Interspace Industries TheatreCue 16 Way V4 System User Manual

Designed and created by:-

16 Channel Cue Light System

A visual signalling system for theatres that allows silent cues to be given to actors and technicians

Built By

Up to 36 programmable Cue Lights

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Multiple per channel

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2,000m (6500ft)+ total cable length

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Uses a single 1 pair cable

Cue Lights

01.

Designed and created by:-

Quick Start Guide

Using a standard 3 pin XLR microphone cable , c

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one or more Outstations to either XLR connector on the Master Station’s rear panel. Both XLRs on the Master Station can be used at the same time.

Both Go and Standby lamps on the Master Station will

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light dimmed once the Outstation has performed a lamp test.

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Press a Standby button on the Master Station.

Standby lamps on the Master Station & Outstation flash.

Press the Outstation’s Confirm button

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The Standby lamps burn steadily. Pressing the Confirm button when the Standby lamp is not flashing will light the Call lamp

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Press the Go button The Go lamps light. The Standby lamp goes out if it was on. After 3 seconds the Go lamp flashes. After a total of 15 seconds, the Go lamp turns itself off.

onnect

3 4

Master Station’s front panel

Cue Light Outstation

Built By

Trigger cues across multiple channels by the press of a

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single master Group button Assign channels to Group A or B

When an Outstation is unplugged, the Fault lamp

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flashes. Reset the Fault lamps by pressing both the red and blue buttons on the Master Station.

Power. 36V DC 1.9A

Master Station’s rear panel

02.

Designed and created by:-

Index

Quick start Guide

The Cue Light Components

16 Channel Master Station. QLM16i2 Mk4

Cue Light

Cue Light Outstations

Standard Outstation features in detail

Multiple Outstations per channel

Relay Outstation. QLRi2 Mk4

Changing an Outstation’s channel

Outstation Cables

Linking multiple Master Stations

Master Station Configuration Editor

Diagnostics

System design suggestions

Specifications

Outstation types and configuration

Standard Outstation. QLSi2 Mk4 Beeper Outstation. QLSi2-B Mk4

Built By

Warranty, Declarations and Standards.

03.

Designed and created by:-

The Cue Light Components

Standard Cue Light Outstation Model QLSi2 Mk4

Cue Light Master Station.

Cue Light Master Station. Model QLM16i2 Mk4

Details on page 7

16 channel digital Cue Light Master S can be used

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with any number of Cue Light Outstations from 1 to 40.

Any number of Outstations (up to the maximum 40) can be

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connected to any channel

Up to 6 Master Stations can be linked for larger systems.

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Dual Master Stations can be used on the same wiring

universe. (this feature coming soon)

Can be controlled from a PC running show control

software.

5 types of Outstation including Relay.

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Up to 16 programmable options for each individual channel.

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Outstations can be wired using daisy chain, star and/or

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loop wiring topologies on a single 3 pin XLR microphone cable.

tation

Cue Light Beeper Model QLSi2-B Mk4

Outstation with

Standard Cue Light Outstation. Model QLSi2 Mk4

Details on page 14

20mm Go and Standby LED lamps are b

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and dimmable.

Red or yellow Standby lamp option programmable per

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Outstation.

Backlit Acknowledge button can also signal the Master

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Station.

Eavesdrop mode switch enables the use of multiple

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Outstations per channel.

16 programmable options for each individual Outstation.

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right, wide angle

Cue Light Outstation with Beeper. Model QLSi2-B Mk4

Details on page 14

As per the Standard Outstation, but with an inbuilt beeper.

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Built By

Total cable length can be greater than 2,000m (6,500 feet).

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Powered from a universal 90/264V 50/60Hz external power supply.

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The beeper is triggered by the Beep button on the Master

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Station and/or programmable Beep-on-Go option.

It can be used as a Standard Outstation (without beeps) as it

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only beeps when specifically commanded to do so.

All Outstations are available individually.

04.

Designed and created by:-

The Cue Light Components

(Continued)

Relay Outstation

Relay Outstation. Model QLRi2 Mk4

Details on page 19

This Outstation has two relays with changeover contacts

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which allows for direct control of other circuits such as smoke machines, door bells and stage telephones etc.

The relays are controlled by the Go and Standby buttons on

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the Master Station.

Cue Light/Latching/Momentary operating modes are

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selectable.

Connection to the voltage free relay contacts is via Phoenix

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compatible connectors.

There is provision for an external Confirm button.

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10 programmable options for each individual Outstation.

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It can function as a Standard Outstation although the Go

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and Standby lamps are only 5mm in diameter.

RS232/RS485 Computer interface

PC Interface

Connects between the Master Station and a PC running

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party show control software to provide remote control for up to 6 Master Stations via RS232 or RS485.

Allows control from a touch screen or show control script.

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QLi2-PCi Mk4

3rd

Built By

05.

Designed and created by:-

The Cue Light Components

Coming Soon

Ethernet bridge.

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Splitter with 2 or 4 ports.

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2,000m of cable on each port. Master and Outstations can connect anywhere on any port.

(Continued)

Built By

06.

Designed and created by:-

Built By

16 Channel Master Station

The system consists of a Master Station and any number of Cue Light Outstations from 1 to a maximum of 40.

Cue Light Outstations have an Eavesdrop mode which allows an unlimited number of Outstations to be assigned to the same channel (up to the system’s maximum of 40).

The wiring between a Master Station and its Outstations is known as a wiring universe. A universe supports a maximum of 16 channels. With multiple Outstations per channel, there may be up to 40 Outstations connected to these 16 channels.

The Master Station can be connected at any point in the wiring universe. This allows the Master Station to be easily moved from any mode to any other mode on the wiring, such as from prompt corner to a production desk in the auditorium during rehearsals.

Two Master Stations can be connected to the same wiring universe allowing for dual control of 16 channels. (this feature coming soon)

QLM16i2 Mk4

Up to 6 Master Stations can be linked for larger systems. Each Master Station must have its own wiring universe of 16 channels.

The digitally addressed Cue Light Outstations are connected using a single 3 pin XLR microphone cable although screened data cable is preferable.CAT5/6 cable may be used. Outstations may be connected using either daisy chain, star and/or loop wiring topologies. The Master Station provides power to all Outstations over this same cable.

Cable faults are reported as soon as they happen as Outstations are in continuous communication with the Master Station.

A Short lamp lit indicates a short circuit in the external wiring to the Outstations. External wiring is protected by an electronic current limiter which is backed up by a self resetting fuse.

A white designation strip runs between all channels.

07.

Designed and created by:-

16 Channel Master Station

Power. 36V DC 1.9A

(Continued)

Go and Standby buttons

The illuminated

Go and Standby buttons on the Master

Station light dim once an Outstation is connected and has performed a lamp test. These 2 buttons are used to send cues to a Cue Light Outstation.

The Go and Standby buttons light brightly in response to a Go or Standby cue. They are driven by data returned from the Outstations.

This is known as positive monitoring. They are not just a local indication that a button has been pressed.

Built By

Parallel XLR

connectors for

Outstations

Parallel Expansion Ports

for PC Interface and

the linking of Masters

Master station’s rear panel

Master Mode Switch. Used when 2 Masters are connected (this feature coming soon)

Eavesdrop Outstations

On any channel, set only one Outstation to Normal Mode. This Outstation will send return monitoring to the Master station for driving the Go and Standby lamps

All additional Outstations assigned to that same channel must be set to Eavesdrop Mode. These additional Outstations respond to commands from the Master Station but send no return monitoring. They can however, send Call signals. (see the following page)

For more details on Eavesdrop Mode see the section on Multiple Outstations per channel (page 18).

08.

Designed and created by:-

16 Channel Master Station

(Continued)

Call Lamps

Each channel has a blue Call lamp to enable an Outstation to signal the Master Station.

An Outstation’s Confirm button has 2 functions. If a Standby cue is waiting to be acknowledged (Standby

•

lamps flashing), pressing the Confirm button will cause the Standby lamps to burn steadily. Pressing the Confirm button at any other time will light the

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Call lamp.

The Call lamps can be disabled as well as set to flash or burn steadily on a channel by channel basis. These changes are made via the Master Station’s Configuration Editor. (page 34)

While Outstations set to Eavesdrop Mode do not send return monitoring to the Master Station, they do send Call signals.

Fault Lamps

A red Fault lamp at the top of each channel indicates when an Outstation is not communicating with the Master Station. This could be due to an unplugged Outstation or a cable fault. The Fault lamp has 3 states. On, Off and Flashing.

The Fault lamp is off when a channel is unused (no

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Outstation connected). Go and Standby buttons will also be off. The Fault lamp is also off when an Outstation is connected but in this case the Go and Standby buttons will light dimmed.

The Fault lamp is on if a channel has an Outstation

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connected in Eavesdrop Mode but no Outstation in

Normal Mode.

The Eavesdrop Mode Outstation will still respond to Go and Standby cues but the Go and Standby buttons on the Master Station will not light as there is no return monitoring from Outstations in Eavesdrop Mode.

The Fault lamp flashes when all Outstations on that channel

•

are unplugged.

Flashing Fault lamps can be reset by pressing both the Beep and Dimmer The Master Station and Outstations are in continuous communication with each other, enabling prompt detection of cable faults or disconnected Outstations.

on the Master Station.

Built By

09.

Designed and created by:-

16 Channel Master Station

(Continued)

Group buttons

The group feature allows cues across multiple channels to be triggered by the press of a single button. Any channel can be assigned to one of two Group Master buttons Group A and Group B

The group assignment for each channel is controlled by the Group button and its associated amber lamps.

Pressing a Group button cycles through four possible group assignments: A, B, A+B and none. Pressing either of the Group Master Go or Standby buttons is exactly the same as pressing the corresponding Go or Standby button on any channel that has been assigned to that group master.

The channel's Go and Standby buttons still remain fully operational independent of any group assignment. The status of each channel’s Group button is saved in memory and is restored when the Master Station is powered up.

Power. 36V DC 1.9A

Parallel XLR

connectors for

Outstations

Parallel Expansion Ports

for PC Interface and the linking of Master

Stations

Master Station Mode switch. Used when 2 Master Stations are connected

Linking Multiple Masters Stations

When multiple Master Stations are used, the 4 Group Master buttons can be linked across the Master

Stations via an expansion port on the rear panel. Up to 6 Master Stations can be linked.

Pressing any of the four Group Master buttons on any Master Station will electronically press the corresponding Group Master button on all linked Master Stations. This allows cues across multiple Master Stations to be triggered by the press of a single button.

Built By

To quickly clear group assignments across multiple channels, press and hold any two Group buttons for 0.5 seconds. All channels between (and including) those two buttons will have their Group assignments set to off.

10.

Designed and created by:-

16 Channel Master Station

(Continued)

Short Lamp

The Short lamp indicates short circuits on the external XLR wiring. Fault current is electronically limited to approximately

1.6 amps. If the short is maintained for more than 400mS, the power supply enters a hiccup mode where power to the Outstations is turned off and reapplied once every few seconds until the fault is cleared. If the short is persistent, the period before reapplying power

increases from 2 seconds to 8 seconds.

Beep button

The red Beep button works like a shift key in conjunction with a channel’s Go and Standby buttons. The Beep function requires a Beeper Outstation (Model QLSi2-B) which is basically a standard Cue Light outstation fitted with a beeper. This Outstation functions just like a standard Outstation when the Master Station’s beep button isn’t pressed. The beeper can be triggered to emit either a very short beep (which sounds like a click), or beep for as long as the button is pressed, up to a maximum of one second.

Beep button + Standby button = very short beep. Beep button + Go button = long beep.

The beep is accompanied by the flashing of the Standby lamp on the triggered Outstation(s). The Beep button can also be used in conjunction with the group master buttons. The beep function can be disabled on a channel by channel basis via the Master Station Configuration Editor. (page

34)

Dimmer button

The Outstation lamps can be dimmed in five steps from 5% to 100%. Press and hold the Blue Dimmer button on the Master Station. Use the Standby button to increase intensity or the Go button to decrease intensity. Once 5% or 100% is reached, further presses are ignored. Four presses of the Standby button will set an Outstation to 100% irrespective of its initial setting. The Dimmer button can also be used in conjunction with the group master buttons. The Go and Standby lamps on the selected Outstation flash alternately as the intensity is adjusted.

The intensity can also be adjusted from an Outstation. Press and hold the Dimmer button on the Master Station. Pressing the Confirm button on an Outstation starts the Go and Standby lamps flashing alternately. Subsequent presses of the Confirm button increase the intensity by 1 step. When 100% is reached, it rolls back to 5%. The lamps flash faster when at 100%.

The dimmer settings for each channel are saved in the Master Station memory and are restored when the Master Station is powered up.

Built By

The Beep command is ignored by Outstations not fitted with a beeper.

Tip:

Multiple channels can be dimmed simultaneously by assigning channels to one of the 2 Groups and then using that Group’s Master Go and Standby buttons to increase or decrease the dimmer intensity.

11.

Designed and created by:-

16 Channel Master Station

(Continued)

Built By

Power. 36V DC 1.9A

Parallel Expansion Ports for PC Interface and the linking of Master Stations

Expansion Port

An Expansion Port consisting of

two parallel RJ12

Parallel XLR

connectors for

Outstations

Master Station Mode switch. Used when 2 Master Stations are connected

connectors allows for the linking of multiple Master Stations (see page 10) and also for connection of the PC Interface

(see page 5)

unit . The cable is of the 6 core flat telephone type. Suitable cables are supplied with the PC Interface and multiple Master Station purchases. These cables are intended to be short patch leads because they are unscreened and untwisted, however, lengths up to 100m (300 ft) will work. RJ12 cables with only 4 of the 6 pins wired can also be used. (pins 1 & 6 not wired)

RJ12

654321

Pins 1&2: Ground Pins 3 & 4: RS485 data Pins 5&6: +30V power

Expansion Port wiring

(looking at the socket on the rear of the Master Station)

(This feature coming soon

Master Mode Switch

- not yet available)

When two Master Stations are connected to the same wiring

universe for dual control of 16 channels, set the Master Mode switch on one Master Station to Main and the other

to Slave. The configuration settings stored in the Main Master Station will be those used to run the Cue Lights. These configuration settings will also be copied across to the Slave Master Station so that either Master Station can then run the show.

If only one Master Station is connected, set the mode switch to the Main position.

Master

Mode

Main

Slave

Main: Single or 1st Master Slave: 2nd Master

Master Mode switch

Power Connector

The Master Station is powered from an external AC adaptor rated at 36V DC and 1.9 amps. Input to the adaptor is 90 to 264 volts 50/60Hz The Master Station provides power to all Outstations via the interconnecting 3 pin XLR cables. The Master Station can be powered from a supply as low as 24 volts DC although the cable length to the Outstations may need to be reduced as there are less volts available to overcome losses in the interconnecting cables.

12.

Designed and created by:-

Outstation types and configuration

Different Types: Same channelOutstation Configuration

There are currently 2 main different types of Outstation that can be connected to the Cue Light Master Station. Standard Outstation (QLSi2 Mk4)

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Relay Outstation (QLRi2 Mk4) There are a number of options that can be configured for

•

each type of Outstation. Details of these options can be found in the following pages describing each type of Outstation. All options can be changed using the Master Station Configuration Editor.

Any of the two Outstation can be connected to any channel. The Master Station stores configuration (option) settings for each type of Outstation for each channel. When an Outstation is connected, the configuration data for that specific type of Outstation is used to configure that channel. When an Outstation is swapped for a different type the configuration data for the newly connected type of Outstation is used by the Master Station to reconfigure that channel.

The Relay Outstation (QLRi2 Mk4) also allows for their configurations to be changed from their front panel. Any configuration changes made this way are sent to the Master Station and saved in the Master Station’s memory for recall next time the system is powered up.

Variants: Beeper (QLSi2-B Mk4)

(page 34)

types

Different types of Outstation (QLSi2 or QLRi2) can be connected to the same channel at the same time but only one type will be operational. The first Outstation type to be connected will become operational. Other Outstation type(s) added later will be non-operational until the first (operational) Outstation is unplugged.

When 2 or more different types of Outstation are connected at power up, the type with the highest precedence will become operational. Types with lower precedence will be non-operational until the operational type is unplugged. The order of precedence is:Standard outstation QLSi2 (highest) Relay Outstation QLRi2 (lowest)

Built By

The Master Station has seven files (presets) that can be recalled by the user. There are two Factory Default , one Installer Default and four User

The configuration settings stay with the channel and do not follow the Outstation. If an Outstation is re-addressed to a different channel, it will take on the configuration settings assigned to the new channel. When an additional Outstation (in Eavesdrop Mode) is added to a channel it will take on the configuration settings assigned to that channel.

file files.

files

13.

Designed and created by:-

Cue Light Outstations

Standard

With beeper

Standard Cue Light Outstation QLSi2 Mk4

Outstation with Beeper QLSi2-B Mk4

QLSi2 Mk4 QLSi2 -B Mk4

The Beeper Outstations can be used as a Standard Outstation. They only beep when the red button on the Master Station is pressed in conjunction with the Go or Standby button on the required channel. Beep button + Standby button = very short beep. Beep button + Go button = long beep. They beep independently of whether a cue is active or not.

Beeper Outstations can also be programmed to beep when ever a Go cue is received. See Beep-on-Go on page 39.

Typical Operation

Press a Standby button on the Master Station.

•

Standby lamps on both the Master Station and

Press the Outstation’s Confirm button.

•

The Standby lamps burn steadily.

Press a Go button on the Master Station.

•

The Go lamp lights. The Standby lamp goes out if it was on. After 3 seconds the Go lamp flashes. After 15 seconds, the Go lamp turns off.

(with factory default settings)

Cue Light Outstation flash.

Beep

Built By

It is not necessary to give a Standby cue before giving a Go

Go and Standby cues can be given at any time

cue. regardless of any previous cue state.

The Go or Standby lights can be turned off or cancelled at any time by pressing their respective buttons a second time. Multiple Go cues are simply done by using the Go button only. Press Go to turn the Go Light on, press it again to turn it off. The Go lamp is also programmable (on a per channel basis) between latching or non-latching (momentary acting) to allow for even faster cueing. Op the Master Station Configuration Editor. (page 34)

tions can be changed using

14.

Designed and created by:-

Cue Light Outstations

(Continued)

Anywhere from 1 to 40 Outstations can be connected to the Master Station.

Rectangular 25mm/10mm Go and Standby lamps are bright, wide angle and dimmable in 5 steps from 5 to 100%.

The Go and Standby lamps consist of four LEDs for each colour. The LEDs are fed from 2 drive circuits with two LEDs per circuit to provide redundancy should any of the LEDs or drive circuits fail.

The Confirm button is back lit so you can find it in the dark. The back light only comes on when error free communication is established with the Master Station. The backlight winks slowly if data is lost as can happen if the 2 data conductors are shorted together.

Any Outstation can Call the Master Station. An Outstation’s Confirm button has 2 functions. If a Standby cue is waiting to be acknowledged (Standby lamp flashing), pressing the Confirm button will cause the Standby lamps to burn steadily. Pressing the Confirm button at any other time will light the Call lamp on the Master Station.

The address of any Outstation can be changed in a few seconds without the use of any tools or fiddly DIP switches. See Changing an Outstation’s address (page 22).

Multiple Outstations can be used on the same channel by setting additional Outstations to Eavesdrop Mode. See Multiple Outstations per channel (page 18).

Outstations can be added or removed while the power is on.

Flush mounted Confirm button, Go and Standby lamps are virtually impossible to break or shear off.

The 2mm steel outer case has a total of 6 mounting holes including a 10mm hole for attaching a hook clamp. A 3/8" microphone stand mount is at the centre of the rear cover. When mounted to a microphone stand with the front of the Outstation facing the ceiling, the Outstation can be viewed from 360 degrees.

Built By

Outstations may be connected using either daisy chain, star and/or loop wiring topologies. Outstations can be wired up in any order. Outstation #2 does not have to follow #1 in a daisy chain.

Technical note

The Outstation data is balanced and uses transformer isolated RS485. (RS485 is what DMX uses.) The data uses a Group Encoding scheme with digital FM modulation for excellent noise immunity and error detection. Data is slew rate limited to reduce radiated electrical noise to a minimum. Outstations are powered by the Phantom Power principle where power is sent down the data pair with a ground return.

15.

+ 35 hidden pages

Interspace Industries TheatreCue 16 Way V4 System User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual