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LD2000 UPDATES
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LD2000 updates over the years...
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THIS IS NOT A PHOTOGRAPH
!!
This is an actual screen shot of the Enhanced
Reality Preview window in both LD2000 and
Showtime.
(Click
here to see other examples.)
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Since the introduction of the LD2000 system in late 1999,
there have been over 1000 additions and enhancements for the
LD2000 system, and the LD2000 product now includes over 120
free shows and demos. Unlike the move made by most other
laser software companies recently, Pangolin continues to
provide these updates to users absolutely free!
One of the features is the Enhanced Reality Preview mode,
which
accurately models a laser beam for both graphics and beam
applications.
When viewing laser graphics, the
Enhanced Reality mode uses a Gaussian-like beam, which can
show you hot spots caused by using many corner points, hot
spots caused by extraordinarily high point density and even
overlaps in the image.
When viewing beam shows, the Enhanced
Reality mode models fog and haze in a room, which can
accurately show attenuation and transparency effects caused
by the fog. The latest version even allows you to control
the wind speed, wind direction and fog density!
When combined with the Projection
Zone technology found only on the LD2000 platform, the
Enhanced Reality Preview is a significant leap forward in
computer modeling of show set-ups.
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Within LD2000 version 5.0, almost
every program, utility, and sub-component have 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. To provide maximum consistency and
compatibility with past versions, the enhanced video
capability is available in a separate EXE called
Showtime_M.exe. This Showtime_M version allows you to
control the video playback much more easily, including
the ability to remove the border from the video output
window and also easily maximize the video to full
screen.
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. In order to enable this
capability, create a frame file and save it in the
LD2000\Support\Shapes folder, named “beams.lds” and
then use the menu 'Edit/Show name and description' to
enable or disable the automatic beam frame loading.
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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.)
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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.
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Within LivePRO, we have added a
Master Brightness capability for beams, and
corresponding abilitiy to control beam brightness with
DMX Input. Based on user input, we have also allowed
the ONLINE button to be visible in the Simplified user
interface mode and disabled the ability to select and
change the routing of zones when in User mode. Various
other internal and external improvements have been
made, including changes to the MIDI system, Snapshots
system, copy/paste system and changes to how LivePRO
works with multiple processors in a PC (such as Dual
Core and Quad Core processors). (LivePRO is available for
free for
LD2000 Pro users!)
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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. We’ve
also added information into the help file about
exporting files from Adobe FLASH version 8. (Lasershow Converter FLASH is available for
free for
LD2000 Pro AND LD2000 Basic users!)
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For Lasershow Converter 4D,
internal changes have been made based on feedback from
users, and we have also updated the documentation. In
addition, MAXON has released version 11.5 of Cinema
4D, and we now have a version of Lasershow Converter
4D that works with this version as well. (Lasershow Converter 4D is available for
free for
LD2000 Pro AND LD2000 Basic users!)
For Lasershow Converter MAX, we
have new features to the Contours portion of the
modifier plug-in. Now you can apply multiple contours
to an object or even part of an object. And just as
MAXON has released a new version of Cineama 4D,
AutoDesk has also released a new version of 3D Studio
MAX called 3ds Max 2010. Lasershow Converter MAX now
fully supports MAX version 4.0 through version 2010.
Note that as part of the update for Lasershow
Converter MAX, we are including a number of
Pangolin-created models which can be used along with
3D Studio MAX to do laser shows. Because of the shear
size of the latest installation, with all of the
LC-MAX versions, all of the examples and the new
models, we recommend people purchase a new LD2000 and
LC-MAX installation DVD set for $75 plus shipping.
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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 learn more about LIGHT CONVERSE at their
web site.
And you can see a video showing LIGHT CONVERSE in
action, along with Pangolin lasers
here.
Through a special arrangement, you can purchase a
“Design” version of LIGHT CONVERSE that includes the
Pangolin laser rendering engine for 350 Euro.
(Normally the laser rendering option is only available
in the “Media” or “Ultimate” versions of LIGHT
CONVERSE, costing 1200 Euro or more.)
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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. The newest additions include three of 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.
The LD2000 suite includes over a dozen programs and
utilities – almost all of them having been updated in
some way... We hope you enjoy Lasershow Designer 2000
version 5.0.
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Preparing for the
downloadable update to version 5.0
In
order to update your system, you first must know what
version of LD2000 is running on your computer:
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If you are running Release
2.50 through 4.53, you can use the standard
(non-automatic) update method to update your
software to 5.0.
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If you are running a version
earlier than Release 2.50, you MUST
purchase a new installation DVD.
How can you tell what release you
have? Simply run LD2000 or Showtime 2000. Look in the
title bar of the program for information such as
"Lasershow Designer 2000: Professional 2.50".
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The "Update LD2000" menu shown here, will
unfortunately not work any longer, due to our
need to keep LD2000 compatible with Windows
VISTA, which has no such native capability.
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Automatic web updates are no longer available
Since Windows VISTA does not
include any native automatic web-update
capability (curses Microsoft...), and since LD2000
needs to remain compatible with the latest versions of
Windows operating systems, the Automatic web update
method will not work any longer, regardless of the
version of Windows you happen to be using. Therefore, in
order to update your software on the internet, you
will have to use the "Standard update" method
described below.
How to do standard (non-automatic)
web updates
Simply
download the EXE file(s) that you need. Then, run the EXE file
to install the update. The
appropriate files will be installed in the correct
locations.
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LD2000 UPDATE 503.EXE
(August 2009) Requires
Release 2.50 or later to already be installed.
File size is 30 MB.
Click here to go to the Update Files page.
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Other LD2000 language
versions, including German, Spanish, Portuguese,
French and Chinese Requires
Release 5.0 or later to already be installed.
For alternative language versions:
Click here to go to the Update Files page.
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LivePRO UPDATE 450.EXE
(May 1 2008) Requires
Release 4.50 to already be installed.
LivePRO is the ultimate live controller
for laserists. Over two years in development and
used by top laserists and DJs in the field, it
is sure to exceed all of your
expectations! This update includes Glenn Turner's
latest workspace called Playtime2004. File size is
52 MB.
Click here to go to the Update Files page.
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You may prefer to have the latest
LD2000 Installation DVD set. This is handy if you
have missed a number of updates, or if you want to
have all of the latest frames and shows. The
installation set includes over 120 shows and demos, over
350,000 laser clip-art frames, and 15 pieces of
royalty-free music from Pangolin.
Click
here for price and ordering information.
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This page last updated:
Tuesday, April 06, 2010 07:50 PM | |
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Tech Support
