Firmware download and release notes, compatible with Vortex4, 4S, 8, 8S and Vortex 24. Released Sept 2024
Download Firmware File
How to update
1. Copy the file to the root level of USB drive. Only one *.sfb update file should be copied onto the drive at a time.
2. Insert USB drive into USB connector on Vortex.
3. Power up Vortex and it will automatically update to the version copied on the USB drive. This will take 1-2 minutes
4. Safely remove USB drive once the update is complete.
USB Drives need to be formatted as FAT or FAT32. If the Vortex fails to read the USB drive, please try one from a different manufacturer. Maximum drive size is 32GB
Note: When updating to this firmware version for the first time, "USB Key" is the only way to load firmware. After loading this firmware the first time, all methods of updating firmware can be used, including via Webpage, over DMX and sACN.
CreamOS 3.0 Overview (English)
What's New in V3.0
There are several new major features, improvements, and fixes in this release.
FEATURES
- Web Page — each Vortex hosts a multilingual web page where the user can fully control the fixture. Note this needs ethernet connection.
Click here for a brief introduction to our new web page.
- CreamOS Discovery Page — allows for the detection of products running CreamOS running V3.0 or greater on the same network, bulk updating of firmware, and configuration for groups of devices, directly from the web page.
- Remote CreamOS Update — CreamOS can be updated via web page, DMX, and sACN.
- Fixture-to-Fixture Update — one fixture can update the other fixture over the DMX interface (supported on fixtures on V3.0 and above)
- Colour Space — supports different colour spaces natively (Uncalibrated, Calibrated RGBW, sRGB, Rec 709, P3 D65, PC DCI, Display P3 and Rec 2020).
- sACN Sync Packets —add support for Streaming ACN Synchronisation packets. This helps to synchronise the output of multiple fixtures when they are spread over a large number of sACN universes.
- Framerate Multiplier — when using camera sync, can multiply incoming sync signal by up to 20 times. For example, this allows locking to a framerate of 200fps from a 25fps genlock source.
- AC Power Limit — set a maximum power limit, which will limit the fixture's output to a certain wattage when on AC power.
- Support for Vortex24, Vortex8 Soft, and Vortex4 Soft - this is the minimum official firmware version to support Vortex Softs and Vortex24 fixtures.
IMPROVEMENTS
- Fixture Location — support extra tag for more user customisation, you can enter up to 20 characters to describe the fixture's location. This can be accessed from the on-board menu, via RDM or the web page.
- Flash Frames effect no longer needs to have camera sync re-connected every time the settings are changed.
- USB Logs — allow the saving of fixture logs for better diagnosis of issues during service.
FIXES
- Zone flickering — when CCT set to 4000K, and running over DMX, some zones may flicker slightly.
- Zone tearing — with fast DMX transitions from ON to OFF at DMX speed of less than 44Hz, could get some zones slightly out of time with others.
OTHER NOTES
New DMX Tables Available (Version 3.0)
DMX Tables Version 3.0 is available which contains modes for V24, and additional colour space options in the Control Channel. No new modes or other changes have been introduced.