name of the Midi port you need to send or receive on. This means you can still set up without the Midi port being connected.
Both connection types are extremely hardy with Fresco 1.5. You can pull and reconnect all connections at any time, and Fresco will keep up.
Please contact us if you have any more questions.
GVG/Thomson Turbo iDDR Plug-in
Fresco now comes with a Turbo plug-in. This allows clip control of the Turbo iDDR range. One Ethernet connection will control both playback channels of a Turbo.
Barco/Folsom Encore Plug-in
The Encore plug-in control Folsoms seamless switching products. These new devices have 2-6 high quality scalars, and can mix freely between them. This can be used to composite 1-6 video or computer sources onto a high res output, up to 2048x1080. Multiple units can be contolled, to provide blended screens or multiple screens. They are a perfect fit when you need many complex cues timing to video playback or other events, and superb picture quality. This plug-in is still being improved. Please contact us for the latest version.
Vista Spyder Plug-in
The Vista Spyder is another popular high res switching and scaling system. Fresco can trigger cues by Script and Cue number. No sequencing currently exists in the Spyder range.
ArtNet
ArtNet is an open tcp/ip protocol to control lighting products, and to interface to and from DMX in a modern way. An ArtNet plug-in is in development. Planned features include output of levels for lighting or DMX based Media Server control, and input of levels to triggers cues, or link directly to parameters in other devices.
Fresco Version 1.4.x
Fresco version 1.4 introduced a new Linking feature. This allows plug-ins to link to each other to expand their abilities. The prime example, and the driving force behind this feature, is the ability for a plug-in with limited inputs to control one or more router outputs to choose sub-routes in a smart way. There are already three 'Dissolver' plug-ins that flip-flop between two inputs. A Fresco programmer need only create layers with the input tool and a duration, and the correct input will appear after a dissolve effect.
Of course, there are many more ways to use a link between two plug-ins, and we'll be gradually linking those in a we create new plug-ins or re-work existing ones. Please let us know when you have ideas about linking. We feel that it fills a missing piece of the Fresco puzzle, and the possibilities are vast.
Please note that version 1.4 and related plug-ins will not be updated. 1.4.3 is the last OS 9 compatible version. Sadly, it has one glaring bug - a tendency to crash when the show is de-activated. This problem is related to the USB to serial adaptors that are generally used. This generally happens when your show file is small, and stops after you start building cues. The workaround is to 'force quit' Fresco twice, then reboot the Mac (this is because the USB based serial ports are corrupted). We apologize for any inconvenience. We recommend the use of back-up Macs, wired to a USB switcher. The stability of Fresco while running has been proven on hundreds of events over the last seven years.
Odetics Plug-in
The Odetics plug-in lets you control DDR players using the industry standard Odetics protocol. This should allow seamless playback on any device that supports the protocol. So far, the plug-in requires four separate cues to setup a seamless playback event, a search, set outpoint, a search with the 'Defer' tool added to set the inpoint of the next item, and an outpoint with the Defer tool. When the player reaches the outpoint it will automatically play the next item you defined. It appears also that many units will loop the current item if loop play is turned on. This is a first pass at this plug-in, and we anticipate changing it based on feedback. So please, feed back. [POPULAR REQUEST]| News | Details | Screen Shots | Downloads | Devices | Specs |
Details
Fresco is a Mac OS application that will control a wide variety of video devices. It uses a WYSIWYG interface and takes full advantage of modern features like drag and drop, thumbnails, expandable tool palettes and plug-ins. Fresco uses a common interface whatever the devices you are controlling, and a Fresco show can be run on devices other than those it was programmed on. With minimal re-configuration!
Fresco is easy to learn, with a clean functional interface, but is expandable as new features are needed in new video devices. Expansion is simple, new plug-ins downloaded from this page are dropped into the Fresco plug-ins folder; Fresco now can control the new devices and if necessary, will offer new tools to access special features of the devices.
Fresco requires a USB key to run fully, but will run in an offline mode for demonstration and pre-programming purposes. Contact us when you are ready to purchase, or for a list of companies who can rent you a license for a specific event.
Features
- Controls video players, routing switchers, videowall processors and other devices from a consistent interface.
- Unlimited number of cues organized in Panels for single click operation, or Modules for timed sequences.
- WYSIWYG cue editing -- the cues look like your stage and the devices respond as you edit.
- Built-in transitions allow you to add intricate effects with a single click.
- Each cue can define a complete look so there is no need to juggle multiple cues to get one look; and no housekeeping cues are required!
- Drag and drop cue thumbnails to create complex shows. Drag cues from other shows to reuse popular looks.
- Add plug-ins from the web to seamlessly extend Fresco’s capabilities and device support. Use new plug-ins with your existing show files.
- Take full advantage of the features of your devices, such as seamless playback, with a toolset that expands as you add plug-ins. Edit cues offline, even while still running a show. Even use other programs without disturbing running shows! (Not recommended during events.)
- Trigger cues from any playback source, not just from a single timecode input. Also trigger cues manually or from the time of day.
- Simple but powerful configuration can be changed on the fly to work around client changes or equipment substitutions.
Click on any shot for a larger image.
Fresco stores your cues in Panels and Modules. Your Panels and Modules can be viewed, sorted, selected and run from the Show Document window. Each show file has one Show Document window.
You can setup your cue editing view in the Sketch. Each show has it's own. You can set which screen or sub-address controls which videowall output, router output or player.
You can install devices to control in the Blueprint. You can also easily set or change which serial port the device is connected to.
Cues can be quickly created and edited, each cue containing the equivalent of hundreds of cues on other systems! Devices respond live as you edit for quick feedback.
Each cue is represented by a thumbnail (actual size). It's easy to drag and drop cues into any order you need, or to drag them between modules, panels or other shows.
Cues can be triggered sequentially by the time position of any player , manually, after a short wait or at a time of day.
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Downloads
Please note: We no longer use the Fresco Users mailing list. Please visit our forums instead. You can sign up, then monitor the Fresco Updates topic if you want to receive an email when we release an update. Thank you.
All downloads must be de-compressed with stuffit expander. Applications and plug-ins should not be de-compressed on a PC.
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Lkd
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File name
|
Version
|
File size
|
Type
|
| y | Fresco Full Install Package | 1.5.3 | 11m | folder |
| y | Fresco Update (App & plug-ins only) | 1.5.3 | 2.8m | app |
| n | Fresco Manual Shortcuts Appendix | 7/01 | 66k | |
| Everything below here relates more to Fresco 1.4 - the equivalents are in the 1.5 install | ||||
| n | Fresco User Manual | Draft | 2.1m | |
| n | Fresco Manual Quick Tour | 4/10/02 | 2.3m | |
| n | Fresco Serial Cables | 12/17/01 | 0.1m | |
| n | Generic Fresco System Diagram | 12/14/02 | 0.1mb | |
| n | Show Sim for Mac | 5/4/03 | 0.8mb | sit |
| n | Show Sim for Mac OS X | 5/4/03 | 0.8mb | sit |
| n | Show Sim for PC | 5/4/03 | 0.8mb | zip |
| n | Fresco Spec Sheet | 6/11/01 | 0.1mb |
Devices
| Device | Function |
Ins/Outs
|
| Barco Encore | Scalar System | n/a |
| Vista Spyder | Scalar System | n/a |
| GVG Turbo | HD and SD DDR | 1/2 |
| QT Deck | Fullscreen Quicktime playback (Mac & Win) - Basic version free for Fresco use | n/a |
| Folsom VFC 2200 | Seamless Switcher |
2/2
|
| Accom & Pinnacle DVEs | DVEs |
n/a
|
| Dataton WatchOut | Seamless Wide Screen Graphics |
n/a
|
| QuickTime Playback | MPEG, Flash or still playback |
n/a
|
| MIDI | MIDI input & output |
n/a
|
| Sony DFS | Switcher/DVE |
6/1
|
| DP Projectors | DLP Projectors |
2/-
|
| Christie Projectors | DLP Projectors |
2/-
|
| Tascam MMR 8 & 16 | Multi Channel Audio DDR |
8-16/8-16
|
| Akai DR8 & 16 | Multi Channel Audio DDR |
8-16/8-16
|
| Pioneer DVD 7400 | DVD Player |
n/a
|
| Pioneer LDV | Laserdisc Players |
n/a
|
| Pioneer PDP 40 | 40" Plasma Screen (4:3) |
4/-
|
| Pioneer PDP 50 | 50" Plasma Screen (16:9) |
4/-
|
| WeedTech WTD-I/O | Digitial I/O, Relays, GPI |
10/10
|
| Electrosonic ES4044 | Relay Box |
-/16
|
| Electrosonic CThrough | Trigger Vector Processor Cues |
n/a
|
| Pioneer RMD 3216 | Videowall Processor |
4/16
|
| Toshiba TMP 100 | Videowall Processor |
4/16
|
| Electrosonic Pic 3 | Videowall Processor |
4/36
|
| Sierra Routers | Routing Switchers |
8+/8+
|
| Extron Routers | Routing Switchers |
8+/8+
|
| Pesa Routers | Routing Switchers |
8+/8+
|
| Altinex HomeRun Routers | Routing Switchers |
8+/8+
|
| Sony Betacam | Video Player |
n/a
|
| Fast Forward Omega | Video Player (DDR) |
n/a
|
| Doremi Labs V1 | Video Player ((DDR) |
n/a
|
| Sony CRV | Video Player (Laserdisc) |
n/a
|
| Sony MPUF-100 | TBC |
3/1
|
If you have a product you would like to see supported, please drop us a line at Tech Support
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Specs
Requirements
Fresco 1.5:
- Mac with OS 10.3 or later, 128Mb of memory free.
- 25Mb of drive space free.
- Ethernet port.
Most common accessories:
- Ethernet Hubs or switches
- Ethernet to Serial adaptors (Extron, B&B, Sena)
- USB Midi Interface (Behringer, Edirol)
Fresco 1.4:
- Mac PPC computer with Mac OS 9.1, 16 Mb of memory free . One free serial port per device, compatible with Mac Communications Toolbox (CTB)
- CD ROM drive or internet access
- Free ADB or USB port for Fresco copy protection key
- Keyspan Twin Adapters, two Mac serial ports (www.keyspan.com)
- Momentum uConnect Adapter, one Mac serial port (www.momentumus.com)
- ioNetworks Edgeport /4, four Mac-style RS232 ports (www.ionetworks.com)
Other Interfaces - Fresco accesses other interfaces, such as MIDI or timecode, through adapters. The following adapters are supported by Fresco through plug-ins:
- Horita timecode readers with PC interfaces fitted
- MIDIator MS-124T serial to MIDI translator