Avolites Pearl Expert Titan User manual

Pearl Expert Titan
Operator’s Manual
Version 2.0

PearlExpertTitan_Man_v2-0.doc 23/09/2009 12:16:00

PearlExpertTitan_Man_v2-0.doc 23/09/2009 12:16:00
Useful Avolites phone numbers:-
Avolites England
Sales and service* (+44) (0) 20 8965 8522
Service out of hours* (+44) (0) 831 17 8888
Fax (+44) (0) 20 8965 0290
Email [e-mail]
Website http://www.avolites.com
Distribution of Avolites products in USA:-
Avolites America
Sales and service* ([phone]
Fax [phone]
*Before contacting Avolites for service enquiry please ensure that you have the
product serial number and the Software version. The serial number can be
found on the back of the desk near the power socket and on the keyboard
drawer; the software version is displayed on the title bar of the Pearl
application on the VDU.
The latest version of this manual and Pearl Expert Titan Software can
be downloaded from the Avolites website.
The small print :
No Liability for Consequential Damages
Avolites has a policy of continuous product and documentation improvement. As such the
detail within this manual may not match the operation of the Pearl Expert Titan.
In no event shall Avolites be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or
consequential damages or loss whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss
of profits, business interruption, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use or inability
to use the Pearl even if Avolites Ltd. has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for
consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.
Avolites Ltd recognise that all trademarks within the manual are the property of their
respective owners.
Reprint and revision history:
First produced September 2008
Revised for v1.1 April 2009 by Tim Mitchell
Revised for v1.2 June 2009 by Tim Mitchell
Revised for v2.0 September 2009 by Tim Mitchell

PearlExpertTitan_Man_v2-0.doc 23/09/2009 12:16:00
This manual was written by Tim Mitchell, Sabre Technology Ltd
http://www.sabretechnology.co.uk

Reference Manual Contents - Page 5
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SECTIONS
1. SETTING UP THE CONSOLE 13
2. PATCHING 27
3. CONTROLLING DIMMERS AND FIXTURES 37
4. PALETTES 47
5. SHAPES 53
6. CUES 57
7. CHASES 69
8. CUE LISTS 79
9. RUNNING THE SHOW 91
10. REMOTE CONTROL 95
11. USER SETTINGS AND OTHER OPTIONS 101
12. WORKING WITH FIXTURE PERSONALITIES 111
13. NETWORKING 115
14. TITAN FOR PEARL USERS 129
15. CHANGES IN VERSION 2.0 131
16. GLOSSARY OF TERMS 139

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CONTENTS
1. Setting up the console 13
1.1 Guide to the console .............................................................. 13
1.2 Connecting up.......................................................................16
1.2.1 Connecting mains power ......................................................................... 16
1.2.2 Starting up and shutting down................................................................. 16
1.2.3 Connecting DMX lines ............................................................................. 16
1.2.4 Connecting VDU monitors........................................................................ 17
1.2.5 Other connections .................................................................................. 17
1.3 Using the displays and menus ................................................. 18
1.3.1 The onboard display ............................................................................... 18
1.3.2 The VDU desktop ................................................................................... 19
1.3.3 The Heads-Up Display (HUD)................................................................... 21
1.3.4 Visualiser .............................................................................................. 21
1.3.5 Key profiles........................................................................................... 22
1.3.6 Key macro recording .............................................................................. 22
1.4 Loading and saving shows ...................................................... 23
1.4.1 Autosave............................................................................................... 23
1.4.2 Manual save and load ............................................................................. 23
1.5 Backing up a show to USB drive ..............................................24
1.5.1 Backup existing show files to USB pen drive .............................................. 24
1.6 Clearing the console............................................................... 24
1.7 Rebooting into original Pearl Expert mode ................................. 25
2. Patching 27
2.1 Create .................................................................................27
2.1.1 Preset faders (handles)........................................................................... 27
2.1.2 Patching dimmers .................................................................................. 28
2.1.3 Patching moving light fixtures.................................................................. 28
2.1.4 Visualiser Auto Patch .............................................................................. 30
2.2 Edit .....................................................................................30
2.2.1 Changing the DMX address of a fixture ..................................................... 30
2.2.2 Setting legends...................................................................................... 30
2.2.3 View Fixture Patch.................................................................................. 31
2.3 Copy.................................................................................... 31
2.3.1 Copying a patched fixture ....................................................................... 31
2.4 Delete.................................................................................. 32
2.4.1 Deleting a patched fixture ....................................................................... 32
2.5 Moving.................................................................................32
2.5.1 Moving a fixture to a different handle ....................................................... 32
2.6 Advanced options ..................................................................33
2.6.1 Swap pan and tilt................................................................................... 33
2.6.2 Invert attributes .................................................................................... 33
2.7 Fixture Exchange................................................................... 33
3. Controlling dimmers and fixtures 37
3.1 Create .................................................................................37
3.1.1 Selecting fixtures and dimmers for control................................................. 37
3.1.2 Setting fixtures to a start position ............................................................ 38
3.1.3 Clearing selection................................................................................... 38
3.1.4 Changing attributes using the wheels........................................................ 39
3.1.5 The colour picker ................................................................................... 41
3.1.6 Setting attributes by number................................................................... 41
3.1.7 Selecting fixtures and dimmers by number (Channel) ................................. 41
3.1.8 Selecting using a pattern......................................................................... 42
3.1.9 Attribute groups - IPCGBES..................................................................... 42
3.1.10 Using fixture groups ............................................................................. 43
3.1.11 Stepping through selected fixtures one at a time...................................... 43
3.1.12 Highlighting the selected fixture ............................................................. 44
3.1.13 Align fixtures ....................................................................................... 44
3.1.14 Flip..................................................................................................... 44
3.1.15 Fan mode............................................................................................ 44
3.2 Advanced options ..................................................................45
3.2.1 The ML menu button............................................................................... 45
4. Palettes 47

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4.1 Create .................................................................................47
4.1.1 Palette values stored as a reference ......................................................... 47
4.1.2 Which attributes are stored in palettes...................................................... 47
4.1.3 Storing a palette.................................................................................... 47
4.2 Playback ..............................................................................49
4.2.1 Recalling a palette value ......................................................................... 49
4.2.2 Palette pages......................................................................................... 49
4.2.3 Quick palettes with no fixtures selected..................................................... 49
4.2.4 Setting palettes to fixtures in a playback................................................... 49
4.3 Edit .....................................................................................49
4.3.1 Editing palettes...................................................................................... 49
4.3.2 Setting legends for palettes..................................................................... 50
4.4 Copy.................................................................................... 50
4.4.1 Copying palettes .................................................................................... 50
4.5 Delete.................................................................................. 51
4.5.1 Deleting palettes.................................................................................... 51
4.6 Moving.................................................................................51
4.6.1 Moving palettes ..................................................................................... 51
4.7 Timing ................................................................................. 51
4.7.1 Fading a palette and fixture overlap ......................................................... 51
4.7.2 Master Time for palettes ......................................................................... 52
5. Shapes 53
5.1 Playback ..............................................................................53
5.1.1 Creating a shape.................................................................................... 53
5.1.2 Changing size and speed of a shape ......................................................... 54
5.1.3 Changing the phase of a shape across multiple fixtures............................... 55
5.2 Edit .....................................................................................56
5.2.1 Editing shapes which are running ............................................................. 56
5.2.2 Reversing a shape.................................................................................. 56
5.3 Delete.................................................................................. 56
5.3.1 Deleting shapes ..................................................................................... 56
5.4 Advanced options ..................................................................56
5.4.1 Shape fade mode................................................................................... 56
6. Cues 57
6.1 Create .................................................................................57
6.1.1 How the Pearl works when programming................................................... 57
6.1.2 Creating a cue ....................................................................................... 58
6.1.3 Using shapes in cues .............................................................................. 58
6.2 Playback ..............................................................................58
6.2.1 HTP and LTP.......................................................................................... 59
6.2.2 Playing back a cue ................................................................................. 59
6.2.3 Changing playback pages........................................................................ 59
6.2.4 Releasing running playbacks.................................................................... 60
6.3 Edit .....................................................................................60
6.3.1 Editing a cue ......................................................................................... 60
6.3.2 The Include function............................................................................... 61
6.3.3 Removing attributes from cues using “Off” ................................................ 61
6.4 Copy.................................................................................... 62
6.4.1 Copying a cue........................................................................................ 62
6.5 Delete.................................................................................. 62
6.5.1 Deleting a cue ....................................................................................... 62
6.6 Moving.................................................................................62
6.6.1 Moving a cue......................................................................................... 62
6.7 Timing ................................................................................. 63
6.7.1 Setting fade times and Overlap for a cue................................................... 63
6.7.2 Changing fixture order............................................................................ 65
6.7.3 Setting attribute fade times for a cue........................................................ 66
6.8 Advanced options ..................................................................66
6.8.1 Release mask ........................................................................................ 66
6.8.2 Shape size/speed on fader ...................................................................... 66
6.8.3 Curve ................................................................................................... 66
6.8.4 Handle Paging ....................................................................................... 67
6.8.5 Playback priority .................................................................................... 67
6.8.6 Key Profile............................................................................................. 67

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7. Chases 69
7.1 Create .................................................................................69
7.1.1 Programming a chase............................................................................. 69
7.2 Playback ..............................................................................70
7.2.1 Playing back a chase .............................................................................. 70
7.2.2 Connecting a chase for control................................................................. 70
7.2.3 Setting speed and crossfade for a Chase................................................... 71
7.2.4 Manually controlling the steps of a chase................................................... 72
7.2.5 Changing chase direction ........................................................................ 72
7.2.6 Jumping to a step .................................................................................. 72
7.3 Edit .....................................................................................72
7.3.1 Opening a chase for editing..................................................................... 72
7.3.2 Editing a chase using Unfold.................................................................... 72
7.4 Copy.................................................................................... 73
7.4.1 Copying chases...................................................................................... 73
7.5 Delete.................................................................................. 73
7.5.1 Deleting a chase .................................................................................... 73
7.6 Moving.................................................................................74
7.6.1 Moving a chase...................................................................................... 74
7.7 Timing ................................................................................. 74
7.7.1 Global timings for chases ........................................................................ 74
7.7.2 Individual cue times in chases ................................................................. 76
7.7.3 Setting attribute fade times for a cue in a chase......................................... 76
7.8 Advanced options ..................................................................77
7.8.1 Loop/Stop on Final Cue........................................................................... 77
7.8.2 Forwards/backwards............................................................................... 77
7.8.3 Cue linking............................................................................................ 77
7.8.4 Renumber cues...................................................................................... 77
8. Cue Lists 79
8.1 Create .................................................................................79
8.1.1 Programming a cue-list........................................................................... 79
8.1.2 Changing legends for cues in a cue list...................................................... 80
8.1.3 Autoloading a playback within a cue list .................................................... 81
8.2 Playback ..............................................................................82
8.2.1 Running a cue list................................................................................... 82
8.2.2 Killing a cue list...................................................................................... 82
8.3 Edit .....................................................................................83
8.3.1 Editing a cue list using Unfold.................................................................. 83
8.3.2 Editing a cue list which is running............................................................. 83
8.3.3 Editing a cue list while recording .............................................................. 84
8.4 Copy.................................................................................... 84
8.4.1 Copying cue lists.................................................................................... 84
8.5 Delete.................................................................................. 85
8.5.1 Deleting a cue list .................................................................................. 85
8.5.2 Deleting a cue from a cue list .................................................................. 85
8.6 Moving.................................................................................85
8.6.1 Moving a cue list.................................................................................... 85
8.7 Timing ................................................................................. 85
8.7.1 Time and fade options for Cue Lists.......................................................... 85
8.7.2 Individual attribute fade times ................................................................. 86
8.7.3 Fixture overlap ...................................................................................... 87
8.7.4 Running a cue list to timecode ................................................................. 87
8.8 Advanced options ..................................................................88
8.8.1 Release mask ........................................................................................ 88
8.8.2 Fader mode........................................................................................... 88
8.8.3 Handle Paging ....................................................................................... 88
8.8.4 Cue Options .......................................................................................... 88
8.8.5 Autoload ............................................................................................... 89
8.8.6 Key Profile............................................................................................. 89
9. Running the show 91
9.1 Playback ..............................................................................91
9.1.1 Back up the show................................................................................... 91
9.1.2 Operating modes ................................................................................... 91
9.1.3 Master faders ........................................................................................ 91
9.1.4 Flash and swop buttons .......................................................................... 91

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9.1.5 Playback priority .................................................................................... 92
9.1.6 Manual control during a show (“busking”) ................................................. 92
9.2 VDU views............................................................................ 93
9.2.1 View button........................................................................................... 93
9.2.2 Pearl application window......................................................................... 93
9.3 Move ................................................................................... 93
9.3.1 Using the Move function.......................................................................... 93
10. Remote control 95
10.1 Setting up the remote ............................................................ 95
10.1.1 Network setup ..................................................................................... 95
10.1.2 Console setup ...................................................................................... 96
10.2 Operating the remote............................................................. 97
10.2.1 Keypad ............................................................................................... 97
10.2.2 Fixture List .......................................................................................... 98
10.2.3 Playback List........................................................................................ 98
10.2.4 Settings screen .................................................................................... 99
10.3 Troubleshooting ....................................................................99
11. User Settings and other options 101
11.1 The System menu ............................................................... 101
11.1.1 Avotalk Security..................................................................................101
11.1.2 Network Settings.................................................................................101
11.1.3 User Settings......................................................................................101
11.1.4 Key Profiles ........................................................................................102
11.1.5 Contrast And Brightness (Lamp Intensity) ..............................................102
11.1.6 Wipe..................................................................................................102
11.2 VDU Tools menu.................................................................. 102
11.2.1 Virtual Panel .......................................................................................102
11.2.2 Visualiser ...........................................................................................103
11.2.3 VDU User settings ...............................................................................103
11.2.4 Factory settings ..................................................................................104
11.2.5 Exchange fixture .................................................................................104
11.2.6 Setup DMX outputs..............................................................................105
11.2.7 Hotkeys .............................................................................................105
11.3 Key Profiles ........................................................................ 106
11.3.1 Creating and editing key profiles ...........................................................106
11.3.2 Selecting a key profile..........................................................................107
11.3.3 Individual Key profiles for playbacks......................................................107
11.4 Curves............................................................................... 107
11.5 Upgrading the software ........................................................ 110
12. Working with Fixture Personalities 111
12.1.1 Downloading fixture personalities from Avolites.......................................111
12.1.2 Updating the personality cache on the console ........................................112
12.1.3 Requesting a new fixture personality......................................................112
12.1.4 Reporting a personality bug to Avolites ..................................................112
12.1.5 In an emergency.................................................................................112
13. Networking 115
13.1 Setting the Pearl’s IP address................................................ 115
13.1.1 Setting IP address...............................................................................115
13.2 Setting up DMX outputs........................................................ 115
13.2.1 Setup DMX outputs screen....................................................................116
13.3 Connecting to a simulator with ACDI ...................................... 116
13.3.1 ACDI .................................................................................................117
13.4 ArtNet................................................................................ 118
13.4.1 A simple ArtNet system........................................................................118
13.4.2 Setting up an ArtNet system.................................................................119
13.4.3 Additional ArtNet Resources..................................................................120
13.5 eDmx ................................................................................ 120
13.5.1 Setting up eDmx .................................................................................121
13.6 Module Setup...................................................................... 122
13.6.1 Installing additional Modules.................................................................123
13.7 AvoTalk.............................................................................. 123
13.7.1 Example AvoTalk setup ........................................................................123
13.8 All about IP addressing......................................................... 124