RACK PALETTE SHOW CONTROL SYSTEM – TRACKING BACK UP
A. RACK PALETTE
1. Hardware Overview
a. The lighting controller shall be a Strand Rack Palette Rack mounting lighting
control system. All controls shall be microprocessor based and specifically
designed to provide complete control of stage, studio and entertainment lighting
systems.
b. An open architecture system using non-proprietary interfaces to permit
upgradability shall be used.
c. All equipment shall be designed and manufactured by a company operating a
quality system approved to ISO9001. It shall be CE marked and ETL listed.
d. Systems that do not provide the following capabilities shall not be acceptable.
2. Capacities
a. The controller shall provide direct control of up to 500 (1500, 3000, 6000, 8000)
Control Channels/Attributes. Attributes shall be units of control dedicated to color
scrollers and moving lights. For maximum flexibility in configuration and future
upgradability console hardware and software shall be available separately.
b. A minimum of 2000 cues, 3000 groups, unlimited effects, 3000 macros may be
stored in internal non-volatile memory and archived to USB keys or a file server.
Multiple shows and show file Back ups shall be stored on an internal 80GB hard
disk. Industry standard Intel micro-processors (Intel Core Duo) shall be employed.
3. Control Interface
a. There shall be a local keyswitch to enable and disable on panel controls and a
guarded Panic switch to stop all show operation.
b. Multiple playbacks shall be provided. Interaction between each playback shall be
user programmable as highest level or latest action takes precedence. Each
playback shall operate in automatic, manual fade or manual time modes executing
cues while following links, loops and subroutines. Tracking, Move fades and Cue
Only modes of operation shall be supported. All channels and attributes shall have
separate fade and operation times.
d. Up to 2 high resolution monitors shall be available on the full Rack Palette for the
display of levels, cues, submasters, groups, effects, set-up & patch screens
selectable from direct on panel keys..
e. Attributes shall be excluded from inappropriate masters and shall combine on a
latest action takes precedence basis.
f. An optional detachable alpha numeric keypad for text labeling and control access.
A SMPTE time code, and Midi control card shall also be available.
g. Cues may be recorded on a standard console and may be loaded via the front
panel USB port or directly into the controller via an Ethernet Network.
4. Console Interface List: the following console interfaces shall be provided:
a. VGA Output 1 (All models)
b. VGA Output 2
c. Keyboard
d. USB Ports (3)
e. Printer (Parallel LPT1)
f. Remote Control (Serial
g. Universal DMX 512 Dimmer Mux I/O 1
h. Universal DMX 512 Dimmer Mux I/O 2
i. Universal DMX 512 Dimmer Mux I/O 3
j. Universal DMX 512 Dimmer Mux I/O 4
k. MIDI Input (optional)
l. MIDI Thru (optional)
m. MIDI Output (optional)
l SMPTE (optional)
m. Ethernet 10/100BaseT
5. Network Interface
a. The control system shall support the following network protocols to provide optimum
connectivity for a wide range of applications:
i.
RS232,
ii.
ShowNet
iii.
sACN
iv.
Vision.net
v.
ArtNet
vi.
Pathway,
vii.
Colorkinetics net
6. Console Physical & Electrical
a. The controls and electronics shall be rack mounting and shall use an Intel microprocessor and Windows XP embedded operating system.
b. The unit shall be constructed of galvanized sheet steel and aluminum extrusion
with flame retardant ABS controls.
c. The system shall incorporate a universal 100-120v / 220-240v power supply.
7. Operational Environment
a. The acceptable ambient operating temperature shall be 0° to 40°C (32° to 104°F)
and the ambient storage temperature shall be -40° to 70°C (-40° to 158°F)
b. The acceptable operation location shall be the equivalent of a good office
environment, without excessive dust.
c. Acceptable humidity levels for operation shall be 5% - 95%, non-condensing.
8. Standards Compliance
a. All equipment shall be designed and manufactured by a company operating a
quality system approved to ISO9001.
b. The console shall be CE marked and ETL listed.
B. PALETTE OS OPERATING SOFTWARE
1. Operating System
a. The system software shall be a true 32 bit multi-tasking operating system.
Programs using a 16 bit operating system shall not be acceptable.
2. Cues
a. The console shall default to tracking cue recording. Q Only operation shall be
available as a user selected option.
b. Each cue may have split fade & delay times, a wait time, link & loop parameters,
calls for macros & effects, a text label and may be assigned to either playback.
c. Cue zero shall always be an intensity only blackout cue.
d. Cues shall have up to 12 parts.
e. Intensity only and attribute only cues and parts shall be supported.
3. Recording & Updating
a. Cues, groups, submasters, macros, & effects shall be recorded or updated from
the keypad. Channel lists may be copied between cues using the Update
command key.
4. Playbacks
a. Multiple playbacks shall be available. Interaction between each playback shall be
user programmable as highest level or latest action takes precedence operating
from either a common or separate cue sheet (sequence list). Each playback shall
operate in automatic, manual fade or manual time modes executing fades while
following links, loops and subroutines
b. Q Only and Tracking modes of operation shall be supported.
5. Effects
a. An unlimited number of text labeled effects containing may be stored with each
show. Effects may be played back from cues, submasters or macros.
b. Chase and build effect types shall be supported as shall forward, reverse, bounce
and random directions.
c. Levels and attributes shall be recorded in every step or shall be randomly
generated or inverted or alternatively normal and inverted every cycle.
d. Discrete in, dwell, out and attribute fade times shall be programmable on a per
step basis. Default in, dwell, out & attribute fade times and low & hi levels shall be
provided per effect.
e. Effects shall be chain-able and have overall fade in and out times.
f. Step control shall be timed, manual or, optionally with , MIDI, SMPTE inputs.
Effects may be programmed to start or stop from a cue, run a defined number of
cycles, run for a defined period of time or stop only after the last step has
completed. Effects may also be loaded and run from submasters.
g. Effects may be programmed as Last action or Highest takes precedence pile on
events.
h. Direct control of a running effect type & direction shall be provided from a set of
effects playback keys. The rate wheel may be used to adjust the step or fade in
and out times.
i. Modifications to running effects may be returned back to the effects memory for rerecording.
6. Groups
a. 3000 Groups may be recorded for fast recall of commonly used stage looks.
Groups can be independently recorded or directly recorded from the stage output.
b. Each group may be assigned a text label.
c. Attribute groups can also be created to allow grouping of luminaire functions.
d. Preset focus groups shall also be available.
7. Patch
a. A proportional soft patch shall be provided with provision to edit and switch
between either in performance.
b. Dimmers may be profiled, set with a non-dim trigger value, or unpatched at a level.
c. Tracker software shall incorporate a library of luminaires to simplify patching.
d. Patch displays shall be ordered by channel or by mux output.
8. Set-up
a. Comprehensive set-up screens shall be provided to configure external
communications and operation of the console.
9. Macros
a. 3000 user definable macro’s shall be available. These shall be accessible via
ASCII keyboard or by Vision.net button recall stations or any Vision.net
Touchscreen.
10. Archive
a. File saving shall be supported to USB key drives and local hard disk drives or
optional file server. File server may be a designated console or PC.
b. Shows shall have text labels and a time and date stamp.
.
15. Printing
a. The system shall support network based laser and ink jet printers. Color printing
shall be specifically supported.
b. The following printouts may be requested: Patch, Cues , Groups, Subs, Profiles,
Macros, Fixtures, Channels in Use, Channels not in use.
c. Printing to PDF shall also be supported.
d. All printouts may have user definable ranges.
C. PERIPHERALS
1. Support shall be provided, as standard, for the connection of a wireless handheld
remote control..
2. Additional peripherals, such as remote video, designer’s remote stations, and remote
DMX stations shall be supported through the integration of additional optional
equipment.
3. Each rack palette shall support interface to the full range of Strand Vision.net control
stations and touchscreens.
D. OPERATING MODES
1. Tracking Backup: Two controllers or a console and a controller identically
configured may be operated as main and full tracking backup.
a. A Backup Show Controller shall provide a reliable method of continuing a show
should the main controller fail. It shall allow all recorded elements of the show;
cues, effects & macros to be replayed in their entirety.
b. DMX dimmer or scroller outputs shall be generated from an SN series node
connected to the network. If the main controller is also connected to the
network then the SN series node will manage the merging of DMX dimmer or
scroller levels from the main controller and the backup. Alternately a DMX
switch panel may be provided to provide a physical transfer switch.
c. The Back up shall track and synchronize to the main controller at all times.
2. Multi-user Operation
a. Multiple consoles may be operated as main and designer’s remotes. Full
control interaction and multiple user log ins shall be supported. Remote
consoles shall have their own discrete video displays and command lines. This
system shall allow the recording of a show on a console while storing data in
the Showcontroller.
b. The system shall also support channel partitioning by console allowing two or
more users to write to a common cue base with separate channel lists. This
shall permit a system that shall allow one operator to create fixed luminaire
lighting cues while another operator is focusing moving lights. The system shall
then be recombined to run a show from a single console.
E. OFF-LINE EDITOR SOFTWARE
1. A Windows XP off-line editor shall be available which shall enable show files to be
edited and simulated in real time on any Windows Based PC.
b. All facilities of the console, including patching, channel control, playbacks,
submasters, effects & set-up shall be supported on the off-line editor.
c. Show files shall be portable between all configurations of console or Rack Palette
and off-line editor.
F. WIRELESS HANDHELD REMOTE FOCUS UNIT
a. The Wireless Handheld Remote shall consist of a handheld PDA style device with
a built in 802.11B Wireless Ethernet communications system. The remote shall be
complete with a color touchscreen LCD Display.
b. The remote shall support channel addressing and direct dimmer access as well as
Cue recall and playback and patching.
8. VGA Color Video Monitors
a. The Rack Palette shall support computer industry standard VGA color video
monitors.
9. ASCII Keyboard
a. Color coordinated Mini Keyboards, and Full Sized Keyboards, both computer
industry standard shall be available.
10. Vision.net Interface
a. The Rack Palette shall provide a full interface to Vision.net button stations for
remote macro commands.
b. Vision.net Fader stations shall provide remote submaster access to any Rack
Palette.
c. Vision.net Touchscreen panels shall provide remote video and full function access
to all Rack Palette commands. In addition touchscreen button and fader controls
can be used for remote submaster and macro command execution.
E. INCLUDED FURNISHINGS
The controller shall be supplied with:
1. Power cord