DMXPEN PenSuite User manual

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
User Manual
Version 1.03 – March 2010
1 www.dmxpen.com

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
index
1.0 Introduction................................................................................3
2.0 DM 512 and ArtNet....................................................................3
3.0 PenSuite.....................................................................................6
3.1 Installation ............................................................................6
3.2 SetUp.....................................................................................8
3.3 Recording...............................................................................9
3.4 Playback...............................................................................11
3.5 Test DM Out........................................................................12
3.6 Display DM In.....................................................................16
3.7 DIP Address Calculator..........................................................16
2 www.dmxpen.com

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
1.0 Introduction
Briefly the DM Pen products mission is record and carry easily: “Design your show, record and bring with you”.
Why recording? The first goal of a professional light programmer is to select a light desk and learn to use it in the best
way, because this means freedom of expression and productivity.
The DM Pen products range improve this concept taking care of recording what the light programmer realize whit his
preferred equipment.
Why carry? Often the light programmer presence is not necessary during the show playback, so he can realize the
show and record it so the user has only the duty to activate his playback (i.e. fair booth, shop, club, etc.)
Moreover doing this with a normal light desk, mean carry heavy or expensive equipment that usually are not so
familiar to the users (i.e. barman, custodian, etc.).
This is another issue improved from the DM Pen products because contains only the show engine with a simple user
interface at a very low cost.
On the www.dmxpen.com web site, many brief documentation showing DM Pen products operation are provided that
we suggest to use.
2.0 DMX512 ed ArtNet
Many light desk systems are PC based and are responsible to edit the show and calculate the light value step frame
per frame in real time. Then is necessary to transmit this values to the fixtures using the DM 512 protocol. PC are not
provided with DM 512 ports, but in most case are provided with ethernet port, so to connect PC to fixture is
necessary a protocol conversion.
This concept can be applied also to many light desk that are equipped with ethernet port.
One of the most used protocol the transport DM 512 data over the ethernet line is the ArtNet protocol (Designed by
and Copyright Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd) also implemented on the DM Pen products that is from this side a complete
ArtNet Node (device able to translate ArtNet protocol on DM 512 protocol and DM 512 protocol on ArtNet protocol).
The ethernet port availability on DM Pen products allow us to:
–extend DM universe
–develop a device network very easily (we can find on the market a lot of ethernet HUB, Switch or Access Point
allowing us to: make a WiFi ArtNet transmission, make a geographic node distribution, etc.)
–implement ArtNet on a light desk not provided with an ArtNet interface (on DM Pen we have a bidirectional
conversion so we can select DM ArtNet direction, connect the DM Pen products on a Light Desk DM Port→
OutPut and obtain an ArtNet line on his ethernet port)
–analyse a DM line from a PC
Following a breif explanations of some therm used in this document:
MAC Address: 48bit unique physical address number assigned to device by the producer.
IP Address: 32bit address number that identifies uniquely any nodes or servers in a network. In DM Pen products the
IP Address is assigned by the user. By default ArtNet protocol uses a Class A IP address scheme a 2 address group:
2.x.x.x for primary ArtNet address and 10.x.x.x for secondary ArtNet address.
Subnet Mask: 32bit address number that defines which part of the IP Address represents the network. By default all
ArtNet implementations require a Subnet Mask = 255.0.0.0. This means that the first byte of the IP Address,
represent the network address and the remaining three bytes represent the node address.
3 www.dmxpen.com

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
Port: ArtNet protocol uses UDP protocol as transport layer over TCP/IP protocol. Port number is a 16bit transport layer
address used to identify the service. Artnet protocol uses only one port address of 6454 (0x1936). Anyway DM Pen
products give the capability to change it in case of complex configuration that need a different value.
Universe: A 512 channels data link originated from a single source is referred to as a Universe.
Node: A device able to receive ArtNet control data. DM Pen products are devices able to convert DM 512 frame on
ArtNet frame and vice-versa.
Server: A device able to transmit ArtNet control data.
BroadCast Address: Destination IP Address used by server to send information to all the devices connected to the
network.
ArtNet Subnet: A group of 16 consecutive Universe is referred to as a subnet.
ArtNet Universe: Universe address on a single ArtNet subnet group.
Wiring and connections: usually ethernet device are connected through CAT5 cables using RJ45 connectors. We can
have 2 type of CAT5 cables: cross cable and patch cable. Cross cables are commonly used to connect 2 ethernet
device directly (we can use a cross cable to connect a DM Pen device directly to a PC) while patch cables are used to
connect devices to HUB or Switch.
4 www.dmxpen.com

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
Configuration Example:
Regarding the device IP Addres configuration we provide an example: image a network composed by 3 devices: 1
device server composed by a PC running a lighting software generating ArtNet e 2 DM Pen Live responsible to receive
ArtNet signal to be converted on DM 512 line connected to 2 fixture lines. Moreover we indicate the 4 number
composing IP Address as A.B.C.D.
To realize i.e. a Class A network as indicated on ArtNet specification (A number of the IP Address has to be common
on all devices), we can start selecting the PC IP Address, i.e. 2.0.0.100 and a SubNet Mask as 255.0.0.0. After that
we kown that DM Pen Live IP Address need the same PC IP Address A number (2) SubNet Mask 255.0.0.0 and
BroadCast Address 2.255.255.255. We don't need other particular configuration, so we leave unchanged the ArtNet
port.
For the universe number configuration, suppose to use the first 2 DM 512 universes obtaining the following
configuration
PC First DM Pen Pro Second DM Pen Pro
IP Address 2.0.0.100 IP Address 2.0.0.101 IP Address 2.0.0.102
Subnet Mask 255.0.0.0 Subnet Mask 255.0.0.0 Subnet Mask 255.0.0.0
ArtNet Port 6454 ArtNet Port 6454
Broadcast
Address
2.255.255.255 Broadcast Address 2.255.255.255
Subnet Switch 0 Subnet Switch 0
Universe Address
Switch
0 Universe Address
Switch
1
At the end of this configuration, the devices are ready to use.
Refer to www.esta.org web site for more DM 512 information and www.artisticlicence.com web site for ArtNet
protocol information.
5 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 1: IP Address distribution example

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
3.0 PenSuite
3.1 Installation
Configure network parameter is possible connecting DM Pen device to a PC, powering it and launching PenSuite
software. There are 2 possible connection type: cross cable direct connection and patch cable through HUB
connection.
If PenSuite is still not installed on you PC, you can download from www.dmxpen.com web site (software section) or
copy from the device on board microSD Card provided.
6 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 2: Cross cable direct connection
Figure 3: Patch cable through HUB connection
Figure 4: microSD card plug on card
reader
Figure 5: microSD card reader
connection to PC

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
PenSuite software is available in 3 versions: one Microsoft Windows ® version and two Apple Macintosh version, one
for MAC OS 10.4 and one for MAC OS 10.5 ® .
PenSuite do not constrain operator to use a particular PC operating system and do not require a big installation file: is
a simple executable program files, that can be downloaded in compressed format (.ZIP for Microsoft Windows
®operating system and .DMG for MAC ® operating system) and directly launched.
As you can see on the picture once launched, PenSuite is composed from 4 section: SetUp, Test DM Out, Display
DM In e About.
7 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 6: microSD card browsing

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
3.2 SetUp
Once PenSuite started, the first operation to perform is the network scan to learn the device connected to the
network.
To do this, press “Find Node” button and few second later the list below will be compiled with the node found on the
network indicating his MAC and IP Address.
Now selecting any of the listed device, we tell to PenSuite to connect with him allowing edit, control and diagnosis
operation on it.
Following the parameter associated to each device:
– Name: Device name assigned from the user to the device
– IP Address: Device IP Address
– Su net Mask: Part of the IP Address represents the network
– Broadcast Address: Destination IP address for command directed to all devices
– ArtNet Port: ArtNet protocol UDP Port
– ArtNet Su net: A group of 16 consecutive Universe is referred to as a subnet. This is the device group
number (0 - 15)
– ArtNet Universe: Device Universe address on a single ArtNet subnet group.(0 – 15)
– DMX TX: DM Pen Device DM transmission mode:
• ”DM T on ArtNet R ”: Selecting this mode, DM Pen will transmit DM frames upon ArtNet frame
receiving only. In this way the DM frame transmission will be synchronized with ArtNet frame
transmission (useful to synchronize fast device like led systems.
• ”DM T on Fixed Rate”: Selecting this mode, DM Pen will transmit continuously at the selected rate the
last DM frame received (useful to control fixtures that recognise DM absence to standby or error
condition, causing i.e. home positioning).
– Data Direction: As indicated from the icon on the middle of the PenSuite SetUp window, DM Pen devices
perform also ArtNet DM and vice-versa protocol conversion and the arrows indicate the current setup. By→
clicking on the icon it is possible to change data direction. DM Pen Live, display this information lighting BLUE
the multifunction LED in case of ArtNet DM conversion and SKY BLUE in case of DM ArtNet→ →
conversion.
Each time that a parameter is changed (except data direction changes), a star will appear to the right side of the
parameter data entry and the “Store” button became active to remember to store on the device the new value to
activate the modification.
8 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 7: DM -> ArtNet conversion selection Figure 8: ArtNet -> DM conversion selection

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
To help beginner user to configure easily all this parameter an “Auto Set” button is provided. This procedure analyse
the computer network configuration and calculate a standard device set up. After that to activate the new set up a
“Store” button click is necessary.
Now the device is ready to use.
3.3 Recording
DM Pen is able to record a lot of DM or ArtNet stream recording session (up to 1000). Recording sessions are
compressed and stored on the provided 2GByte on board microSD card. This corresponds to many hours of recording
session. Anyway a card reader is provided to connect the microSD card to a PC allowing to handle recording session
files like an USB memory stick. In this way copy/delete/backup operation on SHOWxxx.BIN named file recording
session will be possible. It's also possible to use microSD card to store your own information, but remember to leave
enough space for recording session.
DM Pen products like the Live mode i.e., register a DM signal stream coming from a DM line but the provided LR
connector is a female type considered as DM output line in the DM standard. However DM Pen Live DM port is a
bidirectional port and can be configured as input or output regardless. In this case we need to configure it as input
and convert on 5 pole LR male input connector type to be connected to a device that transmit DM signal. To do this
9 www.dmxpen.com
Figura 9: Esempio Modifica Parametri

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
a 5 pole LR male-male adapter is provided.
Before to start recording, any running playback as to be stopped and the data direction selected. This can be done in
two ways: using PenSuite software, or using the on board selector.
To stop a running playback from PenSuite Software, select the device from the node list and press stop button. Press
the on board selector to stop a running playback directly from DM Pen Live device.
To change data direction from PenSuite Software, select the device from the node list and press the change direction
icon. Go to the changing direction position and pressing it for at lest 3sec. To do the same directly from DM Pen Live
device.
Remember that on ArtNet DM data direction, the device DM port is configured as output and each frame received→
from the ethernet port will be transmitted to the DM port.
On DM ArtNet data direction configuration, the device DM port is configured as input and each frame received→
from the DM line will transmitted on the ethernet port at the Broadcast Address using the ArtNet protocol.
We can start recording session in two way:
Dopo aver selezionato la sorgente da registrare (DM o ArtNet) cliccando sull'icona della DM Pen nella sezione di
SetUp (Figure 6 e 7) ed accertandoci che il led multicolore assuma il colore appropriato (AZZURRO nel caso in cui la
sorgente sia il DM e BLU nel caso in cui la sorgente sia l'ArtNet), possiamo avviare la sessione di registrazione in 2
modi:
1. Through PenSuite DM Show Control panel selecting the recording session number and pressing “Rec” button
2. Through the on board selector using DM Pen Live device: move to recording session number and press the
selector for at least 3sec
10 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 11: Recording/Playback control panel
Figure 10: 5pole LR male-male converter to use during DM signal recording

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
DM Pen products display the recording state directly from the device. Refer to device manual for more information.
DM Pen device record each received frame content and rate to guarantee a good playback fidelity.
Press PenSuite “Stop” button to stop recording session.
3.4 Play ack
Playback can be done in 3 ways:
1. Through PenSuite DM Show Control panel selecting the recording session number and pressing “Play” button
2. Through the on board selector using DM Pen Live device: move selector session number and press it
3. Through MIDI port: DM Pen products are arranged to receive Program Change MIDI command, used in most
case from MIDI device to recall a preset.
Playback do not take care about data direction and send data on both DM and ArtNet port: DM (that is switched as
output) and ethernet (using ArtNet protocol).
The playback state is stored on the DM Pen device to start automatically on each power on.
11 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 12: DM Pen Live on board selector

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
3.5 Test DMX Out
Selecting any device from the node list and pressing “Test DM Out” button, ArtNet testing session of the selected
device will be configured coping Device Name, IP Address, ArtNet Subnet and ArtNet Universe parameter. This
automatic procedure help the operator that can edit this parameters directly from the Test DM Out window if
necessary. Now pressing “ArtNet Enable” button we can Start and Stop ArtNet frame transmission on the network.
PenSuite transmit one complete DM 512 Universe that means 512 DM Channels. 16 of this can be connected to
sliders to have a direct control on it. The edit box above each sliders allow to assign the DM channel to control (on
the figure below the first slider control DM Channel 1, the second slider control DM Channel 2 and so on)
With “Free DM Address Selection” option unchecked, the 16 DM Channels are configured as consecutive. Editing
the first DM Channel Address PenSuite will calculate the other automatically.
12 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 13: Destination IP Address setup
Figure 14: Slider's DM Channel setup

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
Otherwise With “Free DM Address Selection” option checked, it is possible to assign a non consecutive DM Channel
address to each slider, but remember to not overlap address. Any overlapped DM Channel address will be indicated
in red color.
Now the slider is able to control the DM Channel value directly moving the wiper or editing the value on the below
edit box. “FLASH” and “INVERT” button are also provided to speed channel control.
On the left side the “Active Group Channels” section allow to select one of the three “Master” mode operation:
13 www.dmxpen.com
Figura 15: Esempio di indirizzamento di un gruppo consecutivo di 16 canali
a partire dall'indirizzo 9
Figure 16: Consecutive DM Channel address setup
Figure 17: Not consecutive DM Channel address setup

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
1. “ALL”: Master slider operation will be copied to all 512 Universe channels
2. “Group”: Master slider operation will be copied to the 16 '“Active Group Channels” channels only
3. “Outer”: Master slider operation will be copied to the 496 channels not included on the '“Active Group
Channels”
Enabling ArtNet and moving slider we can see the fixture reaction in real time. Moreover is possible to store the slider
state on “Cue” memory up to 16pages of 8 cue for a maximum 128 cue. Each cue has it's own “SAVE” and “LOAD”
button and to store slider position is enough to move the slider and press “SAVE” button. In the same way pressing
“LOAD” button a slider situation will be restored. A fade time can be also defined that will be stored to the cue
pressing “SAVE” button.
Now we can press “Play” button and PenSuite will control DM channel according cue value and fade time.
During cue playback, a green progress bar will display the cue playback state.
As you can see from the figure above, on the cue control panel right side “Play” and “Stop” allow start and stop cue
playback and “Load” and “Save” button allow to record cue sequences on ML files.
14 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 18: Master mode
operation selection
Figure 20: Cue control panel
Figure 19: Cue progress display

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
15 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 21: Cue test sequence save example
Figure 22: Cue test sequence load example

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
3.6 Display DMX In
Pressing the “Display DM In” button located below the note list on the SetUp page, the ArtNet display page is
arranged to receive ArtNet frame from the selected device and display all the 512 channel values it in real time on a
single view. A “---” text will be displayed in case of data not present.
This section is useful to display a DM line source content or to analyse DM Pen devices playback operation.
3.7 DIP Address Calculator
On the “About” tab as well as Copyright and software release information, a DIP Switch DM Address calculator was
included. A value inserted on “DM Address” edit bow, will be converted on binary format and a DIP switch scheme
will be displayed.
Moreover the “DM Step” edit box allow to specify the DM Address calculated on each “+” and “-” action on “DM
Address”.
16 www.dmxpen.com
Figure 23: ArtNet receiving example

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
17 www.dmxpen.com
Figura 24: DIP Address Calculator

PenSuite – User Manual V1.03
18 www.dmxpen.com
www.dmxpen.com
www.esta.org www.ArtisticLicence.com
Designed by and Copyright
Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd.