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AutoPar®, Bad Boy®, PRG Series 400®, Mbox Extreme®, OHM™, V476™, V676™, Virtuoso®, Virtuoso® DX, Virtuoso® DX2, and VL6C+™ are trademarks of Production Resource Group, LLC, registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other brand names which may be mentioned in this manual are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This manual is for informational use only and is subject to change without notice. Please check www.prg.com for the latest version.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION Safety Notice It is extremely important to read ALL safety information and instructions provided in this manual and any accompanying documentation before installing and operating the products described herein. Heed all cautions and warnings during installation and use of this product. Safety symbols used throughout this manual are as follows: CAUTION advising of potential damage to product. WARNING advising of potential injury or death to persons.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction About This Guide .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Additional Documentation ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Customer Service ..........................................................................................
INTRODUCTION About This Guide This guide provides necessary information regarding product safety, installation, and operation for the following PRG equipment: + PRG Node Plus (20.9801.0300) Familiarizing yourself with this information will help you get the most out of your PRG product. WARNING: It is important to read ALL accompanying safety and installation instructions to avoid damage to the product and potential injury to yourself or others.
Customer Service For technical assistance, contact the PRG International Service Center or contact your nearest PRG office. Contact information for all PRG office locations can be found on our website at: www.prg.com/about-us/locations/ PRG Dallas (International Service) 8617 Ambassador Row, Suite 120 Dallas, Texas 75247 USA Phone: 214.630.1963 Fax: 214.630.5867 Service Fax: 214.638.2125 Service Email: orders@prg.com For additional resources and documentation, please visit our website at: www.prg.
DESCRIPTION Overview The PRG Node Plus provides a powerful and convenient interface between Vx76, Virtuoso, or Art-Net compatible control consoles, pixel mapping from media servers, and subsequent control equipment which require either Art-Net or DMX512 control signals. The unit accepts high level commands in either Vx76, Virtuoso, or Art-Net protocol and converts the data into six universes of DMX512. Features: + Accepts Vx76, Virtuoso, and Art-Net control protocols.
Included Items The following illustration shows all items included with the PRG Node Plus unit. AC Line Cord 208V PowerCon® Cable Assembly (25.9801.0214) PRG Node Plus (20.9801.
INSTALLATION System Options Vx76 In the Vx76 configuration, one or two Vx76 control consoles may be connected to one or more PRG Node Plus units. Guidelines: + When connecting two Vx76 consoles and multiple PRG Node Plus units, a 100Mb Ethernet switch or hub must be used. Standard CAT5e Ethernet cables should be used in this configuration. Refer to the illustration below. + The Vx76 Mode of operation is used in this configuration. Refer to "Vx76 Mode" on page 16.
Virtuoso Standard Ethernet In the Virtuoso Standard Ethernet configuration, one or two Virtuoso control consoles may be connected to one or more PRG Node Plus units. Guidelines: + When connecting one Virtuoso console and one PRG Node Plus unit, an Ethernet Crossover cable (25.9651.0566) must be used instead of an Ethernet switch or hub. + When connecting two Virtuoso consoles and multiple PRG Node Plus units, a 100Mb Ethernet switch or hub must be used.
Virtuoso NIF In the Virtuoso NIF configuration, one or two Virtuoso control consoles may be connected to one or more PRG Node Plus units through a NIF. Guidelines: + When connecting one Virtuoso console/NIF and one PRG Node Plus unit, an Ethernet Crossover cable (25.9651.0566) must be used instead of an Ethernet switch or hub. + When connecting two Virtuoso consoles/NIFs and up to three PRG Node Plus units, a 100Mb Ethernet switch or hub must be used.
Art-Net (Series 400) In the Art-Net (Series 400) configuration, an Art-Net compatible control console may be connected to one or more PRG Node Plus units. Guidelines: + When connecting an Art-Net compatible console and multiple PRG Node Plus units, a 100Mb Ethernet switch or hub must be used. Standard CAT5e Ethernet cables should be used in this configuration. Refer to the illustration below. + The Series 400 Mode of operation should be used in this configuration.
CONFIGURATION Software Initialization The Node Plus requires different software to run in each type of system/mode configuration. For the Node Plus, the currently loaded software is shown at the top of the main menu screen. It will indicate either "Virtuoso Node", "Vx76 Node", or "Series 400 Node" as shown in the example below. The Virtuoso and Vx76 consoles will automatically update the Node software when it is connected to the system.
Working Around Performance Limitations The embedded processor in the Node has limitations with its buffering and communication processing, and often cannot keep up with modern computers that send data packets very close together. In a Virtuoso or Vx76 system, the Node is doing all the calculations to generate DMX512 for the control channels patched to it.
Vx76/Virtuoso Console Setup When using a PRG Node Plus with a PRG Vx76 or Virtuoso console, the Node can be set up using the console’s DMX Setup window. Step 1. At console, patch DMX fixtures and assign a DMX universe. Step 2. At Setup menu, select DMX Setup. (DMX Setup window will open.) Step 3. Select desired DMX universe. Step 4. Enter Node thumbwheel address in "Thumb" field and select Node output (1-6) in pop-up menu. Step 5. Click Set button to assign universe to selected Node output. Step 6.
OPERATION Using the Menu Display The PRG Node Plus includes a display menu for configuring the unit and checking system status. The menu system can be navigated using the joystick controller, which can be moved left, right, up, and down, and pushed in. In general, left and right movements navigate the top level menus at the bottom of the display. Pushing in the joystick enables editing for the current screen. Pushing in while editing, saves changes and exits.
Operating Modes Overview The PRG Node Plus unit operates in one of three modes: Vx76, Virtuoso, or Art-Net (Series 400). The mode will depend on the system setup. + Vx76 Mode - In this mode, the unit will accept Vx76 protocol and generate both Art-Net and DMX512 outputs. Vx76 Protocol PRG NODE PLUS [ Vx76 Mode ] Art-Net and DMX512 + Virtuoso Mode - In this mode, the unit will accept Virtuoso protocol and generate both Art-Net and DMX512 outputs.
Vx76 Mode When the Node Plus is connected to a Vx76 series console, the menu system will provide "Vx76" screens which can be used to set up and monitor the Vx76 system. Vx76 Node Screen The Vx76 Node screen displays the thumbwheel address and mapped DMX512 universes (as patched from the console). In the sample image at the right, this unit has been set to thumbwheel 001, and Vx76 universes A-D have been patched to outputs 000 through 003 of this Node. To edit the thumbwheel address, press the joystick.
Virtuoso Mode When the Node Plus is connected to a Virtuoso series console, the menu system will provide "Virtuoso" screens which can be used to set up and monitor the Virtuoso system. Note: The PRG Node Plus unit can only be used with Virtuoso consoles running software version 5.6 or greater. Virtuoso Node Screen The Virtuoso Node screen displays the thumbwheel address and mapped DMX512 universes (as patched from the console).
Art-Net (Series 400) Mode When the Node Plus has been loaded with Series 400 software, the menu system will provide "Series 400" screens which can be used to set up and monitor the Art-Net system. Setup The "Series 400 Setup" screen is used to configure the Art-Net universes, display options, and merge setting. + Universes - Specify the Art-Net universes (A-N) to be received and translated (such as 000, 001, 002, 003, etc.).
STAND-ALONE SOFTWARE LOADER Overview The Virtuoso and Vx76 consoles will automatically update the Node software when it is connected to the system. However, the stand-alone loader application (VirtuosoLoader) may be used in place of the console to update the Node. (The application works the same as the console’s update software feature in the Version Info window.) When used with Art-Net, the Node software must be loaded with Series 400 software. This can be done using the VirtuosoLoader.
Step 2. Download or copy the VirtuosoLoader application folder to your computer. Step 3. Open VirtuosoLoader folder and double-click "VirtuosoLoader.jar" file. (This is a stand-alone Java application.) VirtuosoLoader Application Step 4. Click Start Download button. The module will update all connected devices.
SPECIFICATIONS Technical Specifications POWER REQUIREMENT: 90 to 264 VAC, 47 to 63 Hz Draws less than 60 watts continuously. COOLING: Convection. OPERATING TEMP: -20°C to 50°C (-4°F to 122°F). INPUT: One control signal input which is fed from a console providing either Virtuoso or DMXover-Ethernet (Art-Net) protocol. OUTPUT: One Art-Net output carrying up to six DMX512 universes. Six (non-isolated) standard DMX512 serial outputs, each carrying one DMX512 universe.
Notes 22 PRG NODE PLUS USER MANUAL
PRG Node Plus User Manual Version as of: October 19, 2011 PRG part number: 02.9801.
Production Resource Group Dallas Office 8617 Ambassador Row, Suite 120 Dallas, Texas 75247 www.prg.
