Light Cue Pro Hardware and Software Reference Manual
Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this manual, and the reliability of the Alcorn McBride Light Cue Pro. Errors can sometimes go undetected, however. If you find one, please bring it to our attention so that we can correct it for others. Alcorn McBride welcomes comments and suggestions on the content and layout of its documentation. Applications described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Alcorn McBride Inc.
Table of Contents Features 5 Getting Started 6 LightCue Manager Software Connecting the Unit Storage Media Recording Playback Show Controller Connection 6 6 6 7 8 8 LightCue Manager Software 9 LightCuePro Connection Cue Names and DMX Files Recording Cues in LightCue Manager Channel Sets Playback Cues in LightCue Manager Monitor DMX Channels Control DMX Input and Button Configuration Settings 9 9 10 11 13 13 14 15 16 Front Panel Controls and Indicators 17 Front Panel Menu Buttons LED Indicators L
MIDI Control 40 Start a Cue with SYSEX “GO CUE” Pile on a Cue with "NOTE ON" Clear Cue with "NOTE OFF" 40 40 41 Specifications 42 DMX Control Interface Front Panel: Physical 42 42 42 43 Index 44
Welcome Thanks for purchasing The Alcorn McBride Light Cue Pro™. The Light Cue Pro is intended to replace SMPTE-controlled lighting consoles in permanent show installations, eliminating the need to use an expensive lighting console to run your lighting. The Light Cue Pro Records 4 Universes of DMX in Real Time. Either one stream (or cue as it is called in this manual) synchronized to SMPTE timecode can be played back, or up to forty cues not synchronized with SMPTE can be simultaneously “piled-on”.
Getting Started This section will teach you how to begin using your Light Cue Pro. More detailed information is contained in the rest of this manual. LightCue Manager Software Free software to control/monitor/edit lighting cues can be downloaded from our website (www.alcorn.com) under the "software" page. This software is the preferred method for recording and playback of lighting cues. See the section "LightCue Manager" for more detail on it's use.
Recording Note: The Start Time of the SMPTE can be adjusted with external commands or front panel knob before playback. The LightCue Pro is capable of recording DMX data with or without being locked to SMPTE timecode. If you want to have your DMX playback jam-synced to SMPTE so that it will pause or skip forward or backward frames as necessary in order to maintain perfect synchronization with incoming timecode, be sure to have SMPTE connected and active while recording.
Playback Note: Playback can also be accomplished using a Serial, USB, or Ethernet command from a PC or other device. See the “Serial/Ethernet/USB Control” section. From the Cue Manger Software (See LightCue Manager section) 1. Click "Edit" from the top toolbar 2. Select the Cue Name or DMX File you wish to play 3. Press “Play Now” From the Front Panel 1. Press in on the knob to bring up to the Main Menu 2. Select “Play” and press in 3. Select the Universe you wish to play and press in on knob 4.
LightCue Manager Software LightCueManager is availble for free at www.alcorn.com This software is designed for setup, record, playback, and monitor of a LightCuePro. It currently runs on Windows XP, Vista or 7. The primary screens of the Light Cue Manager Software are: The "Edit" screen is the primary screen for Record/Playback. More information regarding each section is described in more detail in the chapters below. LightCuePro Connection All functions of the software require a connection.
DMX File: A file containing DMX and timing information for a single universe. Cue Names and DMX Files that are present on the compact flash card are viewable in the "Cue Names" and "DMX Files" windows. These windows appear in the lower left corner of the "Edit" screen. Cue Names and DMX File names may be edited in this view. Play a cue name by selecting the line and clicking "Play." Remove a cue name by clicking "Delete." More Cue Names are populated when a new Cue Name is recorded.
Individual DMX Files may be recorded without a Cue Name if the a filename with .dmx extension is typed in To record a cue name: Note: Non-SMPTE recorded cues may be played back later with SMPTE; however, recording with SMPTE is recommended for most accurate playback. 2. Check "Save SMPTE Start Time" if you would like the cue files to use the incoming SMPTE timecode as the first frame of playback. This time may be adjusted later if needed for playback. Arm Recording: Waits for change in DMX data 5.
To Select multiple DMX Channels, use the "CTRL" & "SHIFT" keys along with the mouse drag Channel Sets are stored on the user PC but can be transfered to the LightCuePro's compact flash card To save a channel set: 1. Type the desired name into the "Channel Set" box 2. Check the "Enable" boxes to select which universes and channels to record. 3. Type in specific channels or click the "..." button to specify a specific range of channels. 4. Click "Save" To recall a saved channel set: 1.
Playback Cues in LightCue Manager Files can also be played back using the "Cue Names" or "DMX Files" window's "Play" button. To Play an individual file on 1 universe only, select the "Individual File" radio button. In LightCue Manager, the "Play" window is present when the top toolbar is in the "Edit" view and the bottom tab "Play" is clicked. To Play a Cue Name: 1. Type the Cue Name into the "Cue Name or Cue List" box. 2.
Channels that match the "Highlight Channel Set" will be displayed in Yellow. See Section on "Channel Sets" for more details on creating a specific set of DMX Channels for Record or Monitoring Channels that are being "Forced" are displayed in Red. To force a channel, use the "Control DMX" screen or front panel to set a DMX channel to a specific value.
Input and Button Configuration Input configuration information is stored in the inputs.cfg file on the compact flash card In LightCue Manager, options for voltage or contact closure, as well as which files should play on a button or input, are configurable from the "Input Config" screen. (shown below) Click on the "Input Config" on the toolbar to bring up this screen. Hints: You must be connected to the LightCuePro to make changes.
the front panel Settings Settings are stored in the non-volitile memory (EEPROM) of the LightCuePro In LightCue Manager, settings for the Ethernet configuration, as well as real time clock, can be setting by clicking the "Settings" button on the toolbar. Settings can also be changed from the front panel or by serial/ethernet control. If you are connected to a LightCuePro, the current settings will fill in the boxes automatically.
Front Panel Controls and Indicators The Light Cue Pro provides controls that can accommodate a wide variety of installations. The front panel incorporates a row of twelve (12) pushbuttons that are fully programmable to control the operation of the unit, six (6) indicator lights, a VFD display, and front panel knob. Front Panel Menu Pushing in on the font panel knob displays a menu.This menu contains options for configuring network settings, status monitoring, button configuration, and playback.
LED Indicators Two (2) LED indicators on the left side of the front panel: LED LED Meaning LTC Steady Green – Linear Time Code (LTC/SMPTE) is being received Power Steady Blue – Unit has power Four (4) status indicators on the right of the front panel correspond to the 4 Universes of DMX data. The table below shows the LED’s meaning: Status (green, yellow or red) LED Behavior LED Meaning Steady Green Media is being accessed and DMX data is being played back.
Rear Panel Controls and Connectors The rear panel provides the four (4) DMX input and output connectors, a SMPTE In connector, MIDI In connector, an RS-232 control port, a Parallel input/output port, a 4 Position select switch for Reset, a USB port, two (2) Ethernet ports and the power connector. Reset Select Switch This switch, when flipped to the “Up” position next to the word reset, will restore the factory default settings for IP Address, front panel buttons, and other non-volitile stored settings.
RS-232C Controller Input This input is a standard DB-9 male RS-232C connector, intended to be connected to an Alcorn McBride V16/V4 or other controller using a straight-through (not null-modem) 9-pin cable. The pinout appears below. Pin Function No .
DMX Input The DMX input is a standard 5-pin XLR male connector. The pinout appears below: Pin No. Function 1 Shield 2 - (low) 3 + (high) 4 not used 5 not used DMX Output The DMX output is a standard 5-pin XLR female connector. The pinout appears below. Pin No . Function 1 Shield 2 - (low) 3 + (high) 4 not used 5 not used SMPTE Input The SMPTE input is a standard 3-pin XLR female connector. Input signal level range is -10 dbu to +4 dbu. Impedance is 600 ohms.
Parallel Control Parallel Inputs Configuration is done using the LightCueManager software. The Light Cue Pro can be controlled using either contact closures or voltage inputs on the female DB-37 Control Connector. Up to 12 individual cues can be selected and played, looped, paused, or stopped. The configuration is stored on an xml formatted file on the compact flash card with the name "inputs.cfg.
Parallel Outputs Two status outputs are provided. They are dry contact closures rated at 24 VDC and 1 amp max. Their function is described below. Function Pin No’s. Description Playing Universe 1 1,20 Closed when the unit is playing DMX data from a Cue Name on this Universe. Playing Universe 2 2,21 " Playing Universe 3 3,22 " Playing Universe 4 4,23 " Fault Universe 1 5,24 Closed when the unit detects an invalid file for playback or other error on that Universe.
Ethernet/Serial/USB Control The Light Cue Pro may be controlled using Ethernet using UDP on port 2639, USB, or serial RS-232 messages via the rear DB-9 Control Connector or the DB-37 Control Connector. The data format is 9600,N,8,1: 9600 baud, no parity, 8 bits/byte, with one stop bit. The protocol is ASCII-based, and many commands are identical to Pioneer Disc protocol. Upper or lower case characters can be used interchangeably.
Select Cue Description: This command causes the Light Cue Pro to select the specified cue number for play. Once this command is sent, the next Play command causes the specified cue to play from the beginning of the file. The unit defaults to cue #1 at power-up. Command Bytes: nnnUuSE where nnn is the cue number in ASCII. u is the universe number – use * for all Message Response: R Examples: Select cue 215 on Universe 1. Select cue 4 on all Universes.
Loop Play Description: This command causes the Light Cue Pro to play the cue specified by the Select Cue command and loop back to the first look and continue playing when the end of the cue is reached. Bytes are included for crossfade time from the current look to the first look of the selected cue. Command bytes: hhmmssffnnnUuLP hhmmssff - the crossfade time in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames.
Still Cue Description: This command causes the Light Cue Pro to hold the specified cue's "look" of DMX data ONLY on the specified cue number. Play will resume from where it left off whenever another Play command is issued for that specific cue number.
Chase Play Description: This command causes the Light Cue Pro to play the cue specified starting at the SMPTE time specified and “jam-syncing" (following incoming timecode forward or backwards) from that point in time. Command bytes: ohomosofhhmmssffnnnUuCP ohomosof - the starting SMPTE time of hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. (optional) hhmmssff - the crossfade time in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames.
Command bytes: |vvv-vvv|vvv-vvv|vvv-vvv|vvv-vvv|nnnUuRR |vvv…vvv|– the channels to record separated by commas. ie: 1512. (optional) nnn – the Cue number, filename or Cue name to record u – the Universe number (optional) Message Response: R Examples: Record to cue file dmx00001.dmx from Universe 1: 001U1RR Record to cue file dmx00001.
|0|1-12,81,89|41|0|"myCueName"RR Record with SMPTE Description: This command is useful for when you want to command the Light Cue Pro into record mode using a serial controller. Recording begins as soon as DMX is detected. (ie. No arming or “changedetection” takes place.) The file is timestamped with the values of the incoming SMPTE timecode. Command bytes: |vvv-vvv|vvv-vvv|vvv-vvv|vvv-vvv|nnnUuRS |vvv…vvv|– the channels to record separated by commas. ie: 1512.
001U1RR Record to cue file dmx00001.dmx from channels 5-8 onUniverse 2: |5-8|U2RR Record channels 1-512 on universe1, no other universes: |1-512|0|0|0|"myCueName"RR Record channels 1-12,81 and 89 on universe2, channel 41 on universe 3 to cue name "myCueName": |0|1-12,81,89|41|0|"myCueName"RR Pile-On Cue Description: This command causes the Light Cue Pro to play a cue simultaneously with other cues currently playing, like a lighting console would do when it does a “pile-on” of cues.
“3U1LO” Page 32 loop at end on Universe 2 Pile-on cue number 3 and loop at end on Universe 1 Alcorn McBride Light Cue Pro User’s Guide • July 15, 2010
Clear Cue Description: This command causes the Light Cue Pro to clear a cue which is currently being piled-on. The cue will be taken out of the comparison. Command bytes: nnnUuCL nnn – the Cue number to remove u – the Universe number. Use * for all.
Force Value Description: Force a DMX channel to specified value. Command bytes: cccvvvUuFV ccc - ASCII representation of the channel number 1 to 512. vvv - ASCII representation of the channel value 000 to 255. u – the Universe number. Use * for all. Message Response: R Example: "255128U*FV" forces channel 255 to value 128 on all Universes Force DMX Description: Force an entire set of DMX channels to specified value. Command bytes: nvvv....
status is either: "Awaiting SMPTE", "Running", "Paused", "Idle" or "Error" Example: Running 01:00:20.30 DMX File Query Description: This command causes the Light Cue Pro to respond with the dmx files currently playing. The word "none" is returned if no cues are playing. Command bytes: UuCC u – the Universe number. Message Response: "ccccccc.ccc" , "ccccccc.ccc" where "ccccccc.
Get command: Message Response: LN<0D> current value<0D> Example: Send Command: Response: LN<0D> 81.0<0D> Set command: Message Response: 81.0LN<0D> R<0D> Latitude Description: This command will get or set the latitude coordinates. Get command: Message Response: LA<0D> current value<0D> Example: Send Command: Response: LA<0D> 28.0<0D> Set command: Message Response: 28.0LA<0D> R<0D> Reboot Description: Comments: This command will perform a hard reboot of the system.
Get command: Message Response: SM<0D> xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx<0D> Set command: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxxSM<0D> R<0D> Message Response: Gateway IP Address Description: Comments: This command will get or set the IP address of the gateway the unit will connect through. xxx is a decimal number in the range of 0 – 255. GW<0D> Get command: Message Response: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx<0D> Set command: Message Response: R<0D> xxx.xxx.xxx.xxxGW<0D> Date Description: Comments: This command will get or set the calendar date.
PW Get/Set Password Description: Comments: This command will get or set the password. The default password is password. Get command: Message Response: PW<0D> password<0D> Set command: Message Response: passwordPW<0D> R<0D> DST Enable Description: Comments: This command will get or set the status of the daylight saving time parameter. 0 = Standard Time, 1 = using DST.
Message Response: Example: (current NTP address)<0D> Send Command: NI<0D> Response: ntp.org<0D> Set command: Message Response: "NTP IP address"NI<0D> R<0D> NTP Enable Description: Comments: This command will enable or disable the NTP function and will get the current status.
Get command: Message Response: HJ<0D> x<0D> Set command: Message Response: (A or B)HJ<0D> R<0D> HTTP WEB Page Description: Comments: This command will get or set the default HTTP WEB address. The default WEB page is index.html Get command: Message Response: HP<0D> (currentwebpage)<0D> Set command: Message Response: (myWebPage.html)HP<0D> R<0D> MIDI Control The LightCuePro can be controlled with standard "Go Cue", "NoteOn" and "NoteOff" MIDI commands.
Specifications DMX Input: Male 5-Pin XLR Output: Female 5-Pin XLR Signal: Fully DMX-512/1990 Compliant Recorded Channels: 512 x 4 Control Interface Serial: RS-232C at 9600 Baud, n 8, 1 Ethernet (UDP): 2 Ethernet Jacks A & B Parallel Opto-Inputs: 12 Voltage or Contact Inputs: configurable for Play, Stop, or Loop of any file on any Universe Still Parallel Contact Outputs: 4x Running, 4x Fault SMPTE Input: Female 3-Pin XLR, transformer coupled 600 ohm Balanced -10 dbu to +4 dbu Supported Frame
Physical Power: 115 or 220 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 30 watts or 12.0 VDC, 3A Max UL, CSA, CE Class 2 Supply Provided Size and Weight: 19” W x 3.5” H x 10.6” D (48.3 cm W x 8.8 cm H x 26.
Index A Arm Recording, 4, 7, 11, 31 C Channel Picker, 11 Channel Set, 14 Channel Sets, 3, 11, 12, 14 Chase Play, 25, 29 Clear Cue, 34 Contact Closure, 20–21 Control DMX, 3, 14 crossfade, 5, 26–29 Cue Names, 9 D DMX Files, 3, 9, 10, 11, 13 DMX-512, 43 F Feedthrough, 34, 35, 36 forcing, 14 Front Panel Menu, 3, 17 I Input Config, 15 L LCD Display, 17, 19, 43 LED indicators, 18 LightCue Manager, 3, 6, 9, 17 Loop Play, 25, 27 M Monitor, 3, 12, 14 O offset, 5 P Parallel, 20, 23–24, 43 Page 44 Alcorn McB
Parallel Outputs, 24 Pile-On Cue, 32 Pile-On Cue and Loop at end, 32, 36 Play, 37, 38, 39, 40 Playback, 3, 8, 9, 13, 34 protocol, 25 R Record, 29, 30, 31 Record Now, 4, 7, 11 Recording Cues, 3, 10 RS-232, 5–17, 25 S Save SMPTE Start Time, 11 Select Cue, 25–27 Serial Control, 25, 37 Settings, 3, 13, 15, 16 SMPTE, 5–18, 22, 25–43 Still, 25, 27–43, 27–43 Alcorn McBride Light Cue Pro User’s Guide • July 15, 2010 Page 45
