TIR ControlFX Director User manual

1940-0153, Revision A
What is ControlFX Director?
ControlFXTM Director is a hardware interface between a
notebook computer running the ControlFXTM Designer
software and a network of luminaires from TIR Systems
Ltd. (TIR®). The software for instructing the network is
uploaded to the luminaires via the ControlFXTM Director
interface. ControlFXTM Director and the ControlFXTM
Designer software ensure the luminaire clocks are
synchronized to vary the color and intensity of light,
typically for light shows.
Intended Use
ControlFXTM Director is to be installed in dry indoor
locations only.
ControlFX Director Product
Bundles
The following product bundles are available:
■ControlFXTM Director DMX Bundle
For customers using a DMX network to
communicate with the luminaires
■ControlFXTM Director Ethernet Bundle
For customers using an Ethernet network to
communicate with the luminaires
The ControlFXTM Director DMX Bundle includes a
ControlFXTM Director device, a 10'(3.0 m) DMX cable
whip with an XLR-5 connector at one end, and a 6'(1.8
m) Ethernet cross-over cable.
The ControlFXTM Director Ethenet Bundle includes a
ControlFXTM Director device and a 10'(3 m) ethernet
cable with RJ45 connectors for connection to a hub.
Both bundles ship with the ControlFXTM Designer CD-
ROM
Related Documentation
TIR®may supply the following related documents:
■ControlFX Designer Quickstart Guide
(Part No. 940-0150)
■ControlFX Designer User’s Guide
(Part No. 940-0149)
Understanding the Device
The ControlFXTM Director device, made of ABS and
aluminium, must be mounted in a dry indoor location.
See Figure 1 and accompanying table below.
Figure 1: ControlFX Director Device
Table 1: ControlFX Director Detail
Always consult the relevant safety laws,
practices or requirements that apply to
you, and ensure you conduct yourself
accordingly.
Item Description
ControlFXTM Director device: black
cover decal
1.7 lbs (750 g), 8.9" (225 mm) x 3.1"
(79 mm) x 4.1" (104 mm)
Mounting bracket
Power supply unit (PSU)
AC power cable
Ethernet cross-over cable
1
2
3
45
2
7
6
1
2
3
4
5
ControlFX Director Quickstart Guide

Copyright © TIR Systems Ltd. All rights reserved.
2940-0153, Revision A
Preparing for the Installation
Before proceeding with the ControlFXTM Director
installation, first complete the pre-installation steps.
To prepare for the installation:
1. Consult the site layout plan, available from the
general contractor or architect.
2. Identify the nearest power supply source.
3. Obtain two fasteners (not supplied by TIR®)
appropriate for the installation conditions.
4. Unpack the ControlFXTM Director device.
5. Turn off and lock out all power sources before
beginning the installation.
Installing ControlFX Director
ControlFXTM Director can be wall, ceiling or floor
mounted in a dry, indoor application. The mounting
brackets are located at the back of the device.
To install a ControlFX Director device:
1. Position the ControlFXTM Director device on the
mounting surface and mark the position of the
holes for each mounting bracket.
The two mounting points are indicated by arrows
in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2: Mounting Points: Front View
The fastener hole diameters are 0.190" (4.8 mm)
at the top and 0.375" (9.5 mm) at the bottom.
See Figure 3 below.
Figure 3: Mounting Points: Back View
2. Hang the bracket on the mounting surface using
appropriate fasteners (not supplied by TIR®).
3. Connect the AC power cable.
4. Perform the following steps:
■Plug in the DMX cable where indicated
■Plug in the Ethernet cable where indicated
5. If you are connecting the power supply directly
behind the ControlFXTM Director device, drill the
necessary hole and make the necessary
connection in accordance with the local electrical
codes.
6. Record the serial number from the underside of
the ControlFXTM Director device.
See Figure 4 below.
Figure 4: Serial Number Label
DMX cable
AC power cable plug in
Item Description (Continued)
6
7
The data cable connection between the
ControlFXTM Director device and the
luminaires must always remain
connected.
CERTIFICATION LABEL
SERIAL NUMBER LABEL

ControlFX Director Quickstart Guide
3940-0153, Revision A
Testing the System
After installing ControlFXTM Director, and before packing
up your tools, run through the Testing Checklist.
See Table 2.
Table 2: Testing Checklist.
Using ControlFX Director
The ControlFXTM Director device is used to connect a
notebook computer running the ControlFXTM Designer
software to the DMX network. The software for
instructing the network is uploaded to the luminaires
via the ControlFXTM Director interface.
To use a ControlFX Director device:
1. Start your notebook computer (not supplied by
TIR®).
2. Connect the Ethernet cross-over cable from the
ControlFXTM Director device to your notebook
computer.
3. Install the ControlFXTM Designer, as per the
ControlFX Designer Quickstart Guide and/or the
ControlFX Designer User’s Guide.
4. Refer to the ControlFX Designer User’s Guide to
assist you in performing the following steps:
■Defining luminaire serial numbers
■Setting up a show on the luminaires
5. When finished, disconnect your notebook
computer from the ControlFXTM Director device.
Request for Service
Prior to calling TIR®, obtain the following information
from the white label affixed on the bottom of the
ControlFXTM Director device:
■Model number
■Serial number
■MAC address
For technical support or any service related to TIR®
products, use the following contact information:
■Telephone: (1) [phone]
■Toll-Free North America: (1) [phone]
■Fax: (1) [phone]
■E-mail: t[email protected]
Service coverage at TIR®is structured as follows:
■Standard coverage hours are 5:30 A.M. to 5:00
P.M. Pacific time (GMT -8 Standard time),
Monday-Friday
■If you are directed to a voicemail box during
standard coverage hours, TIR®will respond to
your call within 90 minutes
■For service outside regular hours, your call will
be recorded by an answering service, forwarded
to a TIR®representative and responded to the
next business day
Regulatory Statement
ControlFXTM Director has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules in the United States of
America. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instruction manual, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area would,
in all likelihood, cause harmful interference in which
case the user would be required to correct the
interference at their own expense.
Have you verified... Check
That the device is receiving power?
■Is the POWER LED illuminated?
That the device responds to an Ethernet
signal, if applicable?
■Does the STATUS LED flash?
The data cable connection between the
ControlFXTM Director device and the
luminaires must always remain
connected.

Copyright © TIR Systems Ltd. All rights reserved.
4940-0153, Revision A
Troubleshooting ControlFX
Director
For any additional questions you may have, refer to
the checklist of potential symptoms and solutions.
See Table 3.
Table 3: Troubleshooting Checklist
Symptom Solution
The box isn’t
receiving power
■Check that the power cables are
fully connected
DMX line fails to
respond
■Disconnect the data line from
the run, turn the power off, wait
for one minute, plug the data
line back in and send sample
demands
■Repeat the above procedure if
necessary
Check the Windows®XP network
settings on your notebook
computer to ensure that a static IP
address is not being used:
■Check internet protocol (TCP/
IP) properties for the network
connection you are using to
connect to the ControlFXTM
Director device
■If there is an IP address
specified in Use the following
IP Address:, record these
values
■Click Obtain an IP address
automatically
■Click OK to accept the changes
■After you disconnect your
notebook computer from the
ControlFXTM Director device,
change the IP settings back to
the original values
If ControlFXTM Director does not detect
the presence of a DHCP server when
connected to your notebook computer, the
device will assume a default IP address of
169.254.236.22 and subnet mask of
255.255.0.0.
TIR®reserves the right to change or
update, without notice, any information
contained in this document, and to change
without notice the design, construction,
material, processing or specification of
any products represented therein.