ETC microVision FX User manual

Lighting control system
Version 1.33
User Manual
Copyright 1991-95 Electronic Theatre Controls
4080M1002 Revised June 1995
microVision
FX

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC)
warrants to the original owner or retail
customer that for a period of one year
from date of delivery of a portable
system or energization of a perma-
nently installed system (up to a
maximum of 18 months from delivery)
its products will be free from defects in
materials and workmanship under
normal use and service. Warranty is
limited to 90 days for rental equipment.
Warranty does not cover any product or
part of a product subject to accident,
negligence, alteration, abuse or misuse
or any accessories or parts not supplied
by ETC. Warranty does not cover
“consumable” parts such as fuses,
lamps, color media or components
warranted directly to the owner by the
original manufacturer. ETC’s warranty
does not extend to items not manufac-
tured by us. Freight terms on warranty
repairs are FOB ETC factory or desig-
nated repair facility. Collect shipments
or freight allowances will not be
accepted.
ETC’s sole responsibility under this
warranty shall be to repair or replace
at ETC’s option such parts as shall be
determined to be defective on ETC’s
inspection. ETC will not assume any
responsibility for any labor expended or
materials used to repair any equipment
without ETC’s prior written authoriza-
tion. ETC shall not be responsible for
any incidental, general or consequential
damages, damages to property,
damages for loss of use, time, profits or
income, or any other damages.
Limited warranty
The owner’s obligations during the
warranty period under this warranty are
to notify ETC at ETC’s address within
one week of any suspected defect, and
to return the goods prepaid to ETC at
their factory or authorized service
center.
THIS WARRANTY IS CONTINGENT ON
THE CUSTOMER’S FULL AND TIMELY
COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF
PAYMENT SET FORTH IN THE
“TERMS AND CONDITIONS”. THIS
WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU
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MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
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OWNER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NO
OTHER REPRESENTATIONS WERE
MADE TO HIM OR RELIED UPON HIM
WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY AND
FUNCTION OF THE GOODS SOLD.
This written warranty is intended as a
complete and exclusive statement of
the terms thereof. Prior dealings or
trade usage shall not be relevant to
modify, explain or vary this warranty.
Acceptance of, or acquiescing in, a
course of performance under this
warranty shall not modify the meaning
of this agreement even though either
party has knowledge of the perform-
ance and a chance to object.

table of contents
Chapter 1
Introduction
............................................................................................... 1 - 1
MicroVision FX features...................................................................... 1 - 2
Using this manual ............................................................................... 1 - 3
Text conventions ................................................................................ 1 - 4
Pile-on convention .............................................................................. 1 - 4
Getting help ........................................................................................ 1 - 5
Customer service ............................................................................... 1 - 6
Chapter 2
Installation
................................................................................................... 2 - 1
MicroVision FX back panel .................................................................. 2 - 2
Installing your console and monitor .................................................... 2 - 3
Installing two monitors ................................................................. 2 - 4
Monitor connectors and pinouts .................................................. 2 - 5
Connecting dimmers .......................................................................... 2 - 6
Digital outputs (DMX512 and D192)............................................. 2 - 7
AMX192, CD80 analog multiplex output (optional)....................... 2 - 7
Analog wire-per-dimmer output (optional) .................................... 2 - 7
Analog wire-per-dimmer input (optional) ...................................... 2 - 8
Installing printer .................................................................................. 2 - 9
Printer connectors and pinouts .................................................... 2 - 9
Parallel printer .............................................................................. 2 - 9
Installing Infrared Remote Focus Unit (IRFU) ................................... 2 - 10
IRFU receiver unit to console connector and pinout .................. 2 - 12
IRFU transmitter to console connector and pinout..................... 2 - 12
IRFU transmitter to receiver unit connector and pinout ............. 2 - 12
Installing Remote Go ........................................................................ 2 - 13
Remote Go connector and pinout .............................................. 2 - 13
Installing audio input ......................................................................... 2 - 14
Audio connector and pinout ....................................................... 2 - 14

iv MicroVision FX
Chapter 3
Entering softpatch and
system settings
..................................................................................... 3 - 1
Entering softpatch .............................................................................. 3 - 2
Entering numbers of channels and dimmers................................ 3 - 3
Entering one-to-one softpatch ...................................................... 3 - 4
Creating custom softpatch ........................................................... 3 - 5
Using channel zero ................................................................ 3 - 5
Patching dimmers to channels............................................... 3 - 6
Additional patching features ......................................................... 3 - 8
Proportional patching ............................................................. 3 - 8
Capturing channels in softpatch............................................. 3 - 9
Unpatching individual dimmers ............................................ 3 - 10
Softpatching to a Strand CD80 dimmer rack........................ 3 - 11
Entering system settings .................................................................. 3 - 12
Setting default full level .............................................................. 3 - 13
Setting default up and down fade times .................................... 3 - 14
Chapter 4
Tutorial
.............................................................................................................. 4 - 1
Lesson 1: Display, channel and operation modes............................... 4 - 2
Display modes.............................................................................. 4 - 2
Stage and Blind screens ............................................................... 4 - 3
Channel modes ............................................................................ 4 - 5
Record functions .......................................................................... 4 - 7
Lesson 2: Working with cues ............................................................. 4 - 8
Cue 1: Creating a cue in Stage .................................................. 4 - 10
Cue 2: Creating a cue in Blind ................................................... 4 - 12
Cue 3: Creating a cue with modified fade times ....................... 4 - 14
Cue 4: Creating linked cues....................................................... 4 - 16
Cue 5: Creating a cue using Rem Dim ...................................... 4 - 18
Inserting cues............................................................................. 4 - 20
Copying cues.............................................................................. 4 - 21
Deleting cues ............................................................................. 4 - 22
Viewing cues .............................................................................. 4 - 23

Table of Contents v
Lesson 3: Playing back cues ............................................................. 4 - 24
Selecting cues ............................................................................ 4 - 25
Timed fader pairs ....................................................................... 4 - 26
Playing back cues ....................................................................... 4 - 26
Go to a different cue .................................................................. 4 - 27
Controlling fades manually ......................................................... 4 - 28
Modifying cues on stage ............................................................ 4 - 29
Back key ..................................................................................... 4 - 30
Clearing fader pairs .................................................................... 4 - 30
Lesson 4: Working with submasters ................................................ 4 - 31
Submaster pages ....................................................................... 4 - 32
Recording a submaster .............................................................. 4 - 33
Recording submaster on a different page .................................. 4 - 34
Modifying submasters ............................................................... 4 - 34
Copying submasters .................................................................. 4 - 35
Deleting submasters .................................................................. 4 - 36
Lesson 5: Creating and working with chases ................................... 4 - 37
Creating a chase......................................................................... 4 - 38
Setting chase output levels ........................................................ 4 - 40
Setting number of submasters in a chase .................................. 4 - 41
Controlling chases with audio input ........................................... 4 - 42
Lesson 6: Saving your show on disk ................................................ 4 - 43
Formatting disks......................................................................... 4 - 44
Recording a show on disk .......................................................... 4 - 45
Reading a show from disk .......................................................... 4 - 46
Lesson 7: Track record function ....................................................... 4 - 47
Using record to create tracks ..................................................... 4 - 48
Recording modified cues............................................................ 4 - 49
Inserting cues............................................................................. 4 - 51
Blackout cues and tracking......................................................... 4 - 53

vi MicroVision FX
Chapter 5
Using print and disk options
............................................... 5 - 1
Print functions .................................................................................... 5 - 2
Bold printing ................................................................................. 5 - 3
Cue sheet ..................................................................................... 5 - 4
Cues ............................................................................................. 5 - 5
Patch ............................................................................................ 5 - 6
Real time programs ...................................................................... 5 - 7
Stage display ................................................................................ 5 - 8
Submasters .................................................................................. 5 - 9
Disk management ............................................................................ 5 - 10
Storing disks............................................................................... 5 - 11
Formatting disks......................................................................... 5 - 12
Recording a show on disk .......................................................... 5 - 13
Reading a show from disk .......................................................... 5 - 14
Chapter 6
Accessories
................................................................................................. 6 - 1
Infrared Remote Focus Unit (IRFU) .................................................... 6 - 2
Real Time Clock .................................................................................. 6 - 4
Setting Real Time Clock ............................................................... 6 - 5
Creating or editing real time programs ......................................... 6 - 8
Enabling/disabling real time programs ........................................ 6 - 11
Deleting real time programs ....................................................... 6 - 13
MIDI.................................................................................................. 6 - 15
Interfacing with MIDI ................................................................. 6 - 16
Message formats ....................................................................... 6 - 17
Message definitions ................................................................... 6 - 18
Remote Go ....................................................................................... 6 - 19
Analog inputs .................................................................................... 6 - 20
Analog outputs ................................................................................. 6 - 21
AMX192 outputs .............................................................................. 6 - 22

Table of Contents vii
Chapter 7
Reference
....................................................................................................... 7 - 1
And ..................................................................................................... 7 - 2
At ........................................................................................................ 7 - 3
Back .................................................................................................... 7 - 4
Black out ............................................................................................. 7 - 5
Blind ................................................................................................... 7 - 6
Bump switches................................................................................... 7 - 7
Captured channels .............................................................................. 7 - 8
Chan ................................................................................................... 7 - 9
Chase controls .................................................................................. 7 - 10
Clear ................................................................................................. 7 - 12
Clear all cues .................................................................................... 7 - 14
Clear all submasters and submaster pages ...................................... 7 - 15
Clear fader pairs................................................................................ 7 - 16
Clear system..................................................................................... 7 - 17
Cue ................................................................................................... 7 - 18
Delay time ........................................................................................ 7 - 20
Diagnostic system clear.................................................................... 7 - 21
Enter ................................................................................................. 7 - 22
Fader wheel ...................................................................................... 7 - 23
Full .................................................................................................... 7 - 24
Go ..................................................................................................... 7 - 25
Grand Master.................................................................................... 7 - 26
Help .................................................................................................. 7 - 27
Hold .................................................................................................. 7 - 28
Link ................................................................................................... 7 - 29
Minus (-)............................................................................................ 7 - 31
Page ................................................................................................. 7 - 32
Patch................................................................................................. 7 - 33
Plus (+) ............................................................................................. 7 - 34
Potentiometers (Pots) ....................................................................... 7 - 35
Power ............................................................................................... 7 - 36
Rate potentiometer .......................................................................... 7 - 37
Record .............................................................................................. 7 - 38
Rel .................................................................................................... 7 - 39
Rem Dim .......................................................................................... 7 - 40
Setup ................................................................................................ 7 - 42
Stage ................................................................................................ 7 - 43
Step .................................................................................................. 7 - 44
Sub ................................................................................................... 7 - 45
System Settings Menu ..................................................................... 7 - 46

viii MicroVision FX
Thru .................................................................................................. 7 - 48
Timed fader pairs .............................................................................. 7 - 49
Track ................................................................................................. 7 - 50
Appendix A
Error messages
...................................................................................... A - 1
Appendix B
Specifications
.......................................................................................... B - 1
Interfaces ............................................................................... B - 1
Cue capacity .......................................................................... B - 2
Display functions ................................................................... B - 2
Playback controls ................................................................... B - 2
Keyboard functions ................................................................ B - 3
Channel functions .................................................................. B - 3
Fader wheel ........................................................................... B - 3
Chase function ....................................................................... B - 3
Size and weight ..................................................................... B - 3
Index .......................................................................................................................I - 1
Keyboard illustration .............................................................Last page

chapter1
introduction
MicroVision FX allows you to create a wide range of dramatic, on-stage
effects using up-to-the-minute theatrical lighting technology. This
chapter includes information to orient you to the console and the
manual. It includes the following sections:
• MicroVision FX features
• Using this manual
• Text conventions
• Pile-on convention
• Getting help
• Customer support

1 - 2 MicroVision FX
MicroVision FX features
MicroVision FX provides the following features:
• Six manual faders that control programmed submasters
• Five pages of submasters memories
• 125 control channels
• Proportional softpatch that accommodates up to 512 dimmers
• 200 cue capacity per show
• Disk drive that can store up to five shows per 3.5-inch disk
• Two independent, timed, fader pairs used to playback recorded cues
• Chase function
• Support for the following optional accessories: Infrared Remote
Focus Unit, Real Time Clock, parallel printer, and Remote Go

Chapter 1 Introduction 1 - 3
Using this manual
This manual provides instructions for MicroVision FX ’s features and
optional accessories. The following chapters are included:
Chapter 1 MicroVision FX capabilities, console and manual
Introduction conventions, getting help, and customer
support.
Chapter 2 Instructions for installing monitor and optional
Installation accessories.
Chapter 3 Instructions for entering system settings that
Entering you are likely to change before using
softpatch MicroVision FX for the first time or before
and system beginning a new show.
settings
Chapter 4 Tutorial on working with cues and submasters,
Tutorial including an overview of display and channel
modes.
Chapter 5 Instructions on using printer and disk options.
Using print and
disk options
Chapter 6 Instructions on using MicroVision FX's optional
Accessories accessories.
Chapter 7 Description of console keys and menu options
Reference in alphabetical order.
Appendix A List of MicroVision FX error messages and an
Error messages explanation of each.
Appendix B Technical specifications for MicroVision FX
Specifications console.
Appendix C Pull-out illustration of MicroVision FX keyboard.
Keyboard
illustration

1 - 4 MicroVision FX
Text conventions
In this manual, console keys are indicated by square brackets, such as,
[Enter]. System messages are printed in boldface, such as, Select
channel. References to other sections of the manual are printed in
italics, such as, Chapter 1, Introduction .
Pile-on convention
MicroVision FX uses a pile-on convention rather than last-action conven-
tion to determine levels for channels. Pile-on means that MicroVision FX
reads all output levels it receives for a specific channel and sets that
channel to the highest of these levels. For example, a channel included
in a submaster and a cue will output at the higher of the two levels.
The only exceptions to MicroVision FX ’s pile-on convention are channels
captured by the keyboard or fader wheel. Captured channel settings
override submaster and fader pair outputs. When you release captured
channels, they return to the level they were set at using pile-on
convention.

Chapter 1 Introduction 1 - 5
Getting help
Help screens are available for all MicroVision FX keys. To display help
screens:
1. Press [Help].
2. Press any key on the console. MicroVision FX displays a description
of the key you pressed. Help screens are not available for menu
options.

1 - 6 MicroVision FX
Customer service
If you have problems with your console, please refer to the manual for
instructions.
If you do not find the answer in the manual, call your local dealer or ETC
Technical Services. Please have the following information available
before you call:
• Console model and serial number
• Software version
• Dimmer installation type
• Dimmer manufacturer
To reach the ETC Techinical Services department, call 800/775-4382
Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Standard
Time. After hours and weekend calls are answered electronically and
forwarded to a service representative.
Address all correspondence about the MicroVision FX to:
Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
Customer Service Department
3030 Laura Lane
Middleton, WI 53562

chapter 2
installation
This chapter includes set up instructions that you need to perform when
you install MicroVision FX and any optional accessories. Chapter 3,
Entering softpatch and system settings includes instructions for entering
the software settings that you will probably update before you begin a
new show.
This chapter includes the following installation procedures:
• Installing your MicroVision FX console and monitor
• Configuring your system
• Connecting dimmers
• Installing printer
• Installing Infrared Remote Focus Unit (IRFU)
• Installing Remote Go
• Connecting audio input

2 - 2 MicroVision FX
MicroVision FX back panel
PUSH
CRT DISPLAY
RGB monochrome
Printer Serial Port
Power in
Audio
DMX
512
IR
Remote
IR
Bus
AMX
97-192
AMX
1-96
Remote go
Analog Interface
MIDI
out in

Chapter 2 Installation 2 - 3
Installing your console and monitor
This section includes installation instructions for MicroVision FX , and
connector and pinout specifications for the monitor. Follow these steps
to install your MicroVision FX :
1. Place console on a hard, stable, flat surface with at least six inches
of space behind it for ventilation and cable clearance. Console
should be at least six feet away from dimmers and high-current AC
lines.
Caution: Do not leave the console in a road case tray or on a soft
surface. This will inhibit proper ventilaion.
2. Verify that your dimmer connector pinout is correct for MicroVision
FX . Pinouts for several dimmer types are listed on pages 2 - 6 and
2 - 7. If your dimmer type is not listed, contact your dealer or ETC.
Caution: Your dimmer control common must be compatible with
console control common; they must either be the same level, or the
dimmer control common must float. Verify compatibility with your
dealer if you are not sure.
3. Locate the power switch at the back of the console, and turn it to
the Off position.
4. Insert the female end of the console power cord in the connector
labeled Power in on the back panel.
5. Insert the male end of the console power cord in a grounded 120V
AC outlet. For 220V AC operation, consult ETC.
6. Insert the female end of the monitor power cord in the monitor
connector, and the male end of the monitor power cord in a
grounded 120V AC outlet.
7. Insert the video cable in the monitor. Connect the other end of cable
in the appropriate console connector listed below.
Digital RGB color monitors DB-9 connector
TTL monochrome monitors DB-9 connector
Composite monochrome monitors BNC connector

2 - 4 MicroVision FX
8. Turn console and monitor power switches to their On positions.
9. Press [Setup].
10. Select 7, System settings, press [Enter]. MicroVision FX displays
System Settings Menu.
11. Select 9, Color/monochrome monitor, press [Enter].
MicroVision FX displays Color/Monochrome Monitor selection menu.
12. Select the proper setting for your monitor, either 1 for color, or 2 for
TTL or composite monochrome monitor.
Installing two monitors
You may want to install two monitors at the same time, one next to the
console and one at a remote location. Install one monitor using the DB9
video connector, and the other using the BNC video connector.
The color monitor should be located next to the console because the
length of the color cable is limited to about 10 feet. The monochrome
cable (RG59U) can be as long as 150 feet. Therefore, use the mono-
chrome monitor at the remote location.

Chapter 2 Installation 2 - 5
Monitor connectors and pinouts
RGB color or TTL monochrome
Console connector
DB-9 male
Pinout
1 Common (AC ground)
2 Common (AC ground)
3 Red
4 Green
5 Blue
6 Intensity (green)
7 Monochrome video
8 HSync
9 VSync(60Hz)
Composite monochrome (coaxial cable)
Console connector
BNC female
Pinout
Center Video (60Hz)
Shield Common

2 - 6 MicroVision FX
Connecting dimmers
To connect dimmers, first determine which of the following connectors
are appropriate and insert dimmer cables in appropriate connectors.
Then follow the instructions below to select the proper output
protocol(s) from the System Settings Menu. If your console is appropri-
ately configured, MicroVision FX can output digital, AMX192 and analog
control signals simultaneously.
Caution: Your dimmer control common must be compatible with console
control common; they must either be the same level, or the dimmer
control common must float.
To select the proper output protocols from the System Settings Menu,
follow these steps:
1. Press [Set Up].
2. Select 7, System settings, and press [Enter].
3. Verify that options 6, 7 and 8 indicate the proper dimmer settings for
your system.
Standard digital output protocols
DMX512 and D192 protocols are standard on MicroVision FX . To select
the correct protocol, select 6, Digital protocol, and press [Enter]. Enter
1 to select DMX512, or 2 to select D192.
Optional output protocols
AMX192 and analog are optional output protocols that must be installed
at the factory. For more information, contact ETC.
AMX192
AMX192 is either enabled or disabled at all times. To select the proper
setting for your system, select 7, AMX192, and press [Enter]. Then
select either 1 to enable, or 2 to disable AMX192 dimmers.
Analog outputs
Analog outputs are either enabled or disabled at all times. To select the
proper setting for your system, select 8, Analog outputs, and press
[Enter]. Then select either 1 to enable, or 2 to disable analog outputs.