pathway Cognito User manual

User Guide
Version 9.25.14
1439 17 Ave SE Calgary AB T2G 1J9
403-243-8110
www.pathwayconnect.com

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Anytime Help Resources
Operational Questions and Problem Reports
[email protected]
forums.pathwayconnect.com
Fixture Library Support
[email protected]
Cognito Updates and Current Fixture Library Downloads
www.pathwayconnect.com/downloads/cognito
Video Tutorials
www.youtube.com/pathwayconnectivity
Phone Support
[phone] (8am – 4:30pm MT)
Subject to change. Check the website for the latest version of this guide.
© 2012-2014 Pathway Connectivity, a division of Acuity Brands Lighting Canada
All Rights Reserved

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Table of Contents
Common Tasks to Get You Started .................................................................................. 6
What to Plug in..............................................................................................................6
How to Start the Console .............................................................................................. 6
How to Open a (New) Show.......................................................................................... 6
How to Patch a Light ..................................................................................................... 6
How to Strike/Unstrike an Arc Light or Reset a Moving Light .......................................7
How to Set Intensity ......................................................................................................7
How to Set a Color, Position or Shape Attribute ........................................................... 7
How to Set an Effect ..................................................................................................... 8
How to Record a Memory .............................................................................................9
How to Record a Cue.................................................................................................... 9
How to Edit, Move, Copy or Delete a Cue or Memory .................................................. 9
Steps to take before each Performance........................................................................ 9
How to Playback Memories...........................................................................................9
How to Playback Cues (Playlists) ............................................................................... 10
How to Save a Show................................................................................................... 10
How to Shut Down the Console ..................................................................................10
How to Get Help.......................................................................................................... 10
Finding Your Way Around – The Hardware .................................................................... 11
Top Panel....................................................................................................................11
Rear Panel .................................................................................................................. 12
Power Connections ..................................................................................................... 12
Data Connections........................................................................................................ 13
Faders ......................................................................................................................... 13
Grand Master and Dead Black Out Button.................................................................. 14
Memory Master and Memory Black Out Button .......................................................... 14
Left and Right Playback .............................................................................................. 15
Attribute Shortcut Buttons ........................................................................................... 15
Function Buttons ......................................................................................................... 15
Encoder Wheels and Buttons...................................................................................... 16
Pin Button and Pin Crossfade Timings ....................................................................... 17
USB Ports ................................................................................................................... 17
Finding Your Way Around - The Touch Screen .............................................................. 18
Screen Navigation....................................................................................................... 19
SELECT - The Fixture Grid ......................................................................................... 20
Manual Selection......................................................................................................... 21
Group, Recent, and Standard .....................................................................................21
Settings and Fixture Patching ..................................................................................... 21
CONTROL................................................................................................................... 22
Intensity....................................................................................................................... 23
Color............................................................................................................................ 23
Position ....................................................................................................................... 23
Shape.......................................................................................................................... 24
RECORD
..................................................................................................................... 24
Memory .......................................................................................................................24
Cue..............................................................................................................................25
Library ......................................................................................................................... 27

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Group .......................................................................................................................... 27
Record Update and Insert ........................................................................................... 27
PLAY ........................................................................................................................... 28
Memory .......................................................................................................................28
Left/Right Playback ..................................................................................................... 29
Mixed........................................................................................................................... 30
Schedule .....................................................................................................................30
Setup and Console Configuration ................................................................................... 33
System Preferences.................................................................................................... 33
Network .......................................................................................................................34
DMX ............................................................................................................................ 35
neato™........................................................................................................................ 36
Wall Station .................................................................................................................36
Upgrade ......................................................................................................................37
Software ......................................................................................................................37
Show File ....................................................................................................................38
Programming and Playback Tips .................................................................................... 38
Pin Button – Basic Two Scene Preset Operation........................................................38
Advanced Attribute Control ......................................................................................... 39
Shift Button Short Cuts and Extensions ...................................................................... 40
i – the Information Screen, or, what do all those colors mean? .................................. 41
Automated or Unattended Operation .............................................................................. 43
MIDI Triggering ........................................................................................................... 43
Serial Control .............................................................................................................. 45
Telnet Control.............................................................................................................. 46
Supported Scripting Commands ................................................................................. 46
Contact Closure Control.............................................................................................. 47
DMX IN Control ........................................................................................................... 47
Show File Management .................................................................................................. 47
Archiving/Restoring a Show ........................................................................................ 47
New Show/Clear Console Configuration..................................................................... 48
Software and Fixture Library Updates............................................................................. 48
Updating Software....................................................................................................... 48
Obtaining and Applying Fixture Library Updates......................................................... 49
Warranty.......................................................................................................................... 49
September 25 2014 Cognito Release Notes................................................................... 50
Airplane view in PLAY MEMORIES ............................................................................ 51
Show files can be named ............................................................................................ 52
Drag and Drop Improvements..................................................................................... 53
Control Wheels shows Light mimic ............................................................................. 53
Double Tap to set Intensity ......................................................................................... 54
Flip .............................................................................................................................. 54
Fanning .......................................................................................................................55
Indented Follow Cues ................................................................................................. 56
PLAY Task Overhaul................................................................................................... 56
Native HSI DMX Mapping ........................................................................................... 63
List of other changes and fixes ................................................................................... 63

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Common Tasks to Get You Started
Thank you for purchasing the Cognito™ lighting console. This document will guide you
through the rich but easily-accessible features of the console. With an interface based
on ‘natural language control’, you’ll never look at a DMX chart again.
What to Plug in
First, snap the correct wall plug adaptor onto the 24V power supply that came with
Cognito. Then plug the barrel connector into the DC IN port on the rear of the console.
Finally, plug the power adaptor into an AC power outlet (90-240VAC, 50/60Hz).
Second, plug an XLR cable into DMX Output A (Cognito Starter) or two XLR cables into
DMX Outputs A and B (Cognito Pro512 and Pro1024). The XLR cable is connected to
the DMX distribution or directly to the dimmers and lights you wish to control.
When Cognito is used with DMX-over-Ethernet networks, an Ethernet cable is plugged
into the RJ45 port on the rear of the console. The Ethernet cable connects Cognito to
DMX gateway nodes, such as Pathports®, via an Ethernet switch. The data connection
may also provide power, by supplying Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) to the console.
Cognito outputs data to the Ethernet connection simultaneously with the DMX512 ports.
Power-over-Ethernet may be used simultaneously with the 24VDC power supply.
How to Start the Console
The Power Button near the top of the console will pulse blue when power is connected,
indicating ‘stand-by’ mode. Press the button once to turn the console on. The LEDs
backlighting the bump buttons will flash red and a splash screen will appear.
How to Open a (New) Show
When Cognito starts, the last show is automatically loaded. To create a new show, or
restore a different show, press the Power Button once. Touch Setup then Show File.
Choose from the options to create a new show, restore a backup, or restore a previous
show. If restoring from USB, plug the USB stick into any port, and the option to restore
from USB will appear.
How to Patch a Light
To patch a light in Fixture Grid, you must know the light’s manufacturer, its model type,
its operating mode, and its DMX start address.
First, select the position in the Fixture Grid where you wish to patch the light. The cell’s
outline will turn red. At the bottom of the screen, touch Settings. If necessary, touch
Light Type on the Advanced Tools bar.
Use the red encoder wheel to locate the light’s manufacturer, then the green encoder
wheel to locate the light’s model type and operating mode. For non-moving color-
changing LED lights, look for matching ‘Generic’ operating modes. Touch “Apply”.
The screen will shift to the DMX grid and the DMX Addr icon on the Advanced Tools bar
will be highlighted. Each cell on the DMX grid represents one DMX slot.

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The small number at the top of each cell is the DMX channel number. The large number
in the middle of each cell is the number of the light patched to that DMX channel, and at
the bottom of each cell is a brief description of the attribute that the DMX slot controls. It
is common for a single light to use multiple DMX control slots.
Use the red or green encoder wheels to locate the cell corresponding to your light’s DMX
start address. Touch the cell to ‘patch’ your light to that starting channel. Touch “Apply”.
To patch several lights of the same time at the same time, select multiple cells on the
fixture grid before selecting the light’s type. Select the location of the DMX start address
of the first fixture, and the remaining lights will automatically be patched sequentially.
How to Strike/Unstrike an Arc Light or Reset a Moving Light
Arc fixtures require special steps to start, or ‘strike’, the ballast to turn the light on. Most
moving lights have a similar setting that will reset, or recalibrate, the fixture’s pan, tilt and
other attributes.
Select the light that requires the ballast strike, or requires a reset. Several lights may be
selected at the same time, but remember that the fixture attributes displayed by Cognito
are determined by the first light selected. Selected cells will have red outlines. From the
bottom of the screen, touch the Control icon. CONTROL tasks will now be shown.
Touch the Intensity icon to access the Intensity tool bar. Touch the Wheels icon. Use
the red encoder wheel to set the Control option to “Lamp On” or “Lamp Off”, to strike or
unstrike the arc light, or to “Reset” to force a moving light to run its recalibration routine.
After seven seconds, change the option back to “Idle”.
How to Set Intensity
Select a light in the Fixture Grid by touching it. The cell’s outline will turn red. From the
bottom of the screen, touch the Control icon. CONTROL tasks will now be shown.
Touch the Intensity icon to access the Intensity tool bar. To adjust the light’s intensity
level, use one of the following:
Wheels: Use the green encoder wheel to set a level as a percentage.
Libraries: Select from standard intensity levels
IRGB: Use the on-screen faders to adjust intensity and RGB values.
How to Set a Color, Position or Shape Attribute
As well as Intensity, CONTROL will display up to three other attribute families,
depending on the capabilities of the selected light. Only attributes supported by the
selected light are shown, to avoid wasted programming time.
Select a light in the Fixture Grid by touching it. The cell’s outline will turn red. From the
bottom of the screen, touch the Control icon. CONTROL tasks will now be shown.
Touch the Color icon to adjust the light’s color mix, using one of the following:
Wheels: Use the encoder wheels to set RGB levels as percentages.
Libraries: Select from standard gel swatch book colors, or user-recorded colors.
Picker: Touch the screen to select from the color space shown.

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Touch the Position icon to adjust where the light is pointing, using one of the following:
Wheels: Use the encoder wheels to set pan and tilt in degrees.
Libraries: Recall previously user-recorded positions.
Joystick: Touch the screen to move the light relative to its current position.
Bullseye: Touch the screen to move the light relative to its home position.
Touch the Shape icon to adjust attributes that affect the light’s beam, such as gobo
wheels and rotation, barrel zoom, and shutters.
Wheels: Select Wheels to access a secondary bank of attribute options. Only
attributes supported by the light will be shown. Select the attribute then use the
encoder wheels to adjust its values.
Libraries: Recall previously user-recorded shape settings.
How to Set an Effect
Select one or many lights. Then touch Control to open the CONTROL tasks. Choose
the attribute family that you wish to run the effect on (Intensity, Color, Position, Shape).
After setting an initial value, touch the Effects icon, then “New Effect”. The available
effects will be shown. Select the one you want.
Use the encoder wheels to change how the lights behave.
Rate (yellow wheel): Affects the speed of the effect.
Size (red wheel): Affects the variance or height of the effect. For example, the
size of a ballyhoo effect determines how far a light will move from where it was pointed
when the effect began.
Offset (green wheel): Affects where each light is placed on the effect curve. For
example, in a rainbow color effect, if the offset is zero degrees, all lights will be the same
color because they are all sitting at the same spot on the transition curve. If the offset is
45 degrees, adjacent lights will now be different colors. When the offset reaches 180
degrees, adjacent lights will be at the top and bottom of the effect curve and the rainbow
will consist of only two colors at any given time.
Repeat (blue wheel): Affects how many lights are at the top of the effect curve at
one time. For example, in a marquee effect, if repeat is set to 1, only one light out of the
selection will be “on” at any given time.
The order that lights are selected is important when planning the effect. For example,
when running a marquee effect on six lights, if the lights are selected 123-456, the effect
will appear to move from left to right. If the lights are selected 123-654 instead, the
effect will appear to move toward the center.
Multiple effects may be run at the same time. To end an effect in SELECT, touch the
“Stop Effect” icon, or use the Release button. When the effect is recorded in a Cue, a
change must be recorded to the attribute controlled by the effect in a subsequent Cue to
end it. Otherwise the effect will remain running in the background (also called ‘tracking
through’).

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How to Record a Memory
Touch the Record icon to open the RECORD tasks, then touch the Memory icon. Select
the Memory location you wish to use – outline turns red – and touch “Done” or simply
push the button below the fader where you want the Memory located. The look will be
recorded with default timings and you will return to your previous CONTROL task.
How to Record a Cue
Touch the Record icon to open the RECORD tasks, then touch the Cue icon. The next
available cue slot will be preselected and titled “Add New Cue”. Touch “Done” to record
the cue with default timings, and you will be returned to your previous CONTROL task.
Once a cue is recorded, pressing the Record button twice in succession will record a
look into the next available cue location, using default timings.
By default, there are two available Playlists to record into. Make sure further cues are
recorded in the correct Playlist.
How to Edit, Move, Copy or Delete a Cue or Memory
Touch the Play icon to open the PLAY task. Touch the L Playback icon or the R
Playback icon, to edit cues, or the Memory icon, to edit memories. Press the Edit
button, to the right of the touch screen. A ‘do-not-enter’ icon will appear on each cue or
memory.
Use the encoder wheels to change Memory timings and bump button operation.
For cues, use the Up/Down arrow icons to page through the timing and other cuing
options, then use the encoder wheels to adjust the Cue settings.
To move a cue or memory, touch the ‘triple bar’ icon, then drag the selection to a new
location and drop. To copy a cue or memory, press and hold the Shift button before
touching the triple bar icon, then drag and drop to the new location.
To delete a cue or memory, touch the ‘do-not-enter’ icon, then confirm your choice by
touching the “Del” icon.
Steps to take before each Performance
Ensure all lights are released by placing the twenty faders across the top of the console
are at the bottom of their travel, while the four faders at the bottom of the console (two
on either side) are at the top of their travel. Press the Release button to the right of the
touch screen until “Release all active Cues and Memories?” appears on screen. Warn
anyone onstage before touching “Okay”, as all lights will be turned off (blackout). Then
execute the first cue or memory look of the show.
How to Playback Memories
Touch the PLAY icon, then Memory. The screen will display twenty of the Memories
saved in the current Memory Page. To see more Memories saved in the current page,
use the Left/Right arrows. Run up a fader to recall the associated memory. Alternately,
press the fader’s bump button.

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How to Playback Cues (Playlists)
Touch the PLAY icon, then either “L Playback” or “R Playback”, to choose either the Left
Playback or the Right Playback. Ensure the correct Playlist is highlighted on the Playlist
Toolbar, or select the one you require by touching its icon.
The first cue is selected by default, or double tap the cue you wish to run. A green arrow
will appear inside the cue cell. Press the “Go” button to execute the cue.
Touch the Up/Down arrow icons next to the cue list to move through the cues. To go to
the top of the Playlist, press and hold the Shift key, then touch the Up arrow icon. To go
to the bottom of the Playlist, press and hold the Shift key, then touch the Down arrow
icon.
To pause a cue, press the Pause button above the Playlist fader. To cut back to the
previous cue, press the Pause button a second time.
How to Save a Show
Cognito automatically saves all changes to a non-volatile memory. If you wish to back
up to USB, insert a USB thumb drive into any USB port on Cognito. Press the Power
Button once. Touch the Setup icon, then the Showfile icon. Select “Save to USB”.
How to Shut Down the Console
Press the Power Button twice in quick succession to immediately turn it off.
How to Get Help
Press the Help button to the right of the screen to get context-sensitive help overlays.
While in the Help overlays, touch the Question Mark icon in the upper left hand corner to
open the Help Tutorials, which provide greater detail on programming and operational
topics.
For further information on operating Cognito, visit our YouTube video library at
www.youtube.com/pathwayconnectivity or use this QR code:
Questions may be emailed to support@pathwayconnectivity, or use this QR code: