User Guide

1. Setting up the console - Page 111
Pearl 2004 Manual v1 - 27th August 2004
1.1.6 The desk lamp
The desk lamp plugs into the socket in the top left hand corner of the
Pearl and can be switched to Off, Dim or Full using the switch next to it.
The desk lamp uses a 12V, 5W halogen lamp.
1.2 Operating
1.2.1 Operating modes
The Pearl has a key-operated switch on the right hand side of the panel
which allows you to select the operating mode of the console.
When running a show, you normally select Run mode. You can run
playbacks and (in Takeover run mode) manually control fixtures (see
page 180). You cannot change any programming. This is the best mode
if others are operating the console and you want to make sure they
can’t mess up your programming. Just take the key with you!!
When programming, you need to be in Program mode, which you
access by turning the key to Program. This manual assumes you are in
program mode.
System mode allows you to clear parts or all of the console using
softkey F [Wipe], to access AVO mode, various diagnostics and to load
a new operating system. There are more details about AVO mode in
Section 13 on page Error! Bookmark not defined..
1.2.2 The disk drive
The Pearl has a 1.44MB floppy disk drive which is used to load and save
shows, personality files and system software. The standard PC disk
format is used, so you can transfer data to and from your PC. You can
use the smaller 720KB disks, but large shows may not fit!
You should get into the habit of backing up your show to disk regularly
to guard against that moment when something goes wrong. It doesn’t
take long.
1> Press the Disk button in the bottom right hand corner of the Pearl
2> Insert a blank formatted 1.44M disk into the disk drive.
3> Press B [Save show to disk]. Enter a name on the QWERTY
keyboard (or press Enter on the console to use the default name).
The Pearl will save the show.
4> To reload the show, use softkey A [Load show from disk].
Other disk drive functions are available when you have pressed the
Disk button. The disk drive functions are described in section 13 on
page 194.