Pangolin Laser Systems announced the release of BEYOND and QuickShow 5.5.
The development team worked meticulously to bring these new tools and features to life, while also improving previously released ones.
The MoboLaser Mobile app is new, designed for both Apple and Android, MoboLaser acts as an extension of our BEYOND and QuickShow software that provides users with a new way to interface with their laser displays.
Another introduction is the Q-Shift, a new feature in BEYOND and QuickShow that changes the way offset effects are handled in live shows. Q-Shift is a performance tool that gives the power to implement offset effects using any of the “live effects” parameters. Q-Shift’s distinct advantage lies in its applicability to all lasers within your setup, controlled through a “Pad” style interface. Positioned within the “Quick tabs” area of BEYOND, Q-Shift sets itself apart by the utilisation of the “Live Control” parameters, resulting in lower CPU requirements and faster execution compared to cue-based or effect-based offset effects.
The 3D Preview feature in BEYOND means users can visualise lasers in a 3D environment, offering rig construction and preview creation. Accessible under “View > 3D Preview,” this window provides options for creating, opening, saving, and resetting 3D layouts.
Node Image is a cue type based on the concept of “coding with blocks.” Rooted in the idea of constructing visual code through the selection and connection of preconfigured blocks or modules known as Nodes, Node Image introduces a way to build intricate visual representations. In BEYOND, a Node is a visual representation of objects, displayed as rectangles with input pins on the left side and output pins on the right. The primary objective of Node Image is to place and connect these nodes via “wires,” allowing for additions of objects within existing elements and establishing visual connections between object properties.
The Particle Image Editor added a dynamic particle stream to BEYOND. This feature allowed particles to evolve with each cue start and during timeline playback. When exported to FB4, the particle-driven show becomes a animated frame. The Particle Engine operates in real-time, utilising a hybrid time calculation system based on the PC clock and incoming time from a player.
FIFO Image is a signal recorder that marked the second iteration of its kind. While the initial signal recorder resided in the Shape Editor, FIFO Image stands as a solution with enhanced functionalities. At its core lies FIFO, a buffer employing the “first in, first out” principle to record the mouse cursor’s position. Within the FIFO editor, users can leverage the mouse cursor to capture its movements, with the added capability of linking cursor positions to BEYOND Inputs or controlling them through the Node Image feature.
The Timeline Marker enabled users to import and export Timeline markers. This functionality supports the CSV format, initially designed by Reaper software, and it is expected to be compatible with various applications that utilise similar CSV formatting, such as Cuepoints.
BEYOND now featured support for the Link protocol from Ableton, designed to synchronise musical beat, tempo, and phase across multiple applications running on local networks. By enabling the Link button in BEYOND, the software effortlessly followed the incoming beat from other devices, and any changes in the beat are received and updated.
With BEYOND 5.5, we are introducing an advanced communication model tailored for a substantial number of FB4 controllers to improve efficiency and responsiveness. To activate this feature, simply click on the Turbo button located in the bottom bar.
The Turbo button operated in two active states: disabled and enabled, each corresponding to the Classic and Turbo communication models. The Classic Model relied exclusively on TCP/IP communication. While TCP ensures data delivery by waiting for confirmation, it may introduce delays due to high segmentation and multiple internal messages for confirmation.
PangoBeats is a standalone application offering real-time BPM detection, integrating with BEYOND and QuickShow for synchronised audio-visual performances.
Pangolin Laser Systems enhanced QuickDMX, now allowing you to set multiple channels or gradients between them using a command line for efficient manipulation of multiple channels simultaneously.
BEYOND now featured a lock screen option for increased security. BEYOND also enabled users to change the current output group in real time, providing more flexibility and control over your output groups during live operations as well as the assignment keyboard shortcuts for various menu functions.
Important documentation concerning networking and PC systems is now available. This guide provides an overview of networking in the context of laser shows and the entertainment industry, and how to tune your system to effectively handle the specific needs of our protocols and entertainment technology.
TV mode in BEYOND is a specialised setting for FB4 streaming and calculation, which addressed the flicker in laser projection by allowing users to set a constant FPS.
In addition to the numerous new features, there have been smaller changes including: BEYOND now includes a full-featured Advanced Shape (abstract) editor, UI updates to color effect builder and parametric image and New FB4 firmware which supports new Turbo mode.
