Elation AR-32 User Manual

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AR-32 ARCHITECTURAL

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USER MANUAL

AR-32 User Manual

Manual Revision:

May 2008

Software Revision:

Version 2.09

2 Elation Professional ®

Table of Contents

1. Elation Support ............................................................................................................................................... 4

1.1 Thank You for Purchasing the AR-32 .................................................................................................... 4

1.2 Customer Service....................................................................................................................................4

1.3 2-Year Limited Warranty........................................................................................................................ 5

2. General Information........................................................................................................................................ 6

2.1 Safety ...................................................................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Compliance ............................................................................................................................................. 7

2.3 Abbreviations..........................................................................................................................................7

3. Introduction..................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.1 AR-32 Description..................................................................................................................................8

3.2 Manual Conventions ............................................................................................................................... 9

4. Specifications................................................................................................................................................10

4.1 AR-32 Components ..............................................................................................................................10

4.2 AR-32 Features ..................................................................................................................................... 11

5. Installation .................................................................................................................................................... 12

5.1 Unpacking Contents.............................................................................................................................. 12

5.2 Cabling Requirements........................................................................................................................... 12

5.3 Installation Procedtures......................................................................................................................... 14

5.3.1 Wall-mounting the AR-32C.......................................................................................................... 14

5.3.2 Desktop mounting the AR-32C ....................................................................................................14

5.4 Setup Procedures................................................................................................................................... 15

5.4.1 Software Installation ..................................................................................................................... 15

5.4.2 System Connection ....................................................................................................................... 15

5.4.3 Software Launch ........................................................................................................................... 15

6. Operation ...................................................................................................................................................... 16

6.1 AR-32C Controls & Connections ......................................................................................................... 16

6.2 AR-32P Controls & Connections ......................................................................................................... 17

6.3 AR-32 IR Remote Controls ..................................................................................................................18

6.4 DMX Channels ..................................................................................................................................... 19

6.5 Software Overview ............................................................................................................................... 20

6.5.1 Main Screen .................................................................................................................................. 20

6.5.2 Show Edit Screen..........................................................................................................................27

6.5.3 Events Edit Screen ........................................................................................................................ 32

6.6 Programming Tips ................................................................................................................................36

7. Service .......................................................................................................................................................... 37

7.1 Maintenance..........................................................................................................................................37

7.1.1 General Inspection ........................................................................................................................ 37

7.1.2 Basic Cleaning .............................................................................................................................. 37

7.2 Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................................... 38

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1

AR-32 User Manual

1. Elation Support

1.1 Thank You for Purchasing the AR-32

Thank you for your purchasing the Elation Professional AR-32 Architectural Recorder System. Please read the
instructions in this manual carefully and thoroughly before attempting to operate this unit. These instructions
contain important information regarding safety during use and maintenance. Please fill out and return the
enclosed warranty card to validate your purchase.

1.2 Customer Service

Elation provides a toll free customer support line, to provide set up help and to answer any question should you
encounter problems during you set up or initial operation. You may also visit us on the web at

www.elationlighting.com

All returned service items whether under warranty or not, must be freight pre-paid and accompany a Return
Authorization (RA) number. The RA number must be clearly written on the outside of the return package. Items
returned without a RA number clearly marked on the outside of the package will be refused and returned at
customer’s expense. You may obtain a RA number by contacting customer service.

for any comments or suggestions.

A brief description of the problem as well as the RA number must be written down on a piece of paper and
included in the shipping container. If the unit is under warranty, you must also provide a copy of your proof of
purchase invoice.

Customer Service hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Toll Free: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Information: [e-mail]
Sales: [e-mail]
Support: [e-mail]
Forum: http://forums.elationlighting.com

4 Elation Professional ®

1.3 2-Year Limited Warranty

Elation hereby warrants, to the original purchaser, Elation Professional products to be free of manufacturing
defects in material and workmanship for a period of 2 Years (730 days) on all internal parts, components, and
labor. This warranty shall be valid only if the product is purchased within the United States of America,
including possessions and territories. It is the owner’s responsibility to establish the date and place of purchase
by acceptable evidence, at the time service is sought.

For warranty service, send the product only to the Elation factory. All shipping charges must be pre-paid. If the
requested repairs or service (including parts replacement) are within the terms of this warranty, Elation will pay
return shipping charges only to a designated point within the United States except Hawaii or Alaska. If the entire
instrument is sent, it must be shipped in its original package. No accessories should be shipped with the product.
If any accessories are shipped with the product, Elation shall have no liability whatsoever for loss of or damage
to any such accessories, nor for the safe return thereof.

This warranty is void if:

• The serial number has been altered or removed

• The product is modified in any manner which Elation concludes, after inspection, affects the reliability of

the product

• The product has been repaired or serviced by anyone other than the Elation factory unless prior written
authorization was issued to purchaser by Elation

• The product is damaged because it was not properly maintained as set forth in the instruction manual

1

This is not a service contract, and this warranty does not include maintenance, cleaning or periodic check-up.
During the period specified above, Elation will replace defective parts at its expense, and will absorb all
expenses for warranty service and repair labor by reason of defects in material or workmanship. The sole
responsibility of Elation under this warranty shall be limited to the repair of the product, or replacement thereof,
including parts, at the sole discretion of Elation. All products covered by this warranty were manufactured after
January 1, 1990, and bear identifying marks to that effect.

Elation reserves the right to make changes in design and/or improvements upon its products without any
obligation to include these changes in any products theretofore manufactured.

No warranty, whether expressed or implied, is given or made with respect to any accessory supplied with
products described above. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, all implied warranties made by
Elation in connection with this product, including warranties of merchantability or fitness, are limited in duration
to the warranty period set forth above. And no warranties, whether expressed or implied, including warranties of
merchantability or fitness, shall apply to this product after said period has expired. The consumer’s and/or
Dealer’s sole remedy shall be such repair or replacement as is expressly provided above; and under no
circumstances shall Elation be liable for any loss or damage, direct or consequential, arising out of the use of, or
inability to use, this product.

This warranty is the only written warranty applicable to Elation Products and supersedes all prior warranties and
written descriptions of warranty terms and conditions heretofore published.

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AR-32 User Manual

2. General Information

2.1 Safety

The following symbols are used throughout this manual:

Indicates potential injury or death to persons.

Indicates potential damage to equipment.

Indicates items may be recycled.

The following safety information relates to the AR-32 Architectural Recorder System. Please read each item
carefully to ensure you fully understand them.

To prevent the risk of electrical shock, do not open this unit. There are no user serviceable
parts inside this unit. Do not attempt any repairs yourself. Doing so will void your
manufactures warranty. Should your unit require service, please contact your nearest Elation
dealer or Elation Customer Service.

To prevent or reduce the risk of electrical shock or fire, do not expose this unit to rain or
moisture. Do not remove the plug ground pin or connect to an ungrounded circuit.

This unit is not designed for use by persons under the age of 12. Use only under adult
supervision.

Turn off the power if not using this unit for a long time.

6 Elation Professional ®

2.2 Compliance

The CE marking (an acronym for the French "Conformite Europeenne") certifies that a product has
met EU health, safety, and environmental requirements, which ensure consumer safety. A
manufacturer that has gone through the conformity assessment process may affix the CE marking to
the product.

The AR-32 system has passed internal testing based on the EN55015:2001 standard, and is 100% CE compliant.
We certify that the product conforms to the protection requirements of council directives 73/23/EEC (LVD) and
89/336/EEC (EMC).

2.3 Abbreviations

CD – Compact Disc

DMX – Digital Multiplex

Gb – Gigabyte

2

Ghz – Gigahertz

IR – Infra Red

LAN – Local Area Network

Mb – Megabyte

PC – Personal Computer

RA – Return Authorization

RAM – Random Access Memory

RGB – Red, Green, Blue

USB – Universal Serial Bus

XLR – 3-pin Cannon X connector, with Latch and Rubber guard

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AR-32 User Manual

3. Introduction

3.1 AR-32 Description

The AR-32 Architectural Recorder System (Figure 1) is a DMX recording and playback system. This system is
capable of controlling any type of DMX device by recording a DMX control signal and saving it to a scene file in
memory. Scene files may be played back at any time using the manual controls, using remote DMX triggering,
or using timed triggering via the internal software.

3

AR-32 IR

Rem ote

120VA C -60Hz

DMX Data Cable

(D M X IN )

DMX

Controller

(not included)

AR-32C

Controller

Category 5 E thernet

AR -32P D M X

In te rfa ce

Figure 1

USB Cable

LAN C able

DMX Data Cable

(D M X O U T )

DMX

Fixture

(not included)

DMX

Fixture

(not included)

Terminator

AR-32 PC

S o ftw a re

6

The AR-32C Controller may be installed in any standard 1-gang wall box or mounted for desktop use with the
included stand. The controller may be operated remotely using the included AR-32 IR remote control. The AR­32C connects to the AR-32P DMX Interface using industry standard Category 5 Ethernet LAN cable.

AR-32 System Control Software is used to record and manage scene files. A USB port on the AR-32C provides
for PC connection using the included USB cable.

The AR-32P DMX Interface provides DMX IN and DMX OUT connections for standard 3-pin DMX data cable.
The DMX IN provides connection to a DMX controller for DMX recording and DMX triggering operations.
The DMX OUT provides connection to DMX fixtures for playback operations.

8 Elation Professional ®

3.2 Manual Conventions

The following terms and conventions are used throughout this manual:

• Buttons and switches are presented using their exact spelling and capitalization and surrounded by
brackets (i.e. press the [PAGE 1] button).

• Activate is used with switches/buttons that toggle between two values and means place the control in its
active state.

• Deactivate is used with switches/buttons that toggle between two values and means place the control in
its non-active state.

• Intercancel means that pushing one button simultaneously selects that button and automatically
deselects the previously selected button. One button is always active. For example, the [SHOW] buttons
intercancel.

• Select describes pointing to and clicking a button or checkbox (on a software screen) such that it is
activated. This allows a single instruction to describe this action without knowing the control’s previous
state. For example, if the control is not selected, clicking the control once selects it. If it is already
selected, no action is required.

• Highlight describes the outlining of selected text or files with a colored border to make it stand out. For
example, this text is highlighted. Text may be highlighted by clicking and dragging the cursor across the
portion desired.

3

This manual is Copyright © 2008 Elation Professional. All rights reserved. No part of the manual included with
this product can be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, for any purpose without prior written
authorized permission.

Information contained in this manual is subject to change at any time and without notice. Please contact Elation
Customer Service or visit www.elationlighting.com for the latest manual revisions.

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AR-32 User Manual

gory

4. Specifications

4.1 AR-32 Components

The AR-32 Architectural Recorder System (Figure 2) is composed of the following components:

• AR-32C Controller

• AR-32P DMX Interface

• Ethernet LAN Cable (Category 5 with RJ-45 connectors)

• AR-32 IR Remote

• AR-32 System Control Software and USB Cable

AR-32C Controller

AR-32P DMX Interface

4

AR-32 IR Remote

USB Cable

Cate

5 LAN Cable

Figure 2

The AR-32 comes pre-loaded with 32 shows designed for use with RGB type LED fixtures (strips, cubes, panels,
etc.). Shows 1-16 include static color scenes and Shows 17-32 include various rainbow chases. All factory
scenes are written for 512 DMX channels.

10 Elation Professional ®

4.2 AR-32 Features

The AR-32 Architectural Recorder System is a lighting control system that records DMX signals from a separate
controller and saves these recordings to scene (.scn) files for future playback. Multiple scenes may be loaded to
each controller show location. Shows may be played back manually using the AR-32 Controller, remotely using
the IR remote or a DMX signal, or internally triggered using time and date.

The AR-32 software is also capable of converting Adobe Flash animations into RGB pixel data for playback on
LED fixtures. Up to 170 pixels in any orientation may be converted from Flash (.swf) file format to DMX scene
(.scn) file format.

The AR-32 Architectural Recorder System has the following features:

• 512 DMX Channel recording

• Flash (.swf) file playback and conversion

• Up to 32 shows (4 pages, 8 shows per page)

• Up to 16 scenes per show, with 248 scene file capacity

• 128Mb memory maximum

• Memory retained upon power failure

• Real time individual triggering of desired scenes

• Playback via DMX Control Mode

• Playback via Timed Trigger Mode

• Playback via Manual Mode

• AR-32 System Control Software for controller configuration

• AR-32C USB communication port for PC link

• Infrared remote control

• Wall-mount or free standing desktop controller installation

4

• Power input: 120VAC - 60Hz

• Fuse: F0.5A 250V 5x20mm

• Dimensions: 57x74x43mm

• Weight: approx 0.2kg

The AR-32 system software has the following minimum hardware requirements:

• CPU: Pentium 4 - 2 Ghz

• RAM: 512 Mb

• Hard Disk: 20 Gb free space

• Video: 128 Mb RAM

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AR-32 User Manual

5. Installation

5.1 Unpacking Contents

When first opening your AR-32 Architectural Recorder System, please ensure that all system components are
present. The system ships with the following components:

• AR-32C Controller & Stand

• AR-32P DMX Interface

• 50’ Category 5 Ethernet LAN Cable

• AR-32 IR Remote

• AR-32 System Control Software CD

• AR-32 User Manual

Upon unpacking, carefully inspect your unit for any damage that may have occurred during shipping. If damage
has occurred, do not plug the unit in. Contact your Elation dealer as soon as possible.

5

Do not discard packing carton in the trash. Please recycle whenever possible.

5.2 Cabling Requirements

The AR-32P provides power to the system and plugs into any standard 120VAC – 60Hz grounded receptacle.
The AR-32C receives power from the AR-32P via the Category 5 Ethernet LAN cable (Figure 3) that connects
the two components.

Figure 3

The AR-32 does not use standard Ethernet protocol, and cannot be used with Ethernet routers
or switches.

12 Elation Professional ®