Dove Lighting Systems SceneMaster 8 User manual

SceneMaster 8
Portable Dimming System
User Manual!
Dove Lighting Systems, Inc.
3563 Sueldo Street, Unit E
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-541-8292
www.DoveSystems.com
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Table of Contents
The Basics
Receiving Your Unit 5
Introduction 5
Getting Started 5
Mechanical Installation 5
Electrical Installation 6
Grounding 7
Load Connections 8
Control Connections 8
Basic Operation 9
Questions & Comments 10
Control Console Details
Overview 11
Description & Features 11
Start Up 11
Manual Operation 12
Crossfades 12
Blackout Button & Grandmaster 13
Introduction to Memory Control 14
Menu Summary 14
Using the Main Menu 14
Loading and Running a Show 15
Running a Show with Timed Crossfades 16
Remote Focus Unit Mode 17
Advanced Menu 18
Passwords 18
Advanced Menu Summary 18
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Configuration 19
Change Password 19
Format SD Card 19
Delete Show 20
Patch Tables 21
Select Patch Table 22
Load 1:1 Patch 23
Load Wrap Patch 23
Clear Patch 24
Edit Softpatch Dimmers & Channels 24
Capturing DMX Input to a Patch Channel 26
Save Patch To SD card 26
Load Patch From SD Card 27
Creating Cues 28
Create a New Show 28
Edit Show 29
Capturing DMX Input to Show Cues 31
IQ512M File Formats 32
General 32
Shows Captured in the IQ512M Format 33
Offline Show Editing 33
Show File Field Type Summary 34
Show File Field Types 34
Patch File Field Types 35
Dimmer Details
Features 36
In Case of Trouble
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Overview 37
Control Troubleshooting 37
Dimmer Troubleshooting 38
Obtaining Service 39
WARRANTY INFORMATION 39
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The Basics
Receiving Your Unit
As soon as you have received your equipment, open the boxes and examine the contents. If
the equipment in the carton does not match your order or the packing slip, contact the factory
immediately and we will be happy to help you. If any damage is noted, contact the carrier
immediately to file a claim for damages. You can be sure that when the equipment left the
factory it was in capable condition, thoroughly tested, and properly packed.
Introduction
The SceneMaster 8 is a portable, rugged DMX-512 controller with eight integrated 1000 Watt
dimmers assigned to DMX channels 1 through 8. It is 15 inches wide x 10 inches deep x 5½
inches high and weighs 13 pounds with a comfortable carrying handle. It features a single
scene with hold 12 channel DMX control console with a split crossfader, a grandmaster slider,
a blackout button, and Bump buttons for each channel. Very easy to setup and use, it
requires just two wall outlets for power. With single U-Ground (Edison) outlets per channel on
the back panel, the output loads plug right in."A foot switch is available for hands-free pre-
programmed crossfades. DMX IN and OUT ports are available for use with other DMX-512
equipment.
This manual covers all three versions of the SceneMaster 8: SM806-SUG, SM808-SUG, and
SM810-SUG. They vary only in their power inlet types accommodating various power
connectors and capacities.
Getting Started
Mechanical Installation
1) Remove all packing material from the carton and from the unit. Make certain that all vent
holes are free from obstruction on all sides of the unit.
2) Set the SM8 on a smooth, cool surface, preferably in an area which remains cool.
Maximum air temperature must not exceed 40°C (104°F).
3) Make certain that the vents have at least 6 inches of free air around them. Do not block
any vent holes. It is essential that this unit have adequate cooling for safe, reliable
performance.
4) The SM8 may be operated in any orientation, but the area near the unit should be clean,
dry, and protected from falling objects which could damage the slide controls or buttons. It
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is recommended that drinks or food not be allowed near the console as they can easily be
spilled and could cause a malfunction in the equipment.
Electrical Installation
The SM8 has 8 dimming channels, each capable of driving a 1000 Watt load. The total power
to be delivered to the loads simultaneously is limited by the building’s electrical circuits. The
SM8 should be connected to two 120 VAC (50/60Hz) outlets on separate electrical circuits
(they do not share the same circuit breaker or fuse). To avoid tripping the building’s circuit
breakers, it is recommended that no other equipment be connected to the circuits driving the
SM8. Required current and connector type for each model variant is listed in the following
table:
Power input to the SM8 is via flush-mount male connectors on the back panel. An appropriate
heavy-gauge extension cord will work for this purpose. Always use 3-wire, grounded cables.
12AWG or larger cable is recommended. Output channels 1-4 are powered by inlet A, and
outputs 5-8 are powered by inlet B. One must be aware of the total power used by the loads
in these two groups to avoid over loading the source circuits.
SM806, 15A Inlets
Model
Required Source Capacity
(Each Inlet, Amps)
Required Source Connector
SM806-SUG
15
NEMA 5-15R or 5-20R
SM808-SUG
20
NEMA L5-20R
SM810-SUG
30
NEMA L5-30R
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SM808, 20A Inlets
SM810, 30A Inlets
The console will operate reliably with just Inlet A powered. The console will power-up with
power only to Inlet B, but may not be reliable when outputs 5-8 are activated.
The rocker switch on the back panel controls power only to the console; the dimmers are
always on, but only send power to their loads when commanded by the console. All 12
channel sliders should be down and the 3 Master & Crossfade sliders on the left should be up
when the rocker is switched on.
Grounding
The term “grounding” refers to a separate wire, usually with green insulation, which is
connected from the equipment case to earth ground. This is not the same as the neutral or
common and must not be confused with them. The neutral is a separate, load-carrying
conductor, and common refers to the control signal’s common or reference voltage which
should only be allowed to reach ground at a single point in the entire system to avoid ground
loops.
When the SM8 is connected to its power source by a flexible cable, this ground connection is
made through a third wire in the cable, and the ground prong on the plug. For maximum
safety, and to comply with electrical codes, this connection must be made. Do not use an
adapter (or “cheater”) plug.
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Load Connections
The SM8 will dim any load up to 1kW per channel. The load may be incandescent, inductive
or resistive. This includes conventional incandescent, quartz incandescent, “rain lights", pin-
beams, and similar "low-voltage" lighting loads containing transformers. Fluorescent and
neon loads can be controlled by the SM8 with no damage to the dimmer, but the nature of
these loads requires specialized circuitry to get full range dimming. Consult the factory if you
need to dim such loads.
Many “dimmable” LED bulbs work fine with the SceneMaster (though it’s common for them to
dim only to about 10% before turning completely off which can be disappointing), and the
percentage of those in the market continues to increase with time as bulb manufactures
improve their circuitry’s compatibility. Still, some LED bulbs will flicker at low power levels.
There are a few approaches to dealing with these bulbs: The easiest is to test several
different bulb models, and just avoid the trouble makers. Some control consoles can be
programed to avoid the problematic low power levels. In some cases, the flickering can be
mitigated by adding parallel loads in the form of a low power incandescent bulb or resistors.
Dove Systems offers factory installed 4.7kΩoutput resistors by special order or retrofit.
Plug the load or an extension cord to the load into the outlet which corresponds to the circuit
you wish to use. Always use grounded cords. Loads may be single fixtures or combinations of
lights not exceeding a total of 1kW per channel. Each output channel is protected by a 10
Amp circuit breaker. If the breaker trips, it is generally due to an overload or short in the
output load. However, elevated ambient temperatures or lack of ventilation can also result in
breakers tripping just shy of their rated current.
Control Connections
If external DMX devices are to be controlled, the DMX OUT port should be connected to them
using DMX-512, 5-pin cables providing access to all 512 DMX channels.
If an another DMX console is to be used with this system, it should be plugged into the DMX
IN port. See the sections on manual Blackout & Grandmaster controls as well as programing
patch tables and cues for details about the DMX IN capabilities.
If using the optional External Go foot switch (or other remote switch), it can be plugged into
the center of the back panel. See the section on running a show with timed crossfades for
details on its use.
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Basic Operation
This section describes manual operation of the SceneMaster 8 in its factory default
configuration using the 1:1 Patch Table where control channel (slider) 1 drives DMX output
channel (dimmer) 1, control channel 2 drives dimmer 2, etc.
1. Before applying power, the console power switch on the back panel above the B Power
Inlet should be off (down). The Grand Master and the X and Y crossfaders on the left
should be all the way up, and the control faders (channels 1 through 12) to the right of the
display should be all the way down. With power applied to both inlets, turn on the console
power switch.
2. Within 6 seconds, the DMX output will be valid and the display will say:
dovesystems.com
IQ512M V070214
3. Set the first scene with the channel faders. The lights on stage will respond with the
faders.
4. To set the next scene, press the Hold button. Note that the Hold button lights, and the
display reads:
New scene, then
crossfaders down
5. Without moving the crossfaders, adjust the channel sliders to the settings for the next
scene. The lights on stage will not yet change.
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6. When it is time to switch to the next scene, move the X and Y crossfaders all the way
down, fading into the new scene.
7. Once the crossfaders have been moved to the down position, the Hold button goes out
and the display returns to the normal IQ512 display. At this point, the channel sliders are
once again "live."
8. If desired, you could return to the previous scene by just sliding the crossfaders back up.
Then, set up the next scene:
9. Press Hold again.
10.Set the sliders for the new look.
11. Move the crossfaders up, changing the stage look.
The general sequence is:
1. Press Hold
2. Set up scene
3. Move crossfaders down
4. Press Hold
5. Set up scene
6. Move crossfaders up
Repeat as needed.
You can instantly blackout all lights by using the Blackout button or sliding the Grand Master
control down on the console’s far left.
Questions & Comments
We look forward to hearing your comments and questions on the SceneMaster 8. You can
email comments to [email protected] or contact us using the information on the front
cover of this manual. If something seems to not be working right, try working through the
Troubleshooting section near the end of this manual. If that does not resolve the issue,
please do not hesitate to call or email. We want to do all we can to make your use of Dove
Systems’ products productive and enjoyable.
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Control Console Details
Overview
Description & Features
The SceneMaster 8 control console designed for small venues, houses of worship, and
schools. The console may be used with up to 512 channels of DMX-512 lights, dimmers, and
other devices. In Remote Focus Unit mode, direct manual control of a full DMX universe is
easily achieved. In normal operation, it stores a distinct look on each of its control sliders
through a full proportional softpatch. Memory cues and the softpatch are saved automatically
and held indefinitely. To support quick changes in configuration, multiple patch tables are also
available. Smooth fades from one look to another are executed through standard theatrical
split crossfade controls or preprogrammed timed crossfades. Menus on a backlit LCD guide
the user through all operations. It stores an unlimited number of cues and shows on standard
SD memory cards. Shows may be edited offline on any personal computer with an SD Card
Reader. Finally, it can pass through and capture looks from another console, making it easy
to use as a backup to bigger consoles or to add memory features to manual consoles.
Start Up
Slide the left sliders (GM, X, and Y) all the way up. Slide the right sliders (channels 1 through
12) all the way down. Turn on the power switch on the back above power inlet B. The display
should read:
dovesystems.com
IQ512M VXXXXXX
(where “XXXXXX” is a 6 digit version #, this manual was written based on V070214). Startup
time to valid DMX outputs and this display is about 6 seconds. Without an SD card inserted,
the time is reduced to 2 seconds.$
Slide each of the channel sliders up and down to verify that they are controlling dimmers 1
through 12. Press each of the Bump buttons (one through nine and zero) below the channel
sliders. The appropriate lights on the dimmers should flash to full. If they do not, try restoring
the default 1:1 patch to the active patch table. See the section “Load 1:1 Patch” in the Patch
Tables section of this manual for details.
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Manual Operation
Crossfades
A crossfade creates a smooth transition from one scene to the next. Start with the
grandmaster and X & Y crossfaders all the way up to make the channel faders live. Set the
first scene with the channel faders. To set the next scene, press the Hold button. The Hold
button lights up and the display reads:$
New scene, then
crossfaders down
Don't move the crossfaders yet! Adjust the channel faders to the settings for the next scene.
The lights on stage will not change. When it is time to move to the next scene, move the X
and Y crossfaders all the way down, fading into the new scene. It's possible to delay the fade
out of the old scene or to delay the fade in of the new scene (perhaps even doing a fade to
black between scenes) by delaying the motion of the X or Y crossfader. Once the crossfaders
have been moved to the down position, the Hold button goes out and the display returns to
the normal IQ512 display. At this point, the channel sliders are once again "live." To set up a
new scene, hit hold again, set the new look, then move the crossfaders up.
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The general sequence is:
1. Press Hold
2. Set up scene
3. Move crossfaders down
4. Press Hold
5. Set up scene
6. Move crossfaders up
Repeat as needed.
Blackout Button & Grandmaster
Use the blackout button to plunge the stage into darkness immediately. The LED on the
blackout button will light up red. The display will read:$
Blackout Enabled
You can press the blackout button again to return to the previous stage look immediately, or
set new channel levels while in blackout that will come up immediately when the blackout
button is pressed again, or set new channel levels while in blackout and slowly fade up.
Here's how to slowly fade up after blackout:
1. Press the blackout button. The stage goes dark.
2. Run the grandmaster down.$
3. Press the blackout button again.$
4. Set new channel levels.
5. Run the grandmaster up. The lights get bright again.
$
The grandmaster slider is a proportional control over the channel faders. If channel 1 is at
75% and the grandmaster is at 50%, the dimmer comes on at 38% (75% x 50%). When the
grandmaster slider is down, the red LED on the blackout button flashes rapidly and the
display reads:
Grand Master = 0
When making use of the DMX IN and pass-through feature (as a stage manager's remote for
example), the blackout button and grandmaster slider also affect the incoming DMX stream
from the external controller. The incoming channels are scaled in proportion to the
grandmaster level. The blackout button plunges the stage into darkness.
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Introduction to Memory Control
Note: Memory control functions require use of an SD card, included with new systems. For
more details on supported cards, see the "IQ512M File Formats" section later in this manual.
A show is a collection of lighting cues saved in a text file on the SD card. There are three
methods to creating a show with the IQ512-M which are detailed in the “Creating Cues”
section later in this manual:
•Manually adjusting the control channel faders for each scene (see “Create New Show” &
“Edit Show”)
•Capturing scenes sent by an external controller (see "Capturing DMX Input”)
•Writing a show file in a text editor on an external computer (see "IQ512 File Formats”)
Most users will use the first method to create shows by adjusting the channel faders since
this requires no additional equipment. If the show is created on an external computer or
control console, it must be edited there as well; the IQ512 will only play shows created with
these two methods.
Menu Summary
The menus in the IQ512 are two sets of function lists. The Main Menu allows running a
Show, entering Remote Focus Unit (RFU) mode, or password access to the Advanced Menu.
Load Show?
Remote Focus
Unit Mode?
Enter Password
The Advanced Menu includes functions for the patch tables, cues, and configuration which if
used improperly could keep the console from functioning as intended.
Using the Main Menu
To enter (or exit) the menu, simultaneously press the Right and Left arrows, ←→ keys, once.
Use the Up and Down arrows, ↑↓ keys, to scroll through menu selections. The Right arrow,
→key, takes you farther into a menu selection. The Left arrow, ←key, backs you out of the
current selection.
When entering the main menu, the display reads:$
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Load Show?
Press the ↓key. The display reads:$
Remote Focus
Unit mode?
Press the ↓key again. The display reads:$
Enter Password
***
The password prevents unauthorized users from accidentally overwriting patch and cue
information. The default password is "123". Simply press the Bump Buttons under the first,
second, and third channel slide pots to enter the password. See "Change Password" in the
Advanced Menu section to change it. When the password has been entered, the Advanced
Menu functions can be accessed.
Press the ↓key again, and menu loops back to the top. Alternatively, use the ↑key to cycle
through the options in the opposite order.
Loading and Running a Show
Shows are sequences of lighting cues stored on SD cards as text files.
Before entering the menu, make sure the card is inserted and that both crossfaders are full
up. To play an existing show, enter the main menu (press ←→). The display will read “Load
Show?” Press →to select Load Show. Use ↑and ↓to scroll through the shows saved on the
card.
Load Show?
SHOW1.TXT
If there is no card installed, the display will briefly read:
Insert MMC/SD
card
When the desired show is visible, press →to select it. The top line of the display will display
which show was loaded. The bottom line shows the next cue (which is the first one).
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Move both crossfaders down to make the next cue live. The first cue number will move to the
top line of the display, indicating it is live, and the next cue will show on the second line. Slide
the crossfaders back to bring up the next cue. When the crossfaders hit the other end of their
travel, the cue previously on the bottom will have moved to the top, and the next cue will
show on the display’s bottom line. If the show was edited off line, it may include cue
descriptions along with cue numbers. If the show was created and edited on the IQ512M,
only cue numbers (of the form 1.0) will be shown.
Use ↑and ↓to select a cue out of order. These can be used to skip a cue or step back in the
show. Note that patience is required to step back especially with long show files. At the end of
the show, “End of show!” will display on the bottom line of the screen. Use ←to exit the
show and return to manual mode at anytime.
The channel sliders are active when playing back memorized cues and can be used to “pile-
on” and manually bring up lights that are not in the saved cue. The DMX passthrough feature
is active and “piling-on” during show playback. The Grandmaster slider and Blackout button
are also active during show playback.
Running a Show with Timed Crossfades
Timed Crossfades allow some automation of the show playback. Load the show using the
same method as when running the show manually (described above). Then, instead of using
the crossfaders to move from one cue to the next, use the →key to start the fade into the
following cue. The display will show the progress of the crossfade. While the crossfade is in
progress, the ←key may be used to pause the crossfade and the →key to continue. When
the crossfade is complete, the “live” cue will be on the first line of the display and the next cue
on the second line.
The optional External Go button or foot-switch may also be used to advance through cues.
Using this input with a foot-switch is an easy way to implement hands free control of a show.
Also very useful, is using this input with an on-off switch. While the external input is closed,
the show will run continuously and loop back to the beginning. This can be used in cases
such as museum displays where automated playback is desired.
Timed crossfades allow individual control of the fade-out-time of the current cue, the delay
before the fade into the next cue, and the fade-in-time of the next cue. See “Create New
Show” for more information on programming timed crossfades.
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Remote Focus Unit Mode
Remote Focus Unit or RFU mode allows the user to quickly control any of the 512 individual
dimmer channels. This is handy when hanging and focusing lights for an upcoming
production.
Use the ↑and ↓keys to go through the main menu until the display reads:
Remote Focus
Unit mode?
Press the →key to enter this mode. You then choose a channel increment of 12 or 1 using
the ↑and ↓keys.
Chan Increment =
1?
Chan Increment =
12?
Set the increment to 12 to scroll by twelve dimmers per keystroke or 1 to scroll one dimmer
per keystroke. Once the desired channel increment is set, press the →key. The display
reads:
RFU Mode - Chans
1 thru 12
This indicates slider 1 is controlling DMX channel 1 and slider 12 is controlling DMX channel
12. Depending on how you set the increment, press the ↑key to go up 1 or 12 DMX
channels, or the ↓key to go down 1 or 12 DMX channels. When in remote focus mode, you
may use the ↑and ↓keys to quickly scroll through dimmers.
You may also set the start channel directly by keying it in as a three digit number (with
leading zeros as needed) using the Bump buttons as digits. For example, keying in 034
causes the sliders to control DMX channels 34 through 45. The console looks at the last three
digits keyed to determine the starting channel.
Finally, the Grandmaster, Blackout, and DMX passthrough are all active in RFU mode. The
Hold button and crossfaders have no effect. As always, use the ←key to back out of this
mode.
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Advanced Menu
The protected Advanced Menu provides access to the more advanced features which
should only be accessed by those who are trained and responsible for system configuration
and show programming. All the protected functions will be explained in detail in the following
sections.
A 3 digit password prevents unauthorized users from accidentally overwriting patch and cue
information. Use the ↑and ↓keys to go through the main menu until the display reads:
Enter Password
***
Passwords
The default password is “123." Simply press the Bump buttons under the first, second, and
third channel slide pots to enter the password. If the password has been changed, that 3 digit
number will need to be keyed in using the Bump buttons (1 through 9 and 0). The system
evaluates the last three keys entered. If these match the password, entry is allowed. If they
do not, the system continues to wait for the password.
The emergency password is “911” which will always allow entry into the system, even if the
default has been changed. As always, ↑and ↓keys will continue to scroll through the main
menu, and the ←key exits.
Using the Change Password function (see below in the Configuration section) to set the
password to 000 allows entry into the advanced menu system without use of a password. It
effectively merges the main and advanced menus into one. This feature should be used
with caution.
Advanced Menu Summary
The Advanced Menu provides access to the 15 functions listed below in the order that they
are displayed when using the ↓key.
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Change Password?
Select Patch Table?
Load wrap patch in table N?
Load 1:1 patch in table N?
Clear patch table N?
Load Patch From MMC/SD?
Save Patch to MMC/SD?
Edit dimmer @channel@level?
Edit channel @dimmer@level?
Capture DMX to channel?
Capture Rx Dmx to new show?
Edit show?
Create New Show?
Delete show?
Format MMC/SD?

It is helpful to think of these functions as falling into three categories: Configuration, Patch
Tables, and Cues. This is how they are grouped into sections below.
Note that each function is described below starting from within the
advanced menu, i.e., after entering the password.
Configuration
Change Password
To set the 3-digit password (for accessing the Advanced Menu), from the advanced menu,
press the ↑or ↓key until the display reads:
Change password?
Press the →key to enter this menu option. The display will say:
New passwrd then
right key ***
Key in a 3-digit number using bump buttons 0 through 9. When the desired password is
visible, press the →key to save the new password. The display will indicate the password
has been saved. Finally, use the ←key to back out of the menu.
Format SD Card
IMPORTANT — See the “IQ512M File Formats” section below for details on what card types
are supported. Formatting an MMC or SD card will permanently erase any information
previously stored on it using other devices such as cameras, portable music players, PDAs,
and cell phones. For best results, do not share cards between these devices.
Any new card purchased for the console should be formatted by the unit to guarantee
reliability. Use the ↑and ↓keys to scroll through the advanced menu for:
Format MMC/SD?
First, insert a card then press the →key to select this option. The display reads:
Confirm Format?
Deletes all data
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Press →key to confirm. Formatting the card takes a few minutes. The display briefly says:
Formatting card
128MB card (depending on the size of the card)
Then the line of dots will animate during the process:
Formatting card
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Delete Show
IMPORTANT — Once deleted, a file is gone forever!
The Delete Show function permanently deletes any type of file. There is no undelete feature.
To prevent hours of work recreating an accidentally deleted show, consider archiving it under
a familiar name such as spring_fundraiser_lighting_cues.txt on a computer instead of deleting
with the console.
After a show has closed, it may be desirable to delete the file containing the memory cues for
that show. This not only allows the memory space on the card to be reused, it shortens the
list of files through which one must scroll to find a desired file.
Insert a memory card in the slot. Scroll through the advanced menu items to:
Delete show?
Press the →key. The display then reads:
Delete show?
SHOW1.TXT
Use the ↑and ↓keys to scroll through the files to reach the obsolete show. Press the →key
when the appropriate file is shown. The display then reads:
Confirm Delete?
SHOW1.TXT
Up to this point, you can use the ←key to change your mind. Press the →key to confirm that
you want to delete the file. The display briefly says:
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