The COBRA Control Panel version 2.2.0 stable release supports the COBRA 5.1.1 firmware stable release candidate. New features include local audio file support, selection of scripts for unlimited channels/cues, a continuous clock, improved settings, and more.
November 18th, 2020 Announcement
If you are having difficulty activating your Control Panel version from your phone/tablet device, please email us at help@cobrafiringsystems.com. In some cases, you may receive "invalid server response" from the app.
Please note that the COBRA Control Panel release for 5.1.1 still has some minor housecleaning efforts such as finalized language translations on a few phrases, and some minor user interfaces adjustments. If you have any issues including crashes, UI problems, or any suggestions, please email us at help@cobrafiringsystems.com.
In the coming month following the COBRA 5.1.1 firmware release on November 18th, 2020, COBRA will release and announce a minor update to the Google Play store. If you are not already signed up for the COBRA 5.1.1 announcements, please fill out the COBRA 5.1.1 Form to receive updated communications. Please also note that in the About section you'll still see 2.0.5 as the Control Panel version. This will be updated in the next patch release to display 2.2.0.
Local audio file support (Pro version)
COBRA supports a limited local audio file feature that allows you to select and play an MP3 file when starting a script from the COBRA Control Panel only. You can select the audio file from the Script Attributes within the Show Controls section. The file is accessed from your Android local file system. Common methods for saving your audio file to your local Android file system include using a USB drive with the COBRA OTG cable and then launching the Android File Manager to copy the file to a directory on your device.
While the Control Panel will play the MP3 audio file in sync to the show including playing and pausing, the audio playback will not adjust when using the + and - buttons on the 18R2 to adjust the script timing. Instead, you are required to use the COBRA Audio Box to take advantage of this feature.
Please also be advised that the COBRA Control Panel is a peripheral computer device and that you run a risk of performance and stability issues by playing your show audio directly from this device. We recommend you test your Android device and audio playing performance prior to using it to play live audio for any fireworks shows. For optimal performance, COBRA suggests using an embedded system such as the COBRA Audio Box.
Continuous clock
Enabling the Continuous Clock setting on the Show Controls will display an additional clock that will start counting as soon as you start the show and won't stop if the show is paused either by the user or a STEP event.
Unlimited channel/cue for selected script within the Show Controls section
COBRA supports firing scripts with unlimited channels and cues. However, if you are loading multiple scripts into the 18R2 via a single .csv file, only the first script in the file supports this feature. We refer to this as the primary script. Any subsequent non-primary scripts only support firing up to two channels in any 0.4s time window. In order to support unlimited channels and cues within all scripts in a single .csv file, the COBRA Control Panel Show Controls section now causes the selected script to become the primary script within the 18R2. When selecting a script from the drop-down within the Show Controls section, the Control Panel tells the 18R2 to make the selected script the primary script. At this point, the 18R2 re-arms the modules and uploads the script into the modules for firing. By making the selected script the primary script, you can support firing unlimited channels/cues for any selected script. Once selected, please wait for the firing modules to arm and display the correct device arm count on the 18R2 and Control Panel.
Edit script attributes from the Show Controls section
You can now edit script attributes directly from the Control Panel Show Controls section. This includes the deadman button, Audio Box attributes, and SMPTE options. You can also enable select script attribute default settings that override script attributes set by the 18R2 explained below.
New script attribute default settings
The Control Panel now supports select default script attributes that will override script attributes defined within your 18R2. Please note you can still manually change the script attributes from the Show Controls section explained above.
- Please find a listing of all currently supported default script attribute overrides:
- SMPTE Timecode Default - By enabling this option, all scripts will by default enable the selected SMPTE timecode option. If enabled, a user can still disable this option from the Show Controls > Script Attribute settings.
- Deadman Default - By enabling this option, all scripts will by default enable the COBRA Deadman for all scripts. If enabled, a user can still disable this option from the Show Controls > Script Attribute settings.
- Audio Box Default - By enabling this option, all scripts will by default support and start the COBRA Audio Box. If enabled, a user can still disable this option from the Show Controls > Script Attribute settings.
New general feature settings
We have added a few new feature settings explained below.
- Upload Custom Field Map Image - You can now upload your own custom image to the field map from the main field map user interface.
- Hide Modules Not in Selected Script - This option is only applicable if you have more than one script in your COBRA .csv file. By enabling this option, only modules for the script selected within the Show Controls section will display in the Device List section. This is helpful by only displaying modules for the selected script as all other modules are hidden.
- Continuous Clock - Enabling the Continuous Clock on the Show Controls will display an additional clock that will start counting as soon as you start the show and won't stop if the show is paused either by the user or a STEP event.
- Unfired Product Report Email Address - From the Show Controls section you can now email a list/file attachment of unfired product to a defined email address. This can be used to notify a manager and can also be imported to 3rd party systems such as Finale Inventory.
- Jump Confirmation - By disabling the Jump Confirmation, the user is not required to press a confirm button when using the Jump feature within the Show Controls section. This allows for faster jump times.
- Manual Fire Lock Step Buttons - By locking the STEP buttons, you can prevent a user from pressing the STEP buttons during a show.
Bug Fixes
- In some cases, the Control Panel would not load the script data and display an error to the user to re-start the 18R2. This issue has been resolved.
- In some cases, the control panel would crash and fail to open on Android 9.0
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