New in Designer 2 - pharoscontrols.com · Newin!Designer!2.2! ... Timeline’Programming ... AMD!graphics!processors!withsupport!for!OpenCL1.2or!higher!arerecommended.!You!may!have!multiple!

New in Designer 2.2

VLC, Quick Start, Live Video for LPC X

© 2004-16 Pharos Architectural Controls Limited All rights reserved. Subject to change without notice. Revision 10-10-16

pharoscontrols.com 1/10

Contents Designer 2.2 holds several new features and fixes. This document contains the following items:

• Pharos VLC o Overview o Programming a VLC in Designer 2 o VLC Compositions o Patch o Timeline Programming o Trigger o VLC Simulation

• Quick Start • Live Video Input for LPC X • Other New Features • Other New Features

Pharos VLC Overview The Pharos VLC (Video Lighting Controller) is a new Controller for large LED pixel arrays formed of eDMX fixtures – such as building façades, bridges, and presentation walls. It makes it simple to play video content across your array, either from locally stored HD media files or a DVI-D video input. Also supported are a growing range of creative, generative effects. The VLC can output all commonly used eDMX protocols (sACN, Art-Net, KiNET) over Gigabit Ethernet and there are no restrictions on using these protocols simultaneously. There are multiple VLC variants with pricing based on channel capacity, ranging from 25,600 channels up to a massive 768,000 channels. See https://www.pharoscontrols.com/products/controllers/vlc/ for more details. Pharos Designer 2.2 adds support for programming the VLC, which offers all the Pharos Engine and Pharos Trigger features to achieve real show control from your VLC. Remote management via either its built-in web pages or a custom user-created web interface is off course available too. The VLC can be used alongside the full range of Pharos Controllers and Remote Devices. The VLC is an extremely capable but cost effective solution for large video-over-lighting projects, and is a companion product to the powerful Pharos LPC X. While the LPC X provides highly flexible lighting control for large multi-zone lighting systems, the VLC is capable of controlling even larger systems where the fixtures are arranged and controlled as a single array.

Programming a VLC in Designer 2 Programming a VLC will be straight forward for an existing Pharos user. Simply said, the VLC is a controller that creates a single large matrix (‘composition’ in VLC terminology) with dedicated fixtures (on a dedicated layout). When you create a new VLC project or add a VLC to an existing project, a layout, composition and timeline row will be created exclusively for this controller. Presets placed on the VLC timeline row will be mapped by the composition to fixtures placed on the VLC layout.

New in Designer 2.2



VLC Layout Exactly one layout will exist for each VLC in a Designer project. Adding a new layout to the project will create a layout for use with the other Pharos controllers, as before. When the VLC layout is open, the fixture library will filter its contents to show only compatible fixtures (RGB LEDs, other variants under development) and the browser on the left of the layout will only show fixtures that have been added to the current VLC layout. Fixtures placed on a VLC layout have the size of exactly one pixel. A fixture selection may be rotated and aligned using the Transform Tools, just like fixtures on any other layout. Fixtures placed on a VLC layout do not show on layouts with other Pharos controllers.

New in Designer 2.2



VLC Compositions Compositions are a new concept in Designer, developed for the VLC and the forthcoming enhanced version, the VLC+ (see ‘The VLC+’ below). You can edit compositions in the Mapping view – switch between the familiar Pixel Matrix mode and the new Composition mode using the buttons at the top left of the window.

New in Designer 2.2



Exactly one composition will exist for each VLC in a Designer project and each VLC composition will contain one content target, called Primary. Similar to a pixel matrix, the VLC content target determines how content on the VLC timeline row will be mapped to fixtures on the VLC layout. Unlike a pixel matrix, content targets are applied directly to the fixture layout – switching between the VLC layout tabs in the Mapping view switches between the composition editor for each VLC.

Select the content target to move/resize it as required. A content target may have an area of up to 2 million pixels, with a maximum width or height of 16k pixels to accommodate installations on tall buildings or across long bridge spans. You can choose to mirror (horizontal reflection) or flip (vertical reflection) the VLC output in the Content Item Properties tab. Multiple compositions and content targets will be supported with the enhanced VLC+.

Patch Patching a VLC is similar to patching an LPC X – add eDMX universes as required and drag and drop the VLC fixtures onto the patch grid. When a VLC is the current controller in the Patch view, the browser on the left of the patch grid will only display fixtures that have been added to the VLC’s layout. Importing of setup and patch is supported for the VLC.

New in Designer 2.2



Timeline Programming A timeline row will be created for each VLC added to a Designer project. Drag Matrix and Media presets onto this timeline row to sequence content for the VLC. Live Video input is a Matrix preset and is applied just like a matrix effect. Unlike other Pharos controllers, the VLC playback engine renders algorithmic and video content in real time so no background processing is required before simulation or upload.

Group, Scene and Custom presets are not supported by the VLC. Timelines with the VLC can be linked to timecode. If other controllers are present, the fixtures patched on those controllers can be programmed on the same timelines alongside VLC programming.

New in Designer 2.2



Trigger There are no specific triggers related to the VLC. Playing timelines that contain presets added to VLC will define the VLC’s output. Intensity of VLC fixtures (all together) can be adjusted.

VLC Simulation The VLC playback engine uses OpenCL in order to render algorithmic effects and video in real time for up to 250,000 RGB pixels. VLC simulation in Designer requires the same technology to be supported by your computer – you must have a graphics processor with support for OpenCL 1.2 or higher. Most computers not older then couple of years are likely to support this. AMD graphics processors with support for OpenCL 1.2 or higher are recommended. You may have multiple OpenCL devices in your computer. Designer will try to pick the best one available but you may override this choice in the application Preferences. If a suitable OpenCL device cannot be found on your computer, then a message will be displayed in place of any VLC layouts in the Simulate view. Designer will operate as normal, only the VLC simulation will not operate.

New in Designer 2.2



Network and Resources The VLC appears in the Network view as a Controller. As mentioned in Programming a VLC in Designer 2, adding a VLC controller to a project, will add a layout, composition and timeline row. The Controller Name will define the Layout tab’s name. Under Resources a selection can be made of the resources to upload to the controller.

New in Designer 2.2



Quick Start In the ‘New Project Wizard’ a ‘Quick Start’ function has been added. This allows you to setup a new Designer project with the controller of your interest, and the relevant settings / features adjusted.

• LPC creates a new show with

o an LPC 2 o a regular layout tab o Interfaces on LPC (but not on all controllers) active: Digital/Analog IO, Midi, Serial o Scene Editor tab shown

• LPC X creates a new show with o an LPC 20 o a regular layout tab o Interfaces on LPC X (but not on all controllers) active: Serial o Scene Editor tab shown

• TPC creates a new show with o a TPC o a regular layout tab o Interfaces on TPC (but not on all controllers) active: TPC o Interface Editor shown o Scene Editor tab shown

• VLC creates a new show with o a VLC 500 o a layout tab dedicated to the VLC (named ‘Controller 1’, adjust VLC controller name to change) o Interfaces on VLC (but not on all controllers) active: Serial o Composition Editor active

• VLC+ creates a new show with o a VLC+ o a layout tab dedicated to the VLC+ (named ‘Controller 1’, adjust VLC+ controller name to change) o Interfaces on VLC+ (but not on all controllers) active: Serial, Content Target o Composition Editor active

Alternatively you can use the ‘Customise a project’ as before. Other controllers can be added later on the Network tab, the relevant Interfaces and Editors will be automatically activated (unless ‘Disabled’ in the Project Features setup).

New in Designer 2.2



Live Video Input for LPC X Designer 2.2 introduces support for live video input on the recently redesigned LPC X. Simply connect your DVI-D source to the connector on the rear of the unit and add a live video preset to any pixel matrix row on a timeline in Designer.

The LPC X can scale the incoming video to suit your pixel matrix. Just set the width and height in the Interfaces tab in Designer’s Network view.

New in Designer 2.2



The VLC+ An enhanced version of the VLC is under development for later release. This VLC+ offers additional features, such as simultaneous playback & blending of multiple layers of video, picture-in-picture, adjustable masking, real-time rotation and translation of video and much more. Some of these features are already on display in Designer 2.2, however those can only be used in combination with the VLC+. Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed of the release of this new product. https://www.pharoscontrols.com/about-us/stay-in-touch/

Other New Features Designer 2.2 also introduces the following new features:

• New 'Fireflies' and 'Nebula' preset • Full control over bundling of media and other resources in project files and uploads • LPC X Recovery Tool has been renamed to Recovery Tool and now assists with all Pharos controllers • Enhanced Import and Export functionality • New Justify Settings for TPC controls and labels • New Lua function for Master Intensity controls • Faster project upload and controller firmware reload • Media preview in Designer on Windows • Ability to replace media with a different file • Support for some ETC 7-channel fixtures

Documents

New in Designer 2 - pharoscontrols.com · Newin!Designer!2.2! ... Timeline’Programming ... AMD!graphics!processors!withsupport!for!OpenCL1.2or!higher!arerecommended.!You!may!have!multiple!