VR8 - VR8R ©Abstract Design to Light 1998 Tel:0116 278 8078 http://www.abstract-lighting.co.uk VR Instruction Manual - Issue 1.
Specifications Gobo rotation - Channel 5 - CE mode OFF Gobo DMX Stop 0-11 Fast anticlockwise 12 -> Slow anticlockwise 112 Stop 113-140 Slow clockwise 141-> Fast clockwise 244 Stop 245-255 Rotation speed is continuously variable between fast and slow limits. Shutter - Channel 6 - CE mode OFF Gobo DMX Blackout 0-5 Fade 6-7 Open 8 -> Slow strobe 224 -> Fast strobe 255 Strobe speed is variable (8 speeds) between fast and slow limits. If you snap the shutter to/from zero, the unit will snap to black/open.
Connections and controls Connections and controls The VR has a connection panel located at the bottom rear side of the unit. DMX Values VR8R - Gobo/shutter/rotate channel 4 - CE mode ON The display can be set to blank after a period of time by setting the “DBL” option to ON.
DMX values Turning on & maintenance VR8 Gobo - Channel 4 Gobo DMX (VR mode) DMX (CE mode) Blackout 0 0 Open 16 24 Laser 32 40 Star 48 56 Slice 64 72 Tunnel 80 88 Heart 96 104 Eurostars 112 120 Sunburst 128 136 Triangle 144 152 Slash 160 168 Bubbles 176 184 Segment 192 200 Slowest strobe 242 226 Strobe 2 244 230 Strobe 3 246 234 Strobe 4 248 238 Strobe 5 250 242 Strobe 6 252 246 Fastest strobe 254 254 NB: Intermediate values will give mixed gobos if GSN (Gobo snap) is set to OFF.
DMX mode Using the VR You can use the VR in three ways: • • • DMX controlled mode, where you connect a controller such as the Abstract CE controller or a standard DMX lighting desk to the VR and control its movements yourself. This mode is best for live performance, or if you want to have full control over the effects produced. Light show mode, where the VR listens to the music and generates its own complex lightshow.
Timers Operating the VR Option list Operating the VR These are the options on the VR, in order of appearance. The default setting is shown.
Light show mode If you move the control to the top end of its range (about 90%) you will enter the ‘strobe zone’. The VR will strobe slowly (about one flash per second) at 90%, up to full speed strobe (about 10 flashes per second) at 100%. If you move the control to zero, the VR will black out. VR control values The DMX values you need to send are listed at the end of the manual.
Run mode Light show mode If you have 4 VRs, you should set one to each of the 4 groups for the best light show. You can change the Light Show Group using the LSG option. Experiment with the group number settings to obtain the best results. You will find that the best settings vary depending on how the VRs are positioned. If you want a particular VR to always control the light show, set the LSE option to On for that VR, and to Off for all the others.
Run mode Run mode Run mode P-1 The VR has an internal memory which allows you to store up to 8 positions, colours and gobos and replay them as a sequence without the need for a controller. The VR is ready for position 1. Connecting the VR up for Run mode To grab the current DMX position, hold down the middle button. The VR will move to the current DMX position and display Just connect mains power to the VR. When in run mode, it neither receives nor transmits DMX.
Control functions Problems Using Run mode If you have problems The VR can be programmed internally with an 8 position sequence which can then be run without the need for a controller. This can be useful for demonstration or display applications. The world of intelligent lighting can sometimes be confusing. You may at times wonder if the lighting is more intelligent than you are. The next section lists a few common problems you may encounter, with solutions.
Problems If you’ve tried all these and the DMX still doesn’t work, you may have interference problems. Check where your DMX cables run - if they are near or run alongside high voltage cables, power lines, or neon, you may experience problems. The VR has protection circuitry on its DMX inputs and may temporarily disconnect itself from the line if it detects high voltages or interference. Try running a short DMX cable directly from the controller to the VR.
Light show options Setting feature options Strobe mode STR ON When On, the light show may use strobing. When Off, strobing is disabled in light show mode. (If SLO mode is on, strobing is also disabled). This option only has any effect on the “Controller” VR in light show mode. It has no effect when the VR is controlled by DMX or when it is a light show slave. Sound mode SOU ON When On, light show is triggered by sound. When Off, it is triggered by a timer.
Feature options Feature options Mirror tilt invert I-t Off When this option is On, the up-down movement of the mirror is inverted. Mirror pan/tilt swap p-t Off When this option is On, the up-down and left-right movements of the mirror are swapped over. In other words, channel 1 controls tilt and channel 2 controls pan. Colour snap mode CSN Off Display blanking mode DBL ON When On, the display blanks after about 30sec if no buttons are pressed (DMX or Light Show indicators remain lit).
