Pangolin Flashback 3 XE User manual

Pangolin Laser Systems
LiveQUICK
And
Flashback 3- E
Due to our policy of continuous product improvement,
information in this manual is subject to change without notice.
November 2008

Contents
1: Introduction
In this package 5
Functions 6
2: Installing
CD-ROM contents 7
D/ contents 8
Notes about memory utilization 8
USB driver installation 8
Installing LiveQUICK software 8
3: LiveQUICK Program
Introduction 10
Getting started 10
Menu structure 14
Shortcuts 16
Page tabs 16
Live control and info tabs 16
Projector settings 20
Projection zones 21
Edit window 25
Shortcuts 29
Color 30

Frame file list 31
Creating content 31
Drawing 35
Tracing 38
Animating single frames 40
Text 41
Cue properties 42
Linking 45
Troubleshooting 46
Log files 46
4: DM and Standalone
Standalone mode 47
DM -512 47
Appendix A: Board layout and connections
Power supply connector 50
Serial interface connector 50
USB Lights 50
DM connector 51
Expansion connector 52
Projector connector 52
DM channel assignment 52

Chapter 1
Introduction
The Flashback 3 is the smallest, easiest and most economical way to add high-quality gra hics and
beams to a stand-alone laser rojector. In fact, the Flashback 3 is so im ressive, that it won the
ILDA Hardware Product Of The Year Award in 2006.
This credit-card sized wonder can lay laser gra hics, beams and even com lete Pangolin-quality
shows. No extra com uter hardware is needed – the tiny Flashback 3 has everything you need to control
your laser rojector.
The Flashback3-XE is the latest addition to this roduct line.
In this package
Included in this ackage you will find a CD-ROM, and the Flashback 3-XE, which is the combination of
Flashback 3 base board, a USB daughterboard, and a XD memory module, reloaded with some
exam le content.
Though, the basic functionality can be achieved with only using Flashback 3 Base Board, additional
functionality is manifested with the addition of daughter boards. This “daughter board” a roach allows
Pangolin to roduce semi-custom roducts to suit the needs of individual OEMs, thus allowing you
maximum integration flexibility and also allowing you to differentiate your roducts in the market lace.
Pangolin can easily create customized daughter boards as needed by OEMs. Please contact us with your
s ecific function requests.

Chapter 1 Introduction 6
Functions
The FlashBack 3 Base Board contains the following basic functions:
•USB ower su ly.
•XD socket with ability to accommodate modules from 32MB to 128MB
•12-bit X and Y out uts with single-ended voltage level of +/-5V
•8-bit Red, Green, Blue and Intensity out uts with single-ended voltage
level of 0 to +5V
•TTL-level Shutter/Utility signal (internal)
The USB daughterboard adds the following functionality to Flashback 3:
•High s eed connection between Flashback 3-XE and PC (480 Mb/s)
•LiveQUICK – a PC a lication for full control of Flashback 3-XE, which
allows:
•u loading the content to XD card
•creation and editing frames and animations
•live total control of the Flashback 3-XE
•u dating the Flashback and DMX daughter board firmware
changing the settings for Flashback 3-XE standalone o eration.
The o tional DMX daughterboard adds the following functionality to
Flashback 3: •DMX-512 control – allows using an industry standard control rotocol
•Real time geometry mani ulation – size, osition, rotation control

Chapter 2
Installing
To use the Flashback 3-XE, you will need to connect the su lied USB cable to one USB ort available
on your com uter.
For standalone o eration, a USB A/C ada ter (charger) can be use to ower the unit.
You will also need to connect the DB25 to a rojector. The DB25 connector is connected as a
QM2000/ILDA-com atible connector.
CD-ROM contents
The CD-ROM included with this ackage includes:
•the LiveQUICK rogram,
•the works ace file that was u loaded to a XD module,
•the USB drivers for Flashback 3-XE
•Tutorial videos (Cy her)
•LAStudio: TraceIt
•LAStudio: ShowRider
•LAStudio: Draw 3D
•LAStudio: Abstraction

8
D card contents
A XD memory module is included with this evaluation ackage, and is rogrammed with the following
exam le content:
Zone 1 Gra hic effects
Zone 2 Atmos heric effects
Zone 3 Target Beams
Zone 4 User defined
The content included should work well for Cambridge scanners tuned to 30K. Lower- erformance
scanners can be accommodated by slowing down the default scan rate in Projector settings (Tools
menu).
Notes about memory utilization
This evaluation kit includes a 128MB module which can contain around 20 minutes worth of frames and
animations.
The FlashBack 3-XE will work with XD module with ca acity from 32MB to 128MB.
The data format used by the FlashBack 3 includes a com ression scheme, which is why we are able to
get such good memory utilization. Currently, data is stored for red, green and blue color out uts. For
a lications requiring better memory utilization but with only a single color, the animation ca acity can
be doubled.
Contact Pangolin if you have such a need.
USB driver installation
When you connect the Flashback 3-XE to USB ort of your com uter, the ‘New Hardware’ wizard will
a ear. You should not use automatic install rocedure. Instead, you should oint the wizard to the USB
driver directory on the Evaluation Package CD-Rom.
Installing the LiveQUICK software
LiveQUICK should begin installation when the CD is inserted, or click in install.exe. To manually
install the LiveQUICK software a lication, sim ly co y the LiveQUICK folder from the CD ROM to
your com uter. Co y the folder Works aces to the same folder you moved LiveQUICK to evaluate the
included works ace on the memory card of the Flashback3. If you do not move the folder Works aces
to your com uter, LiveQUICK will create a blank Works aces folder.

9
Chapter 3
LiveQUICK Program
Pangolin's LiveQUICK is an easy-to-use rogram that can be used along with the
Flashback 3 Laser Controller. LiveQUICK allows you to create sim le laser
frames and scenes, including TrueTy e fonts, as well as im ort Pangolin and
ILDA animations. Once the animations are loaded into LiveQUICK, they can be
downloaded into the FB3 memory card so that the FB3 may be used in stand-
alone or DMX-controlled a lications.
You can also control the Flashback 3 "Live" using the built-in live control
features. Later, if you need more ower, LivePRO can be used. And thanks to the
similar user interface shared by both LiveQUICK and LivePRO, the learning
curve is reduced.
LiveQUICK rovides four se arate "zones" of control, including geometric
correction, using Pangolin's atent- ending Projection Zone technology.

10
Introduction
The LiveQUICK Program allows you to:
•Trigger cues by clicking on buttons with the mouse,
•U load frames or com lete animations to the Flashback 3 board,
•Create and edit the frames and animations on line (real time editing),
•Live control of several arameters during cue layback,
•U date the firmware on Flashback 3 Base Board and DMX Daughter Board,
•Change the settings to be used in standalone mode (autostart).
Refer the rovided video training course for ractical lessons on using
LiveQUICK Software and discover the unique ower and sim licity of
LiveQUICK.
Getting Started
1. Opening
a. From the dro down menu (FILE) select O en Works ace
b. Select the works ace in the works ace folder and click o en