Playback & media servers · software
Christie Pandoras Box troubleshooting
The Christie Pandoras Box problems live-event techs bring to Ask Roadie most (also called Pandora, Pandoras Box Manager, PB). Pick your symptom, or describe your own in plain words, and get the likeliest fix first, with the manual page when there is one.
Common Pandoras Box errors & problems
What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact software is in Ask Roadie.
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Client server will not connect to the Master / clients do not appear
Likely cause: PB Master/Client discovery only pairs machines on the same version and domain channel; a version mismatch or different domain silently blocks the connection.
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Content missing on client outputs (assets show on the Master only)
Likely cause: Media is not auto-pushed; the Spread command copies project assets from the Master to each connected client so they can render locally.
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Content plays as a black/scrambled texture or playback performance is poor
Likely cause: DDS/coolux codecs offload decoding to the GPU with no CPU/bus load, giving the best playback; unsupported or non-optimized codecs cause dropped frames or corrupt textures.
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External control via Widget Designer is not responding
Likely cause: WD connects to PB over the same domain/network layer as clients; a version or domain mismatch or wrong target IP breaks the link.
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How do I update Pandoras Box / what is the current version?
Likely cause: Master and clients require matching versions to connect, so all machines must be updated together; the activated-license model entitles current updates.
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Importing many image-sequence folders is slow/tedious
Likely cause: V8 added batch ingestion so multiple sequence folders are processed in one pass, saving prep time.
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Need NDI, SDVoE, Dante audio, or Notch but the feature seems locked
Likely cause: V8 consolidated the previously separate feature licenses into one activated license covering the full software family.
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Pandoras Box will not launch or runs in demo/watermark mode
Likely cause: PB checks for a valid dongle/activated license at launch; without it the app falls back to demo mode.
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Video looks washed out or blacks appear grey (MPEG/H.264 source)
Likely cause: MPEG stores a limited (16-235) YUV range; without the color-space stretch the levels are mapped incorrectly and blacks lift to grey.
Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.
How Ask Roadie helps with the Pandoras Box
- 1. Pick the Christie Pandoras Box. It's already in the list.
- 2. Describe what you're seeing. In your own words, or the error code off the screen.
- 3. Get the likeliest fix first. Steps in order, the manual page when there is one, and a note when other techs have confirmed it.
- 4. Still broken? Tap 👎 and it keeps going from where you left off.
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