LIGHT PALETTE 90 SPECIFICATIONS
Last Update: 11-10-89
I. DESCRIPTION
The Light Palette 90 control system shall be a micro-computer based lighting system
designed and manufactured by Strand Lighting specifically for the control of
theatrical and television dimming systems. The system shall support the processing
of up 4032 dimmers on 4032 control channels, arrayed in incremental dimmer
processing cards of 512 DMX5l2 controlled dimmers, or 576 AMX192 controlled dimmers.
Dimmer processor cards shall provide the ability to utilize only the processing
power required for a particular need. At any time, processing power shall be easily
expandable to drive additional dimmers by simply adding additional dimmer processing
cards. Output protocols shall operate simultaneously and shall be individually
programmable to dimmers.
All major electronic components shall be plug-in and housed within a rugged
processing tower in an easily accessible manner.
The processing tower shall be engineered for tower style floor mounting or 19" rack
mounting and can be located a substantial distance from the control console.
Communication with the console surface shall occur via a high speed auto-baud serial
communications network.
The system shall be designed to support 3 desktop or furniture mounted consoles with
2 high resolution detachable CRTs each, and 3 handheld focus remotes simultaneously.
Each console and designer's remote shall have an individual command line, displays
and wheel control. The displays of separate consoles shall not be dependent upon
each other during operation. Each handheld focus remote shall contain a distinct
command line and LCD display. CRTs shall be high resolution EGA standard graphics
quality color monitors with user adjustable controls.
Within the standard console surface shall be command keypads, playback controls, one
or two submaster modules, and disk drives. Auxiliary control panels shall be
available on the standard surface. A outrigger console shall be provided to split
the submaster control surface from the standard console if desired. Submaster panels
shall be remotable from the standard console.
The operative data processing program shall be a non-volatile read-only memory. The
system shall not require the use of any peripheral storage/retrieval device to
function. In case of power failure, the random access memory shall be retained by a
30 day battery.
II. STANDARD FEATURES
The system shall provide, but not be limited to:
1. Console keyboard. The main console keyboard shall consist of logically
grouped keypads, level wheel, keyswitches, and on/off switch. The keypad groups
containing 125 rugged ergonometrically spaced keys include display, edit,
macro, function, control, alpha, record, level, and numeric keys.
2. Playback Controls. The playback controls shall be located to the left of the
console keyboard with a set of positive action "Go" and "Stop/Back" buttons
protected by shields on each side, 8 playback faders logically grouped in
pairs, 8 fader manual override buttons, and a rate wheel with associated take
control button.
3. Submaster Controls. The system shall support a maximum of 2 submaster
modules which consist of 24 linear potentiometers or 12 continuous wheels each,
(48 submasters total). Each submaster shall have an associated bump button and
shall be individually programmable by the user.
4. Disk Drives. The main console shall contain (2) 3 1/2" high density disk
drives, one linked to the main electronics and one linked to the reserve
electronics.
5. Color Videos. Each console shall drive two detached color videos, utilizing
the EGA standard, each with screens supporting up to 25 lines by 80 characters
of information. Each console shall also drive two detached remote color videos
utilizing the EGA standard.
6. Electronics Tower. The electronics tower shall provide, but not be limited
to:
1. Central Processor Unit.
2. Memory Card.
3. Serial Input/Output Card.
4. Dimmer Processor Card (up to 7 supported).
5. Serial Transfer Module.
6. Dimmer Transfer Module. (up to 4 supported).
7. Central battery backup.
8. Duplication of 1-7 for full tracking backup reserve electronics
(includes 4 independent power supplies).
III. OPERATING FUNCTIONS
The system shall provide, but not be limited to:
A. SETUP
0. The Main setup display allows access to sub menu routines. The title of a
show may be entered via the alpha keypad.
1. The System Parameters menu shall allow definition of the number of dimmers
and channels in the system. Changing these definitions shall not erase memory.
2. The Console Definition menu allows the operator to identify the use of the
Serial Transfer Module Ports (consoles and handhelds) and assign them various
levels of system access. Any peripheral equipment may be fully locked out,
record locked out, playback locked out, given display access only, or be fully
enabled within the definition of a particular port. The main console port #1 is
the only port allowed to assign access to other ports.
3. The Dimmer Output Configuration menu allows the identification of the Dimmer
Transfer Module between AMX192 and DMX512 protocols or a combination of both
protocols operating simultaneously with programmable dimmer numeric ranges
being specified. Percentages of available memory remaining in the system shall
be displayed in this menu.
4. The Submasters menu shall provide the means to define an individual
submaster as pile-on or inhibitive, normal or over range, and the bump button
as bump up, out, or bump off. The bump button can also be a dependent/
independent action alternative where a submaster designated as independent will
retain control over channels manipulated by the level wheel. If the submaster
is a wheel the bump button can be an active level or rate action alternative.
5. The Defaults menu defines the operator selectable system parameters
including Track vs. Q-Only, "SET" level value, default profile and fade time.
6. The Disk and Reserve menu accesses disk procedures where disk initialization
and transfer procedures are enacted. It shall be possible to load the entire
system, cue information only, patch information only, group information only,
effect information only, submaster information only, or profile information
only. Individual information items or information range shall be able to be
loaded into an active system without overwriting the system information and
cues shall be able to be renumber offsetted.
7. The Clear Functions menu provides system clear functions where individual
cues, patch or the entire system can be cleared.
8. The Printer Requests menu shall access individual print routines for the cue
sheet, cues, groups, effects, submasters, patch, profile, and note information.
During a print operation the system shall remain operative for other commands.
9. The Channel Format option shall allow display of only the active channels
used in the cue list.
B. PATCHING
1. Each dimmer may be assigned an alpha numeric name of up to 5 characters and
shall be addressable by this alpha numeric string through direct dimmer
address.
2. The patch information may be ordered by dimmer number, name, or channel
number. The display of the dimmer number, name, or channel number may be
individually suppressed when required.
3. Any dimmer may be assigned a profile number to adjust both the end level
(proportional patch) and the dimmer output curves. This shall allow assignment
of dimmers as an artificial non-dim or any curve desired by the user.
4. 64 dimmer output and cue progress Profiles are provided. Both the curve
endpoints (0% and 100%) may be specified as well as the 19 intervening points
(05% and 95%). The system shall automatically calculate intermediate levels
between any two points when required and shall also reset any curve to a linear
setting when desired. These profiles will be displayed in a "PROFILES" display
screen.
5. In "LIVE" mode any numbers of dimmers may be isolated from their channel
assignment for direct access where they will be held at a specified level until
returned to channel control. These dimmers will be displayed in an "UNPATCHED
DIMMERS" display screen when required. Unpatched dimmers shall not be recorded
into cues when placed at a level.
C. LEVEL SETTING AND RECORDING
1. Control lists may be constructed using the "AND" and "THRU" keys in
combinations of channels, groups, submasters, cue end states, and effects.
Channel levels are collected on a highest level takes precedence basis with an
immediate level "=" key provided for individual parameter mastering and an "@"
key provided for proportional master level setting. Control list elements may
be removed using the "MINUS" key. Level information will not execute until an
"*" key is pressed.
2. Control lists may be edited using the "HOME", ")" and "<" keys. Entries may
be modified, deleted, or inserted. The control list may be changed at any time,
without affecting stage levels.
3. Control lists may be modified proportionally by the level wheel. The level
wheel shall be a velocity sensitive device.
4. Control lists may be taken to a default level or zero with a single
keystroke using "SET" and "OUT". A control list may also be proportionally
raised and lowered a point at a time with the "+10%" and "-10%" keys. "SET",
"OUT", "+10%", and "-10%" inherently assume an "@" key preceding and an "*" key
following the key.
5. A control list may be set at a level or held at current levels while all
other channels are driven to zero using "REMAINDER DIM".
6. A selected channel or dimmer may be isolated and flagged between 15% and
Full for immediate identification.
7. "RETURN" may be used to restore a control list to established levels
immediately prior to the last command entered.
8. "TAKE CONTROL" shall allow the console to rob channel control from another
console or handheld remote if required. Channels directly under control from
another
console or handheld remote shall not be available for control at a local
console unless "TAKE CONTROL" is initiated.
9. A maximum of 999 Groups may be recorded for fast recall of commonly used
stage looks. Groups can be independently recorded or directly recorded from the
stage output. Each group may be assigned an alpha numeric label which will
track through to PLAYBACK SUBS when groups are assigned to submasters.
10. Cues may be recorded in any order. Up to 9 cues may be inserted between any
two numerically sequential cues. Each cue may contain 8 parts and may be
recorded with an alpha numeric label. Cues shall be able to initiate effects,
profiles, macros, and automated fixture console cues.
11. Each cue may be recorded with the following command line information:
a. Fade time up to 999 seconds with split up/down times.
b. Delay time up to 999 seconds with split up/down times.
c. Manual fade times.
d. Default fade times.
e. Special effects assignment.
f. Profile assignment.
g. Link-to-Q command.
h. Auto-follow of next cue with wait up to 999 seconds.
i. Automated console go cue assignment.
j. Macro go assignment.
12. Individual channel levels may be requested to track or to relate to the
current cue only. In addition a "BLOCK-Q" command is provided to isolate cue
sequences.
13. A Channel Path display shall be provided where an individual channel's
"Path" through a show can be viewed and manipulated using cursor keys to
quickly scan through a cue list.
14. A Cuesheet display shall be provided where color will identify actively
fading channels and the most recent cue. The cue sheet shall be independent of
the Playback Cues listing and information in the display can be manipulated
similar to Channel Path.
15. A Channels in Use display shall be provided to indicate the number of cues
in which a channel is used.
16. A Control display shall be provided to indicate origin of current channel
levels. Level source may be identified a cue number, individual submaster
number or level wheel (independent) control. The last origin of a channel shall
be the
displayed parameter.
17. 8 function keys are provided which change definition, depending on which
display is active. This feature shall allow swift command sequences to be
enacted.
18. COPY TO CUE and COPY FROM CUE function keys shall be available in the
PREVIEW display.
19. RECORD WITHOUT SUBS and SEARCH shall be available in the LIVE display.
20. UPDATE SUB and UPDATE SUB+GROUP shall be available in the SUBMASTER
display.
21. A NOTEPAD shall be available at any time for recording of notes through the
alpha keyboard. The notes will be retained in system memory and can be printed
through a hard copy printer.
D. PLAYBACK
1. One key shall be able to start an entire cue, comprised of up to eight
parts. Manual override and rate control shall be immediately available.
2. The system shall allow up to 128 simultaneous fades, including those on the
8 playback faders, phantom fades, and fades within effects.
3. Cues assigned to faders may be stopped, reversed, or converted to manual at
any time. The recorded time value may be proportionally adjusted with the rate
wheel.
4. Groups, effects or individual channel assignments may be assigned to the
submasters for playback. It shall be possible to assign the submasters
individually, in a command string, or via the Macro keys. Stage levels may be
immediately assigned to a submaster using "RECORD" "SUB" "#" "*". Active
submasters shall not load with pending information until a submaster handle is
brought to 0. The status of information present on submasters and the level of
submasters shall be available on a PLAYBACK SUBS display.
5. 999 user programmable Macros are provided which can contain up to 32 command
line keystrokes. This feature allows automatic execution of a group of commonly
used features or of cue/submaster sequences. Macros can be initiated from cues.
E. SPECIAL EFFECTS
1. Up to 999 special effects may be recorded. Any effect may be assigned to a
cue for automatic playback or it may be loaded to a submaster for manual
operation.
2. Each effect can contain 99 steps with a combination of cue end states,
groups, submasters, other effects, and channels in each step with independent
levels. The control list may contain up to 50 elements.
3. Each step can contain individual step time, fade in, dwell, fade out times
and overall high and low level settings. Default times and values are operator
programmable for swift effect recording.
4. Step control list elements can be edited using the ">", "<", and "HOME"
keys. Entries may be modified, deleted, or inserted.
5. Each effect can be assigned with any combination of attributes, including
positive, negative, reverse, bounce, build, and random. Effects can also be
recorded with alpha numeric labels for fast identification when reviewing or
when loaded onto a submaster.
6. A Test Function is provided to instantly stop and start an effect for
composition and preview purposes.
F. BACKUP AND DIAGNOSTICS
1. The system shall include, as standard, a full tracking reserve backup with
duplicate electronics- including power supply and disk drive. Two facilities
are supplied:
1) duplicate electronics in the main console which are switched with a
keyswitch on the console surface and
2) duplicate electronics in the tower which are switched automatically if
a failure is detected in the active computer or manually by keyswitch on
the tower.
The automatic switchover can be disenabled if required. The reserve systems may
be switched at any time with no change in operation.
2. In the event that any key on the console, including fader manual and
submaster bump buttons, becomes damaged or inoperative, its action can be
assigned to one of the eight macro keys.
The code for this may be entered at any time, even after the button has ceased
operation.
3. The memory diagnostic shall sequentially write and read all locations in
memory with various test patterns.
4. The disk diagnostic shall write and read all locations on disk with test
data.
5. The video diagnostic shall test all dot positions for visibility, viability
of character locations, and legibility. Two test patterns are used, verifying
pixels and overall clarity.
6. A Dimmer Overtemp LED indicator shall be located on main console surfaces to
allow potential overtemp monitoring of Strand supplied dimming systems.
IV. PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT
Optional equipment may be added to an existing system at any time. All wiring and
software provisions for optional equipment are furnished with a standard system.
1. High Speed Hard Copy Printer - Provides a printed record of cue, group,
effect, patch, submaster, and note pad information. Printing shall be a
background function and other commands shall be available on the console
surface while printing is occurring.
2. Designer's Remote Console - This console shall be self contained with all
operator keypads and playback facilities present on the main console, including
submaster controls if desired. The designer's remote shares the memory of the
main tower, but has distinct command line, display control, and wheel control.
A "TAKE CONTROL" feature shall be provided to rob channel control from another
device if required. Varying degrees of system lockout are provided by the main
console. Up to 2 designer's remotes can be added to a system in addition to the
main console.
3. Handheld Focus Remote - The handheld focus remote is provided with a 14
character LCD display. It has distinct command line and level control, but
shares system resources with the main console(s). It shall facilitate patching,
channel address, recording, cue execution, and macro key commands. A "TAKE
CONTROL" feature shall be provided to rob channel control from another device
if required. Varying degrees of system lockout are provided by the main
console. up to 3 handheld focus remotes can be added to a system in addition to
designer remote consoles.
4. Auxiliary Control - Space shall be provided to allow an auxiliary control
panel for houselight, worklight, or transfer take control.
V. POWER REQUIREMENTS
The system requires 10 amps of 120 VAC, 60HZ, 2 Wire and ground
AC power. 220/240 VAC, 50HZ input power is also available.
Loading...