High End Systems Power Cue DMX User Manual

2217 West Braker Lane

User Manual

Austin, TX 78758 USA

[phone]

www.highend.com

Power Cue DMX

Power Line

2217 West Braker Lane
Austin, TX78758 USA
www.highend.com
[phone]

TM

© 1999 High End Systems, Inc.

QCOMM/ENG/2.00A/02/99

CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. SetUp

III. Programming

General Principles
Front Panel Layout and Function
Rear Panel Layout and Function
Passcodes
Channel Names
Keys - Latch, Flash, Swap, Solo
Fixtures - Selecting Types, Setting DMX Address
Groups
Channel Types - HTP, LTP, Permanent - Dim, Switch,
Snap
Patch - The Input Extender
Comms. - RS232, MIDI

Scenes, Moving Lights
SavePalet
Transparency and Overlay Explained
Preset Focus
Auto Check Error Detection
16-bit fades, Mirror Locks
Scenes, Generic Lighting. Selecting Channels
Scenes, Generic Lighting. Selecting Groups
Scenes, Generic Lighting. Scene Attributes
Scenes, Copying and Clearing Memories
Chases
Output Keys
Deleting the Contents of a Key
Shows - Real Time Programming
Notes on Shows, Deleting a Show

1
2
4
6

8
10
12
14
16

20
22

24
30
31
32
34
35
36
38
40
42
44
46
49
50
52

IV. Run Mode

V. Card Menu

VI. Appendices

Find - Locating Effects on Output Keys
View - Viewing the Contents of an Output Key
Levels - Monitoring Channel Activity
Capture - Grabbing a Look
Adjust - Altering the Speed of a Chase
Live - Live Control of Moving Light Channels

Specification, Formatting
Copying Data to and from the Card
System Sub-menu - Updating the Operating System,
Updating the Fixture Library
Erasing Memories
Configuration Options

MIDI
Connections - Pin-outs
Getting Help
Conformity

54
56
58
60
62
64

66
66
68
68
69
70

72
74
76
77

© High End Systems, Inc. 1999, All Rights Reserved

Information and specifications in this document are subject to change without notice. High End Systems, Inc. assumes no responsibility or
liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this manual. The system software for Power Cue DMX described in this manual
is furnished under license, and is protected by copyright law and international treaties.

Trademarks used in this text: High End Systems is a registered trademark; and Power Line, Power Cue DMX, and Fader Panel are trade­marks of High End Systems, Inc. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. High End Systems disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names owned by oth­ers.

Contacting High End Systems

U.S. and the Americas:

Sales Department:High End Systems, Inc.

2217 West Braker Lane
Austin, TX 78758 USA
voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Customer Service:High End Systems, Inc.

2227 West Braker Lane
Austin, TX 78758 USA
voice: [phone]
24-hour FAX: [phone]
24-hour voice mail:[phone]

or [phone]

U.S. West Coast:High End Systems, Inc.

8200 Haskell Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406 USA
voice: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

World Wide Web:http://www.highend.com

Product Modification Warning

High End Systems products are designed and manufactured to meet the requirements of United States and International safety regulations.
Modifications to the product could affect safety and render the product non-compliant to relevant safety standards.

Mise En Garde Contre La Modification Du Produit

Les produits High End Systems sont conçus et fabriqués conformément aux exigences des règlements internationaux de sécurité. Toute
modification du produit peut entraîner sa non conformité aux normes de sécurité en vigueur.

Produktmodifikationswarnung

Design und Herstellung von High End Systems entsprechen den Anforderungen der U.S. Amerikanischen und internationalen Sicher­heitsvorschriften. Abänderungen dieses Produktes können dessen Sicherheit beeinträchtigen und unter Umständen gegen die dies­bezüglichen Sicherheitsnormen verstoßen.

Avvertenza Sulla Modifica Del Prodotto

I prodotti di High End Systems sono stati progettati e fabbricati per soddisfare i requisiti delle normative di sicurezza statunitensi ed inter­nazionali. Qualsiasi modifica al prodotto potrebbe pregiudicare la sicurezza e rendere il prodotto non conforme agli standard di sicurezza
pertinenti.

Advertencia De Modificación Del Producto

Los productos de High End Systems están diseñados y fabricados para cumplir los requisitos de las reglamentaciones de seguridad de los
Estados Unidos e internacionales. Las modificaciones al producto podrían afectar la seguridad y dejar al producto fuera de conformidad
con las normas de seguridad relevantes.

Warranty Information

Limited Warranty

Unless otherwise stated, your product is covered by a one year parts and labor limited warranty. Dichroic filters and LithoPatterns® high
resolution glass gobos are not guaranteed against breakage or scratches to coating. It is the owner’s responsibility to furnish receipts or
invoices for verification of purchase, date, and dealer or distributor. If purchase date cannot be provided, date of manufacture will be used
to determine warranty period.

Returning an Item Under Warranty for Repair

It is necessary to obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number from your dealer or point of purchase BEFORE any units are
returned for repair. The manufacturer will make the final determination as to whether or not the unit is covered by warranty. Lamps are
covered by the lamp manufacturer’s warranty.

Any Product unit or parts returned to High End Systems must be packaged in a suitable manner to ensure the protection of such Product
unit or parts, and such package shall be clearly and prominently marked to indicate that the package contains returned Product units or
parts and with an RMA number. Accompany all returned Product units or parts with a written explanation of the alleged problem or mal­function. Ship returned Product units or parts to: 2227 West Braker Lane, Austin, TX 78758 USA.

Note: Freight Damage Claims are invalid for fixtures shipped in non-factory boxes and packing materials.
Freight

All shipping will be paid by the purchaser. Items under warranty shall have return shipping paid by the manufacturer only in the Continen­tal United States. Under no circumstances will freight collect shipments be accepted. Prepaid shipping does not include rush expediting
such as air freight. Air freight can be sent customer collect in the Continental United States.

REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE CON­SUMER. HIGH END SYSTEMS, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO ANY PRODUCT,
AND HIGH END SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. HIGH END SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE,
INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, SUSTAINED OR INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PRODUCT OR CAUSED BY PROD­UCT DEFECTS OR THE PARTIAL OR TOTAL FAILURE OF ANY PRODUCT REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION,
WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR
NOT SUCH DAMAGE WAS FORESEEN OR UNFORESEEN.

Warranty is void if the product is misused, damaged, modified in any way, or for unauthorized repairs or parts. This war

1

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

The Power Cue DMX is designed to control most types of intelligent and generic lighting that
will be encountered in entertainment venues today. It has the following capacities:

•256 DMX output channels

•512 scenes

•64 chases of 64 steps

•16 groups

•16 intelligent fixtures

•29 channels (max.) per fixture

•8 Looks (snapshot memories)

•8 shows of 500 events

•64 playback keys

•16 channel analog input

SetUp

Before making programs it will be necessary to configure the Power Cue DMX in respect of the
lighting being used and of user preferences. This procedure is discussed in Section ll, Setup.

Menu Structure

The programming interface is a backlit LCD display, showing multi-level menus. All valid
options within a menu are displayed and appear as labels to eight push buttons (softkeys)
above and below the display. Where necessary, a menu choice is confirmed by pressing the
STORE/YES button to the right of the display; a menu choice is cancelled by pressing the
ESCAPE/NO button to the left of the display.

Intelligent Lights

For the purposes of the Power Cue DMX an intelligent light (fixture) may be defined as any
lighting projector which has multiple channels and for which the Power Cue DMX contains a
personality. The Power Cue DMX can control up to 16 such fixtures with separate DMX
addresses and with differing personalities. If required, several identical fixtures may be
assigned to one DMX start address and may be considered as one out of the sixteen.

Fixture Personalities

When working with fixtures, it is necessary to software install them through the setup menu, so
that the Power Cue DMX knows the personalities of the fixtures concerned, their position in the
DMX chain and which button calls which fixture. A library of fixture personalities exists within
the Power Cue DMX. This library is updated periodically and users may obtain updates from
their dealer.

See our website for the latest fixture library information.

Scenes and Chases

The programming structure works in this way. Fixtures are programmed into positional settings
called scenes; a number of scenes is then programmed into a sequence called a chase. The
chase, alone or in combination with other chases and effects is subsequently assigned to an
output key from which it may be called up or run.

Generic Lights

Scenes may also be constructed for use with generic lighting. They may then be recalled from
output keys as static scenes or they may first be chained together into a scene chase. Alterna­tively a scene may be designated a zone where the lamps run a pattern through the selected
channels. Sound-to-light scenes may also be programmed.

Looks

A snapshot of the current outputs may be captured as a look.The look is then assigned to any
available output key. This feature must first be enabled via the system options utility.

Shows

A timed sequence of key presses, comprising scenes, zones, chases, individual channels and

looks. It may be programmed in real time by storing actual events as they happen. You may subsequently edit the
list of events and their desired run times.

Memory Card

The Power Cue DMX has a PCMCIA memory card slot which allows you to save all your programming to a
suitable memory card. Conversely you may upload from a memory card into the Power Cue DMX. New versions
of the operating system may be loaded via a memory card and new intelligent fixture personalities may also be
uploaded via the card slot.

FRONT PANEL LAYOUT AND FUNCTIONS

Display and softkeys, STORE/YES and ESCAPE/NO buttons

This is the heart of the programming interface. The eight buttons, top and bottom of the display, change their
function according to the task being executed at the time. The display indicates the current function of each
button. The STORE/YES button is used to confirm a selection or action. The ESCAPE/NO button is generally
used to abort or cancel an operation .

Alphanumeric pad

Any item that you can program can be given a name. This keypad is used to write names in the display.
When you create effects with intelligent fixtures, the buttons in this keypad represent the various functions of the

fixture. In some instances numeric values may be entered using this keypad, although the trackball is more often
used.

Push buttons

There are sixteen illuminated push buttons. During programming they represent the sixteen intelligent fixtures that

2

3

may be driven by the Power Cue DMX. They may also be programmed to contain pre-defined
groups of channels and subsequently during scene programming to call these groups into a
scene.

They may also be used as output keys. In RUN mode (playback) they are used to recall those
effects programmed into them. In this context they may be set to latch, flash, swap or solo.

Touchkeys

There are sixteen illuminated touchkeys. These may be set to latch, flash, swap or solo. They
may be used during playback as output keys to recall those effects programmed into them.

Page keys

There are two pages of push buttons and two pages of touchkeys, so the physical number of
keys is effectively doubled in both cases, making a total of 64 virtual output keys.

Trackball

The trackball is used during programming for all functions that require the setting of a level.
When applied to mirror movement, it operates in both vertical and horizontal planes; for all
other effects it operates only in the vertical plane.

When using the livefacility in RUN mode, the selected fixture attribute is adjustable live from
the trackball.

Master slider

The master slider controls the overall output of all channels on the desk, for which the type has
been set as dimmer,regardless of their highest takes precedence/lowest takes precedence
(HTP/LTP) status. (HTP and LTP are discussed further in the “Setup Channel Type” section.)

Channels not specifically set as dimmerwill not be affected. Any channel output level is
multiplied by the current level of the master to give its output level. When in RUN mode the
level of the Master is shown by a band of asterisks running horizontally across the display. The
master slider can be enabled/disabled independently for each channel.

Blackout switch

Operation of the blackout switch takes all dimmer and shutterchannel levels instantly to zero,
regardless of their HTP/LTP status. If used in conjunction with button 0 on the alphanumeric
keypad, then ALL channel levels will be set to 0 and all key commands are cancelled. When in
RUN mode a blackout is indicated by the word 'Blackout' above the asterisks indicating the
level of the Master. The blackout switch can be enabled/disabled independently for each
channel.

Light socket

This socket provides a drive voltage for an operating light. We recommend a 12 inch Littlite, G
Series with a type 1815 lamp.

REAR PANEL LAYOUT AND FUNCTIONS

Power supply (PSU) input

The pin connections are shown on the rear of the unit and later in this manual in the section, “Connections”. Use
only a genuine Power Line power supply unit (PSU).

PCCard slot

The memory card is a PC Card Type 1, 512Kb SRAM. Card operations are dealt with in section V.
You can use memory cards to:
(a) Update the operating system

(b) Upload new intelligent fixture personalities
(c) Save and upload programming

DMX output

The DMX output connector is a 5-pin female XLR, wired to the standard USITT DMX1990 configuration.

Auxiliary Control Input

The pin connections are shown on the rear of the unit and in the section, “Connections”. This connector allows
the connection of external analog devices such as the Power Cue DMX Fader Panel.

Audio Input

Chases and zones may be run to one of the audio regimes, either via the internal microphone or via audio input
through the jack socket. Inserting a jack plug disables the internal microphone. Alternatively scenes may to set to
respond to sound input by selecting the type sound-to-light.

LCD Display Contrast Adjuster

A rotary display contrast adjustment is provided to compensate for varying viewing angles and lighting levels.

MIDI

The MIDI strategy is for key actions to respond to note onand note offmessages. The Power Cue DMX can be
set to send note onand note offmessages corresponding to key presses.

RS232

Not implemented.

4

5

Before you can use the Power Cue DMX there are several features that should be
configured via the set up menu. When you switch on the Power Cue DMX, the first screen
you see will show several options, one of which is SetUp. At other times SetUp may be
accessed by pressing Escape when the display shows RUN MODE.

SET UP PASSCODES

You may set passcodes to protect the Prog/Edit menu, the Setup menu and the Card menu. The
code to the setup menu is the master and has global access. When your Power Cue DMX is
delivered, it is set up with the passcode 0000 and all menu levels are open. Setting up the passcode
with anything other than 0000 invokes the security system. Any security system in place may be
cancelled by re-instating the passcode 0000.

1.Press SetUp

5.Select one of the three menus to protect.

You may choose a different password for
each menu.

2.You must know the current passcode

protecting a menu, in order to access
the menu. (The default is 0000.)

6.Enter the CURRENT passcode for the

selected menu, using the numeric keypad,
like you did in step 3.

6

Since there are three menus to protect, there can be three different passcodes. Make
them unforgettable or write them down and keep them handy.
.
Neither uploading a new operating system nor erasing everythingin the system options
menuerases current passcodes. TIP!

!!!All the instruction sequences in this manual start from the MAIN MENU screen. If

you are in RUN mode, press ESCAPE to get to MAIN MENU.

3. Use the numeric key-

pad to enter the current
4-digit code. Press YES.

4.Now you can proceed to the SetUp

menu and select the passcode option.

•Press Setup

•Enter current code

•Press Pswd

•Select menu to
protect

•Enter current code

•Enter new code

7.Enter the NEW passcode, using the numeric keypad, like you

did in step 3 and press STORE.
You have now looped to step 5. Protect another menu or press

ESCAPE to go back a level.

7

SET UP CHANNEL NAMES

This section discusses how to name channels, which can make them easier to remember.

1.Press SetUp. Enter the SetUp passcode, if

active.

4.Enter or edit the channel name as shown

in step 5.

2. Press ChnName

8

NOTE:Channels used by fixtures are

named automatically during the setup
fixtures routine. The automatically­assigned names may not be overwritten.
If you are using fixtures, install them first.

5.Use the alpha-numeric pad to enter a new

name or edit the existing one. Press STORE
when finished.You have now looped back to
step no. 3 and can scroll to another channel or
press ESCAPE to go backwards through the
menu levels.

9

•Scroll to a channel

3.Scroll through the channels list, using

the UP and DOWN buttons. Press
STORE to select a channel.

•Press SetUp

•Press ChnName

and press STORE

•Type a name

•Press STORE

SET UP KEYS

Both the push buttons and the touchkeys may be configured according to the following options. Both
the buttons and the keys are grouped left and right over two pages. A selected attribute applies to all
keys in the group.

1. Press SetUp. Enter the passcode, if

prompted.

Note these abbreviations for the various button groups:­PBL1 = Push buttons, page 1, left
PBL2 = Push buttons, page 2, left
PBR1 = Push buttons, page 1, right
PBR2 = Push buttons, page 2, right
TKL1 = Touchkeys, page 1, left
TKL2 = Touchkeys, page 2, left
TKR1 = Touchkeys, page 1, right
TKR2 = Touchkeys, page 2, right

2.Press Keys.

10

11

3.Select a group of keys to setup. Scroll

through the options to make your selection.
Repeat this procedure for other groups. Press
STORE and return to step 2.

These are the available functional modes. Except where the function is Global, it
applies only within the group:-

Latch and Add- A pressed key remains switched onuntil pressed a second time. All
keys may be switched onat any one time.
Flash and Add -A pressed key remains switched on only while it is pressed. All keys
may be switched onat any one time.
Latch and Swap -A pressed key remains switched onuntil pressed a second time.
Only one key may be switched onat any one time; pressing a second key switches off
the first one.
Flash and Swap - A pressed key remains switched on only while it is pressed. Only
one key may be switched onat any one time; pressing a second key switches off the
first one.
Latch and Solo, Global - A pressed key remains switched onuntil pressed a second
time. A solo key has no effect on keys already switched on. When a solo key is
switched on, all keys are disabled until the solo key is switched off.
Flash and Solo, Global -A pressed key remains switched on only while it is pressed.
A solo key has no effect on keys already switched on. When a solo key is switched, all
keys are disabled until the solo key is switched off.

•Press SetUp

•Press Keys

•Select a group of

keys

•Bump to the

desired option

•Press STORE

when finished

SET UP FIXTURES

The Power Cue DMX contains a library of a great number of intelligent fixture personalities. Before
you can use a fixture, it must first be assigned a personality and a DMX start address.

1.Press SetUp. Enter the passcode, if

prompted.

2.Press Fixts. The Power Cue DMX can con-

trol up to 16 fixtures. They will appear in the
display as nos. 01-16 and initially have no per­sonality, i.e. they are UNASSIGNED. You will
next select a personality for each fixture you
wish to control.

12

4.Scroll to the fixture type you want to use.

Press STORE.

5.The Power Cue DMX automatically sug-

gests a DMX start address. Press STORE to
accept the suggestion or use the trackball or
numeric keypad to select a different one.
Press STORE. You are now back at step no.

3. Repeat steps 3 to 5 to assign the next
fixture or press ESCAPE to go backwards
through the menu levels. If you choose an
address that conflicts with a previous
selection, i.e. you have overlapping channel
addresses, then the word overlap appears in
the display in step 5 alongside the caption
DMX ADDRESS to indicate that the address is
invalid. Pressing STORE causes the message
'ASSIGNMENTERROR' to be displayed in
step 3. above alongside the fixture number.

13

•Select fixture type

3.Scroll to the fixture number you want to set

up and press ASSIGN.
If you attempt to assign a fixture that is already

assigned, you may adjust the PAN, TILT and
AXIS but not the DMX address. To change the
DMX address, you must first remove the fixture
and then re-assign it with the new address.

When setting up your fixtures you will need
to make certain DIP switch selections on the
fixture itself. Often there are two DIP switch­es, one for the personality and one for the
DMX start address setting.

The main personality setting will often
involve a choice between some other type of
protocol and DMX. Always choose DMX
when working with the Power Cue DMX.
Other available settings will vary according
to the model and brand of fixture.

You will need to set a DMX start address for
each fixture on the other DIP switches.
These addresses must correspond to the
addresses you set on the Power Cue DMX.
Please refer to the manual for your fixtures
for instructions.

It is easy to become confused when
working with fixtures that are not all
the same way up or facing in the
same direction. The Power Cue

TIP!

you to change left to right and right to left, so
that you can work on opposite sides of a room
simultaneously.

AXIS allows you to switch horizontal and verti­cal and is useful when working with fixtures
installed horizontally instead of vertically.

DMX helps you here. The PAN and
TILT options in step 5. above allow

•Press SetUp

•Press Fixts

•Select from 1-16
and press
ASSIGN

and press STORE

•Set DMX address
and press STORE

Many intelligent fixture instruction manuals
also provide a table, showing how to set the
DIP switches for any required address.

SET UP GROUPS

Where you need to use certain channels together on a regular basis, you will find it easier and quick­er to call them into a scene as one group, rather than many individual channels. This routine shows
you how to define the channels in a group. You may define a total of 16 groups.

1.Press SetUp. Enter the SetUp passcode, if

prompted.

4.Press one of the sixteen illuminated push

buttons. This is where the groups will reside.

2.Press Group.

5.Scroll through the channels and

assign/remove channels, using the
appropriate button. Selected (assigned)
channels show *. During programming
selected channels are output at full
brightness.

14

Press STORE when you have finished
selecting channels for this group.

When you call a group into a scene, all channels will be set at full brightness. Having
called the group you can then change the level of individual channels by selecting chan­nels in the scene programming menu.

TIP!

15

•Select channels to

3.Select the group to setup.

NOTE:Setting up one of the 16 groups for a

second time will result in the original setup
being overwritten.

•Press SetUp

•Press Groups

•Press button for
Group

include

•Press STORE

when finished

SET UP CHANNEL TYPES

Just as each channel may be named, it may also be given certain characteristics to determine how it will
respond to a control signal:

•what function is assigned to it.

•whether the channel may be faded, switched or snapped.

•whether it works HTP, LTP or is permanently on.

•whether it responds to the DBO switch, the Master fader, both or neither.

When the Power Cue DMX is first switched on, all channels are set by default to type = dimmer/DBO,
mode = fade and output = HTP.

The Attributes

All channels are of the type DIMMER by default. DIMMER channels are subject to the MASTER FADER and to
the blackout switch. When you set up intelligent lights (fixtures), this type will be changed automatically to
MIRROR X, COLOR, GOBO, etc., as appropriate. These channels are not subject to the master but the dimmer
channel of an intelligent light will remain typed as a DIMMER.

•TRUE/INVERT

You will usually require a channel to be fully off at DMX value 0 and fully on at 255. By selecting ‘Invert’ you can
reverse the channel’s functionality, so that DMX value 0 is fully on and 255 is off. Note that some intelligent
lights have their shutter fully closed at 255. The Power Cue DMX sets shutters to 0 at the end of a chase: in
such a case you would set the channel type True/Invert to Invert.

•DBO/No DBO

An HTP dimmer channel which is DBO is subject to the master slider and the DBO switch.
An HTP dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to the Master slider only.
An HTP non-dimmer channel which is DBO will respond to the DBO switch only.
An HTP non-dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to neither the Master slider nor the DBO switch.
An LTP dimmer channel which is DBO is subject to the DBO switch only.
An LTP dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to neither the Master slider nor the DBO switch.
An LTP non-dimmer channel which is DBO will respond to the DBO switch only.
An LTP non-dimmer channel which is NoDBO will respond to neither the Master slider nor the DBO switch.

To understand why the above is important, consider this situation. The Power Cue DMX has the facilities to pro­gram 16 moving lights by refering to their pre-installed personalities and picking up each attribute in turn from
the alphanumeric keypad. You can install additional moving lights and program them channel by channel, as
you would have to do on a less-advanced desk.

Let us imagine that a fixture you are installing by this method has no dimmer channel and that dimming is effect­ed by means of the shutter channel. The correct output type for most moving light channels is LTP (and the
mode should be fade or snap) but if the shutter channel is left as LTP, the shutters will not come down at the
end of a chase. To cure this problem the shutter channel therefore needs to be set to HTP. It also needs to be
set to dimmer/DBO, in order that the shutter responds to the DBO switch and the Master slider.

•MODE

The channel mode is either FADEing, SWITCHing or SNAPping. FADE channels may move from any one level
to another at any speed that you set. An example of FADE channels would be intelligent fixture mirror channels.
SNAP channels may move from any one level to another but at the maximum speed allowed by the fixture.
Intelligent fixture color/gobo wheels are normally SNAP channels. SWITCH channels are either on or off. Chan­nels connected to a switching power pack would be set to SWITCH mode.

16

•OUTPUT

17

Outputs are either LTP, HTP or PERM. A channel can only output one level at any one time. If it receives
more than one output command, which one should it choose to obey? LTP, HTP and PERM lays down
the rules for this situation, following conventions established for various types of device.

LTP channels respond to the latest command received. Most intelligent light channels are customarily set
to LTP, allowing, for example, overlayed color/gobo information, hence last takes precedence, or LTP.
HTP channels respond to the highest level instruction received. Such a setting is appropriate for intelli­gent fixture dimmer channels as mentioned above and also for dimming power packs. If two scenes are
output to the same channels, it will be the highest level signal in each channel that will be obeyed.

PERM channels remain on, even when a general blackout is in force. This is to cater for those lamp
types which need to cool when switched off before they can be switched on again. The PERM output is
also suitable for color changer lamps, while the changing mechanism would be set to LTP.

SET UP CHANNEL TYPE

1. Press SetUp. Enter the setup menu passcode,

if prompted.

2. Press ChnTyp.

18

19

3.Scroll to the desired channel and adjust the

attributes. Then press ESCAPE. See the notes
opposite for an explanation of the attributes.

•Press SetUp

•Press ChnTyp

•Set the attributes

•Press STORE

SET UP PATCH - THE FADER PANEL

The Power Cue DMX allows you to patch various types of effect to an external control device,
usually with faders, so that such effects may be faded in and out or set at varying levels and not just
switched on and off. The Power Cue DMX lets you make 16 of these patches.

Power Line produces the Power Cue DMX Fader Panel specifically for this purpose. Your Power
Cue DMX may have been delivered complete with a Fader Panel already fitted. If not, it is still
possible to add one as a separate unit, connected via a data cable supplied with the Fader Panel.
Contact your dealer for details. In both cases power comes from the Power Cue DMX and no further
external power source is required to drive the Fader Panel.

Alternatively, you may use any lighting desk giving a 0-10V analog output. Make a suitable cable to
connect 16 desk channels to the Power Cue DMX’s auxiliary control input (pin connections detailed
below). Note that the desk must be powered in the usual way and notfrom the Power Cue DMX.
Therefore, when you make your cable, do notconnect pins 14 and 15 at the Power Cue DMX end.

Using programs you have already made you may assign to a fader :

•a scene,

•a chase,

•a channel,

•the contents of an output key.
You may elect to patch all channels of a chosen scene to the fader or just the HTP channels; this

allows the dimming up/down of moving lights without affecting LTP channels, such as mirrors and
color wheels. When patching chases, only HTP channels respond to the fader, in order that the fader
does not interfere with mirror movement, color wheels etc.

The patch is programmed via the Power Cue DMX’s SetUp menu as detailed below.
Using a fader while you are In RUN MODE will cause the patched effect to be sent to the

outputs.

20

When a scene is patched to a slider, a copy of the scene is made and and assigned to a
memory of its own. When you edit the original scene, the patched scene will not be
updated. You must make the patch again to update it.

TIP!