PRG MBOX EXTREME User manual

SOFTWARE VERSION 3.5
WWW.PRG.COM
MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER
USER MANUAL

AutoPar®, Bad Boy®, PRG Series 400®, Mbox Extreme®, OHM™, V476™, V676™, Virtuoso®, Virtuoso® DX, Virtuoso® DX2,
and VL6C+™ are trademarks of Production Resource Group, LLC, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Mac®, QuickTime® and FireWire® are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
All other brand names which may be mentioned in this manual are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
This manual is for informational use only and is subject to change without notice. Please check www.prg.com for the latest version.
PRG assumes no responsibility or liability for any claims resulting from errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this manual.
Mbox Extreme® Media Server User Manual
Version as of: November 16, 2011
PRG part number: 02.9800.0001.35
Production Resource Group
Dallas Office
8617 Ambassador Row, Suite 120
Dallas, Texas 75247
www.prg.com
Mbox Extreme® Media Server User Manual
©2006-2011 Production Resource Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL I
FOREWORD
Safety Notice
1) Read these instructions.
2) Keep these instructions.
3) Heed all warnings.
4) Follow all instructions.
5) Do not use this apparatus near water.
6) Clean only with dry cloth.
7) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.
8) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with
one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or
the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an
electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
9) Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the apparatus.
10) Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
11) Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus.
When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
12) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
13) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in
any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been
dropped.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
CAUTION: These servicing instructions are for use by qualified service personnel only. To reduce the risk of
electric shock do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operating instructions unless you
are qualified to do so.

II MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL
Revision History
This manual has been revised as follows:
Version Release Date Notes
02.9800.0001 September 27, 2006 Initial release.
02.9800.0001.22 October 23, 2007 Updated to include v2.2 changes.
Incorporated QuickStart Guide.
02.9800.0001.30 April 20, 2011 Updated for to include v3.0 changes.
Updated to include Dual I/O Module.
02.9800.0001.32 February 15, 2010 Updated to include v3.1.1 and v3.2 changes. Re-organized and updated the DMX512 Mapping Charts at the
end of the manual.
02.9800.0001.33 October 28, 2010 Updated to include v3.3 changes.
02.9800.0001.34 April 22, 2011 Updated to include v3.4 changes.
Updated instructions for the new Remote II application.
02.9800.0001.35 November 16, 2011 Updated to include v3.5 changes.
Re-organized manual and expanded various sections.

MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL III
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
About This Manual........................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Important Note About Consoles!.................................................................................................................................................. 1
Additional Documentation ............................................................................................................................................................ 1
Customer Service ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Chapter 1. Overview
General Overview
Features........................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Concepts of Operation ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Components
Mbox Extreme Case Assembly .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Dual I/O Module ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Auxiliary Input Panel ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Mac Computer............................................................................................................................................................................ 10
Fixture Descriptions
Mbox Extreme Environment Concept ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Fixture and Layer Overview........................................................................................................................................................ 13
Fixture, Layer and Parameter Details ......................................................................................................................................... 15
Ambient Light and Spot Lights 1 - 4 ................................................................................................................................... 15
Camera ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Shutter Control.................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Keystone Control................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Layers: Texture + Object..................................................................................................................................................... 16
Operating Modes
Mbox Extreme v3.x Modes......................................................................................................................................................... 17
Single Output Mode ............................................................................................................................................................ 17
Dual Independent Mode...................................................................................................................................................... 17
Panoramic Wide Mode........................................................................................................................................................ 18
Panoramic Dual Mode......................................................................................................................................................... 18
Chapter 2. Installation and Power-Up
Sample Configuration Diagrams
Overview..................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
DMX512 Input Configuration: Single Media Server with DMX512 Devices ............................................................................... 20
Art-Net Input Configuration: Network Switch and Multiple Media Servers................................................................................ 21
Output Configuration: Single Media Server with Plasma Display and LCD Projector................................................................ 22
Setup
Basic Setup and Connections.................................................................................................................................................... 23
Connecting the Stage Output..................................................................................................................................................... 24
Networking Multiple Mbox Servers ............................................................................................................................................ 24
Getting Started
Power-Up Overview.................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Power-Up Procedure.................................................................................................................................................................. 26
Mbox Daemon ............................................................................................................................................................................ 26
Patching Fixtures
DMX Requirements .................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Layer Guidelines......................................................................................................................................................................... 27
DMX Mapping............................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Playing Back Video - Quick Start ............................................................................................................................................... 31

IV MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL
Chapter 3. Operation
Media Content
File Type Specifications .............................................................................................................................................................. 34
Recommended Practices ........................................................................................................................................................... 34
Media Content Management ...................................................................................................................................................... 35
Folder and File Numbering ......................................................................................................................................................... 36
Additional Media Content Organization Guidelines.................................................................................................................... 37
Adding Media Content................................................................................................................................................................ 38
Creating and Viewing Content Thumbnails ................................................................................................................................ 39
Console Interface Example......................................................................................................................................................... 39
Application Window
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Setup .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
Setup: DMX Profile .............................................................................................................................................................. 42
Setup: Window Mode.......................................................................................................................................................... 42
Setup: Fullscreen Mode ...................................................................................................................................................... 43
Setup: Update Rate............................................................................................................................................................. 44
Setup: License..................................................................................................................................................................... 44
Setup: Texture Size ............................................................................................................................................................. 45
Setup: Screen Selection (Screen Arrangement).................................................................................................................. 45
Setup: Network.................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Setup: Video Inputs ............................................................................................................................................................. 45
Setup: I/O Module ............................................................................................................................................................... 46
Setup: Options .................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Setup: Log (Media Errors).................................................................................................................................................... 47
Heads Up Displays (HUDs)
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Using the HUDs .......................................................................................................................................................................... 49
Dual I/O Module
Operation Overview .................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Connected Display Devices and EDID ....................................................................................................................................... 51
Overview.............................................................................................................................................................................. 51
Using Standard EDID Sets .................................................................................................................................................. 52
EDID Capture (Custom Setting)........................................................................................................................................... 53
SDI Output (SD - Standard Definition & HD - High Definition).................................................................................................... 54
Genlock (Generator Lock)........................................................................................................................................................... 56
Enhancing Mbox Extreme Performance
Disabling Mac Sharing Features................................................................................................................................................. 58
Chapter 4. Advanced Features
3D Objects and Digital Gobos
About 3D Models and Digital Gobos (Objects)........................................................................................................................... 60
Lighting................................................................................................................................................................................ 60
Vertex Array Files (Compiling) ............................................................................................................................................. 60
Preloading 3D Objects ........................................................................................................................................................ 61
Normalization....................................................................................................................................................................... 61
DHA and VARI*LITE Digital Gobos ............................................................................................................................................. 62
Creating Custom Digital Gobos.................................................................................................................................................. 63
Overview.............................................................................................................................................................................. 63
Scale-To-Fit vs. Arbitrary Fit................................................................................................................................................ 63
Creating a Digital Gobo with Adobe Illustrator CS5............................................................................................................ 63
Animated Digital Gobos.............................................................................................................................................................. 68
EuroFlag (002/000) .............................................................................................................................................................. 68
TV Screen v1.4 (002/001) .................................................................................................................................................... 69
Snow v1.2 (002/002)............................................................................................................................................................ 69
Tunnel v1.1 (002/003) .......................................................................................................................................................... 71
Flag v1.0 (002/004) .............................................................................................................................................................. 71
Ring Stripe (002/005)........................................................................................................................................................... 72

MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL V
Stripe Ring (002/006)........................................................................................................................................................... 72
Fisheye (002/007) ................................................................................................................................................................ 72
CylinderScreen (002/008).................................................................................................................................................... 73
MultiScreen Gobo (002/009) ............................................................................................................................................... 73
Animated Textures
Using Animated Textures (Animations)....................................................................................................................................... 74
Layer Copy
Using Layer Copy ....................................................................................................................................................................... 75
Drawmodes
Using Drawmodes ...................................................................................................................................................................... 76
Drawmode 16 - Orthographic View............................................................................................................................................ 77
The Stencil.................................................................................................................................................................................. 78
Layer Blending Modes................................................................................................................................................................ 80
Special Effects
Decay.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 81
Fog ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 82
Text Files
Support for Text Files ................................................................................................................................................................. 83
Audio
Audio Output Features ............................................................................................................................................................... 84
Overview.............................................................................................................................................................................. 84
External Audio Tracks (Associated AIFF Files).................................................................................................................... 85
Embedded Audio Tracks (in QuickTime Movies) ................................................................................................................ 85
Synchronization
Timecode Synchronization (Timecode Sync Playmode) ............................................................................................................ 86
Layer-To-Layer Synchronization................................................................................................................................................. 91
Kiosk Playmodes........................................................................................................................................................................ 92
Playout Playmodes..................................................................................................................................................................... 92
Alignment Rectangles
Using Alignment Rectangles ...................................................................................................................................................... 93
Effects and Transitions
Effects and Transitions with Additional Input Files ..................................................................................................................... 95
Adding Custom Effects or Transitions ........................................................................................................................................ 96
MultiScreen Gobos
Overview..................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
Chapter 5. Pixel Mapping
Basic Pixel-Mapping
Overview................................................................................................................................................................................... 102
Setup ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 103
Advanced Pixel-Mapping
Creating Custom Fixtures......................................................................................................................................................... 107
Sampling Areas ........................................................................................................................................................................ 108
Chapter 6. Video Input
Overview
Video Input ............................................................................................................................................................................... 112
QuickTime Streaming with Video Capture Card ............................................................................................................... 112
USB/FireWire Input ........................................................................................................................................................... 113
Configuration
Setting Video Input for Video Capture Card ............................................................................................................................. 114
Configuring Video Input within Mbox Extreme......................................................................................................................... 116
Deinterlacing............................................................................................................................................................................. 118
Interlaced (i) vs. Progressive (p) Content/Input (Deinterlacing) ......................................................................................... 118
How to Deinterlace Content and/or Input ......................................................................................................................... 118

VI MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL
Chapter 7. Content Creation and Utilities
Creating Custom Content
Creating Movies and Audio Files .............................................................................................................................................. 120
File Extension .................................................................................................................................................................... 120
Codec ................................................................................................................................................................................ 120
Compression (Bit Rate)...................................................................................................................................................... 121
Frame Rate ........................................................................................................................................................................ 121
Resolution.......................................................................................................................................................................... 121
Audio ................................................................................................................................................................................. 121
Discrete Audio Support for Multichannel Audio ....................................................................................................................... 122
Alpha Channel in Movies – the Animation and ProRes 4444 Codecs...................................................................................... 122
Applications for Content Creation ............................................................................................................................................ 123
Media Utility Applications
Mbox Extreme Media Lock....................................................................................................................................................... 124
Mbox Extreme File Converter................................................................................................................................................... 126
About File Conversion ....................................................................................................................................................... 126
File Conversion Settings.................................................................................................................................................... 126
Pre-Multiplying Alpha ........................................................................................................................................................ 127
File Conversion Procedure ................................................................................................................................................ 127
Mbox Extreme plist Editor ........................................................................................................................................................ 128
Using MbE plist Editor....................................................................................................................................................... 129
Restoring Mbox Extreme Default Settings ........................................................................................................................ 129
Appendix A. Mbox Remote II Application
Mbox Remote II Operation
About Mbox Remote II.............................................................................................................................................................. 132
Mbox Daemon .......................................................................................................................................................................... 132
General Operation .................................................................................................................................................................... 133
Description of Indicators........................................................................................................................................................... 136
Monitor HUD............................................................................................................................................................................. 136
Setting Mbox Extreme Server Preferences Remotely .............................................................................................................. 137
Setup of Alignment Rectangles Using Remote II .............................................................................................................. 137
Server Control Commands ....................................................................................................................................................... 138
Timecode Window.................................................................................................................................................................... 139
Note About Thumbnails............................................................................................................................................................ 139
Appendix B. Maintenance
Routine Maintenance
Cleaning or Replacing the Air Filter .......................................................................................................................................... 142
Removing the Computer........................................................................................................................................................... 143
Appendix C. DMX512 Mapping
DMX512 Mapping Charts
Mbox Extreme Control Channel Breakdown ............................................................................................................................ 146

MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL 1
INTRODUCTION
About This Manual
This manual provides necessary information regarding product safety, installation, and operation for the following
PRG equipment:
+ Mbox Extreme® Media Server
This manual applies to Mbox Extreme software version 3.5.
Familiarizing yourself with this information will help you get the most out of your PRG product.
WARNING: It is important to read ALL accompanying safety and installation instructions to avoid damage to
the product and potential injury to yourself or others.
Important Note About Consoles!
The Mbox Extreme Media Server is designed to work with moving-light consoles. Consequently, most of its features
are not compatible with conventional consoles. Mbox Extreme v3.x works with the following moving-light consoles:
PRG V676™, V476™ and Virtuoso® consoles, MA Lighting grandMA consoles, High End Systems Hog® 3 or iPC
consoles (running Hog 3 software only), the ChamSys MagicQ console, and the Martin Maxxyz™ console. Mbox
Extreme v3.x is not compatible with High End Systems Hog® 2 or iPC consoles running Hog 2 software. Neither PRG
nor High End Systems will support the use of Mbox Extreme v3.x on any console running Hog 2 software.
In general, if you are using Mbox Extreme with any console other than Vx76, Virtuoso or grandMA, it is a good idea to
contact PRG for more information.
Additional Documentation
For more information, refer to the following manuals:
+ V676™/V476™ Control Console User Manual (02.9814.0001.xx)
+ Virtuoso® Series Control Console User Manual (02.9651.0001.xx)
+ PRG Lighting Systems Networking Guide (02.3004.1000.0)
+ Mbox Extreme Field Service Manual (02.9800.0010)
+ Mbox Director User Manual (02.9800.0002.xx)
For more information regarding DMX512 systems, refer to the DMX512/1990 & AMX 192 Standards publication
available from United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT).
USITT
6443 Ridings Road
Syracuse, NY 13206-1111 USA
1-800-93USITT (phone)
www.usitt.org
For more information regarding Art-Net protocol, refer to the specification for Art-Net II Ethernet Communication
Standard available from Artistic Licence Ltd.
Artistic Licence (UK) Ltd (Registered Office)
24 Forward Drive, Christchurch Avenue,
Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 8NT, United Kingdom
[phone] (phone)
[phone] (fax)
www.artisticlicence.com

2MBOX EXTREME®MEDIA SERVER USER MANUAL
Customer Service
For technical assistance, contact the PRG International Service Center or contact your nearest PRG office. Contact
information for all PRG office locations can be found on our website at: www.prg.com/about-us/locations/
PRG Dallas (International Service)
8617 Ambassador Row, Suite 120
Dallas, Texas 75247 USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Service Fax: [phone]
Service Email: [e-mail]
For additional resources and documentation, please visit our website at: www.prg.com