Elation CompuWare 06 Press Release

Light Show Command Central: Elationís Upgraded Compu Ware 06 DMX Lighting Software Takes PC-Based Lighting Control to Next Level

LOS ANGELESóAll it takes is a simple point-and-click to trigger an instant, full-blown light show with Elation Professionalís Compu Ware 06 DMX Lighting Software. A significantly upgraded version of Elation Professionalís Compu Ware lighting software, Compu Ware 04 makes it easier than ever to use your PC or laptop to program and control a sophisticated light show. Plus, with the top-of-the-line professional Compu Pro 06 version of the software, you can completely integrate your light show with sounds and video.

Compu Ware 06 works with DMX-compatible lighting fixtures from virtually any manufacturer, and most of todayís popular lighting fixtures are already pre-programmed into the softwareís extensive lighting library. Like its earlier incarnation, Compu Ware 06 comes in two versions: the deluxe Compu Pro 06, for lighting professionals who work with MIDI, SMPTE Time Code, Timer Date and Easy Show; and Compu Club 06, for those who want to use the software by itself.

The Compu Pro 06 professional version delves even further into the realm of multimedia with a new feature called Easy Show. This separate software program, similar to well-known Q-base software, allows Compu Pro 04 to integrate all kinds of other mediaóeverything from CD song tracks to digital videoóinto a truly professional light show.

ìCompu Pro 06ís Easy Show feature is ideal for situations where you want the software to integrate all aspects of a performance, which includes lighting, audio and video,î said John Lopez, national sales manager for Elation Professional. ìIt turns your PC or laptop into the ultimate command station for a mind-blowing show of light and sound.î

Numerous other upgrades in Compu Ware 06 apply to both the Club and Pro versions. For example, an improved 3D Rendering Screen allows you to visualize how your light show will look, down to the most precise details, including the ability to see actual gobo patterns and gobo rotation. With the softwareís previous 3D Visualizer, you could only see beams of light, and not the gobo patterns themselves. Using Compu Wareís Rendering Screen is easyóyou simply enter the dimensions of the room and the approximate locations of lighting fixtures, and youíll get a full-color 3D preview of your light show on screen.

Another improvement in Compu Ware 06 is that you can view multiple windows at a time, which lets you oversee more of whatís going on with your program. Each fixture gets assigned to a window, and multiple fixtures can be controlled simultaneously. Plus, Compu Ware 06 offers a compressed view of the control panel for each fixture. Instead of verbally spelling out the names of colors, rotation speeds and other important functions, the new compressed version shows pallets of colors and icons that take up less space and give you more screen to work with.

Both the Club and Pro versions of Compu Ware 06 have a new user-friendly feature called Easy Step, which facilitates the creation of chase sequences. It works more like programming a chase scene with a standard DMX controller, so the process will be more familiar to DMX lighting users right out of the box.

In addition to these major upgrades, Compu Ware 06 offers all of the same features as its predecessor, including the popular USB Interface Box, which can be used as a portable stand-alone controller. You can import lightshow scenes directly into the USB Interface Box and run them anywhereówithout having to lug around your computer. Another handy feature is the ability to add settings for additional fixtures at any time, so you can expand your Compu Ware 06 library indefinitely as new products emerge from all of the major lighting manufacturers.

Compu Ware 06 is the best value for DMX lighting software on the market today,î Lopez said. ìThis new software is yet another example of how Elation Professional is working to make technologically advanced products available to the professional lighting market at a great price.î

Included in the Compu Ware 06 package for both software versions are a CD-ROM, a USB/DMX module and a Reference Manual. Up to 512 DMX channels can be run per USB interface; to run more than 512 channels, an additional USB box must be used.

Compu Ware 06 can only be used with Windows ME/XP. Other system requirements are as follows: 800 Mhz PC Pentium 3 or better; 250MB RAM; USB port; 800 x 600 screen resolution or better. Requirements to operate the 3D rendering feature are DirectX 8.1 or better and 16 MB graphic memory or better.

Minimum System Requirements:
ï Laptop or desktop computer with USB port
ï Windows ME, XP or any up-to-date version
ï 800x600 screen resolution
ï 256Mb Memory
ï Clock frequency: 800Mhz
ï 32Mb RAM video card to use the ì3D softwareî supporting Microsoft DirectX 9.0

Best Performance System Requirements:
ï Laptop or desktop computer with USB port
ï Windows XP or any up-to-date version
ï 1280x1024 screen resolution
ï 512Mb Memory
ï Clock frequency: 1.5Ghz
ï 128Mb RAM video card to use the ì3D softwareî supporting Microsoft DirectX 9.0
Compu 06 is considered a beta version to which there is no support.
For use with windows XP or ME only. For Windows 98 or 2000, you must use Compu 02 edition.