Bravo machine and me!

[MJ]

Hi everyone!
I'd like to introduce myself. I feel as if I know all of you already because I have been eagerly devouring all your advice for many months now! I've been embroidering and digitizing for 10 years using Brother machines and PEDesign software. I purchased a Bravo machine last summer and have been teaching myself using all the Webinars and documentation. I'm doing pretty well at all the basics and now trying to get better at more sophisticated stuff. I was too busy before the Christmas rush to use the Bravo as much as my Brother PR620. So now I'm using the Bravo more. Unfortunately, the Bravo only comes with DesignShop Lite and OS Lite, but so far it meets my needs. I'm still doing the majority of my digitizing on PEDesign and then just send the files over to the Bravo. I've done some editing of .pes files and saved as .ofm. My current question is: how do I "pause" at a certain point? I see in the OS software when I'm setting up the Color Sequence, that there is a "PAUSE" button, but it is grayed out -- so I'm guessing this feature is not available in OS Lite? Is anyone familiar with the Lite versions that could offer some assistance? Thanks in advance and again thanks for all the help you've given me without even knowing it!
MJ, Everything Embroidered in Chicago

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

MJ,
The Bravo Machine was intended to compete with machines like the PR600 series which is described by Brother as a home embroidery machine. This means you get the quality of a commercial machine at a better price than that same machine with commercial features. Features such as "PAUSE", "HOLD" and "Applique" are greyed out because in 2009, they were not available in Amaya OS Lite. However, in 2010, Melco decided to make available in Amaya OS Lite, the "Applique" feature. Although it moves the hoop forward, it would also serve the purpose of "pausing" the sewing. Of course, this would depend on which version of AOS Lite you have or are entitled to.
Oooh, I just thought of one more thing you could try. Let's say you have a two color design where you want to "Pause" between the two color changes and the colors of choice are on needles #1 & #3. Assign your first color to needle #1 and assign your second color to needle #2. Remove the thread from the needle in #2 and lift up the red thread feed pinch roller on #2 as well. When the machine goes to sew on needle #2, it will stop giving you a "thread break error". This is your "PAUSE". When you are ready, manually move the needlecase to needle #3 and finish sewing your design.

Whadda' ya say???? Let us know if it works. Not bad for midnight advice.

Ed Orantes

[MJ]

Hi Ed!
Thanks so much for your response! You're the only one I've heard from. I figured not that many people were familiar with the Bravo. That's a great work-around idea that you gave -- I will definitely try it next time I need it and will let you know how it goes.
Thanks again, MJ