Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

After reading in different posts some user's comments on features they would like to add to the Cyber Commander system, I'm opening this thread to try to keep all these comments organized. Feel free to add yours.

CC
- provide a lanyard attachment point on the frame
- provide an optional silicon/rubber case protection
- replace the bend battery tabs with spring contacts
- I would like to be able to enter a name/comment on the different setup saved in the SD. With 30 of them I need a piece of paper to remember which one is what.
- having the option to assign the trigger/flash button to another frequency than the strobes to be able to trigger a camera connected to a CSRB, while keeping metering/adjusting the strobes that are triggered by a CST on the camera.
- add 1/3 stops speeds and ISO in the metering mode


CSRB+
- add an off feature


CSRB
- provide a lanyard attachment point on the frame


CSR+


CSR


CST

I've only had my CC a couple days, but for me the manual needs to be updated to include setup with the Einsteins. Right now it's geared toward the Alien Bees, White Lightning, and Zeus lights. I read through the manual trying to figure how to set it up with the Einsteins and couldn't figure it out. Fortunately, I found a post where someone gave step by step directions. It was really easy following his directions, but going by what's in the instruction manual, it's pretty difficult since it doesn't address the Einsteins.

The manual should have had an addendum explaining the Einstein set up. However, we are updating the manual to encompass Einstein.

CSRB +
- some sort of plastic pull or tab to make battery removal easier (sometimes I use the battery cover to pry out the batteries from that evil right hand side indentation :evil: )
- +1 on the 'off' feature (possibly by holding down the 'test' button for 3 secs to cycle power on or off states, also minimizing that any little 'tap' to the test button wouldn't accidentally turn it on inside a gear bag or whatever)

CC
- Allow for cursor to 'skip' thru disabled or unassigned channels via menu option.
- A battery meter for reference, even if hidden in the configure menus.

+1. I haven't received my CC yet, it's part of my Einstein order, but I would love to 1/3 stops added.

Drill a hole right in the middle of the foot and force a split ring through it like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdkirk/4066257677/



It helps a bit to stretch a silicon wrist bracelet around it (see in same image).

The only thing on my wish list is a setting to expand the display columns when only 1 to 6 lights are being used. I do kind of miss the much larger display of the old Radio Remote One system.

CC
- having a windows/Mac software to create/read/modify studio profile on the SD with more advanced options not available on the standard CC menu.

- Create a USB 'mini' CC transceiver (without display/switch/battery) to control all the lighting from a computer interface for complex lighting situation. With of course, a published API to encourage open source software build on it. The CC should also be able to send its metering information to the USB 'mini' CC. And the CC should be able to sync all the 'studio' setup from the USB 'mini' CC during a refresh.

Maybe wasn't such a good idea to hire the guy who designed the 580EX battery door to work on the CSRB+. ;)

Seriously, I agree with most of the above.... I'll note just a couple of my more serious annoyances:

- Lack of a lanyard loop was enough for me to upgrade my CSRB's to CSRB+'s.

- The test switch on the B's is easy to trigger by accident; the recessed on on the B+'s gives me less trouble. An "Off" feature would be nice, but now that they don't get turned on by accident, it's not as big a deal.

- I'm still getting the hang of working with the CC, but skipping through a dozen unused channels is pretty annoying. Maybe I'll get better with time, but it would be nice to be able to switch between active groups, "All", and active flashes more quickly.

- Ability to enter custom names for lights.

- FWIW... a hotshoe version of either receiver would be very welcome... I keep a set of Cactus triggers for backup, I often use them just for the hotshoes.

Of course, major new features like a USB interface would be welcome, but it seems that a simple product refresh could take care of a bunch of little issues that are starting to add up. Operation is great, but the physical design and user interface are somewhat dated.

As for switching between groups and channels, I reccomend using channels starting at 1 then go up for as many lights as you have. Then for groups, start at 8 and go down. This way you can go from groups to channels without passing those that are not used.

example GRP6,GRP7,GRP8,ALL,CH1,CH2,CH3,CH4,CH5, ETC.

RDKirk already suggested the first one I was going to suggest. If you're in any menu other than "spec lights", expand the display to show only the available receivers. Six configured lights and ten empty bars makes for a hard to read display. Especially with only the odd numbered channels being labeled. I'd much rather see 6 big, fat bars.

Second, how about having the CSR+ and CSRB+ not come up to full power by default. Didn't the old "radio remote" come up to 1/4 power by default. Turn the outlet strip on, and 6 lights come up to an aggregate 1500W of modeling lights? Yike.

Third, why not give the CSR+ II and CSRB+ II some non-volatile memory of their own, let them store their power and modeling light sessions, so they come up where you left them. It would be insanely cool if they had enough memory to store the "spec light" information, so you could do an "open from studio" on a studio full of White Lightning, Alien Bee, and Zeus stuff, and actually get an instant configuration in the Cyber Commander, the way

Fourth, I take it an API for the CSXCV is out of the question? I'm thinking of so many things I could do with a general purpose Paul Buff protocol transceiver. From photopat's "Revenge of CompuScene" computer studio setup, to adding Cyber Commander functionality to my voice activated "assistive technology" camera control grips, to making something like a CSRB+ that controlled power on Nikon and Canon speedlights (think RadioPopper "JrX Studio" receivers).

Fifth, how much trouble would it be to make the CSRB+ match the ability of a Radio Popper "JrX Studio" receiver to control power on Nikon or Canon speedlights. The JrX is a lot like the CSRB+, it has an RJ11 that has two voltage output lines to control flash power and modeling light power. It also has a 3.5mm stereo jack with two open drain lines, to control power to Nikon or Canon TTL flashes, with the old "timing" interface. Trip one open drain line to fire the flash, trip the other to quench it.

CSRB+ has an open drain line to a 3.5 inch jack. I'll bet at least 50 cents that the processor in CSRB+ has an unused general purpose I/O line that you could do this with, on a stereo 3.5mm jack. (I wouldn't be surprised if the 3.5mm jack wasn't stereo already, and if you didn't already have both ring and tip connected to independent open drain channels. Hardware guys are always two steps ahead of software guys).

(for my own use, I just rigged a little circuit that uses the CSRB+ RJ11 voltage and trigger output, sets a ramp, and generates the appropriate second open drain trigger, and viola, a "cube" that controls Nikon TTL flash power from a Cyber Commander).

Paul Buff may not have the resources to totally devour Pocket Wizard mini/flex and RadioPopper PX, but they've got enough to grab the "low hanging fruit", to duplicate the "JrX" part of RadioPopper and the "relay mode" on Pocket Wizard Plus.