LightProcessor QCOMMANDER REPLICA Instruction Manual

QCOMMANDER REPLICA
Instruction Manual
Mode d’Emploi
Bedienungsanleitung
Manual de Instrucciones

20, Greenhill Crescent
Watford WD18 8JA
England
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.lightprocessor.co.uk

REP/UNI/07/01

QCommander Replica English, Français, Deutsch, Español

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QCommander Replica English, Français, Deutsch, Español

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INTRODUCTION

The QCommander Replica is a partner product to LightProcessor’s QCommander controller. It is
designed for use in situations where further programming of the lighting is not envisaged and the
requirement is simply to play back previously-recorded programmes, usually in a non-mobile
application such as a museum or retail premises.

It is programmed via a PCMCIA card (supplied with the Replica), which has previously been used to
extract the memory contents of the QCommander on which the programmes were made. Once
loaded, the Replica functions independently and the QCommander is no longer required. It may
subsequently be re-programmed in the same way.

The Replica is a 19 inch rack-mounting device, taking up one unit of rack space. It is operated via the
front panel. Note that the function of a control button changes according to what is showing in the
display.

CONNECTIONS

The Replica incorporates a universal voltage power adapter and may be plugged directly into the
mains. The mains lead connects via the rear panel.

All control connections are made to the rear panel. Output is DMX via a 5-pin XLR connector. There is
a mono Jack socket for the input of an audio signal, so that effects may be output, synchronised to
music. A 25-pin sub-D connector allows for the connection of a 16-way analogue device (for example,
the QCommander Input Extender) for the operation of any patches that have been programmed. A
9-pin sub-D connector has been fitted to allow for RS232 functions in later versions of the product but
note that they are not implemented in this version. The Replica has MIDI in, out and thru capabilities.

POWER UP

When power is applied to the Replica, it performs a self test and, during this time, the word QReplica
is shown in the display. At the end of the self test you will see the words RUN and SET in the display.
The Replica is now ready for use.

RUN

Stored effects are played back in RUN mode. There are sixty-four virtual output buttons arranged as
eight actual buttons on eight BANKs. The sixty-four virtual buttons correspond to the QCommander’s
output buttons and are numbered accordingly. Buttons 1-8 of the QCommander are found on Bank 1,
9-16 on Bank 2, 17-24 on Bank 3 etc. See diagram 1. A blackout is effected by pressing the
BLACKOUT switch but see System Option 4.

With RUN in the left side of the display press the left hand SELECT button. The display shows VIEW
and BANK. Press BANK. To move between the BANKs, press the BANK UP or BANK DOWN
buttons.

Press any one of the numbered buttons 1-8 to output the effect(s) contained in that button. To view
the contents of the button, hold down the VIEW button and press the button.

Note that the Replica has no access to the QCommander’s GO and FREEZE commands.

SET

SET is used to set up the four-digit passcode that protects the SET menu from unauthorised access. It
is also used to access the memory card functions and the system options. The memory card functions
allow you to load a QCommander’s memory into the Replica and to load a Replica’s memory content
into a memory card. A specially-programmed memory card may also be used to update the operating
system.

QCommander Replica English, Français, Deutsch, Español

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SETTING AND ENTERING THE PASSCODE

You may enter a passcode to protect both the RUN and SET menus . When your Replica is delivered,
the passcode 0000 is in place 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.

With SET in the right hand side of the display press the right hand SELECT button. With PSCD in the
right hand side of the display press the right hand SELECT button. Press RUN or SET to choose the
menu to protect. The display now shows 0000. Press PSCD UP DIGIT. Note that after 9 the display
passes back to 0. To select a digit and move to the next, press PSCD NEXT DIGIT. When all four
digits have been set, MAKE A NOTE OF THE CODE AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE SAFE. Press
PASSCODE ENTER.

You will subsequently need to enter the passcode to go beyond the RUN/SET display when you
select SET.

CARD

The QCommander Replica uses a PCMCIA card, type 1, 512Kb, SRAM. Note that there are various
options available within this specification, such as rechargeable batteries, and these will affect the
price you pay.

The memory cards supplied by LightProcessor are of the rechargeable type. From discharged to fully
charged takes approximately 40hrs. When dispatched from our factory, cards are nominally fully
charged and should be able to store data for up to eighteen months without corruption. However, we
recommend that cards are charged every six months.

To charge a card, insert it in the card slot and select CARD when in the CARD/PSCD display. The
card must be inserted in its slot to perform card operations. If it is not, you will receive an error
message.

Formatting the card

A previously-unused card will need to be formatted before it can receive data. Use the
BACKUP routine described below.

Backing up and Restoring Data

In the RUN/SET display select SET to access the CARD/PSCD display. Select CARD to
access the SYSTEM/DATA display. Select DA TA to access the BACKUP/RESTORE display.

To save the Replica’s memory to the card, select BACKUP. At the prompt
‘overwrite card?’ or (‘create new backup card?’ when formatting a new card), press
CARD YES. You will see the message ‘Do not interrupt.’ When you see the message
‘Transfer Done’, press ESC. The Replica will then return to the RUN/SET display.

To upload a card’s contents into the Replica, select RESTORE. At the prompt
‘overwrite memory?’, press CARD YES. You will see the message ‘Do not interrupt.’
When you see the message ‘Transfer Done’, press ESC. The Replica will then return
to the RUN/SET display.

Installing a New Operating System and Changing System Options

In the RUN/SET display select SET to access the CARD/PSCD display. Select CARD to
access the SYSTEM/DATA display. Select SYSTEM to access the OPTIONS/NEW display.

To update the operating system, select NEW. The display prompts ‘Install new
sys?’ Press CARD YES. The system will update and then return to the QREPLICA
display and then RUN/SET.

QCommander Replica English, Français, Deutsch, Español

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To change the system options, select OPTIONS. Scroll down the list of options
using the OPTION DOWN button and up the list with the OPTION UP button. Press
the OPTION ON-OFF button to de-select a selected option. Press the OPTION OFF­ON button to select a de-selected option. Press OPTIONS FINISHED? OK? to return
to the OPTIONS/NEW display.

The options are explained as follows:-

01 Autoplay ON/OFF. Default = OFF. The Replica may be set up to automatically
play back the contents of a previously-selected output button immediately power is
applied: the button will have been previously selected using option 14.

02 MenuTimer ON/OFF. Default = OFF. With the menu timer ON, the display reverts
to RUN/SET after 30 seconds if no further buttons are pressed.

03 CommsMode MID/232. Default = MIDI. RS232 not yet implemented.
04 BlackAll ON/OFF. Default = OFF. Only channels of the type shutter and Dimmer

are affected by the operation of the Blackout switch. When set to ON, all channels go
to 0 when the blackout button is pressed.

05 Send MIDI ON/OFF. Default = ON. Must be set to ON to enable MIDI out.
06 MIDIrxchn 0-15. Default = 0. The button OPTION OFF-ON increases the channel

number; OPTION ON-OFF decreases the channel number.
07 MIDIOmni ON/OFF. Default = OFF. When set to ON, the Replica receives on all

channels 0-15.
08 ScnsFade ON/OFF. Default = OFF. Fade-out times on static scenes are ignored,

as they could clash with fade-in times on subsequent scenes.
09 InstSY&FX ON/OFF. Default = OFF. When set to ON, the installation of a new

system also updates the fixture library.
10 RptShow ON/OFF. Default = OFF. A show may be set to run just once or to loop

continuously until manually switched off by setting this option to ON.
11 AskStrike ON/OFF. Default = OFF. This option may be set to ON to allow for

those intelligent fixtures which must be specifically switched on before use. If set to
ON, you are asked after the opening QReplica screen whether you wish to strike the
lamps.

12 AutStrike ON/OFF. Default = OFF. Set this option to ON to automatically strike
the lamps of those fixtures that require to be specifically switched on.

13 P-showBlk ON/OFF. Default = ON. Calls a blackout before a show runs.
14 Startkey 001. Default = 0. Choose a key for the autoplay option. See option 01.
15 MIDIOffset 000. Default = 0. The default MIDI map starts at note 0, applying to

button 1 on bank 1. An offset may be applied using this option, using the OPTION
OFF-ON and OPTION ON-OFF buttons.

16 Erase mem OK? Resets all options to default. Empties all memories.

To end, use OPTION UP to get to option ’00 FINISHED? OK?’ Press OPTIONS FINISHED to
go back to the OPTIONS/NEW display. Use ESC to go back through the menu levels to
RUN/SET.

QCommander Replica English, Français, Deutsch, Español

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NOTES ON USING MIDI

To enable MIDI you must first ensure that option 03 is set to MIDI. Then set option 05 to ON if you
wish to use MIDI out.

The Replica sends MIDI OUT only on MIDI channel 0.
By default the Replica receives MIDI on channel 0, although it can receive on any channel 0-15. To

setup which channel the Replica will receive, use option 06. To setup the Replica to receive on any
MIDI channel 0-15 (omni on), use option 07.

The Replica’s 64 output keys are used to send and receive MIDI. See diagram 2 at the end of this
manual for details of send and receive music and MIDI notes. Option 15 allows you to offset the MIDI
note map, i.e. the first button on the Replica does not have to be note 0.

Outputting a MIDI note by pressing a key will activate the same numbered key on any QCommander
or Replica receiving MIDI IN on that channel (whatever the contents of the receiving key might be). It
is therefore possible to use multiple QCommanders and Replicas as a Master and Slaves.

FOR EASE OF REFERENCE THE MENU STRUCTURE OF THE REPLICA IS SET OUT IN
DIAGRAM NO. 3 AT THE END OF THIS MANUAL.