Kessler kOS icon

App Toolbar

The App Toolbar is populated with menu buttons that provide various options for configuring motion control parameters.


The App Toolbar consists of seven components:


Preferences

Motors

Graph Options

Live Motion

Delay

Time Lapse

Notes


Preference


The Preferences menu allows users to configure general parameters for kOS for Mac.


Preference parameters include:


Rapid Reverse Speed

Set Reset Axis PIN

Set Brain Password

Brain SSID

Auto Key Frame

Time Display

Dropbox Support


Rapid Reverse Speed


The Rapid Reverse Speed option allows users to control the speed of a rapid reverse.



Rapid Reverse will play back a move in reverse as fast as the motors allow if this parameter is set to 100%. By entering a lesser value, users may specify what percentage of the maximum speed to use for the rapid reverse move.


Set Reset Axis PIN


The Set Reset Axis PIN allows users to password protect existing calibrated axes.



This feature is useful in an open environment where CineDrive is on display for demo purposes, and prevents unauthorized users from resetting a carefully calibrated axis by mistake.


Set Brain Password


The Set Brain Password allows users to password protect access to a CineDrive Brain.



Any wireless device running kOS may connect to a CineDrive Brain that has booted up in wireless mode. Therefore it may be necessary to password protect the Brain to prevent unauthorized access.


Brain SSID


The Brain SSID option allows users to change the Brain SSID to allow multiple Brains to coexist in close proximity.



The SSID name determines how your CineDrive Brain will appear as a wireless network. By default, the SSID name is CineDrive. To have more than one Brain function independently in close proximity, a unique SSID name must be given to each Brain.


Auto Key Frame


The Enable Auto Key Frame Placement feature toggles the option to automatically add key frames at predetermined locations.



If this option is checked and the time line cursor is at the beginning, pressing Record Key Frame will tack on key frames to the end of the curve on all active axes. Previous key frames on a given axis are redistributed so that all key frames are separated by an equal distance. This feature is useful to build up curves quickly, but caution is advised as it will also distort any existing curve data.


Time Display


The Time Display fields allow a user to manipulate how the time line is labeled. By default, the time line displays time in hours, minutes, and seconds.



If 'Display frames instead of time' is checked, then the time line on the graph will show frames instead of time. If 'Enable Initial Time' is checked, then the time line on the graph will display time in hours, minutes, and seconds, starting with the value entered into the Initial Time field.


Dropbox Support


The Dropbox Support option allows one to save all settings and log files to a Dropbox folder. Once a link is established via the Link to Dropbox button, all CineDrive files that are saved by kOS are also saved to to Apps/kOS/Mac in the linked Dropbox folder.



CineDrive files are normally only saved by kOS with a move is loaded or when the application is shutdown. The 'Update All Files' button will save all files immediately to the linked Dropbox folder.

 

Motors

The Motors menu allows users to configure parameters for each active motor.



Motor parameters that may be changed include:


Motor Address

Max Run Speed

Max Setup Speed

Damping

Axis Name

Smooth Curve

Bump Button Adjustments

Reset Buttons

 

Motor Address


The Motor Address field displays a read only value of the physical address of the motor.



The Motor Address field is factory set but may be modified via the Advanced Motor Configuration.


Max Run Speed


The Max Run Speed field sets the maximum value of revolutions per minute for the selected axis motor to be used for playback.



This determines the maximum playback speed of the motor. Valid values range from zero to 9000 for slider, pan, and tilt motors. For focus and zoom motors, the range is zero to 3000.


Max Setup Speed


The Max Setup Speed field sets the maximum value of revolutions per minute for the selected axis motor to be used for during setup.



This determines the maximum setup speed of the motor. Valid values range from zero to 9000 for slider, pan, and tilt motors. For focus and zoom motors, the range is zero to 3000.


Damping


The Max Damping field sets the maximum acceleration value for the selected axis motor.



Damping is what determines how quickly a motor ramps up to its set Max Speed, or how slowly a motor comes to a stop. Valid values range from zero to 350. Zero damping means a motor will accelerate very slowly and feel sluggish, while the maximum damping will cause the motor to accelerate rapidly and feel very responsive.


Axis Name


The Axis Name field displays a custom label for the selected axis.



The axis name may be modified with the Change button.


Smooth Curve


The Smooth Curve field specifies how curves are drawn in the graphics grid.



As key frames are added to the graph, Smooth Curve dictates the curviness of the line drawn between key frames. Smooth numbers are integers that range from zero to 100. The slower the Smooth parameter, the less shape to the curve.


Bump Button Adjustments


The Bump Buttons section provides controls to set the Fine and Course Adjustment fields.



These values correspond to the number of revolutions a motor turns for each press of a fine or coarse bump button.


Reset Buttons


The Reset Axis to Default Values button restores the selected axis to the factory default values.



The All Axes to Default button restores all axes to the factory default values.



Graph Options


The Graph Options menu provides options for manipulating curves on the Graph.


The Graph Options options consist of check boxes which toggle the following properties:


Lock handles

Lock all key frames and handles

Lock horizontal key frame movement

Lock vertical key frame movement

Link handles

Cusp handles

Enable auto lock after ten seconds

View only the selected axis

Add key frames to selected axis only

Show frames instead of time

Initial Time


Lock handles


The Lock handles menu item toggles the activation state of key frame control handles. The shape of the curve between adjacent key frames is computed from the position of the control handles. Once handles are unlocked, the control handles of any key frame on the selected axis are activated by double tapping on the target key frame.


Lock all key frames and handles


The Lock all menu item toggles the state of all key frame editing features. Key frame handles and positions may only be modified when they are unlocked. Once unlocked, key frames and control handles are moved by a single tap and drag. Key frames are locked on creation by default.


Lock horizontal key frame movement


The Lock horizontal menu item toggles horizontal key frame movements. Once unlocked, key frame positions may be changed in the horizontal direction only with a tap and drag.


Lock vertical key frame movement


The Lock vertical menu item toggles vertical key frame movements. Once unlocked, key frame positions may be changed in the vertical direction only with a tap and drag.


Link handles


The Link handles menu item toggles the link state of the control handles. When link is active, handles left and right of a key frame move together. When unlinked, handles left and right of a key frame move independently.


Cusp handles


The Cusp handles menu item toggles the cusp state of the control handles. When cusp is active, handles left and right of a key frame can move in both vertical and horizontal directions. When cusp is inactive, handles left and right of a key frame can only move in the horizontal direction.


Enable auto lock after ten seconds


The Enable auto lock menu item toggles the state of key frame handle timeout. When the timeout is active, key frame handles will disappear after 10 seconds of no activity. When the timeout is not active, key frame handles will not disappear.


View only the selected axis


The View only option allows a user to display all axes or only the current selected axis. When View only is active, only the selected axis curve is drawn in the graph. When View only is inactive, all axes curves are drawn in the graph.


Add key frames to selected axis only


The Add key option allows users to isolate the selected axis when recording key frames.


Show frames instead of time


The Show frames instead of time option determines if frames are displayed across the top of the graph instead of time in hours, minutes, and seconds.


Initial Time


If the graph is displaying time instead of frames, Initial Time allows a user to set the absolute time displayed instead of a relative time.


Live Motion


The Live Motion menu provides options for controlling motor movements when in Live Motion mode.


The Live Motion menu options consist of:


Rapid Reverse to First Key Frame

Rapid to First Key Frame

Reverse to First Key Frame

Loop After Rapid Reverse

Loop After Reverse


Rapid Reverse to First Key Frame


The Rapid Reverse to First Key Frame option causes all active motors to play a move in reverse back to the beginning of the timeline. The rate of travel is dictated by a percentage of the maximum motor speed. This percentage parameter is set on the Preferences menu.


Rapid to First Key Frame


The Rapid to First Key Frame option causes all active motors to move to their first key frame position. The first key frame is identified as the first key frame in the timeline starting from zero. The rate of travel is dictated by the Max RPM and Damping values stored in the Axis Configuration.


Reverse to First Key Frame


The Reverse to First Key Frame option causes all active motors to play a move in reverse back to the beginning of the timeline. The rate of travel is dictated by the shape of the curve and the timeline duration. The move behaves as if 'Play' is tapped, except it plays in reverse.


Loop After Rapid Reverse


The Loop After Rapid Reverse option causes a move to repeat once or continuously. With this option turned on, all motors will rapidly reverse to the first key frame position, and replay the move.


Loop After Reverse


The Loop After Reverse option causes a move to reverse once or continuously. With this option turned on, all motors will replay the move in reverse, move back to the first key frame position, and then replay the move.


Delay


The Delay option allows users to set a delay before a move starts, activate Load and Go, enable Camera Roll, and set Flash Marks.


The Delay menu options consist of:


Delay by Time

Delay to Date

Load and Go

Camera Roll

Flash Marks


Delay By Time


The Delay by Time option allows a user to set a delay before move playback in hours, minutes, and seconds.


Once the Play button has been pressed, all motors move to the first key frame position and the delay countdown begins.

Delay To Date

The Delay to Date option allows a user to specify a date and time with which to begin the move.



Once the Play button as been pressed, all motors move to the first key frame position. The delay countdown also begins, based on the number of hours, minutes, and seconds to the specified date and time.

Load and Go

The Load and Go option allows users to control when a move starts.



With Load and Go enabled, the Play button changes to Load. When Load is pressed, the move data are transferred to the Brain. When the move is ready to begin, the Load button changes to Go but will not begin until the Go button is pressed. Once Go is pressed, the move starts immediately.

Camera Roll

The Enable Camera Roll option allows users to trigger a camera.



When enabled, the Pre Roll time determines when the camera is started before playback, and the Post Roll time determines how long the camera continues after the playback.

Flash Marks

The Flash Marks option allows users to trigger a syncing event when playback is started.



Flash Mark events include:

The Post Flash Delay time determines how long to wait after the Flash Mark to begin the playback.

Time Lapse

The Time Lapse option allows users to set time lapse parameters.


The Time Lapse menu has the following options:

Exposure

Delay

Run Time

Move Photos

Calculated Value

Video Clip Length

Pre/Post Move Photos

Total Time

Camera Mode

Time Lapse Mode

Test Fire



Exposure

The Exposure parameter determines how long a camera's shutter is open.



The Exposure may be set in hours, minutes, and seconds.


Delay


The Delay parameter determines the time delay between exposures.



The Delay may be set in hours, minutes, and seconds.


Run Time


The Run Time fields display the computed time lapse duration.




Run Time is displayed in days, hours, minutes, and seconds.


Move Photos


The Move Photos parameter sets the total number of photos to be taken during the move.



The Photos field may be populated with any reasonably sized integer.

Calculated Value


The Calculated Value option allows users to select which parameter is the dependent variable when setting up a time lapse with Time, Photos, and Delay.


Video Clip Length


The Video Clip Length field calculates the length in time of the time lapse when rendered at the specified frame rate.


Pre/Post Move Photos


The Pre/Post Move Photos field specifies how many photos are taken before and after a move. When a value is entered in this field, the camera will fire off the specified number of photos before the move starts, and then fire off the same number of photos once the move has completed.


Total Time


If Pre/Post Move Photos are specified, Total Time displays the Run Time plus the time required to execute the Pre and Post photos. The Total Time field is automatically computed based on the Run Time and Pre/Post Move Photos fields.


Camera Mode


The Camera Mode selector allows one to specify if the camera will be set in manual or bulb mode.




For Manual Mode, the exposure duration is determined by the camera exposure setting. In Bulb Mode, the exposure duration is set by the time lapse parameters set in the Time Lapse menu. Note this does not set the mode in the camera. Rather this setting should mirror how the camera is set for the time lapse.


Time Lapse Mode


The Time Lapse mode selector allows one to specify if the time lapse will proceed as Shoot Move Shoot or Continuous.




In Shoot Move Shoot mode, all motors will move to the next position during the delay, and remain stationary during the exposure. For Continuous mode, all motors continue to move during delay and exposure.


Test Fire


The Test Fire button triggers the camera to shoot a picture.




The Test Fire button is useful to verify the camera is working before starting a time lapse.


Notes


The Notes option allows users to record thoughts and ideas while working on key frames and curves. Note content typed into the window is stored with the curve data



If the curve data are loaded from a file, the note content is also restored and displayed along with the file.