Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi
Today I tried to setup up my lights in my new CyberCommander.
I have 4 einstein heads with CSXCV transceiver and a ABR800 ring flash with a CSRB+.
The 4 einstein heads were setup without any problem.
But whenever I try to setup the ABR800 with the CSRB+ connected through the "phone jack", it just doesn't response to the cybercommander, neither to the Trigger Transmitter.
All I have acheived is connecting the ABR800 to the CSRB+ with the sync cord so I can meter it with the CyberCommander, but this way I cannot control this light output.
The steps I followed with the ABR800/CSRB+ were:
. Set the frequency and channel on the CSRB+
. Wake up the CSRB+
. With the CSRB+ unplugged to the ABR800, turn on the ABR800
. Connect a cable on the sync plug
. Push in the three buttons of the model light (power, follow and cycle)
. Slide the power to full (1/1)
. Plug the CSRB+ with the phone cable
The results were funny noises coming from within the ABR800, and no firing at all. Not even with the test button.
Most times, this won't be a problem for me since the main use of the ring flash will be as a ring flash. But in some cases I count on it as a fifht light, combined with the moon unit, it can be used as a softbox or beauty dish. It is in those cases when I will need remote control over the light power.
Thanks for your help.
Claudio

Did you do the "Open Studio" routine to find the CSRB+ units, set them all to unique different channels and do the Spec Lights routine to define which lights are connected to which CSRB+ units?

As well as the open studio routine, be sure the slider is to the far right on the light, and specified on the CC.
When on the main screen, do you have a white dash at the bottom for that channel? Or is it gray? Do you have a vertical blue bar for that channel?

Greetings Luap,

While we are on this topic, I have the CC and one CSR+ to use with legacy non-Buff lights while using 4 Einsteins. My problem is that no matter what channel and group I separately assign the CSR+ to, it pops the legacy lights whenever I try to individually meter the other channels unless I set the CSR+ channel to Standby. I have experimented with different frequencies. As an aside, the overhead fan speed control also triggers the flash hooked up to the CSR+ on every frequency. (I know, I know-the fan control is probably non-compliant.) It's a mild inconvenience when it comes to metering, but I'm wondering if the "Spec Light" process referenced above is the answer?

Thanks,

Ken R.

You must disable the slaves in order to meter lights separately. On legacy light, this is done by inserting a 1/8" blank sync plug, or an actual sync cord not connected to anything. Ypu could also accomplish this by putting a piece of vinyl electrical tape over the slave tripper window on the back panel.

OK Thanks Luap,

Just to be clear, the CSR+ is supposed to fire the light its plugged into no matter what other individual channel or group I'm metering with the Cyber Commander? In other words, it fires even if it's not part of a group I have set up on the CC as long as the CSR+ channel has not been placed on "Standby". For example, I have three Einsteins in Group #1 and the CSR+ is in Group #2 on Channel 8, the non-Buff light it is attached to has the eye slave/trigger turned off, yet it will fire whenever I attempt to meter just Group #1, channel 1, or channel 2...3, etc.. unless I set Channel 8 to Standby or detach the coaxle connection. If the CSR+ is simply a radio light trigger that is supposed to fire no matter what other individual channel/strobes I select for metering on the CC, I was wondering what the channel selection dial on it is for.
My apologies, if I'm garbling the description of what's going on. I thought that by rotating the channel dial on the CSR+, and having that channel appear as active on the Studio Setup on Cyber Commander, the non-Buff light to which it was attached would fire only when that channel or All was selected on the CC for metering.

Thanks again,

Ken R.

A CSR+ or CSRB+ will honor the channel and group settings, as any Einstein will. However, you must disable the slave eye. Some lights, this involves a deliberate setting, some lights this is automatic when a sync jack is occupied.

However, if the light is not specified in the SPEC LIGHTS menu option, its characteristics are not always as predicted. This light should be specified as OTHER>MONOLIGHT (I presume it to be a mono light).

Yes, Spec Light, "Other" then Monolight. Problem solved!
Thanks Tech,

Ken R.

Hi Paul
thks for the reply. I did do the "Open Studio" routine to find the CSRB+ unit.
The CyberCommander did find the CSRB+ unit. It was setup on a different channel than the einstein units.
Regards
Claudio

PD Sorry on the delay on my reply, but I was abroad with no internet connection.

The slider was on the 1/1 position (far right).
I will check the screen on the CyberCommander and come back tomorrow to post this.
Regards
Claudio