Limbic Media Aurora User manual

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Quick Start Guide v1.3
September 25, 2018
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Table Of Contents
Aurora Documentation Guide 2
Connecting the Aurora 2
Selecting Lighting Patterns 3
Audio Input and Control 4
Using MIC In 5
Factory Reset 5
Mobile App Software Requirements and Installation 5
Connecting To Aurora With the App 6
Live Control 8
Show Control 9
Device Settings 10
Accessories 11
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Aurora Documentation Guide
This Quick Start Guide outlines the basic steps required to setup and control the Aurora
platform. If you require assistance with Aurora or would like to review further
documentation on the Aurora platform, please see support.limbicmedia.ca
Connecting the Aurora
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●Attach the male connector of supported LED light fixtures to one or more of the
female connectors of the Aurora LED output channels. 
●Secure the lock ring over the connection without over tightening. 
●The Aurora platform by default supports (60) sixty LED nodes on each of its (8)
eight channels, though the maximum number of fixtures may be less depending
on the power requirements of the chosen fixtures and any additional leader
cables used.
●See Appendix - Aurora Power Best Practices
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Warning: Incorrect lighting configurations can result in damaged light strands or controller.
Warranty for Aurora may be void if the guidelines for setup configuration are not properly
followed.
●Once the fixtures are attached the system can be powered up using the provided
IEC cable.
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●Terminate any unused lighting ports with end caps.
●The Aurora platform boots up in under 20 sec, the default lighting pattern loads,
and the LED fixtures light up.
●Using the Aurora app set the correct number of lights per port
Selecting Lighting Patterns
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The Aurora platform has (3) three modes of control: Live Mode, Show Mode, and DMX
Mode. 
In Live Mode, the Aurora platform displays a singular pattern. In Show Mode, the
Aurora platform transitions through a cue of patterns.
Pressing and holding the NXT button for (3) three seconds toggles the Aurora platform
between Live Mode (indicated by a blue NXT LED) and Show Mode (indicated with a
green NXT LED).
In DMX Mode, a 3rd party DMX controller can be used to control Aurora. Enable DMX
control by pushing the ‘FUN’ switch up and setting the DMX base address on the
CHANNEL SEL dip switch. See Appendix - DMX Control Specification.
Out of the box, the Aurora platform defaults to Show Mode, cycling through a default
show of cues.
Tapping the NXT button changes the current cue displayed in Show Mode. 
Pressing and holding the NXT button for (3) three seconds changes to “Live Mode”.
Please refer to the App Navigation section for more details on how to modify patterns,
and build shows.
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Audio Input and Control
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The Aurora platform creates beautiful light shows from an audio input. The following
audio-related features are available:
●Audio Inputs: USB preamp with microphone, ⅛” line level stereo input, or ¼” / XLR
combo mono balanced input
●Audio Out/Thru: ⅛” line level stereo pass thru, ¼” / XLR combo mono balanced
pass thru
●Gain Control: Auto Gain or Manual Gain control
●Audio-reactive or non-audio-reactive modes (no audio needed)
●Audio Input LEDs showing selected input and audio input level (green, yellow,
red)
●Audio Input Meter: See Aurora App
Please refer to the App Navigation section for more information on controlling and
viewing audio features from the Aurora app.
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Pro-tip: Auto-Gain vs Manual Gain
●Autogain works best when sending music to Aurora such as in a club setting or for a
music based holiday display. Set it and forget it.
●Manual Gain works best when the public is interacting with Aurora via a microphone,
such as a tree installation. The gain boost can be set on the Aurora app.
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Select the desired audio input (In 1, In 2, or Mic) by pressing the SEL button. A green LED
will toggle through the inputs as the SEL button is pressed.
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Info: Auto Input Level LED
●Green (inf - -6 dB) Good level but maybe too low
●Yellow (-6 - -0.2 dB) Good level
●Red (-0.2 - +1 dB) Turn down input!
Using MIC In
The MIC audio input connection requires a USB audio preamplifier and one of the
approved ⅛” microphone accessory items for proper functionality.
Be sure to have the ⅛” output of the provided microphone plugged into the input on the
USB Preamplifier.
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Warning: Gain Control with MIC In
If you plan on using the MIC In and then clapping and yelling to test the system its
recommended to use manual gain rather than auto gain. This will ensure a consistent and
predictable interaction experience. Rather than the adapting input level when using auto gain.
This can be configured in the Aurora app under Audio settings.
Factory Reset
A factory reset can be achieved by using a pin to press and hold the unmarked button
(see diagram below). The user must press and hold the button for (3) three seconds. All
LED’s will remain white until the system default settings are restored.
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Mobile App Software Requirements and Installation
The Aurora app is a mobile application available on iOS and Android. It allows users to
control the Aurora platform in a number of ways:
●Control pattern parameters in Live Mode
●Build cues and run a show
●Define the number of lights on each port of the Aurora
●Configure audio settings: Gain auto/manual, audio input level, select audio input
●Change system password
●View system information: Aurora software version, App version
The Aurora app is available on the Google Play Store (Android) and Itunes App Store
(iOS) and can be found by searching “Aurora Mobile Limbic Media”. Look for the Aurora
app symbol to ensure the correct mobile app is downloaded:
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Connecting To Aurora With the App
A user's phone connects to Aurora over a wifi network that is created by the Aurora
platform (Aurora acts like a hotspot). When the app opens, the ‘Connect’ page will be
displayed
●Click on “Wifi Settings” or
manually go to your wifi setting
page and connect to the
Aurora-based wifi network.
●Your device is now connected to
Aurora’s Wifi network with no
internet connection 
●Return to the Aurora app
●Click on ‘CONNECT TO AURORA -
XXXXXX’
●Enter the default password
‘aurora’ *be sure to change the
password  .
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Troubleshooting Connection Issues
●If you do not see the Aurora in your phone’s wifi setting, try turning wifi on and
off to reset the list.
●If you cannot connect to the specific Aurora from within the Aurora App, try
restarting the Aurora app.
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Warning
Using a mobile device to connect with Aurora will disconnect the mobile device from its current
wifi network
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Known Android Connection Issues
Some versions of Android have difficulty connecting to Aurora. If the mobile device cannot
connect, try turning off cell data and try again. This can be done in the device settings menu
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The ‘Current Device’ page is the main
menu for control of connected Auroras.
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Live Control
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‘Live Control’ allows for influence of
patterns, palettes, and other lighting
parameters in real-time. Selecting
playback will display the current pattern
and switch the Aurora platform to Live
Mode.
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See Appendix - Pattern Control Specification for information on how to control the
various patterns in Aurora.
Show Control
‘Show Control’ Allows for the creation of a lighting show composed of multiple cues
within a sequence.
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●A cue is made up of a pattern with
specific parameter settings as well
as a play length and transition
time.
●A cue can be edited by pressing the
cue on the show page.
●Any cue in the show can be played
using the “►” button, and new cues
can be added with the “+” button.
●The name and playtime duration of
the cue is displayed in the bottom
banner. Playing cues in the show
will switch the Aurora platform
into Show Mode.
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Pro-Tip: Preview Mode
When editing a cue be sure to toggle into ‘Preview’ mode to see your changes in real-time
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Device Settings
Under the ‘Device Setting’ menu
○Ports - Set the number of lights per channel
○Audio Control - Select input source, gain control, and level meters
○Security - Change password for the selected Aurora controller
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