Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I have a few questions:

1) I am using (6) Einsteins for 2 different setups. Would it be best to set the two setups up as separate groups and choose the group of the setup I am currently shooting on? And that would keep the other group from firing?

2) When I am in a group I should be making adjustments to my lights on their individual channels? Will that save or do I need to save that each time? Can I make the changes directly on the lights themselves?

3) Is there a quick way to shut off one light?

4) When I packup I need to pull the CSXCV's out of the units. Do I always have to match them with the same Einstein each time? Or will the transceivers reset the Einstein with all the necessary data?

Much thanks.

Awesome product!

If you are the only Photographer, then you can split the lights into groups, and shoot only the necessary group. If it were me, I would set up one group as CH 1,2,3 and group 8. Then the next group as CH 14, 15, 16 and group 1. This puts the the associated light channels as close as possible to the group used.

Alternatively, you can save one set of lights as a preset, and the other set of lights as a different preset, opening the specific preset when you need to change. This method would reopen a set up at the same power settings every time, where as the former method would restore the lights to the last used power settings.

Shutting off a light is not a quick setting. However, if you then need to exclude a light, you can set up one or more groups that include the lights you do need, and the one(s) you do not will not fire.

Adjustments can be made to the group as a whole, or you can scroll to an individual light for specific changes to that light.

The frequency selector is in the Einstein head, not the receiver. Therefore, you do not have to associate the receiver to the same light.

Could you explain this channel number and group number relationship in more detail? I did not see anything about this in the manual.

Thanks,
anthony

Thank you. Everything is crystal clear except your last answer, " The frequency selector is in the Einstein head, not the receiver. Therefore, you do not have to associate the receiver to the same light."

If the frequency is stored in the light and I use the same frequency for all my lights, then it will be the channel that distinguishes which light does what. And that data will be stored in the receiver?

I tried switching two receivers and it didn't change the channels. But maybe it takes time?

Please provide clarification on this one issue.

Thank you again.

Channel and Frequency are set up and contained in the Einstein. CSXCVs are interchangable between Einsteins.

Thank you. Crystal clear.

As Paul said, the channel and frequency are both stored in the light. I apologize for not making that clear.

The channels, groups and ALL are a revolving selection:
...CH13 CH14 CH15 CH16 GRP1 GRP2 GRP3 GRP4 GRP5 GRP6 GRP7 GRP8 ALL CH1 CH2 CH3 CH4 CH5...

In the OP's specific use scenario, he needs to separate two groups of three lights each, with zero overlap. So the lights can be any 6 channels and any two groups. My default recommendation is to start with GRP8 as the most commonly used group and work backwards, as it is only one click from ALL, and two clicks from CH1. So, he could use CH1-CH6 and GRP7 and 8. But, if an individual light needed adjustment in GRP7 then you would have to scroll past GRP8 ALL and 1 to 6 channels, then back. By seperating them as GRP is CH1,2,3 the individual channels are as close as possible for GRP8. Then using 14,15,16 for GRP1 will keep them close, and you will not need to scroll through one group of lights to get to another.

This is not in the manual as it is a personal preference in a specific use scenario, and one of a million different ways of setting this up.

I like that suggestion.

If I do need to modify one specific light I need to go to that channel and make the adjustment, correct?
It can not be done on the actual light?

Also, if I make an adjustment and want it stick, I do need to save it, yes?

When I define the groups, does that have get saved as well?

Thanks for all the clarification. I used 2 pocket wizards and 4 B800s for years and this is definitely a way better but also way more technical solution.

Mark

Yes, to make an adjustment to a specific light it must be done on the Cyber Commander and it must be done on the individual channel, thus the effort to keep them close to the group they are assigned to.

"To make it stick" is a little vague. If you switch between groups, whatever the last settings were on a group will be the same settings when you go back to that group. The only exceptions are a) if a light is changed individually, or b) if a light is assigned to more than one group, and changed in another group.

Generally, as set up is stable, so it should restore to previous settings from use to use. However, there may be a time where this not the case, especially if the unit crashes from low battery, or if a different set up was recalled in the interim. In order to recall this set up it will need to be saved. If you tweak a setting it will need to be saved for the next time the set up is recalled in the OPEN MEMORY function.

When a set up is saved (as Internal 1 or SD1, etc), anything that can be set on the Cyber Commander will be saved, including flash/model power, slave eye, color mode, frequency, groups, names, light specifications, meter offset calibration, meter readings, etc. The only functions that are not saved are the shutter speed and ISO settings. These may need to be reset.