Alcorn Mcbride V+ series User manual

Show Control User's Guide
V16+, V2+
16 Channel & 2 Channel Show Controllers
IO64
Intelligent I/O Expander
DMX Machine
Scripted Lighting Controller
SMPTE Machine
SMPTE Reader and Generator

User's Guide To
Show Control
by Alcorn McBride Inc.

Document Revision 3.3
Document Number 110-100353.55
January 23, 2014
Copyright 1986-2014 Alcorn McBride, Inc. All rights reserved.
Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained
in this manual, and the reliability of the hardware and software. Errors
sometimes can go undetected, however. If you find one, please bring it to our
attention so that we can correct it for others.
Alcorn McBride Inc. reserves the right to make changes to these products,
without notice, in order to improve their design or performance.
Applications described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Alcorn McBride
Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of any of these products,
and makes no representation or warranty that the use of these products for
specific applications will be suitable without further testing or modification.
Our Show Control equipment is not intended for use in applications where a
malfunction can reasonably be expected to result in personal injury or damage to
equipment. Customers using or selling Alcorn McBride Inc. products for use in
such applications do so at their own risk, and agree to fully indemnify Alcorn
McBride Inc. for any damages resulting from such improper use or sale.
Product Design and Documentation:
Steve Alcorn, Martin Chaney, Jim Carstensen, Jeff Long, Jason Crew,
Jim Janninck, Jeremy Scheinberg, David Mayo, Chris Harden, Jonathan
Henline, Scott Harkless, Joy Burke and John Conley.
Alcorn McBride Inc.
3300 S. Hiawassee Rd, Bldg 105
Orlando, Florida 32835
[phone]
FAX: [phone]
http://www.alcorn.com
[email protected]

Contents
Welcome 1-1
Installing WinScript ............................................................................................................... 1-2
Technical Support .................................................................................................................. 1-3
Important Information............................................................................................................ 1-4
Show Control Overview 2-1
What Is Alcorn McBride Show Control? ............................................................................... 2-2
Alcorn McBride Show Controllers......................................................................................... 2-3
WinScript Tutorial ................................................................................................................. 3-5
A Little About Our Show....................................................................................................... 3-6
Opening WinScript and Creating a Blank Script ................................................................... 3-7
Customizing the Script........................................................................................................... 3-8
Naming Resources ................................................................................................................. 3-9
Inserting and Organizing Sequences .................................................................................... 3-16
Adding Events...................................................................................................................... 3-18
Compiling and Downloading ............................................................................................... 3-22
Running the Show................................................................................................................ 3-22
Summary.............................................................................................................................. 3-23
WinScript User’s Guide 4-1
Getting Help........................................................................................................................... 4-2
Creating, Opening, Closing, and Saving Scripts.................................................................... 4-2
Configuring the Show Controller........................................................................................... 4-3
Version, Author, and Show Description ................................................................................ 4-4
Inputs, Outputs, Variables, Ports, and Strings........................................................................ 4-4
SMPTE Triggering................................................................................................................. 4-9
Using The "Spreadsheet" ..................................................................................................... 4-14
Working with Sequences...................................................................................................... 4-14
Editing Sequences................................................................................................................ 4-20
Chasing Timecode with Sequences...................................................................................... 4-26
Compiling and Downloading ............................................................................................... 4-28
WinScript Tools................................................................................................................... 4-32
Cue List................................................................................................................................ 4-32
DMXWizard......................................................................................................................... 4-37
WinScript Options................................................................................................................ 4-38
Event Reference 5-1
Types of Events...................................................................................................................... 5-2
Internal vs. External Events ................................................................................................... 5-2
Discrete Events....................................................................................................................... 5-4
Logical Events........................................................................................................................ 5-7
Program Control Events......................................................................................................... 5-9

LCD Display Events ............................................................................................................ 5-14
Built-In Serial Events........................................................................................................... 5-17
MIDI Events......................................................................................................................... 5-22
SMPTE Serial Events........................................................................................................... 5-23
LightCue Serial Events ........................................................................................................ 5-25
Digital Video Machine Serial Events................................................................................... 5-29
Digital Binloop Serial Events............................................................................................... 5-31
Other Serial Device Events.................................................................................................. 5-35
Advanced WinScript Programming 6-1
Introduction............................................................................................................................ 6-2
Get Control of Your Sequences ............................................................................................. 6-3
Day and Night Mode.............................................................................................................. 6-4
Synchronized Scripting.......................................................................................................... 6-5
Modularity.............................................................................................................................. 6-8
Randomization..................................................................................................................... 6-11
Real Time Clock .................................................................................................................. 6-14
Communications Between Alcorn McBride Equipment...................................................... 6-16
ESTOPs and Fire Alarms..................................................................................................... 6-19
Frame Accuracy................................................................................................................... 6-19
Power up Conditions............................................................................................................ 6-21
Restart and Restart Lockout................................................................................................. 6-21
Preventing Glitches.............................................................................................................. 6-22
Tight Control and Awareness............................................................................................... 6-23
Application Notes 7-1
Large Theatre Control............................................................................................................ 7-2
Digital Video Machine Control............................................................................................ 7-19
Using Cue List in a Live Show ............................................................................................ 7-27
Controlling Automatic Doors............................................................................................... 7-29
V16+ Hardware Reference 8-1
Specifications......................................................................................................................... 8-2
Serial Ports............................................................................................................................. 8-3
LCD Display.......................................................................................................................... 8-5
Digital Inputs ......................................................................................................................... 8-6
Digital Outputs..................................................................................................................... 8-11
Video Synchronization......................................................................................................... 8-14
Power Supply....................................................................................................................... 8-15
Firmware.............................................................................................................................. 8-16
Show Memory...................................................................................................................... 8-16
V2+ Hardware Reference 10-1
Specifications....................................................................................................................... 10-2
Serial Ports........................................................................................................................... 10-3
LCD Display........................................................................................................................ 10-4
Digital Inputs ....................................................................................................................... 10-5

Digital Outputs..................................................................................................................... 10-9
Power Supply..................................................................................................................... 10-12
Firmware............................................................................................................................ 10-12
IO64 Hardware Reference 12-1
Specifications....................................................................................................................... 12-2
Serial Ports........................................................................................................................... 12-3
Digital Inputs........................................................................................................................ 12-6
Digital Outputs..................................................................................................................... 12-8
Power Supply..................................................................................................................... 12-10
Firmware............................................................................................................................ 12-10
DMX Machine Hardware Reference 13-1
Specifications....................................................................................................................... 13-2
Serial Ports........................................................................................................................... 13-3
DMX Output Port................................................................................................................. 13-4
Digital Inputs........................................................................................................................ 13-5
Power Supply....................................................................................................................... 13-7
Firmware.............................................................................................................................. 13-7
SMPTE Machine Hardware Reference 14-1
Specifications....................................................................................................................... 14-2
Serial Ports........................................................................................................................... 14-3
SMPTE................................................................................................................................. 14-5
LCD Display ........................................................................................................................ 14-6
Digital Inputs........................................................................................................................ 14-7
Digital Outputs................................................................................................................... 14-11
Video Synchronization....................................................................................................... 14-14
Power Supply..................................................................................................................... 14-15
Firmware............................................................................................................................ 14-15
Appendix A –Adding User-Defined Serial Protocols 15-1
Creating Your Own Protocol File ........................................................................................ 15-2
Appendix B –Alcorn McBride Serial Control Protocols 16-1
The Basics of Alcorn Control............................................................................................... 16-2
Alcorn 9 Bit Control............................................................................................................. 16-5
Alcorn 8 Bit Control............................................................................................................. 16-6
MIDI Control ....................................................................................................................... 16-7
Appendix C –Cable Reference 17-1
Common Show Control Cable Pinouts ................................................................................ 17-1
Appendix D –Available Accessories 18-1
Components ......................................................................................................................... 18-1
Manufactured Cables ........................................................................................................... 18-2

Third Party Equipment......................................................................................................... 18-3
Index 19-1

Welcome 1-1
Welcome
Welcome
Since the first V16 was introduced, Alcorn McBride Show Controllers have
provided countless users with intuitive, event-driven control of their show. Our
windows-based show programming software, WinScript, takes that power and
versatility to new levels with English-like user-definable commands, new tools
and applications, and intelligent debugging.
This Show Control User’s Guide will guide you in designing and
programming your show using our Show Control Hardware and Software. We
at Alcorn McBride are pleased to provide you with these tools. Good luck, have
fun, and thanks for choosing Alcorn McBride!
In this chapter, you’ll find:
WinScript installation procedures.
Show Control documentation and technical support resource listing.
Important product and warranty information.

1-2 Welcome
Installing WinScript
WinScript is equipped with a Setup program that checks your system and asks a
series of questions about how you want to install WinScript.
Important If you use a virus protection program that may interfere with
software installation, turn it off or override it before running the WinScript
Setup program. Virus protection may be turned back on after setup has
completed.
Installing WinScript from the Internet
The latest version of WinScript can always be downloaded from our web site at
http://www.alcorn.com/support/. From time to time updates and additional
features may become available at this same location. Use the following
procedure to install WinScript:
1. Choose Run… from the Start menu.
2. In the Command Line box, type the name of the WinScript file you
downloaded from the Alcorn McBride Home Page.
3. Choose the OK button.
4. Follow the instructions on your screen to setup or update WinScript.
5. Setup will create an Alcorn McBride heading under the Start Menu.

Welcome 1-3
Welcome
Technical Support
You can obtain information about specifying, installing, configuring, and
programming your Alcorn McBride Show Control product from three sources:
This Show Control User’s Guide
Online Help
Alcorn McBride Technical Support
Both the Show Control User’s Guide and the Online Help assume that you are
familiar with basic Microsoft Windows techniques.
Using This Guide
This guide presents the best way to accomplish tasks found in common (and
uncommon) show control situations. Basic functionality is discussed in detail
in the WinScript User’s Guide, and more interesting and complex show
situations are discussed in the Application Notes. Finally, specific hardware
information for your Show Controller may be found in the Hardware
References.
Online Help
The Show Control Basics Tutorial, WinScript User’s Guide, and Show
Control Event References make up the WinScript Online Help system. All
configuration and setup screens in WinScript have context-sensitive help buttons
that provide functional information on demand. You can also access the help
system from the pull-down menus, or by pressing the F1 key.
Additionally, there are hundreds of answers to frequently asked questions in our
knowledge base, at http://www.alcorn.com/kb
Contacting Technical Support
Several support options are available during the business day, around the clock,
and on weekends:
For…
Contact…
When?…
E-Mail Support
[email protected]
Any Time
Knowledge Base
http://www.alcorn.com/kb
Any Time
Software/Firmware
Updates
http://www.alcorn.com/support
Any Time
Telephone Support
[phone]
M-F 9am–6pm (EST)
Fax Support
[phone]
M-F 9am-6pm (EST)

1-4 Welcome
Important Information
Congratulations! You have purchased an extremely fine Product that would give
you thousands of years of trouble-free service, except that you undoubtedly will
destroy it via some typical bonehead consumer maneuver. Which is why we ask
you to:
Please for God's sake read this owner's manual carefully before you unpack the
Product. You already unpacked it, didn't you? You unpacked it and plugged it
in and turned it on and fiddled with the knobs, and now your child, the same
child who once shoved a polish sausage into your video cassette recorder and set
it on "fast forward", this child also is fiddling with the knobs, right? We might
as well just break these Products right at the factory before we ship them out,
you know that?!?
We're sorry. We just get a little crazy sometimes because we're always getting
back "defective" merchandise where it turns out that the consumer inadvertently
bathed the Product in acid for six days. So, in writing these instructions, we
naturally tend to assume that your skull is filled with dead insects, but we mean
nothing by it. OK? Now let's talk about:
Unpacking the Product
The Product is encased in foam to protect it from the Shipping People, who like
nothing more than to jab spears into outgoing boxes.
Please inspect the contents carefully for gashes or Ida Mae Barker's engagement
ring, which she lost last week, and she thinks that maybe it was while she was
packing Products.
Warning Do not ever as long as you live throw away the box or any of the
pieces of Styrofoam, even the little ones shaped like peanuts. If you attempt to
return the Product to the store, and you are missing one single peanut, the store
personnel will laugh in the chilling manner exhibited by Joseph Stalin just after
he enslaved Eastern Europe.
Besides the Product, the box should contain:
Eight little rectangular snippets of paper that say "WARNING"
A little plastic packet containing four 5/17 inch pilfer grommets and two
club-ended 6/93 inch boxcar prawns.
YOU WILL NEED TO SUPPLY: a matrix wrench and 60,000 feet of tram
cable.
IF ANYTHING IS DAMAGED OR MISSING: You IMMEDIATELY should
turn to your spouse and say "Margaret, you know why this country can't make a
car that can get all the way through the drive-through at Burger King without a
major transmission overhaul? Because nobody cares, that's why."
Important This is assuming your spouse's name is Margaret. And not Pete.

Welcome 1-5
Welcome
Plugging In the Product
The plug on this Product represents the latest thinking of the electrical industry's
Plug Mutation Group, which, in a continuing effort to prevent consumers from
causing hazardous electrical current to flow through their appliances, developed
the Three-Pronged Plug, then the Plug Where One Prong is Bigger Than the
Other. Your Product is equipped with the revolutionary new Plug Whose
Prongs Consist of Six Small Religious Figurines Made of Chocolate.
DO NOT TRY TO PLUG IT IN!
Lay it gently on the floor near an outlet, but out of direct sunlight, and clean it
weekly with a damp handkerchief.
Warning When you are laying the plug on the floor, do not hold a sharp object
in your other hand and trip over the cord and poke your eye out, as this could
void the warranty.
Operation of the Product
Warning We manufacture only the attractive designer case. The actual
working central parts of the Product are manufactured in Japan. The instructions
were translated by Mrs. Shirley Peltwater of accounts receivable, who has never
actually been to Japan but does have most of “Shogun" on tape.
Instructions –For results that can be the finest, it is our advising that:
NEVER to hold these buttons two times!! Except the battery. Next taking the
(something) earth section may cause a large occurrence! However. If this is not
a trouble, such rotation is a very maintenance action, as a kindly (something)
from Drawing B.
Warranty
Be it hereby known that this Product, together with but not excluding all those
certain parts thereunto, shall be warranted against all defects, failures and
malfunctions as shall occur between now and Thursday afternoon shortly before
2:00, during which time the Manufacturer will, at no charge to the Owner, send
the Product to our Service People, who will emerge from their caves and engage
in rituals designed to cleanse it of evil spirits. This warranty does not cover the
attractive designer case.
Warning It may be a violation of some law that Mrs. Shirley Peltwater has
"Shogun" on tape.
(Now that we have your attention, for our real warranty, please visit our website.)

1-6 Welcome

Show Control Overview 2-1
WinScript
Tutorial
Show Control Overview
If you are designing your first ride, attraction, or themed venue, you may have
heard the phrase “Show Control” bounced around in design meetings. While the
actual definition of “Show Control” may vary among the industries that use it,
the phrase is almost always used to describe an intelligent unit (or group of
units) used to control audio, video and lighting equipment, doors, buttons and
lights in an automated show environment. Show Controllers provide a central
processing point for all show status to minimize the cost of operations and
maintenance. Since 1986 Alcorn McBride show controllers have been
providing these functions and more, all over the world.
In this section, you’ll find:
The Alcorn McBride Show Control Philosophy.
Descriptions of Alcorn McBride Show Control products.

2-2 Show Control Overview
What Is Alcorn McBride Show Control?
Alcorn McBride Inc. designs and manufactures a full-featured line of Show
Controllers. These products are designed to work simply, powerfully, and
flawlessly in almost any show environment.
Show Control Hardware
Our Show Controllers provide seamless control over almost any serial or
discrete device, while accepting and processing serial and discrete input from
control panels and other equipment. They also work seamlessly with each other:
any Show Controller can control resources (Inputs, Outputs, Serial Ports, etc.) in
any other Show Controller through a simple RS-232 serial cable.
While there are differences in the features and capabilities of each Show
Controller, there are also striking similarities. Each and every Serial Port,
discrete Input or Output works exactly the same on every product, so controlling
a DVD or Automatic Door with a V2+ is as easy as controlling it with a V16+ or
IO64. In fact, the operating systems are so similar that reconfiguring a show to
run on a different Alcorn McBride Show Controller may be just a few mouse
clicks away.
Show Control Software
Your show is “scripted” using WinScript, a Microsoft Windows-based program.
This powerful programming tool provides menu and window systems for
controller and serial port configuration, as well as powerful sequence and event
programming. Online and context-sensitive help systems are also included to
provide instant access to command syntax, sample applications, and hardware
configurations.
Each "script" consists of up to 256 "sequences". Many sequences may be
running, all at the same time. Sequences may be started initially on power-up, by
push-button, by another sequence, or even by another Show Controller. Each
sequence is comprised of up to 32,767 "events” (depending on available show
memory) which are executed in chronological order. Events may send serial
messages, turn on outputs, control the execution of sequences, and much more.
Remember –sequences are “multi-tasking”; they execute independently, and all
may run simultaneously.
Show Control Firmware
The operating system that resides in the Show Controller is called ScriptOS.
ScriptOS takes the downloaded script and executes the sequences and events in
the specified order while synchronizing itself to the internal frame clock or
external video sync. The downloaded show data is stored it in non-volatile
EEPROM memory, so the Show Controller retains its show data indefinitely,
with no battery backup required.

Show Control Overview 2-3
WinScript
Tutorial
Alcorn McBride Show Controllers
Each Alcorn McBride Show Controller provides a diverse set of standard
features to assist you in controlling your show, so one Show Controller may be
all you need to command your entire attraction. Plus, our Show Controllers
work together seamlessly, providing almost unlimited show control possibilities.
Here are the basic features of each Show Controller in our V+ product line. For
more detailed information on a particular controller, contact our Sales
Department at [phone] or check out our web site at
http://www.alcorn.com/products/showcontrol.
V16+
16 Channel Video Disc and Show Controller
Features:
16 RS-232 Serial Ports
4 Ports may be RS-485
One Port may be MIDI
16 Optically Isolated Inputs
16 Discrete Outputs
NTSC Video Sync
80 Character LCD Display
V2+
2 Channel Video Disc and Show Controller
Features:
2 RS-232 Serial Ports
One Port may be MIDI
8 Optically Isolated Inputs
(plus 8 Front Panel Button Inputs)
8 Lamp Driver Outputs
NTSC Video Sync
32 Character LCD Display

2-4 Show Control Overview
IO64
Intelligent I/O Expander
Features:
1 RS-232 Serial Port
1 Port may be MIDI
32 Optically Isolated Inputs
32 Discrete Outputs
DMX Machine
Scripted Lighting Controller
Features:
1 RS-232 Serial Port
16 TTL Inputs
Transmits 512 DMX Channels
SMPTE Machine
SMPTE Reader and Generator
Features:
Reads and Generates SMPTE & EBU
Supports all common frame rates
Triggers Show Control Sequences

Show Control Overview 3-5
WinScript
Tutorial
WinScript Tutorial
This tutorial will lead you through the creation, configuration, compilation and
download of a simple show to an Alcorn McBride Show Controller. You will
learn how to:
Create, Save, Open, and Configure a Script.
Rename Show Controller I/O, Flags, Ports, etc.
Insert and organize sequences
Edit sequences.
Use branching instructions.
Use the LCD Display
Configure sequence triggers.
Play video from a Video player.
Create Day and Night Modes for prolonging equipment life.
Compile and Download your script.
Run your show!

3-6 Show Control Overview
A Little About Our Show
The show we are going to create will control the basic functions of a digital
video player. We will Search and Play a Digital Video Machine, as well as add
some front-panel pushbutton and LCD Display capabilities.
Note If you don’t feel like typing all of this in, a copy of the completed script,
TUTORIAL.AMW, was installed in your \WinScript\Scripts\Examples\
directory.
The idea behind this tutorial is to get you oriented with your Show Controller
and WinScript. After you’ve mastered the basics, check out Advanced
WinScript Programming and the Application Notes chapters, later in this book.
Then, when you’re ready to start scripting your show, refer to the WinScript
User’s Guide for a screen-by-screen reference of WinScript features.
I Have a Digital Video Machine. Is It Right For This Tutorial?
Sure! The video player used throughout this tutorial is an Alcorn McBride
Digital Video Machine, but since WinScript transparently supports all common
video player commands, your sequences will look exactly the same as the ones
in the book, no matter what player you use.
What About My Show Controller?
We’ll be using an Alcorn McBride V16+ Show Controller for this tutorial, but
all Alcorn McBride Show Controllers are programmed exactly the same, so
you’ll be able to follow along with your Show Controller. In fact, you don’t
need a show controller at all to learn WinScript. You can still enter and compile
your script, and then skip the downloading step.
Note If your Show Controller does not include an LCD Display, you may skip
any steps that deal with displaying information on the LCD.