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256 DMX Channels | 512Kb Internal memory | Alpha-numeric keyboard | Analogue inputs | Audio | Build Standards | DBO | Fixtures | Flexi-lite | Generic Lighting | Grand Master Fader | Hi-resolution | Input Extender | Intelligent
Lighting | LCD Display | MIDI | Naming | Pallets | Password security | PCMCIA card | Personalities | Playback keys & Buttons | RS232 | Trackball |
Drives
Intelligent and Generic Lighting
A library of intelligent fixture personalities is
pre-installed in the QCommander. This encompasses models
from most major brands. Other fixtures may be available
(please enquire). The QCommander will drive any DMX
dimmer, switchpack, demultiplexer, smoke machine, strobe
etc.
Hi-Res
Fixture Personalities
Fixtures usually have one DMX channel per attribute (e.g.
pan, tilt, etc.). This allows 8-bit control, i.e. 256
steps. Some more recent fixtures use two channels for
some features, which allows for 16-bit adjustment - up to
65,000 steps. The QCommander seamlessly supports this
level of control.
Multi Level
Passcode Security
Separate passcodes may be set for each of the four
principal menus, thus allowing selective access, with a
master passcode applied to the set-up menu.
256 DMX
Output Channels
All the QCommanders 256 output channels are freely
configurable. You can use them all for intelligent lights
or keep some (or all of them) back for dimmers and other
DMX devices.
Analogue
Control Inputs
16 0-10v DC analogue input ports are provided to allow
the QCommander to be connected to all manner of external
control systems - for example, Custom made wall plates
with switches and or faders for environmental lighting
control, Fire or security alarm systems, Movement or
presence detectors, Other control desks, Show control
systems, in fact almost anything.
The QCommander Input Extender is available as an optional
extra to the standard Q Commander. It has 16 faders and
flash buttons and is constructed in the same style as the
QCommander. It allows the patching of channels, scenes,
chases, keys or groups to any of the faders, increasing
the number of output controls available, as well as
giving the user the option of using faders where that
feels more natural.
512kB
Internal Memory
The generous internal memory capacity allows for the
storing of 512 scenes, 64 chases, etc. (see specification
on the QCommander Home Page). In tests we have found this
to be more than you could ever use with 16 fixtures. In
addition you may store eight complete shows of up to five
hundred separate button presses. All programming may be
stored to the PCMCIA memory card. Conversely, complete
shows may be uploaded from a card to the QCommander.
Playback
Keys and Buttons.
The sixteen numbered push buttons and touchkeys are used
during both programming and playback. Both the
pushbuttons and touchkeys are arranged over two pages
selectable, giving a total of 64 "virtual"
keys. These are further split left and right on each page
giving a total of eight groups. Each group is
programmable to function latch or flash, add or swap
within the group. A group may also be set to function as
solos affecting all groups globally. Programmed effects -
scenes, chases, looks and channels in combination may be
assigned to any output key with very little restriction.
Shows must be assigned to the eight pushbuttons set aside
for the purpose.
Alpha-numeric Keypad
The data entry keypad has several functions. During the
programming of moving lights the various channel
functions are assigned to these keys.
The personality of the fixtures was recorded during the
initial set-up procedures and the personality channels
are routed to corresponding attributes buttons. So now,
when you press, for example, the mirror attribute button,
the QCommander knows which DMX channels you are looking
to control and they come live on the trackball. The same
procedure gives you access to the other channels for
that/those fixtures selected.
Your fixtures can also be controlled 'live' during your
show in a similar fashion.
You can enter DMX levels using the trackball but you also
have the option to enter the value via this keypad. All
the effects you program are formed into lists for later
reference. You can scroll down these lists using the
trackball but if, for example, you wanted to access scene
no. 512, you can simply enter 512 on the keypad.
Naming
Anything you can program, you can give a name to and,
given that so many things can be held in the
QCommanders memory, the naming feature is extremely
useful. Use the alpha-numeric keypad, much as you would a
mobile phone keypad, to enter names for the effects you
program.
Grand
Master Fader and DBO switch
For an instant blackout, just flip the DBO (Desk
Black-Out) switch. The slider is the Grand Master; it
controls the overall output of the desk and can be the
simplest way to fade your entire rig to black. By default
both the Master and DBO control only shutter and dimmer
channels, regardless of HTP and LTP settings. Should you
wish to change either setting to suit your particular
application, you can.
Trackball
You would be right to think that the trackball is used to
program mirror movements and because people prefer a
trackball to a mouse or joystick, we make maximum use of
this device. Any attribute requiring the setting of a
level goes through the trackball but leaves you the
option to input the level numerically, should you wish to
do so.
For mirror movement the trackball works in both
horizontal and vertical axes and with sixteen bit
resolution where the fixture supports it; for colours,
dimming levels etc. it works only in the vertical axis.
During playback it can be used as the control for the
manipulation of any fixture attribute being used 'live'
or to adjust the run speed of a zone or chase.
The LCD
Display
Central to the programming interface and the philosophy
behind the QCommander is the backlit LCD graphic display
and the surrounding softkeys. We call them softkeys
because their functions change as you proceed through the
menu structure. To either side of the display there is a
STORE/YES button and an ESCAPE/NO button. These functions
are constant and their purpose obvious. The buttons above
and below the display change their functions at each
level in the menu structure. To make it clear what is
happening, prompts appear alongside each button in the
display at each step. Apart from the clarity aspect it is
both reassuring and helpful to have all the valid options
set out before you. Because you dont have to think
of them yourself, programming runs quickly and without
stress.
So, just make your selection from the prompts available
and press STORE to confirm. If, by chance, you do take a
wrong turn, press ESCAPE and go back a level and have
another try.
During playback the display gives general status
information and allows you to make adjustments to chase
speeds, etc. Various utility functions are provided to
allow you to identify the contents of each touchkey or
push button or to find the whereabouts of that special
effect that you know you stored somewhere.
Fixtures (that's
Moving Lights, Intelligent Lights, Robots, Scans etc.)
and Fixture
Personalities
The QCommander can drive up to 16 intelligent lights
within the limitation of its 256 output channels. Where
the fixtures support it, 16-bit mirror fades are
available. The QCommander can handle multiple fixture
types simultaneously.
The QCommander has a library of intelligent light fixture
personalities pre-installed. When you set up fixtures,
you are effectively telling the QCommander what the
fixtures are, what their starting DMX addresses are and
what function each channel of the fixture performs. The
QCommander automatically sets certain other channel
attributes, such as LTP and HTP, whether the channel is
subject to the grand master and blackout switch, and
whether the channel switches, snaps or fades.
When programming, a fixture is specifically selected by
pressing one of the sixteen fixture buttons. Its
attributes are then available for selection on the
alpha-numeric pad and may be adjusted using the
trackball. An OVERLAY facility exists allowing the
programming of scenes with transparent channels (LTP).
This facility is useful when it is desired to switch a
range of colours or gobos in and out of a single basic
chase effect.
If your fixture(s) are not listed, please let us know,
via email, using the form on the fixtures page. In
most cases we will be happy to add to the existing
library.
Pallets
The SAVEPALET facility allows the speedy recall of a set
of previously-saved values, e.g. all colour wheels set to
red.
During playback fixture attributes may be adjusted, using
the live feature, handy for turning a moving light into a
follow spot.
Optional
Flexi-light
Removing the cap in the top right hand corner of the
QCommander, will reveal the socket for an operating
light.
Lightprocessor recommend the use of a 12" G-Series
Littlite® with type 1815 lamp. These are available from
your distributor. The operating light does not need an
additional power supply, as it runs directly from the
QCommander external power supply.
PCMCIA Card
The PCMCIA slot allows the use of a type 1, 512Kb SRAM
card, to perform backup and update operations.
The card is inserted into the rear of the QCommander, and
all your programming can be saved to the card for safe
keeping.
Saved programs can simply then be simply uploaded back
into a QCommander.
Lightprocessor also can also use a PCMCIA card to update
your QCommander operating system and the fixture library.
MIDI
Interface
The communications hardware within the QCommander may be
configured for either MIDI or RS232 communication.
The QCommander can receive MIDI note on/note off on all
16 channels but transmits only on MIDI channel 0.
Each of the QCommanders 64 output keys represents a
MIDI note. Sending, for example, middle C to another
QCommander will activate the same key on the receiving
QCommander, thus enabling multiple units to be used in a
larger installation.
The implementation of MIDI time code is envisaged for the
future.
Audio
The QCommander has several audio features.
Firstly, there's an internal microphone. Where there is
no audio line in available, this microphone allows access
to the features described below. If required, this
microphone can be disabled by inserting a ¼" Jack
plug into the audio input socket. A line level music
input is provided through this socket. All processing of
the audio signal is done using software rather than the
traditional hardware filters. This allows for greater
levels of subtlety of control, enabling the QCommander to
give you excellent audio control features.
Zones can chase to a bass beat. Chases steps can
synchronise to a bass beat. Scenes may be set up as
sound-to-light.
With sound-to-light selected the channels in the scene
will now respond to four audio frequency bands - bass,
tenor, alto and treble, rather than DMX levels. The
frequency response of each channel is adjustable - just
scroll to that channel and use the trackball.
RS232
Communications Port
This feature is currently not yet implemented. It is
planned for use in uploading new software and fixture
personalities via standard PC's - allowing distribution
on floppy disk and from this web site.
Built to
Exacting Standards
All electrical products have to conform to the relevant
European legislation and to attest to their compliance
they must carry the CE logo.
Appropriate to LightProcessors products are the Low
Voltage Directive relating to electrical safety and the
EMC Directive which deals with a products
susceptibility to electrical interference and its ability
to generate such interference.
The law says that all products sold in the European Union
must carry the CE mark. In this case the CE mark implies
that the manufacturer (or original importer into the
European Union) believes that the product conforms to the
provisions of the Low Voltage and EMC Directives. Prudent
manufacturers or original importers will hold a technical
records, detailing the test data and procedures carried
out to establish the belief in the products
conformity.
CE regulations exist for your protection. They are being
flouted by unscrupulous manufacturers and importers to
the detriment of unsuspecting purchasers and users.
Insist on CE-marked product and demand a certificate of
conformity, if you are in any doubt. Any reputable
supplier will be happy to assist.
Input
Extender
The Input Extender is an optional upgrade to the
QCommander which may be fitted to existing systems.
Control inputs to the QCommander may be patched from the
Input Extender, a bank of 16 faders and flash buttons. To
any fader you may assign a scene, a chase, key channel or
group.
Accessing an effect via a fader means that you have
direct control of the overall level of that effect. You
can choose to include all channels in the patch or just
the HTP channels, thus allowing you to fade in
intelligent lighting sequences without affecting mirrors
and other normally-LTP channels.
copyright
This page was last edited
on 21/03/03
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