Blizzard Lighting Kontrol 5 User manual

COPYRIGHT 2012-13
BLIZZARD LIGHTING, LLC
WISCONSIN, USA

KONTROL 5 Manual Rev A.
Page 2
© 2012-13 Blizzard Lighting, LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GETTING STARTED 3
1.1 What’s In The Box? 3
1.2 Getting It Out Of The Box 3
1.3 Powering Up! 3
1.4 Getting A Hold Of Us 3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 4
1.5 Instructions on Our Instructions 4
2. INTRODUCTION 5
2.1 Features 5
2.2 General Overview 5
2.3 Nifty, Spiffy Diagram (front) 5
2.4 Nifty, Spiffy Diagram (back) 6
2.5 Common Terms 7
3. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 8
3.1 Setup 8
3.1.1 Setting Up The System 8
3.1.2 Fixture Addressing 8
3.1.3 The LED Display Screen 8
3.1.4 Resetting The System 9
3.2 Programming 9
3.2.1 Entering Programming Mode 9
3.3 Color/Scene Preset Programming Mode 9
3.3.1 Creating A New Color/Scene Preset 9
3.3.2 Color/Scene Preset Delete Mode 9
3.4 Chase Programming 10
3.4.1 Creating A New Chase 10
3.4.2 Inserting a Chase Step 10
3.4.3 Deleting a Chase Step 10
3.5 Playback 11
3.5.1 Manual Control Mode 11
3.5.2 Color/Scene Preset Mode 11
3.5.3 Chase Playback Mode 11
3.5.3.1 Auto Mode 12
3.5.3.2 Music Mode 12
3.5.3.2 Manual Mode 12
3.5.4 Playback Override 12
3.5.5.1 Strobe Setup 13
3.5.5.2 Strobe Playback 13
3.5.6 Blackout 13
3.6 USB Functions
3.6.1 Data Backup 14
3.6.2 Data Load 14
3.6.3 Firmware Update 14
4. APPENDIX 16
4.1 A Quick Lesson On DMX 16
4.2 Keeping Your KONTROL 5 As Good As New 16
4.3 Returns (Gasp!) & Shipping Issues 16
4.5 TECH SPECS! 17

KONTROL 5 Manual Rev A.
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© 2012-13 Blizzard Lighting, LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1. GETTING STARTED
1.1 What’s In The Box?
• 1x KONTROL 5™ DMX Controller
• 1x 9VDC, 300ma (minimum) AC/DC Adaptor
• A Warranty Card & Warranty Info
• This Lovely User Manual
1.2 Getting It Out Of The Box
We could tell just by lookin’ atcha. You’re a bit of a control freak, aren’t
ya? Just kidding! CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve purchased a GREAT little
DMX controller! Bravo! Now that you’ve got your KONTROL 5™, you
should carefully unpack the box and check the contents to ensure that all
parts are present and in good condition. If anything looks as if it has been
damaged in transit, notify the shipper immediately and keep the packing
material for inspection. Again, please save the carton and all packing ma-
terials.Ifaxturemustbereturnedtothefactory,itisimportantthatthe
xturebereturnedintheoriginalfactoryboxandpacking.
1.3 Powering Up!
All xtures must be powered directly off a switched circuit and can-
not be run off a rheostat (variable resistor) or dimmer circuit, even
if the rheostat or dimmer channel is used solely for a 0% to 100%
switch.
ACVoltageSwitch-Notallxtureshaveavoltageselectswitch,soplease
verifythatthextureyoureceiveissuitableforyourlocalpowersupply.
Seethelabelonthextureorrefertothexture’sspecicationschartfor
moreinformation.Axture’slistedcurrentratingisitsaveragecurrent
drawundernormalconditions.Checkthextureordevicecarefullyto
make sure that if a voltage selection switch exists that it is set to the cor-
rect line voltage you will use.
Warning! Verify that the voltage select switch on your unit matches
the line voltage applied. Damage to your xture may result if the
line voltage applied does not match the voltage indicated on the
voltage selector switch. All xtures must be connected to circuits
with a suitable Ground (Earthing).
1.4 Getting A Hold Of Us
If something is wrong, just give us a call or send an email. We’ll be happy
to help, honest.
Blizzard Lighting
W220 N1531 Jericho Ct. Suite E, Waukesha, WI 53186 USA
[email protected] | Phone: [phone]
www.blizzardlighting.com

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
• Please keep this User Guide for future use. If you sell the unit to someone
else, be sure that they also receive this User Guide.
• ALWAYS make sure that you are connecting to the proper voltage, and that
the line voltage you are connecting to is not higher than that stated on the
decalorrearpanelofthexture.
• This product is intended for indoor use only.
• Topreventriskofreorshock,donotexposexturetorainormoisture.
• Makesuretherearenoammablematerialsclosetotheunitwhileoperat-
ing.
• The unit must be installed in a location with adequate ventilation, at least
20in (50cm) from adjacent surfaces. Be sure that no ventilation slots are
blocked.
• ALWAYS disconnect from the power source before servicing or replacing
fuse and be sure to replace with same fuse size and type.
• ALWAYSsecurextureusingasafetychain.NEVERcarrythexturebyits
head. Use its carrying handles.
• DO NOT operate at ambient temperatures higher than 104°F (40°C).
• In the event of a serious operating problem, stop using the unit imme-
diately. NEVER try to repair the unit by yourself. Repairs carried out by
unskilled people can lead to damage or malfunction. Please contact the
nearest authorized technical assistance center. Always use the same type
spare parts.
• NEVER connect the device to a dimmer pack.
• Make sure the power cord is never crimped or damaged.
• Never disconnect the power cord by pulling or tugging on the cord.
• Avoid direct eye exposure to the light source while it is on.
Caution! There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open
the housing or attempt any repairs yourself. In the unlikely event your unit
may require service, please contact Blizzard Lighting at support@blizzard-
lighting.com.
1.5 Instructions on Our Instructions
We try to make these manuals easy to read and as fun as reading an in-
struction manual can be. Because there are buttons, switches, sliders and
knobs galore on most of our products, it makes sense to refer to things in
a consistent fashion. So, when you see text formatted in certain ways, it
should say to you “Hey! Look at me! I MEAN something, dammit!”
Special Text What It Means
LED Textdisplayedonthexture’sLEDcontrolpanel
<MENU> Button <X> to be pressed
MENU --> SHMD A sequence to be followed
000 <-> 255 A range of values

KONTROL 5 Manual Rev A.
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1 Features
• DMX512/1990 Standard
• Controls16xturesofupto10channels,160channelstotal
• 16 preset scene/color banks, 8 per page
• Record up to 16 chases with up to 200 scenes per chase
• 5 sliders for direct control of channels
• Built-in microphone for music mode
• Auto mode program controlled by fade time sliders
• DMX out: 3-pin XLR
• LED information display
• Blackout function and instant strobe with variable speed fader
• USB Backup/Restore of Data
2.2 General Overview
The controller is a universal intelligent lighting controller. It allows the con-
trolof16xturescomposedof10channelseachandupto16program-
mable scenes. Sixteen chase banks can contain up to 200 steps composed
of saved scenes or manual inputs in any order. Programs can be triggered
by music, automatically or manually. All chases can be executed at the
same time.
Onthesurfaceyouwillndvariousprogrammingtoolssuchas5RGBAW/
universalchannelsliders,quickaccessxtureandscenebuttons,andan
LED display indicator for easier navigation of controls and menu functions.
2.3 Nifty, Spiffy Diagram (front)
123 4
567 8 9 11 12
16 17 18
13 14
20
10 19
15

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Number Button/Fader/Connection Does...
1Fixture Select Buttons Fixture selection.
2Fixture Indicator LEDs Indicatesthexture(s)currentlyselected.
3Scene Select Buttons / LEDs Universal bump buttons representing scene location for
storage and selection.
4Chase Select Buttons / LEDs Universal bump buttons representing chase location for
storage and selection.
5Channel Faders Adjusts DMX values - Channel 1-5 may be adjusted after
pressingtherespectivextureselectbutton.
6Edit/REC Button Enters programming mode, records a step in a chase.
7Insert/Tap Button Inserts a step in a chase while in programming mode, or
allows tap control of chases in playback mode.
8DEL/Clear Button Deletes Scenes/Chases, clears current fader output.
9Chase Time Fader Sets the chase time in AUTO mode, 1=slowest, 10=fast-
est.
10 Fader Page Select Button Togglesbetweencontroloftherstor2nd5DMXchan-
nelsperxture
11 Fade Time Fader Sets the fade time in AUTO mode, 1=fastest, 10=slow-
est.
12 Strobe Speed Fader Sets the speed of the strobe effect, 1=slowest, 10=fast-
est.
13 Blackout Button & LED Stops all output from the controller.
14 Strobe Button / LED Triggers the strobe function (momentary button)
15 Scene/Chase Page Select Buttons Toggles between control/playback of Scene/Chase Page
A or B.
16 LED Display Displays pertinent information about the current opera-
tion of the controller. See page 9 for more details.
17 LEFT/RIGHT Buttons
Selects the current bank, steps through chases in MANU-
AL mode, adjusts the sound sensitivity and the length of
time each chase runs when running multiple chases.
18 Run Mode Button & LEDs Selects between AUTO/MUSIC/MANUAL modes and
displays current operating mode.
19 USB Disk Interface For attachment of an optional USB disk drive, for backup/
restore of scenes/chases.
20 Mounting Holes
Allows you to securely fasten the controller to the surface
of your choice, also works nicely for holding pens,
pencils, and other small round things you always have
laying around.
21 Power Switch Really? C’mon!
22 DC Power Input Connector Plug in ONLY the included AC/DC adaptor here.
23 DMX Output Connector 3-pin DMX output - this is where all the magic happens
2.4 Nifty, Spiffy Diagram (back)
2223 21

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2.5 Common Terms
The following are common terms used in intelligent light programming,
so pay attention! We’ll be using them throughout the manual.
• Blackoutisastatebywherealllightingxtureslightoutputare
set to 0 or off, usually on a temporary basis.
• DMX-512 stands for Digital MultipleXis an industry standard
digital communication protocol used in entertainment lighting
equipment. For more information read the DMX Primer and
DMX Control Mode Sections later in the manual.
• Fixture refers to your lighting instrument or other device such
as a fogger or dimmer of which you can control.
• Programs are a bunch of scenes stacked one after another. It
can be programmed as either a single scene or multiple scenes
in sequence.
• Scenes are static lighting states.
• Sliders are a delicious small burger or sandwich, but here they
are used in the same context as faders.
• Chases can also be called programs. A chase consists of a num-
ber of scenes stacked one after another.
• Stand Alonereferstoaxture’sabilitytofunctionindepen-
dently of an external controller and usually in sync to music, due
to a built in microphone.
• Fade Slider is used to adjust the time between scenes within a
chase.
• Speed Slider affects the amount of time a scene will hold its
state. It is also considered a wait time.
• Shutter/Strobeisamechanicaldeviceinthelightingxture
that allows you to block the lights path. It is often used to less-
en the intensity of the light output and to strobe.
• PatchingreferstotheprocessofassigningxturesaDMX
channel.
• Playbacks can be either scenes or chases that are directly
called to execution by the user. A playback can also be consid-
ered program memory that can be recalled during a show.

KONTROL 5 Manual Rev A.
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© 2012-13 Blizzard Lighting, LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
3.1 Setup
3.1.1 Setting Up The System
Plug the AC to DC power supply to the system back panel and to the mains
outlet.
Plug in your DMX cable(s) to your intelligent lighting as described in the
xturesrespectivemanual.ForaquicklessononDMXseetheDMX Prim-
er section in the Appendix of this manual.
3.1.2 Fixture Addressing
TheControllerisprogrammedtocontrol10channelsofDMXperxture,
thereforethexturesyouwishtocontrolwiththecorresponding FIXTURE
buttons on the unit, must be spaced 10 channels apart.
Fixt. # DMX Start
Address
Binary DIP Switch
Settings
(SET TO ON POSI-
TION)
Fixt. # DMX Start
Address
Binary DIP Switch
Settings
(SET TO ON POSI-
TION)
11 1 981 1, 5, 7
211 1, 2, 4 10 91 1, 2, 4, 5, 7
321 1, 3, 5 11 101 1, 3, 6, 7
431 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 12 111 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
541 1, 4, 6 13 121 1, 4, 5, 6, 7
651 1, 2, 5, 6 14 131 1, 2, 8
761 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 15 141 1, 3, 4, 8
871 1, 3, 4, 5 16 151 1, 2, 4, 5, 8
Pleaserefertoyourindividualxture’smanualfordetailedDMXaddressing
instructions. The table above refers to a standard 9-DIP Switch binary con-
gurabledevice.
3.1.3 The LED Display Screen
KONTROL 5 features a 4-position LED display which provides information
about the current mode, function and status of the controller. The messages
displayed on the screen are detailed here:
LED Display Means...
S000-S200 When a Chase Preset is selected, displays the current chase scene being played
back. The display will step through chase steps based on the current output mode
(Auto/Music/Manual)
D000-D255 DMXvaluecurrentlybeingassignedbytheactivexturecontrolfader.
F01.0 - F20.0 While holding down the <STROBE> button, displays the current strobe speed,
1-20ashespersecond
S0.10-S30.0 Chase scene time. From 0.1-30 seconds per step.
F0.00-F30.0 Chase fade time. From 0.1-30 seconds per step.
T0.10-T30.0 Tap tempo time, used in auto control mode.
M001-M100 Sound sensitivity, used in music control mode.
L001-L200 Loop Time. The time a chase will loop before moving to the next selected chase.
01Yc-10No Displayed when the user selects channels to be used by the strobe function Yc=
Strobe Enabled (Yes), No=Strobe Disabled.

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3.1.4 Resetting The System
WARNING: This will reset the controller to its factory defaults. ALL PRO-
GRAMS AND SETTINGS WILL BE ERASED!
1. Turn the unit off.
2. Press and hold <EDIT/REC>, <RUN MODE> & <DEL/CLEAR>
3. Turn the unit on while you continue to hold <EDIT/REC> & <DEL/
CLEAR>
4. All LEDs will blink. Release the held buttons and the LEDs will stop
blinking.
5. The settings will be reset to factory defaults.
3.2 Programming
Regardless of whether you are programming a chase or scene, you must rst
enter programming mode.
3.2.1 Entering Programming Mode
1. Press and hold <EDIT/REC> for 3 seconds.
2. The Program/REC LED indicator will blink, indicating programming is
active.
3. The LED indicators for any previously programmed scenes in the cur-
rent bank and any previously programmed chases will blink.
4. Programming mode is now active.
3.3 Color/Scene Preset Programming Mode
This allows the user to create a preset color/scene which can be used to
override current xture output and may also be used in chase programming.
3.3.1 Creating A New Color/Scene Preset
1. Enter programming mode as described in Section 3.2.1.
2. Using the <FIXTURE SELECTOR> button(s),selectthexturesto
include in the Color/Scene Preset.
3. Adjustthexture(s)outputusing<CHANNEL FADERS 1-5> as
desired.
4. Press <EDIT/REC>.
5. Select the desired scene page using <SCENE PAGE>.
6. Press <SCENE 1-8>.AllLEDswillashquickly.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 to add additional presets if desired.
8. Hold <EDIT/REC> for 3 seconds to exit programming mode. The
LED indicator above the <EDIT/REC> button will extinguish.
3.3.2 Color/Scene Preset Delete Mode
This allows the user to delete a previously programmed preset color/scene.
1. Enter programming mode as described in Section 3.2.1.
2. Select the desired scene bank using <LEFT/RIGHT>.
3. Hold <DEL/CLEAR>, then press the <SCENE 1-8> button you wish
to delete.

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4. AllLEDswillash3times,andtheLEDindicatorfortheselected
scene will now remain off. The scene has been deleted.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 to delete additional presets if desired.
6. Hold <EDIT/REC> for 3 seconds to exit programming mode. The
LED indicator above the <EDIT/REC> button will extinguish.
3.4 Chase Programming
A chase is a sequence of different scenes or steps which are called one after
another. KONTROL 5 can store up to 16 programs of 200 scenes each.
3.4.1 Creating A New Chase
1. Enter programming mode as described in Section 3.2.1.
2. Using the <CHASE 1-8> button, select the chase you wish to pro-
gram.
3. Using the <FIXTURE SELECTOR> button(s),selectthexturesto
include in the chase step.
4. Adjustthexture(s)outputusing<CHANNEL FADERS 1-5> as de-
sired, OR, to use a previously programmed scene/color preset:
5. Select the desired scene bank using <LEFT/RIGHT>.
6. Press <SCENE 1-8>.
7. Press <EDIT/REC>.AllLEDswillblink3timestoindicatetherst
step has been stored successfully.
8. Repeat steps 2-6 to store additional steps if desired. Up to 200 steps
may be stored in each chase. If 200 steps have been stored in a
chase and the user attempts to store an additional step, the LED
display will read FULL.
9. Hold <EDIT/REC> for 3 seconds to exit programming mode. The
LED indicator above the <EDIT/REC> button will extinguish.
NOTE: After scene programming, press the <DEL/CLEAR> button to clear
any output, to avoid inadvertently overwriting a scene/color preset.
3.4.2 Inserting a Chase Step
1. Enter programming mode as described in Section 3.2.1.
2. Using the <CHASE 1-8> button, select the chase you wish to modify.
3. Press the <INSERT/TAP> button. The LED indicator will illuminate
and the current step will display on the LED display. If there are no
steps in the chase, the display will read ST00.
4. Use the <LEFT/RIGHT> buttons to select the position for the in-
serted step.
5. Using the <FIXTURE SELECTOR> button(s),selectthexturesto
include in the chase step.
6. Adjustthexture(s)outputusing<CHANNEL FADERS 1-5> as de-
sired, OR, to use a previously programmed scene/color preset:
7. Select the desired scene bank using <LEFT/RIGHT>.
8. Press <SCENE 1-8>.
9. Press <EDIT/REC>.AllLEDswillblink3timestoindicatetherst
step has been stored successfully. If no data has been stored, the
LED display will read NULL.
10. Repeat steps 2-9 to store additional steps if desired. Up to 32 steps
may be stored in each chase. If 32 steps have been stored in a chase
and the user attempts to store an additional step, the LED display will