8.1.1 Elements in detail......................................................................................................................19
8.1.2 The Trigger Modes....................................................................................................................21
8.1.3 The Fade-Modes.......................................................................................................................22
8.1.4 The Scene Tool.........................................................................................................................23
8.2 THE PLAN...........................................................................................................................................24
8.2.1 The DMX-Monitor......................................................................................................................25
8.2.2 The Fader Panel........................................................................................................................25
8.2.3 The Plan / MultiPlan ..................................................................................................................26
8.2.4 The V/T-Editor...........................................................................................................................27
8.2.5 The Track-Editor........................................................................................................................31
8.2.6 The Fixture Group Window .......................................................................................................35
8.2.7 The Sequence List.....................................................................................................................35
8.2.8 The MultiSequence Player........................................................................................................36
8.2.9 Die Cue-Liste.............................................................................................................................37
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The Media-Player......................................................................................................................37
8.2.10
8.2.11 The 3D Visual Emulator.............................................................................................................37
8.2.12 The Play List..............................................................................................................................41
8.3 THE FIXTURE PANEL ...........................................................................................................................42
8.3.2 The B/D/Z Buttons.....................................................................................................................43
9 THE MENUS ........................................................................................................................44
9.1 THE SHOW MENU................................................................................................................................44
9.2 THE SEQUENCES MENU ......................................................................................................................44
9.3 THE SCENES MENU.............................................................................................................................44
9.4 THE OPERATION MENU .......................................................................................................................45
9.5 THE SETTINGS MENU..........................................................................................................................46
11.1 KNOWN PROBLEMS .........................................................................................................................61
11.2 SUPPORT INFORMATION AND HOTLINE ..............................................................................................62
REVISIONS:
Doc.
version
V1.0 15.10.00 LEB V5.58
V1.1 24.04.01 LEB V5.62 3D Visual Emulator, CMY-RGB,
V1.2 15.08.02 LEB V5.7x Update Position Memory, DMX-Off, Panel strcture, Dimmer, Focus
V1.3 15.02.03 LEB V5.80 General refresh, added Remote control function and other deatils
V1.4 25.08.03 LEB V5.81 Added DMXCreator512Basic Interfaces
V1.4 02.02.04 LEB V5.81 Minor changes and corrections
V1.6 21.09.05 LEB V5.87 Updated to 32 MultuSequence Players, lots of details
Date/Vis:
Software
Version
Changes
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2 INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing the DMXCreator! With this versatile and modern “tool”, the only limit to your light
Show is your imagination! For club use, rental facitlity, or even for architectual lighting, the DMXCreator is
the right choice for any number of professional tasks!
Here are some of the main features of the DMXCreator:
- PC-lighting controller for Windows™ based systems
- Suitable for desktop, industrial or notebook personal computers
- Control of fixtures using the DMX512 (1990) interface
- DMX input (only available on DMXCreator512MK2 and DMXCreator1024 interfaces) with multiple
possibilites for routing, recording or controlling
- Simultaneous control of up to 128 fixtures, with a maximum of 32 DMX512 channels per fixture
- 512 output channels (1 Universe) with the DMXCreator512Basicand DMXCreator512MK2
Interface (LPT)
- 1024 output channels (2 Universes) on the DMXCreator1024 Interface (USB)
- “Autonome (stand alone) mode” on DMXCreator512MK2 for usage without a PC
- “3D Visual Emulator” to preview the preprogrammed Show without physically connected fixtures
- Music trigger using the PCs soundcard
- 32 “Multi Sequence Players”
- Graphical Pan/Tilt “Track Editor”
2.1 About this manual
We have attempted to lay out this manual as simple as possible. Many funtions of the DMXCreator are self
explanatory and easy to understand. This manual is meant to introduce you to the world of the
DMXCreator, and to convey to you the basic skills to work with this versatile system. Of course, it also
takes a certain amount of creativity and fantasy to create an impressive light Show.
We encourage you to read through this manual attentively. For the fastest results, it is a good idea to try out
everything on your DMXCreator as we go along. This, of course, is also possible without having the actual
interface or fixtures attached to your computer.
All features are described in detail and some of them have visual aids to assist easy learning.
Software features described in this manual will be presented using square brackets.
Eg: [load Show]
2.2 Language
The basic language of the DMXCreator software is English. However, if you like to have the main menus in
another language, the file dmxcreator.key has to be copied into your program directory (for example;
c:\program files\dmxcreator). Please note, that it’s necessary to restart the DMXCreator software to load
the new menu. You can find this file on your product-CD, as well as on the internet:
CD-ROM: Directory ...:\DMXCreator Software\Software\Language patches
On the internet: http://www.dmxcreator.com/support.htm
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3 THE CONCEPT
The DMXCreator control system consists of two components:
1. The PC-software
2. The DMX512 hardware interface
The interface provides the link between your personal computer and the DMX512 compatible fixtures (e.g.
scanners, moving heads, foggers, dimmer units etc.)
The DMXCreator software is capable of controlling three different hardware interfaces:
1. The DMXCreator512MKII interface: Parallel port interface, 512 channels of output, 512
channels of input, stand alone mode with keyboard control, external power supply
2. The DMXCreator1024 interface: USB-interface, 1024 channels of output (2 Universes), 512
channels of input, power supplied through USB interface.
3. The DMXCreator512Basic interface: USB-interface, 512 channels of output (1 Universe),
power supplied through USB interface.
You may connect your DMX512 fixtures directly to the DMX interface. Please use only data cable that is
suitable for DMX512 (do not use standard microphone cable!). Please terminate each data line using a
120Ohm resistor connected to te „out“ connector of the last fixture in line.
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4 INSTALLATION
4.1 Verification of package contents
Please verify that you have received all components of the system. In case that something is missing,
please contact your DMXCreator dealer immediately.
DMXCreator512MKII:
- 1 DMXCreator DMX512 hardware interface (red)
- 1 Centronics cable
- 1 CD-ROM
- 1 Powersupply (AC, 9-12V, 300mA. Polarity is insignificant), may not be included in some countries
- Printed manual
DMXCreator1024:
- DMXCreator DMX512 hardware interface (blue)
- USB (A to B) cable 1,8m
- CD-Rom
- Printed manual
DMXCreator512Basic:
- DMXCreator DMX512 hardware interface cable
- CD-ROM
- Printed manual
4.2 Supported Operating Systems
The operating systems supported are dependent on the DMX512 interface used:
OS DMXCreator512MK2 DMXCreator 512Basic &1024
Windows 95b OK OK
Windows 98 / SE OK OK
Windows ME Millenium OK OK
Windows 2000 OK OK
Windows NT OK - (no USB-support)
Windows XP OK OK
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4.3 System Requirements
PCs are flexible systems, and there are any amounts of possibilities to combine hardware and softare.
The base for a stable work with the DMXCreator lies in a stable PC system. The DMXCreator software has
proven in countless tests that it works without problem on systems using a standard configuration.
The DMXCreator carries out millions of calculations per second, so that virtually all parameters are
rendered parallel and in real-time. The CPU load is mainly dependent on the following criteria:
- Number of occupied DMX512 channels
- 3D Visual emulator in use or not
- Single or Multi Sequence use
- DMX input enabled / disabled
- Audio trigger with low-pass filter enabled / disabled
Here a few tips on how to increase the stability of your PC:
1. Do not run other applications simultaneously to DMXCreator
4. Connect the interface directly to the PC whenever possible. Avoid intermediate devices like Zip drives
on the parallel port (DMXCreator512MK2), or USB Hubs (DMXCreator512Basic & 1024).
Besides having the right operating system, and free ports for your interface, please be advised of the
following absolute minimum system requirements:
- IBM compatible PC
- Minimum Pentium CPU/ 100 Mhz
- 32 MB RAM
- VGA graphics card with SVGA resolution (800 X 600, 256 colors)
- 10 MB available hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive (for installation)
- Mouse
Recommended system requirements for full use of all features:
- Minimum Pentium III CPU/ 1Ghz
- 128 MB RAM
- Fast graphics card with XGA resolution (1024 X 768 with 16 Bit color depth)
- Sound-Blaster compatible soundcard with MIDI-Interface
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4.4 Installation of Software on Windows 95b/98/ME
The next step is to install the DMXCreator software. Close all running applications on your PC.
Please make sure, that the DMXCreator Hardware interface is not connected to the PC right now.
1. Start up your computer
2. Insert the shipped product CD into the CD-Rom drive
3. Wait until the CD-Menu appears. (If no menu appears after 20seconds, change to your CD-Rom drive
and click on “Menu.exe”)
4. Choose “Install DMXCreator Software Vx.xx”
5. Setup will guide you trough the installation process
6. After installation shutdown the computer
7. Follow chapter 4.5 “Hardware Installation”
Once DMXCreator is installed, you can start it by clicking on the DMXCreator icon located in the
programs folder of the Windows start menu.
It’s possible that there are multiple software versions on your CD-Rom. The additional versions are usually
Beta-versions, which means that they are recent software updates that are not yet completely tested and
released. These versions usually run without complications. Should you encounter any problems with these
software versions, we encourage you to report them to us, so that we can remove them for you and our
other customers.
If you are updating the DMXCreator software to a newer version, please de-install the old version first!
You can also find new software versions on our website at http://www.dmxcreator.com
4.5 Hardware Installation
The software is able to work with the following hardware interfaces from VXCO Lighting Systems only:
DMXCreator512Basic:
1. Plug the USB Interface cable into the free USB (1.1 or 2.0) connector of your PC.
2. Start the PC. Windows will now automatically detect a new USB device and installs the necessary
drivers.
If Windows is not able to find the USB drivers, point it to the following directory:
C:\Program Files\Dmxcreator\driver
or the “driver” directory on the product CD-Rom
DMXCreator512MK2:
1. Plug the shipped Centronics cable to the DMX512 interface
2. Plug the other side of the cable to the free printer connector of your computer (LPT)
3. Connect the power supply to mains
4. Plug the power supply connector to the DMX512 interface (If your interface is equipped with a black
latch near the AC/DC connector, you may pull the power wire trough the latch to prevent unwanted “pull
off’s”
5. During work, the LED does Shows the beat detection trigger of the internal microphone circuit. This is
used in stand alone mode only.
Note: Be sure that the printer port mode of your PC is set to bidirectional EPP / ECP mode. You can check
and change this in the Bios setup of your PC (at boot time). If your Printer port mode is not in this mode,
you may encounter problems if using the DMX-input or downloading a Show into the interface box for stand
alone mode.
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DMXCreator1024:
1. Plug the USB cable to the DMX512 Interface
2. Plug the other side of the cable to the free USB connector of your PC
3. Start the PC. Windows will now automatically detect a new USB device and installs the necessary
drivers.
If Windows is not able to find the USB drivers, point it to the following directory:
C:\Program Files\Dmxcreator\driver
or the “driver” directory on the product CD-rom
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5 WORKING WITH THE DMXCREATOR
5.1 Starting the software
Up on initiating the software, it will first test the link to the DMX512 interface.
If the following message appears:
- It’s possible that there is no DMX512 hardware interface connected to the PC right now. Press “Yes” to
start the program in demo mode.
- It’s possible that there is a problem with the connection to the DMX512 interface, or that the power supply
(DMXCreator512MK2 only) is not connected. Verify all cable connections.
- It’s possible that the software is not configured for the connected DMX512 interface. Press “Yes” to start
the software, and then configure the interface correctly (see chapter 5.2).
There are four options in the initial menu:
- New Show -create a new Show
- Last Show -load the most recent Show used
- Load Show -load a saved Show
- Panel Designer -see chapter “The Panel Designer
Choose “new Show” to define your new Show, or choose “load Show”, if you have already programmed a
Show. You can also load a pre-installed sample Show. For first start, we recommend to load the provided
sample Show.
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5.2 Configuration of Interface within the Software
It is now necessary to tell the software which DMX512 interface you are using. You only have to do this
once, if you are planning on using only one kind of interface (e.g. always using DMXCreator1024). The
default interface setting after installation is “USB”.
Once you have reached the main window of the DMXCreator software, please follow these steps:
1. Open the “settings” menu
2. Click on “sync and hardware”
3. Click on “hardware”
4. Choose USB, if you are using the DMXCreator512Basic or the DMXCreator1024 interface
5. Choose LPT if you are using the DMXCreator512MK2.
6. Click on the “Test” button
7. If the connection is properly established, a message will appear, including the Interface type, and the
firmware version. You are now ready to program your first Show!
8. If the connection is not established properly, the following message will appear:
Possible problems:
- The DMX512 interface is not properly connected. Verify alle cable connections.
- The power supply is not turned on (DMXCreator512MK2 only)
- If there is a hardware version i.5 Shown, the printer port is not set to “bidirectional mode”
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6 THE SOFTWARE STRUCTURE
The software has the following structure for Shows
Each Show consists out of one or more Sequences. Each Sequence consists out of one or more Scenes,
that may or may not Fade in to each other.
Sequence 1 Sequence 2Sequence 3
Scene 1 Scene 1Scene 1
No Fade Fade 10sec.
Scene 2 Scene 2
Fade 3sec.
SHOW
Fade 10sec.
Scene 3Scene 3
Fade 10sec.Fade 5sec.
Scene 4
Fade 10sec.
6.1 Show
SHOW
SHOW
Sequence x
Scene x
Fade x sec.
Scene x
The pool of programmed Sequences is called a “Show”. Show can be saved as files, and include all other
components like the DMX-setup, Sequences, Scenes, Cues, Play Lists, emulator settings etc.
The following items are not stored into a Show file:
- The plan image (background picture). Only the file location on your disc will be saved.
- The fixture panel files
6.2 Sequence
A Sequence can consist of single, or multiple connected Scenes. Each Show can have a maximum of
16’384 Scenes.
6.3 Scene
A Scene is the lowest or most basic entity of a Show. Scenes are the entered variable values of all fixtures
connected at a given time. A Sequence is built out of one or more Scenes. The maximum number of
Scenes per Sequence is 16’384. You may define an individual Fade time for each Scene.
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6.4 MultiSequence
With the DMXCreator, it is possible to run up to 32 Sequences at one time. This is helpful, among other
applications if you:
- wish to control different fixture groups independent of each other (i.e. Scanners group / Statics /
Moving heads group)
- wish to combine Sequences that only have “pan movement” with Sequences that only have “color
change” for example
- wish to run pan-tilt movement and color change at different rates, or with differing trigger sources
6.5 Cue
A selection of Sequences from the “Multi Sequence Player” can be saved and called up as Cue. Cues can
be stored and recalled from the “Cue List”
6.6 The Master-Mode
The “Master Mode” plays an important role within the DMXCreator. It has two different functions:
1. Stop Mode function (Sequence is not running, Stop button is pressed)
In this mode, you can control single or multiple fixtures simultaneously by holding the “Ctrl” key on
the keyboard, and then clicking on the fixture icon. The text base of the icon at this point turns from
green to red. If different fixture types are selected simultaneously, it is possible to change to and
from the different types. All changes made in the fixture panels are saved in the given Scene
instantly.
You can turn the Master mode off by clicking the “Master Off” button on the menu bar (may be set
on Hot-Key too).
2. Play Mode function (Sequence is running, play button is pressed)
When in used in play mode, the fixtures selected to the Master are excluded from the running
Sequence. Like this, they could be used for follow-spot functions, for example. All changes made in
the fixture panels are temporary, and are not saved. When the Master Mode is disengaged, the
fixtures return to the running Sequence.
Quick selection of multiple fixtures, as well as further Master- options are possible by using the
“Group Function” Æ see also “The Fixture-Group Window”
6.6.1 The different Master Modes
If you exclude one or more fixtures from the Show they will stop playing the current Sequence and are
available for full manual control. If you don’t like to exlude all functions of the selected fixtures, you may
choose one of the available Master Modes
Non-excluded functions of fixtures in Master will continue to play the current Show
[Full Master] All fixture functions are excluded from the Show (standard Master)
[Color Only] Only the color functions (color wheels, CMY systems) of the fixtures are
excluded from the Show
[Ex Pan/Tilt] All functions except pan/tilt are excluded from the Show
[Pan/Tilt only] Only Pan/Tilt of the selected fixtures is excluded from the Show
[User Red Master] User may define channels that should be excluded
[Master Group off] Release the Master (all Master fixtures will be deselected)
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Note: The Master Mode has to be chosen before selecting the fixtures into Master. It’s not possible to
change the current Master Mode while fixtures are selected in Master.
Æ Check also chapter 9.7 “The [Fixtures] menu“
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7 DMX-SETUP
To create a new Show from beginning, the connected DMX fixtures must first be defined and addressed.
- Start the DMXCreator software
- Choose [New Show]
- The following window will appear:
2
1
generate printable DMX setup
report text file (optional)
- The window is divided into three parts:
1. The DMX address field. Here you will find a visual representation of 1024 channels (2
universes). The second universe is only available for output if you use the DMXCreator1024
hardware interface
2. The fixtures-pool. This is a list of all currently installed fixture panels. This set of panels can be
arbitrarily modified by copying the desired panel files (with .dsp ending) into the corresponding
directory, or by erasing them.
Directory: c:\program files\dmxcreator\devices
The new fixutre panels will be available for addressing after restarting the DMXCreator software.
Any number of fixture panels are available on the product CD-ROM, or on our website at
http://www.dmxcreator.com
Call the Panel Designer
Æ see chapter „the Panel Designer“
assigned
3
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Should you not be able to find the panel corresponding to your fixture, please contact us at
info@dmxcreator.com
If you wish to generate your own panels please refer to the chapter called “The Panel Designer
3. The setup field. Here you see the following information:
- Patched DMX output of the interface Æ OUT
- The DMX-starting address of the assigned fixtures Æ START (this number has to be set on the
corresponding fixture)
- Amount of DMX-channels occupied by this fixture ÆNN
- The fixture type Æ FIXTURE NAME
- Your designated heading for fixtures within the Show Æ USER HEADER (e.g. MAC600 down stage
right)
- Pan inversion Æ PAN - This means the pan movement becomes reversed. Indicated by “I” while
active. This setting may be changed at any time. It has no relation to the values of a programmed
Show
- Tilt inversion Æ TILT - This means the tilt movement becomes reversed. Indicated by “I” while
active. This setting may be changed at any time. It has no relation to the values of a programmed
Show
- Pan-Tilt-Swap Æ SWAP, this means the pan and tilt channels are exchanged. This setting may be
changed at any time. It has no relation to the values of a programmed Show
To add a fixture to your Show, there are two possiblities:
1. Choose your fixture within the fixture pool. Click and hold down the left mouse button on it.
Now you can drag the the icon to a free starting address on the DMX address field.
2. Double click on the desired fixture within the fixture field, and it will appear at the next available
starting address on the left-hand field.
, and we will happily assist your needs.
”.
7.1 Changing the DMX Start Address
After placing the fixtures in the DMX address field, you can move it within the field using the mouse. If you
do this in a complete Show, the following window will appear:
- Confirm by clicking on “YES”, and the programmed data for this fixture will be moved to the new
starting address as well.
- If you click “NO”, the data for the fixture will be deleted.
7.2 Removing fixtures from a Show
Fixtures can be removed from the Show setup in two ways
1. Point and drag the fixture you wish to remove using the left-hand mouse button from the
starting address field, or from the setup field on the right hand side and place it in the trash can
located on the bottom right-hand side of the screen.
2. Point to the fixture with the mouse cursor, either in the left-hand field, or on the right-hand
setup field, click the right button, and choose “remove fixture”
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7.3 Setting of DMX-address on the fixtures
Please refer to the user manual of the fixture you wish to control, in order to find out how to set its DMX
starting address. If this is done using a DIP-Switch within the DMX512 standard, you can use the graphical
image at the bottom left as help.
Below the „DMX Channels Field“ you will see the graphical dip switch setting for some kind of fixtures. If
you move the mouse pointer to the desired starting address for a fixture (into the adress field) you will see
the correct switch setting for this address. Please note, that some manufacturers use a different kind of
coding (like High End Systems) and subtract 1 form the address value to set. In this case you may uncheck
the „+1“ option below.
7.4 Deleting the entire setup
If you want to delete an existing setup, please click on the button at the bottom right of your screen called
“Cear All”
7.5 Creating a printable DMX-setup report
In order to facilitate the addressing of the fixtures, you can generate a printable text file of the entire DMX
setup. Press the button on the lower right hand side called “create list”, and a window will appear with all
specifications. You can now print or save this file in .txt format.
7.6 Opening the Panel Designer
By pressing the button that is located farthest in the lower right hand corner, the “Panel Designer” will open.
For more information on this feature please read the chapter “The Panel Designer
” in this manual.
7.7 Exit the DMX-setup
Click the “Close” button in order to leave the DMX-Setup. You will now be taken to the working surface
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8 WORKING SURFACE
The main window is where you will “create” your Show. It consists out of three main areas
Transport-bar
PanelPlan
8.1 Transport-bar
The Transport-bar field is the main control window for Scenes and Sequences.
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)
8.1.1 Elements in detail
New Show
Load Show from file
Save Show
DMX-Setup
Name of the Show
(click to rename)
General Blackout
favorite Scene (assign using right hand mouse button)
Effective as of version V5.68, this field will include an additional function that will enable you to turn on and
off the DMX output. By pressing this button, the current Scene becomes frozen. The DMX output remains
off, until the button is pressed again. This function is also called “preview” or “blind” sometimes.
Save Show as... (enter name
Undo changes made since
last accessing Scene
play/stop current Show
Switch on/off the DMX output
Switch on/off the DMX input
Name of current Sequence
(choose by clicking on
arrow button)
Create new Sequence
delete current Sequence
Manual V1.6
Number of this Sequence
within Show
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