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:

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Finding Your Way Around – The Hardware
Cognito consists of two interrelated work surfaces. A 7” touch screen provides the main
programming interface, while the surrounding backlit hardware controls, consisting of 24
faders, four encoder wheels and forty-two buttons, provide programming support and
playback control.
Top Panel
Encoder Wheel
7" Capacitive Touch Screen
Left Playback
Go Button/Fader
Right Playback
Go Button/Fader
Grand Master Fader Memory Master Fader
Cue Pause/Back Button
Power Button 'Pin' Button
Intensity/Memory Fader
and Bump Button USB Type A
Function Buttons
Shift Key
Memory Master Black Out Button
Dead Black Out Button
Attribute Shortcut Buttons
Cue Pause/Back Button

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Rear Panel
Power Connections
Cognito is designed to operate on a regulated 24VDC input received through the 2.5mm,
center-positive barrel connector, or on Power-over-Ethernet as supplied by an IEEE
802.1af compliant source such an Ethernet switch. The wall transformer supplied with
the Cognito may be connected to a mains voltage ranging from 90-240VAC at 50/60Hz.
When operating on PoE Cognito is a Class 3 device for purposes of power consumption.
Plug the DC power supply into the DC plug on the far left side of the rear panel. The
rear panel indicator LED will steadily glow amber/green. Alternately, a Power-over-
Ethernet (PoE) source may be plugged into the Ethernet port. The indicator LED next to
the DC jack will steadily glow red whenever the console is using PoE. Both a DC supply
and a PoE source may be connected at the same time.
When the console is connected to power, the Power Button near the top of the console
will pulse blue, indicating ‘stand-by’ mode. Press the Power Button once to start the
console.
For normal shut down, press the Power Button once. The Setup screen will be shown.
Touch the Power Off icon to confirm shut down of the console. For quick shutdown,
press the Power Button twice in succession. The console will shut down after three
seconds.
Should the console become unresponsive, press and hold the Power Button for eight
seconds to force the console to power down.
DMX Out, A&B
USB Type A
RJ45 Ethernet/POE Connector
Serial Data/Contact Closure Port
USB Type B
DC In
Ground Post DMX In MIDI In/Out/Thru Kensington Lock
Audio In/Out
(future use)
Strain Relief Bracket

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Data Connections
DMX512
Cognito has two DMX512 output ports and one input port. The output ports transmit
DMX control data to the lights and other equipment capable of receiving and responding
to DMX control. The DMX512 Input allows the Cognito to receive DMX from another
source and playback Memories based on that signal. See Automated or Unattended
Control for information on DMX input control.
Connect DMX OUT A to the lights controlled by Universe 1 using a five-pin XLR cable
(all Cognito models). DMX OUT B is enabled to also output Universe 1 on PRO512
models, and to output Universe 2 on PRO1024 models.
On PRO1024 models, the assignment of Universe 1 to DMX OUT A and Universe 2 to
DMX OUT B may be reversed in Setup>DMX.
Ethernet
Cognito also supports DMX-over-Ethernet protocols. These protocols transmit the same
DMX information as the XLR ports, at the same time, through the Ethernet port. The
Starter model supports only Pathport Protocol, while PRO512 and PRO1024 also
support the Art-Net protocol and the E1.31 streaming ACN standard. Additional
hardware, such as a Pathport node, is required to convert this signal to DMX512.
Each protocol may be turned off, or its base universe offset changed, from
Setup>DMX>Network DMX. If more than one protocol is active, identical DMX values
are transmitted on each.
MIDI In/Thru/Out
MIDI ports are enabled on PRO512 and PRO1024 models. MIDI Show Control (MSC)
commands may be used to select individual Playlists and to advance to specific cues.
Cognito can send user-specified MIDI or MSC strings whenever a cue is triggered,
using Cue Actions. See PLAY>Schedule>Cognito and Automated or Unattended
Control.
RS232/Contact Closure Input
The serial port is enabled on Pro512 and PRO1024 models. You may use RS232 to
control the console through LUA scripting. The same port also provides a simple dry
contact interface to trigger cues. See Automated or Unattended Control.
Faders
Twenty faders, also called sliders, stretch across the top of the console in two groups of
ten. By default in the SELECT task, any given fader controls the intensity of the
corresponding light in the Fixture Grid. Fader 1 controls Light 1, and so on. If there are
more than 20 lights in the Fixture Grid, use the Left/Right arrows on the touch screen to
page to the desired light.
Below each fader is a button. By default, the button acts as a ‘bump’ – press and hold
the button to ‘bump’ the intensity of the associated light to full. Press and hold the Shift
key, then press the button to latch the light’s intensity at full. The intensity and color of
the button’s backlight reflects the intensity and color of the light being controlled.

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In the PLAY task, faders are used to recall Memories, sometimes called submasters and
presets. In PLAY, if a Memory has been recorded into a fader, the bump button’s
backlight will glow blue. When a Memory is recorded, the bump button can be given
different functions, including fade times. See RECORD for more information.
When in the PLAY task, faders play back Memories. The default may be changed so
that faders always play Memories regardless of the current task. Go to
Setup>System>>General, and change “Sliders Always Run Memories” to ‘yes’.
Grand Master and Dead Black Out Button
Located at the bottom left of the console, the Grand Master controls the overall intensity
of all lights at all times, regardless of how a light’s intensity has been set. Normally, the
Grand Master is at full (the top of the fader’s travel). The Grand Master’s level in
percentage is shown in the top left hand corner of the touch screen. When the Grand
Master is at less than 100%, the level is shown in red as a warning.
Above the Grand Master is the Dead Black Out button. Normally, the button is backlit
blue. If the Grand Master is not at its highest position, the Dead Black Out button will
glow red.
When pressed, the Dead Black Out button will flash red and all lights will go dark (output
intensity falls to zero percent) without changing intensity levels reported on the touch
screen. The Grand Master level will turn red and read DBO. Press the button again to
restore lights to their previous intensity. Always warn everyone present before turning off
all the lights (blacking out the stage).
Below the Grand Master is a Shift button. The Shift button accesses short cuts and
special features which are described under Programming Tips and Concepts.
Memory Master and Memory Black Out Button
The Memory Master is located at the bottom right of the console. The Memory Master
controls the overall intensity of the lights recorded into Memories while those lights are
activated by faders. The Memory Master’s level in percentage is show in the top right
hand corner of the touch screen. Playlist cues and individual lights controlled by faders
(from SELECT mode) are not affected by the Memory Master.
Above the Memory Master is the Memory Black Out button. Normally, the button is
backlit blue. If the Memory Master is not at its highest position, the Memory Black Out
button will glow red.
When pressed, the Memory Black Out button will flash red, and all lights being played
back within Memories will go dark (output intensity goes to zero percent). Press the
button again to restore lights to their previous intensity.
Below the Memory Master is a Shift button. The Shift button accesses short cuts and
special features which are described under Programming Tips and Concepts.

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Left and Right Playback
Cognito provides two Playbacks, one located beside the Grand Master and one beside
the Memory Master. Each Playback consists of a Go button, a Playback Master, and a
Pause/Back button. Any Playlist may be assigned to either Playback. A Playlist is a
series of cues or ‘looks’ that have been previously recorded. Although there are only
two physical playbacks, you may have as many Playlists active at a time as desired.
Once a Playlist is loaded (see PLAY below), press the Go button to advance the Playlist
to the next cue. The Go button flashes green when a cue is running, and glows solid
green when the cue is complete..
Above the Go button is the Playback Master, which sets the overall intensity of any light
levels controlled by the active Playlist.
Above the Playback Master is a Pause/Back Button. Pressing the Pause button while a
cue is running will cause the fade to stop and the Pause button will flash yellow. To
resume a paused cue, press the Go button again.
While resting in a cue, press the Pause/Back button to fade back to the previous cue.
To force a Playback to release (exit) a Playlist, press and hold the Shift button then
press the Playlist’s Pause/Back Button.
Attribute Shortcut Buttons
Immediately to the left of the touch screen are four attribute family shortcut buttons.
From top to bottom, the buttons are Intensity, Color, Position and Shape. Whenever a
light is selected, these buttons act as shortcuts to the related CONTROL screens.
Not all lights support all attributes. Only the buttons for attributes supported by the
selected light will be active, as shown by the button’s backlight. If a group of lights are
selected, the buttons will reflect the available attributes of the first light chosen.
See CONTROL for details on attributes and their associated tools.
Function Buttons
Immediately to the right of the touch screen are four function buttons: Release, Help,
Edit and Record. The buttons are backlit when a given function is available, and flash
when that function has been selected.
Release
In SELECT or CONTROL, pressing the Release button progressively reverts or clears
any changes made to the lights, in the following order: revert a selected light to its last
state; clear the selection group; clear all changes made to all lights since the last Cue or
Memory was saved; release all active Cues and memories (blackout).
In PLAY, pressing the Release button will present the release all active Cues and
Memories (blackout). Any lights captured in SELECT will not be released.

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When releasing all active Cues and Memories, a dialog screen will appears asking for
confirmation. Choosing OK from this screen will cause all lights to turn OFF. Always
warn everyone present before turning off all lights (black out the stage).
Help
Press the Help button once to launch Hints. The touch screen under Hints is still active –
you can keep Hints up on the screen while programming. Continue to press the Help
button to cycle through the Hints. To dismiss Hints, touch the Exit icon in the upper right
hand corner of the screen, or press and hold the Shift key then press the Help button.
Edit
When in PLAY, press the Edit button to change Cue or Memory names, fade times and
other properties. Copy, deletion or rearrangement of Cues and Memories is also
accessed using Edit. Edit is not active in the PLAY>Mixed mode, or in RECORD mode.
Record
Press the Record button once as a shortcut to RECORD. If Memory was the last
recording method used, press the Record button a second time to record the current
stage look into the next available fader. If Playlist was the last recording method used,
press the Record button a second time to record the current stage look into the next
available cue slot, with default timings. See RECORD for details on setting fade times.
Encoder Wheels and Buttons
Four encoder wheels are spaced around the touch screen, each with a specific color and
an associated pushbutton. The encoder wheels’ actions depend on the Task currently
active on the touch screen. Encoder wheels are used to directly adjust some attributes of
a light, such as intensity or pan, or to present choices of gobos, color wheel slots or
other fixture settings. To select from the light’s settings, press the encoder wheel button
to see the choices, then use the encoder wheel to scroll through the list. Accept the
desired (highlighted) option by touching the screen or pressing the encoder wheel’s
button.
On-screen icons and color associations indicate which encoder wheel and button
provide selection and control for each tool or wheel bank option.
The Shift button may be used in combination with an encoder wheel to allow for finer
control. For example, when adjusting a light’s pan attribute, holding down the Shift key
will move the light using fine control, instead of full degrees. Similarly, you may adjust
cue times in tenths of a second, instead of full seconds.
When in CONTROL, use the Shift button in combination with the ABCD buttons to
quickly set the attribute associated with a particular encoder wheel to its default value.

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Pin Button and Pin Crossfade Timings
Located just below the Cognito badge between the fader banks, the Pin button provides
a simple method of transitioning between lighting looks when in SELECT or PLAY.
With a lighting look activated by using the faders or manual control, press the Pin button
to hold the look (i.e. pin it to the stage). Intensity levels or other attributes may now be
readjusted, without the look onstage being affected. Press the Pin button again to
transition (crossfade) to the newly set look.
To change the Pin crossfade tie, press the Shift button plus the Pin button. The Edit Pin
Crossfade Time box will appear. Touch the keypad icon or use the B wheel to change
the default time. Timing may be changed on the fly between uses of the Pin button.
USB Ports
There are a total of four USB ports on the console: two on the top surface, and two on
the rear panel. Any port may be used for a mouse, keyboard or USB stick. The top
ports are also suitable for a USB-powered work light. The USB ports are capable of
charging a cell or mobile phone, but not a tablet device.
The USB ports are fully functional, including charging, even when Cognito is running on
Power-over-Ethernet (PoE).

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Finding Your Way Around - The Touch Screen
The touch screen has four distinct displays, each corresponding to a specific
programming task: SELECT, CONTROL, RECORD and PLAY. Each task is shown on
the Task Bar at the bottom of the screen. Enter a task screen by touching its icon.
Above each Task Bar is a tool bar, showing the tools available for the active task. Tools
are explained in each task section below.
SELECT CONTROL
RECORD PLAY
SELECT is used to choose lights for programming. Pick lights by touching them
individually, multi-selecting with the Shift key, or by using Groups. SELECT also
accesses tools to patch lights into the Fixture Grid, set each light’s DMX start address,
label individual lights and, optionally, associate a light with a specific gel.
CONTROL provides tools to change the intensity, color, position and shape attributes of
the selected lights, and to activate effects. If no lights are selected in the Fixture Grid,
the CONTROL icon will be grayed out (inactive).
RECORD stores lighting looks into Memories or Cues. RECORD also allows specific
lights or their attribute details to be saved as separate Groups or Libraries for reuse.
PLAY recalls stored looks, either through faders (Memories) or Playlists (Cues). PLAY
also provides access to BLIND editing of saved looks and to the editing of the name,
timing and other attributes of Memories and Cues. PLAY>Schedule allows automated
Playlist operation using the clock or astronomical events such as sunset, based on
locale and time, as well as access to Cue Actions.

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Screen Navigation
Across the top of the main display is the status bar, which shows the level (in
percentage) of the Grand Master and Memory Master; the name of the Playlist currently
loaded in each of the right and left playbacks; and the name of the current cue.
On either side of the main display are navigation icons. Not all methods of navigation
are available on all pages. Icons are grayed out when not in use.
The Left and Right Arrow icons allow you to reach additional pages of lights, Memories
or swatch colors, for example. Pressing the Shift button in SELECT will change the
Arrow icons to +/- Par Can icons. Touching the Par Can icon moves the red Selection
Indicator to the next higher or next lower light in the current selection set or in the Fixture
Grid. The Par Can icon is also available in each CONTROL task, allowing you to ‘round
robin’ quickly between the lights in the selection set.
The Magnifying Glass icons, located below the Left Arrow, change the number of lights
shown in the Fixture Grid. You may view the Fixture Grid with as few as ten lights or as
many as 100 lights at one time.
The Airplane icon, located below the Magnifying Glass icons, allows you to quickly
switch between different pages of lights. The size of the pages is determined by the
zoom level set with the Magnifying Glass icons.
The Number icon box located below the Right Arrow reports how many lights are
currently selected. If only one light is selected, its Fixture number will be shown. When a
change has been made to the selected lights, but not yet recorded, the icon’s
background changes to red, and CAPT (‘captured’) appears as a warning. Captured
lights are not affected by the PLAY task until recorded or released.
The Filter icon, also located below the Right Arrow, allows you to reduce the lights
shown on the Fixture Grid based on certain criteria, such as ‘only lights selected’ or ‘only

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lights in use’ (intensity above zero). The icon turns red when filtering is in use. Only
lights that meet the Filter criteria are shown on the Fixture Grid.
The Information icon toggles the Fixture Grid to show further information about each
light. If no lights are selected, touching the icon will show the DMX start address in the
lower left corner (where intensity is normally shown) for all lights. If one or more lights
are selected, a chart with the fixture’s usage will be shown. See “i – the Information
Screen” below.
SELECT - The Fixture Grid
By default, SELECT displays the Fixture Grid. The Grid consists of cells, each one
representing a single light in the show. Within each cell is a large amount of information
describing the current state of that light.
1: Fixture Number. The number in the upper left hand corner of each cell identifies
each light in the show. Fixture number is not the same as the light’s DMX address.
2: Color Indicator. For color-changing lights, the background of the circle provides an
indication of the light’s current color. If a gel has been associated with a traditional
dimmer, the gel color will be shown.
3: Attribute Indicator. Icons indicate whether Intensity, Color, Position or Shape
attributes have recently changed, whether from manual manipulation in the CONTROL
task or from running Playlists or recalling Memories.
4: Label. By default, the model of light that each cell represents appears in the lower
right hand corner of each cell. If a label has been assigned using Settings>Properties,
that label will appear in place of the model.
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