Table of contents I Welcome to Compu Live 1. Installing software/interface 2. Demo shows 3. Adding your first fixture 4. Compu Live Overview II Basic programming 1. Adding your own fixtures 2. Pages and Buttons 3. Preprogrammed buttons 4. Example: create your first scene 5. Record Cycles (cue lists/shows) 6. Keyboard triggering (hotkeys) III Intermediate programming 1. EasyStep scenes 2. Channel properties: On/Off, Dimmer 3. Group/Individual control of fixtures 4. The X-Y window (pan/tilt) 5.
5. Page settings 85 V General settings 93 1. Starting parameters 2. Windows management 3. Backup /Technical support 4. Setting up multiple DMX universes 4.1. Using the USB interfaces 4.2. Using the IP interfaces 4.3. Using the Art-Net protocol VI Appendix 1. DMX512 brief description 2. Accessories 3. IP/Ethernet configuration 4. Troubleshooting 5.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Prologue Thank you for your interest in the Compu Live control software. Our User Manual is divided into the following chapters: 1. Welcome to Compu Live Quick start guide, Overview 2. Basic Programming 3. Intermediate Programming 4. Advanced Programming 5.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 1. Installing software/interface 1. Installing the software Whether you are holding an installation CD in your hands or you downloaded the software from the internet, the first thing you want to do is install our Compu Live software. Insert the installation CD in your computer (if you downloaded the software from the internet, you can skip this paragraph).
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Select the Setup language and accept the license agreement (again). Choose your installation folder (default is C:SL2006). The next screen will ask if you want to install the software with or without DEMO PAGES. If you are a beginner user, we recommend you install WITH demo pages.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Finally, the setup wizard will ask if you want to start the software in BEGINNER MODE. Again, if you are a beginner user, we recommend you click YES on the beginner mode option. You are done! Now, it is time to start playing with our software. 2. Installing USB drivers If you purchased a software package and received a USB to DMX interface, you will need to install the drivers for it.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Windows will find the driver and will tell you the device is not validated, and will ask if you wish to continue. Although Microsoft does not have a numberical registry for this driver, there is no risk of incompatibility. Click "Continue Anyway".
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live You are done! But remember, the software detects the USB interface when it starts. This means that you must have the USB interface connected to your computer before you open the control software. Otherwise, there will be no communication between the software and the interface. 3. Using IP/Ethernet interfaces If you purchased a Compu Live package with an IP/Ethernet interface, please refer to the Appendix section for instructions.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 2. Demo shows For this section, we assume you installed the software in BEGINNER MODE and that you enabled the installation of DEMO PAGES. If you did not, you will see many options on your screen apart from the ones described here, but the information will still be valid. Your screen should look like this: The Compu Live software will display 1 button for every function that the lighting fixture can perform.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Depending on the type of intelligent lighting that you’re using, there will also be preprogrammed buttons with generic effects (in this case, the DEMO MOVING HEAD page contains buttons with movements that are generic to all moving heads and scanners, like circles, random curves, etc). As you can see on the 3D visualizer window, every time you press a button on your screen the moving heads respond to that command.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Keep in mind that the 3D window is a real-time visualizer. This means that if you had those 4 moving heads connected to your computer, they would be doing that exact same thing you are seeing on the screen. Keep pressing any combination of buttons… play around. If you want to reset everything, double click on the yellow INIT button.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live We recommend you create a few scenes like this, so that you get somewhat familiar with the controls. Once you feel comfortable with the preprogrammed controls in the Demo Moving Head page, you will be ready to add your own fixtures and learn more advanced programming techniques. We still recommend, however, that you read this manual consecutively, and advise beginner users against jumping in between chapters at this point.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 3. Adding your first fixture If you already have an interface connected to the software and you cannot wait to test these movements and effects on your own lighting fixtures (or if you want to preview how your own fixtures would work), this is how you can add them to the Compu Live software: Page menu – New page Select "Create a new page with Scanlibrary wizard".
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live You will be able to browse through the profile library in your computer. Search for your manufacturer's folder and then your particular fixture (notice there is a VARIED folder where fixtures from small manufacturers are included).
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live After you find your lighting fixture in the manufacturer folders, you will need to set the starting DMX address and number of fixtures (if you do not know the meaning of “starting DMX address”, please read Appendix A “DMX Review” before you continue). Then, simply click NEXT to all the options that the wizard presents (not important at the moment, but will be explained in detail in later sections in the manual).
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 4. Compu Live Overview The following chapter will provide an Overview of the entire Compu Live package. The main goal of this chapter is to give you a better idea of Compu Live’s full potential… Easy View Our real-time 3D visualizer, which will show you all of your lighting effects on your computer screen in the same way they would look if your actual lighting fixtures were connected to the computer. Ideal to pre-program without lighting fixtures.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Easy Show Ideal to synchronize lighting effects with audio and video. Similar to audio editing software, Easy Show includes timelines where you can drag, drop, expand, scroll your lighting effects, along with Audio and Video timelines. Easy Stand Alone Create your lighting scenes, then download them to the memory of the interface.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Scanlibrary Editor Create your own profiles or modify existing profiles for lighting fixtures. All effects are included (color, gobo, gobo rotation, prism, etc). Preview your profiles using our 3D visualizer.
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Compu Live II Basic programming II Basic programming Overview After reading our "Welcome" chapter, you might have a good idea of what you would like to accomplish with our Compu Live controller. Now it is time to learn how to create all those lighting scenes you have in your mind already. This chapter explores the options available when adding your own fixtures through our “New Page Wizard”. Then we focus on available preprogrammed buttons for all intelligent lighting.
Compu Live II Basic programming You can see two buttons. The first "Create a new page with Scanlibrary wizard" opens our profile library. The second "Create a blank page", adds an empty page of DMX channels in the software (configuration for these blank pages is described in later chapters). The first "Explore" button allows you to search the library of profiles installed in your computer along with the software. The second "Explore" button is a link to our online library.
Compu Live II Basic programming Note: If you cannot find your fixture's profile in the library, please refer to the Scanlibrary Editor manual. Once you find your fixture inside your manufacturer's folder, you will need to set a starting DMX address and the number of fixtures that fit this profile. If you are unfamiliar with the term "starting DMX address", please read our DMX Review appendix.
Compu Live II Basic programming In this screen, you can also set the DMX universe you want your fixtures to work with (in case you have more than 1 DMX outputs).
Compu Live II Basic programming Look at your lighting fixtures (whether the real ones or the ones inside the 3D visualizer). You should see all of them turn on, white color, to 50% pan and tilt (if available). If your fixtures fail this check, then: 1. You selected the wrong profile (some fixtures have different "modes"). You should go back and find the appropriate profile. 2. You addressed your fixtures differently than the software (Compu Live addresses similar fixtures consecutively).
Compu Live II Basic programming The next screen asks which preprogrammed movements you want to include (for moving heads and scanners only). Again, we recommend you include all movements (default selection).
Compu Live II Basic programming Do not worry about all other options on the screen, once you learn the concepts of the software, these will be obvious. There is no limit to the number of pages that you can add. We recommend you to add all your lighting fixtures from the same type within the same page, and that you do not repeat DMX addresses across different pages. 2.
Compu Live II Basic programming Do not worry about the options available within this window for the moment, as they will be explained later in the manual and are not necessary to understand the basics of the software.
Compu Live II Basic programming color, or 1 color combination, etc). As long as 2 switches don’t affect the same property (DMX channel), you can have as many switches activated as you want. For instance, if you add a gobo switch to a movement switch, both can be activated simultaneously. Cycles A Compu Live CYCLE is a button that sequentially recalls cue lists of Scenes and Switches.
Compu Live II Basic programming Color, gobos, effects, etc… Depending on the features of individual lighting fixtures, there will be a button that will correspond to every function that a lighting fixture can perform. You can visualize most of these in the 3D window. The ones that you cannot visualize (like macros, for example) still have a button on the screen that would trigger the lighting effect if the real lighting fixture was connected to the computer.
Compu Live II Basic programming RGB If your lighting fixture has RGB or CMY capability, there will be a Color Wheel button that will allow you to select the color displayed by the fixtures and the intensity of the light beam. As we explained earlier, you can press different buttons simultaneously.
Compu Live II Basic programming 4. Example: create your first scene Overview This section provides a step-by-step example to create a simple lighting scene with the DEMO moving heads. If you have some kind of scanner or moving head already connected to your Compu Live controller, you can use the preprogrammed buttons for your own fixtures. Step 1 - Turn lamps ON The first thing you want to do is turn ON your lighting fixtures. This can be done in a number of ways.
Compu Live II Basic programming Step 3 - Adding effects Once you have your positions adjusted, you should as many effects to your lighting scene as you want: colors, gobos, prism, etc. Feel free to use as many of the preprogrammed buttons available. Notice that you can activate effects by clicking on them once, and deactivate them if you click on them a second time. Step 4 - Save AS YOU SEE NOW Once you find a combination of buttons that you like, you will probably want to save that look.
Compu Live II Basic programming (Button menu is the pull down menu at the top of the main Compu Live screen) You can set the name of the button at the top. It is important to select the "As you see now" option, which allows you to include all or any of the buttons that you activated already. Leave the options at the end of the window as they are. These will be explained in detail in later sections of the manual. Finally, click [OK] to create your new button.
Compu Live II Basic programming buttons, while generally Switch buttons will add to other existing Switch buttons. Keep pressing preprogrammed buttons and create as many scenes as you want. Remember, the more you practice, the faster you will learn, the easier it will be to create elaborate lighting shows... 5. Record Cycles (cue lists/shows) Once you have many Scenes and Switches saved as buttons on your screen, you will probably want to reproduce them sequentially. CYCLES will help you do this.
Compu Live II Basic programming 1. Click on the Cycle button 2. Start clicking on the Scene and Switch buttons in the order you want them to be played 3. When you are done, click the [PLAY] button inside the Cycle editor window, and click on [YES] when asked if you wish to save the Cycle Clicking Play will start running the cycle, scrolling through your buttons. If you wish to change the timing between each Scene or Switch, first click on [STOP], and then click on the TIME button (with [2.
Compu Live II Basic programming 6. Keyboard triggering (hotkeys) Buttons on the screen can be triggered using your computer’s keyboard, along with your mouse. You can assign any button on the screen to any key on your keyboard. To do this, you need to go into: - Button - Settings Select the "Trigger" option on the left, then tick the "Trigger key" box on the top, and assign whatever letter you want.
Compu Live II Basic programming green, which represents FLASH keys (explained above). You can only use a key once within each page, but you can use the same key on multiple pages. This allows you to trigger effects simultaneously across all your lighting fixtures (i.e. try the red color, or the closed shutter, etc, across multiple pages). The Master page makes this simultaneous control much easier, and will be explained in the following chapter.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming III Intermediate programming The following chapter presents you with intermediate level tools to continue creating lighting scenes. 1. EasyStep scenes The EasyStep rack (tab) inside the BUTTON EDITOR allows you to create simple scenes based on steps, where you can set fade and wait times between each. Create a "New scene" or "New switch" from the "Button" menu and then select the "Link the EasyStep function to all channels of the page".
Compu Live III Intermediate programming channel. For the moment, it is best if you leave all channels as EasyStep channels. When you create an EasyStep sequence, you can go through your steps for each channel in one of two ways: with or without fade. Light beam movement might look better fading in between positions, but gobo rotation might look better as a step change in between the two.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Other available functions on the EasyStep rack are copy, cut, paste and insert step. The PLAY button allows you to preview your scene. You can choose to make your scene loop or not. Finally you can convert your EasyStep scene into an EasyTime sequence (advantages of EasyTime will be explained in the Advanced Programming section). 2.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Selecting any of these options will assign that particular property to every channel of fixtures for that particular button.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming If neither "Dimmer" nor "EasyStep" functions are selected, the channels will have the OFF property by default. If a channel is OFF, the final output for this channel will not be affected by this particular scene/switch. For example, a COLOR switch has all of its channels in OFF, except for the COLOR channel, which is assigned a DIMMER property and a particular value. DIMMER channels are fixed values within the scene/switch.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming buttons. Note: 3. Group/Individual control of fixtures Fixture grouping is one of the most powerful tools within our control software. As you may have noticed, our preprogrammed buttons (movement, color, gobo, effect, etc) operate on all fixtures within a page. If you want to have independent control of your lighting fixtures (assign each a different color, for example), you will find our Fixture Group tools very helpful.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Fixture positions The sofware allows you to arrange the icons (fixtures) in any way, ideally representing the same layout you have on stage. Simply left-click and hold on a selected fixture (orange) while moving it to its new position. You can arrange them, for example, like the circle shown below.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Creating groups This tool allows you to create groups of fixtures (stage left, stage right, house lights, etc). Going back to our example with 4 moving heads arranged in a circle, imagine now that we want to create 2 groups [Mo1 + Mo3] and [Mo2 + Mo4]. Click on the icons to select/unselect until you reach your desired group (also, you could first click on the "ALL OFF" button to unselect all fixtures and then select only Mo1 and Mo3).
Compu Live III Intermediate programming There is no limit to the number of groups that can be created in each page. Even when this simple example includes only 4 fixtures, you can imagine the potential of the grouping tool when using a larger number of fixtures. It is possible to assign shortcut keys F1 through F12 on your keyboard to any of these groups. All you need to do is right click on the group name to access this feature.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming LIVE mode To use this mode, select the second button of the toolbar (remember that, by default, LIVE will be disabled after every action unless you click and unselect the last button "Return to disabled"). Back to our 4 Moving Head example, imagine you want to have you 1st group [Mo1 + Mo3] in cyan and [Mo2 + Mo4] in red.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 5 - Activate the Color Red button on the page 6 - Disable SAVE (1st button of the toolbar) If you look closely at your 2 color buttons (red and cyan), you will see a small 'S' flag inside. This means that a group (or individual fixture) was assigned and saved into the button, which will not be disabled even when the SAVE mode is no longer active.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 4. The X-Y window (pan/tilt) The X-Y buttons (referred to as TAKE in previous versions of our software) allow mouse control of the PAN/TILT channels in each fixture within a page. These are very useful when you want to control a single fixture while a movement sequence is running, or also to create scenes with static positions. There is one X-Y button for each fixture in the page. Static position 1. Turn the light beam ON (CENTER or any movement switch) 2.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Example The following example will show you how to create two fixed position scenes within the Master page, using the Demo Moving Head page and 3D Demo stage. Your first scene will have all light beams pointed to the drum set, while the second to the music keyboard on the stage. Furthermore, these scenes will be compressed together, allowing for easier organization and editing of the positions.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming X-Y Settings You can access X-Y settings by right-clicking on the white area. These settings include locking pan (X) or tilt (Y), allowing better control of your fixture, and a resolution control. Changing the resolution of the X-Y window will allow you to move your fixtures' beams larger or smaller distances with the same movement of your mouse (very useful for fine tuning positions, for instance).
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 5. Using the MASTER page The MASTER page allows you to bring fixtures from different pages together: - You can record scenes using fixtures from multiple pages - You can add scenes and switches coming from different pages 1. As you see now (global) In the same way you can create new scenes within each page using the AS YOU SEE NOW option, the Master Page allows you to create new scenes that include lighting effects from all pages and all fixtures.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 2. Drag and drop into Master buttons It is easy to edit a Master scene/switch after it has been created. All you need to do is left click on a button within the conventional fixture pages, and drag it into the Master button. Select "Add to the button" to replace its properties with those included in the dragged button. 3.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming The easiest way to leave this PLAYBACK PAGE is to simply close all windows within the software controller (except the Master Page, of course) by clicking the [X] on the titlebar for each window. After this, you want to lock all windows to prevent users from closing your Master page as well. Go to - Windows menu - Reset positions - Lock docked windows - 6.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming then go to Button menu - Button Settings Select the "Dimmer/Speed" tab and select which fader you want to show in that particular button. The Speed function If you want to increase (or decrease) the speed of a sequence (Easy Time or Easy Step) in real time you must use the SPEED function. This feature allows you to modify the speed property without editing the button.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming a DIMMER fader on preprogrammed buttons like Dimmer, Zoom, Iris, Focus, etc. These faders allow you to modify the DMX values for those particular channels without using the button Editor. You can also use this function with conventional lighting (PAR, etc). Such a button would allow to modify the beam intensity in real-time for one or any group of fixtures included in the button.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming You can also add a small fader to the button. To do this, select your new button nnd go to - Button menu - Button Settings - Dimmer/Speed tab -. Then select: - Show the Dimmer fader - Draw the fader on the button - Use the minimum and maximum levels of each channel There you go! now you have a button with a fader that controls the DMX output between 100 and 200 for a particular channel only.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming IV Advanced programming 1. Overview This chapter introduces all advanced features of the sofware (the editor screen, the fade function, the external triggering...). These parts of the sofware require to understand the difference betweeen a scene and a switch, to create and edit a new button, to record a cycle, to arrange the user-screen... 2. The Editor 2.1. Easy Time 2.1.1.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Each line refers to a specific moment, since the button was activated. To activate a period of time, i.e. to be able to visualize what will happen at some point, just move (yellow) edit line to appropriate time-cell. Each column in a time-sheet represents a channel. As soon as a "Scene" or a "Switch" has been activated, the time-sheet associated with this button will be read from line 000'00'00 to the final line containing information.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 2.1.2. How to use Easy Time for movement If you use moving lights, this software contains extremely quick basic functions to create sophisticated vectorial motion-effects. A circle will then automatically appear and EasyTime will display green cells including X/Y values as referential points. By default, a circle is drawn from 4 points. To move any of these, several methods can be used : - Adjust the X/Y channels with one of the faders.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming As you can see, moving a point is carried out in real time on the fixture ! To add or delete a point, several methods can be used: - Select the cells corresponding to the referential point (2,or 4 cells if the fixture has micro-steps) then use "Cut,Copy or Insert" from toolbar. - Click right on the point and select "Cut","Copy" or "Insert " from menu.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming There are 3 different types of vectorial movements : - Curve (e.g. a Circle) - Line (e.g. a triangle) - Positions (going straight away from one point to another) NB: - A channel operated by a vectorial movement in EasyTime can be identified by green cells whereas red cells indicate that the channel is in "non vectorial" mode - In one button, each fixture can only be assigned one type of vectorial movement (curve, line or positions).
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 2.1.3. Tools and options EasyTime : "Fade" function The "Fade" function makes it possible to create a fade-effect in between 2 cells by computing intermediate values. It can only be used with cells in "Not vectorial" mode (red cells). To use the "Fade" function, first select a block of vertical cells, then click on "Fade" function. You will then have an alternative : "linear" fade in between the 1st and last cell : intermediate cells are totally re-computed.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 2.2. Color Manager The "Color Manager" tool is basically a colour editor for RGB or CMY fixtures. It allows to create either static or dynamic colour sequences very easily. Imagine you want to load a bitmap or simply write a text on your matrix of LEDs, "Color Manager" will help you to make it in a few seconds. To open "Color Manager", click with the right button of your mouse on a color mixing channel in the editor screen.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming - Pipette: to pick a color from the fixtures area - Copy, Paste: to copy or paste pixels - Load an image: to draw an image (BMP, JPG...) with your fixtures You must use the colour picker to change the colour of the selected pixel(s). You can also enter the RGB values manually. Text wizard The text wizard allows to write easily a text on your matrix. You can make either static or scrolling text, choose the font, the background color...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming area makes it possible to change the speed of the scrolling. 2.3. Copy/Paste and Phasing This feature is available with "EasyTime" and "EasyStep" racks, let us see now how to use it. With this new tool, you can quickly copy and paste a sequence to one or several fixtures.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming The phasing tool allows to easily create a "wave" with your scanners or a rainbow effect with your CMY colour changers. Basically, this new tool allows to copy some channels from a fixture to the other one. However, there is an advanced option which helps you to add a delay between each fixture for the selected sequence.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Once we have made this, we can copy the "PAN&TILT" channels and paste to one fixture. The "Copy/Paste" window appears and we must select "Advanced" to access the phasing function. After having selected "Phasing (only with EasyTime or EasyStep channels)", you must specify the type of phasing: - Manual means you have to specify the delay manually with the cursor - Other options are pre-programmed delays taking the number of fixtures into account 3.
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Compu Live IV Advanced programming All the channels of our page are listed in the list situated on the left side of the window. We want to make a fade between 2 positions, so we must enable the "FADE" function on Pan&Tilt channels for all our fixtures. Please note that the function is already enable on Pan&Tilt channels...however this is good to see how to do it. Now it is time to create our 2 scenes. In the previous chapter we saw how to create a scene "As you see now"...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Once the "Fade" function has been selected, we can setup the fade times.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Please keep in mind that the FADE function is not available on channels which have been programmed with the ON/OFF mode. This is very useful to make some channels fading or not in a scene. Imagine you want to fade from one position to another one with your fixtures but you want to change the gobo without fading in the same scene. The gobo channel must be programmed with the ON/OFF mode, or the FADE function (Page Settings window) must be disable on this channel. 4.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.1. MIDI - Easy Console 4.1.1. EasyConsole, what is it ? EasyConsole is a new powerful tool for LIVE control. It allows users to connect any MIDI controller to the software and assign numerous features to it. It is possible to control the speed or size of a sequence, jump from page to page, select a particular button, freeze all DMX channels... and many others.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.1.2. First, setup your controller on screen The first thing you want to do is draw your MIDI controller on your screen, which will simplify its use within the software. To make this work, a simple white square with faders and buttons can be enough. However, you can make the screen representation of your controller closer to reality by pasting pictures of it. The EasyConsole tool allows you to do that.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming There are 4 types of controls available : horizontal and vertical sliders, rotating and regular buttons. These controls are available from the "Toolbox" window. Select the desired control from the toolbox and then click on your project to insert a new control. Using the "Properties" window you can, for example, move, resize or change the background image. You can also write labels on any control to clearly see its function within the Compu Live software.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Assigning the MIDI controller to the software is very simple. Each button or fader must be assigned independently. There are two ways to assign to assign a button: the regular and the quick method.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Once this window is opened and if the "Auto setup MIDI" option is activated, turn on the corresponding fader or button on your controller and it will be automatically assigned. Repeat the operation for all controls. Do not forget to save the configuration by clicking with the right button of the mouse on the title bar and selecting "Save" from the menu. These are not new functions and are explained in numerous chapters throughout this manual.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming automatically. Quick method This is method is really faster and enables to setup 80% of the available features. Imagine now you want to assign a scene or a switch to a button of the MIDI controller, a blackout button for instance. Use the shift-click function (hold the shift key and click with the right button of the mouse) on the switch and select "Button activation" from the "Link to Midi Controller" option.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.2. MIDI - Midi Time Code (MTC) MIDI TIME CODE input is useful to synchronize a cycle with an incoming MIDI TIME CODE signal. In this case the software is said to be "Slave" and the external system "Master". The signal can be generated by a CD/DVD player, an SMPTE generator, a 3rd party software (sound, video, laser...).
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.3. DMX Several functions can be triggered by DMX input channels on the user screen. You can start a button (scene, switch or cycle), control the SPEED and DIMMER faders...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Now, you can modify the dimmer of your page in real time with your external DMX controller. This option may not be available with your version of the sofware. 4.4. Clock and Calendar The sofware can be triggered by Time (PC clock and calendar). This feature is available only in Pro version and is very useful for architectural lighting. You must open the following window to setup time triggering ("Button" menu, then "Settings").
Compu Live IV Advanced programming First of all, we must click on "Enable" to modifiy the settings. Several options are available to trigger a button (scene, switch or cycle): Appointed time Select what time you want to start your button. Repeating time slot Imagine you want to start the same sequence every 30 minutes from 10 am to 3 pm. You must setup 10H00 in the "From" box, then 15H00 in the "to" box and finally 0H30 in the "Repetition" box.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.5. Contact closure A 10-pin connector is available on the USB-DMX interface and makes possible to send 8 different contacts to the software. The reference of the connector is HE 10 (male). You don't need to send any power to the connector. You only have to create a contact between the pin 2 (ground) and the other 8 pins (please note that the pin 10 is not used). Several things can be triggered by ports.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Note: If the "ONLY" option is selected, all settings will work on the cycle called "SYNCHRO". You can find more informations about the connection of DMX interfaces by reading the hardware manual. This option may not be available with your version of the sofware.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.6. Audio Analysis The Audio Analysis program allows to read and analyze a sound data through a sound card or straight through computer files (CD, WAV files...). Tempo and BPM can thus be picked out. Bass, medium and treble filters are made available in the SOUND TO LIGHT tab. When Audio Analysis program operates as background task, the following icon appears on the Windows toolbar.
Compu Live Sound to Light The following window appears on screen: Page 84 IV Advanced programming
Compu Live IV Advanced programming The three filters may be personalized independently. 5. Page settings The PAGE SETTINGS window contains all global options for each page. It is important to understand the different options available. Simple options like buttons size and font can be customized, and advanced otions as well: patch, compression (buttons arrangement), triggering, channels and fixture options, etc... General In the "General" section, you can basically do 2 things: 1.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Channels The "Channels" section allows you to change the properties of individual fixtures using the buttons on the top. Starting from the left: 1. Insert fixture; you can insert a new fixture into a page that has already been created 2. Delete fixture 3. Set shortcuts; these shortcuts allow you to quickly access the channels for each fixture inside the Button Editor 4.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Buttons The "Button" section allows you to define the font and size of the buttons on your page. This is very useful if you need larger buttons because you have a very small screen, because you are using a touchscreen monitor, etc...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Compression The "Compression" section allows you to create or modify the groups of buttons within your page. Notice how all COLOR, GOBO, PRISM icons are grouped together in your pages. When you create a new Compression group, all buttons whose name starts with those same letters as the name of the group will be linked together. For example, COLOR RED, COLOR BLUE, COLOR YELLOW, COLOR WHITE can all be compressed under the group named COLOR.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Trigger Keep in mind that these features act on he current page only and can be assigned differently in other pages. Some specific features can be triggered either by the computer mouse, shortcut keys, DMX input channels... For instance, it is possible to start a cycle, stop it, go to the next scene...this is a very important feature for theatre applications.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Advanced The "Advanced" section allows you to assign MIDI commands to a different properties within the page. Notice that the 2006 software allows right-clicking from the controller page and do a simple LINK TO MIDI devices (see "Console" section in Advanced Programming).
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Groups The "Groups" section allows you to see a table with all your fixture groups within the page and their assigned shortcut keys. You can modify or add groups from this window by right-clicking on it. Options Finally, the "Options" section provides a couple more properties that can be modified within each page.
Compu Live V General settings V General settings 1. Starting parameters The software has several global parameters (ethernet, audio, midi, outputs...) that are loaded at startup. These settings can be modified by the user with the "Starting parameters" window. To open it, go to the "Controller" menu and select "Starting parameters". 3 sections are available: Hardware, Options and Other.
Compu Live V General settings To use the audio (audio analysis) and midi triggering (Easy Console, MTC...), several options must be selected in this section. The 1st option enables to read the audio signal from the sound card, the 2nd one enables to read MIDI informations and the last one to send MIDI informations to another device. Pages priority Here we can setup the priority level between the MASTER page and the sub pages.
Compu Live V General settings To software helps to find the correct position with the following tool. Moving the mouse on it enales to create to create a new tab or split the screen vertically or horizontally. The icon in the centre creates the tab and the other 4 icons split the window.
Compu Live V General settings 3. Backup /Technical support If you ever experience any difficulties with the sofware, there is the possibility to send a complte backup to our technical support. Select full backup from the "?" menu and it opens the following window. There is also the possibility to send an email to the technical support by clicking on "Email" from the "?" menu or to post a message on our Internet forum at www.elationlighting.
Compu Live V General settings 4. Setting up multiple DMX universes The software can control up to 50 DMX universes simultaneously. The different universes can be sent with our electronic interfaces (USB or IP) or with the ethernet connector of the computer (Art-Net protocol). It is important to understand how to setup the multiple universes in order to send the DMX information to the correct output. We will see in the following chapter how to setup and use multiple DMX universes with your software. 4.1.
Compu Live V General settings 4.2. Using the IP interfaces To use the IP interface you must first make sure that your IP interface is connected and configured correctly, and recognized by the network and the computer which will control your lights. Refer to the Appendix "IP/Ethernet configuration" for detailed instructions on how to do this. Then, in Compu Live, under the "controller" tab, open the "Starting parameters"; then under "hardware" select "output.
Compu Live Page 98 V General settings
Compu Live V General settings 4.3. Using the Art-Net protocol To use the Art-Net protocol first make sure that you have an interface connected to your computer. Art-Net protocol will not work unless you have an interface connected which will unlock this feature. Connect your fixture using your computers ethernet port. Now, in Compu Live, under the "control" tab select "starting parameters" and then under hardware select "outputs." Now simply select the universe and assign it to PC-Ethernet.
Compu Live VI Appendix VI Appendix 1. DMX512 brief description By the time you are done reading this section, you will understand how DMX works and why the lighting world uses this standard communication protocol. For a more technical and detailed description, please visit www.dmx512-online.com 1. The need for a standard About 20 years ago, most lighting and console manufacturers had their own proprietary communication protocols.
Compu Live VI Appendix watch on your TV, in a lighting fixture you set the channel that you want your fixture to display the information for. This is known as the DMX address. In other words, if I set my lighting fixture to channel 21, then my fixture’s DMX address is 21. Both expressions are common in the lighting world. Example Imagine we have a DMX dimmer that controls a simple light bulb.
Compu Live VI Appendix 0-10 White 11-20 Red 21-30 Purple … 241-255 “whatever color” So, if the lighting fixture receives a DMX value of 25 for Channel 3, it will display the Purple color. If that DMX value changes to 15, it will automatically change to Red, and so on. Luckily for us, the Compu Live software (and most controllers) includes profiles for these lighting fixtures. These profiles contain all the DMX values and channel information required to have full control of the lighting fixture.
Compu Live VI Appendix 2. Accessories The following is a list of accessories that can be used along with our software and interfaces. It is not a comprehensive list, but it should give you a good idea of where to start looking. IO Ports and Power Supplies Jameco (USA) 112547CH Multicolor Ribbon Cable 32491CH Socket Connector 252793CH Power Adapter Keypads Search online for “8 key common” or “12 key common”.
Compu Live VI Appendix You can search online for these names and compare pricing and features. DMX Boards The Compu Live software can take input commands from DMX boards. Any button on the Compu Live screen can be triggered through DMX, and also any fader can be linked to a DMX fader on a board. The following sites will give you an idea of where to start looking: www.proformance.
Compu Live VI Appendix Once the software is open, go to the “?” menu, then About. A circular popup with the logo will be shown with a white box underneath. In this box, you should read something like this: Compu Live June 13 2006(Release date) 1 SLESA-IP (interface description in red letters) If you can read this interface description, this means that there is good communication between the software and the interface...
Compu Live VI Appendix 4. Troubleshooting Software and/or interface do not work 1. Check the USB interface Connect the interface to the computer. You should see 3 LEDs turn on, green, yellow, and red. Green should be blinking slowly. Yellow should be completely on. Red should be blinking fast. If non of the LEDs are on, check the back of the interface, there is a small switch that turns power ON/OFF.
Compu Live VI Appendix - The drivers seem to be installed correctly, but the interface/software does not work, and the Device Manager name for the USB device is "SUIDI-OUT" instead of "Intelligent Usb Dmx Interface" Scenes/Switches do not work If you find problems using your scene and switch buttons, check for the following common solutions: 1. Deactivate all buttons Double-click on the [INIT] scene in each page, all buttons should be deactivated.
Compu Live VI Appendix 5.
Compu Live FEATURES Close and save Close without saving Channel-level display in DMX value Channel-level display in % No channel-level display Visualize right hand part of the channel-list Visualize left hand part of the channels list Display preset-list VI Appendix EQUIVALENT MENUS Adjust several similar type of channels to the same value (e.g Pan, Shutter,...
Table of contents I Welcome to Compu Live 1. Installing software/interface 2. Demo shows 3. Adding your first fixture 4. Compu Live Overview II Basic programming 1. Adding your own fixtures 2. Pages and Buttons 3. Preprogrammed buttons 4. Example: create your first scene 5. Record Cycles (cue lists/shows) 6. Keyboard triggering (hotkeys) III Intermediate programming 1. EasyStep scenes 2. Channel properties: On/Off, Dimmer 3. Group/Individual control of fixtures 4. The X-Y window (pan/tilt) 5.
5. Page settings 85 V General settings 93 1. Starting parameters 2. Windows management 3. Backup /Technical support 4. Setting up multiple DMX universes 4.1. Using the USB interfaces 4.2. Using the IP interfaces 4.3. Using the Art-Net protocol VI Appendix 1. DMX512 brief description 2. Accessories 3. IP/Ethernet configuration 4. Troubleshooting 5.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Prologue Thank you for your interest in the Compu Live control software. Our User Manual is divided into the following chapters: 1. Welcome to Compu Live Quick start guide, Overview 2. Basic Programming 3. Intermediate Programming 4. Advanced Programming 5.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 1. Installing software/interface 1. Installing the software Whether you are holding an installation CD in your hands or you downloaded the software from the internet, the first thing you want to do is install our Compu Live software. Insert the installation CD in your computer (if you downloaded the software from the internet, you can skip this paragraph).
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Select the Setup language and accept the license agreement (again). Choose your installation folder (default is C:SL2006). The next screen will ask if you want to install the software with or without DEMO PAGES. If you are a beginner user, we recommend you install WITH demo pages.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Finally, the setup wizard will ask if you want to start the software in BEGINNER MODE. Again, if you are a beginner user, we recommend you click YES on the beginner mode option. You are done! Now, it is time to start playing with our software. 2. Installing USB drivers If you purchased a software package and received a USB to DMX interface, you will need to install the drivers for it.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Windows will find the driver and will tell you the device is not validated, and will ask if you wish to continue. Although Microsoft does not have a numberical registry for this driver, there is no risk of incompatibility. Click "Continue Anyway".
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live You are done! But remember, the software detects the USB interface when it starts. This means that you must have the USB interface connected to your computer before you open the control software. Otherwise, there will be no communication between the software and the interface. 3. Using IP/Ethernet interfaces If you purchased a Compu Live package with an IP/Ethernet interface, please refer to the Appendix section for instructions.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 2. Demo shows For this section, we assume you installed the software in BEGINNER MODE and that you enabled the installation of DEMO PAGES. If you did not, you will see many options on your screen apart from the ones described here, but the information will still be valid. Your screen should look like this: The Compu Live software will display 1 button for every function that the lighting fixture can perform.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Depending on the type of intelligent lighting that you’re using, there will also be preprogrammed buttons with generic effects (in this case, the DEMO MOVING HEAD page contains buttons with movements that are generic to all moving heads and scanners, like circles, random curves, etc). As you can see on the 3D visualizer window, every time you press a button on your screen the moving heads respond to that command.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Keep in mind that the 3D window is a real-time visualizer. This means that if you had those 4 moving heads connected to your computer, they would be doing that exact same thing you are seeing on the screen. Keep pressing any combination of buttons… play around. If you want to reset everything, double click on the yellow INIT button.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live We recommend you create a few scenes like this, so that you get somewhat familiar with the controls. Once you feel comfortable with the preprogrammed controls in the Demo Moving Head page, you will be ready to add your own fixtures and learn more advanced programming techniques. We still recommend, however, that you read this manual consecutively, and advise beginner users against jumping in between chapters at this point.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 3. Adding your first fixture If you already have an interface connected to the software and you cannot wait to test these movements and effects on your own lighting fixtures (or if you want to preview how your own fixtures would work), this is how you can add them to the Compu Live software: Page menu – New page Select "Create a new page with Scanlibrary wizard".
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live You will be able to browse through the profile library in your computer. Search for your manufacturer's folder and then your particular fixture (notice there is a VARIED folder where fixtures from small manufacturers are included).
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live After you find your lighting fixture in the manufacturer folders, you will need to set the starting DMX address and number of fixtures (if you do not know the meaning of “starting DMX address”, please read Appendix A “DMX Review” before you continue). Then, simply click NEXT to all the options that the wizard presents (not important at the moment, but will be explained in detail in later sections in the manual).
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live 4. Compu Live Overview The following chapter will provide an Overview of the entire Compu Live package. The main goal of this chapter is to give you a better idea of Compu Live’s full potential… Easy View Our real-time 3D visualizer, which will show you all of your lighting effects on your computer screen in the same way they would look if your actual lighting fixtures were connected to the computer. Ideal to pre-program without lighting fixtures.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Easy Show Ideal to synchronize lighting effects with audio and video. Similar to audio editing software, Easy Show includes timelines where you can drag, drop, expand, scroll your lighting effects, along with Audio and Video timelines. Easy Stand Alone Create your lighting scenes, then download them to the memory of the interface.
Compu Live I Welcome to Compu Live Scanlibrary Editor Create your own profiles or modify existing profiles for lighting fixtures. All effects are included (color, gobo, gobo rotation, prism, etc). Preview your profiles using our 3D visualizer.
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Compu Live II Basic programming II Basic programming Overview After reading our "Welcome" chapter, you might have a good idea of what you would like to accomplish with our Compu Live controller. Now it is time to learn how to create all those lighting scenes you have in your mind already. This chapter explores the options available when adding your own fixtures through our “New Page Wizard”. Then we focus on available preprogrammed buttons for all intelligent lighting.
Compu Live II Basic programming You can see two buttons. The first "Create a new page with Scanlibrary wizard" opens our profile library. The second "Create a blank page", adds an empty page of DMX channels in the software (configuration for these blank pages is described in later chapters). The first "Explore" button allows you to search the library of profiles installed in your computer along with the software. The second "Explore" button is a link to our online library.
Compu Live II Basic programming Note: If you cannot find your fixture's profile in the library, please refer to the Scanlibrary Editor manual. Once you find your fixture inside your manufacturer's folder, you will need to set a starting DMX address and the number of fixtures that fit this profile. If you are unfamiliar with the term "starting DMX address", please read our DMX Review appendix.
Compu Live II Basic programming In this screen, you can also set the DMX universe you want your fixtures to work with (in case you have more than 1 DMX outputs).
Compu Live II Basic programming Look at your lighting fixtures (whether the real ones or the ones inside the 3D visualizer). You should see all of them turn on, white color, to 50% pan and tilt (if available). If your fixtures fail this check, then: 1. You selected the wrong profile (some fixtures have different "modes"). You should go back and find the appropriate profile. 2. You addressed your fixtures differently than the software (Compu Live addresses similar fixtures consecutively).
Compu Live II Basic programming The next screen asks which preprogrammed movements you want to include (for moving heads and scanners only). Again, we recommend you include all movements (default selection).
Compu Live II Basic programming Do not worry about all other options on the screen, once you learn the concepts of the software, these will be obvious. There is no limit to the number of pages that you can add. We recommend you to add all your lighting fixtures from the same type within the same page, and that you do not repeat DMX addresses across different pages. 2.
Compu Live II Basic programming Do not worry about the options available within this window for the moment, as they will be explained later in the manual and are not necessary to understand the basics of the software.
Compu Live II Basic programming color, or 1 color combination, etc). As long as 2 switches don’t affect the same property (DMX channel), you can have as many switches activated as you want. For instance, if you add a gobo switch to a movement switch, both can be activated simultaneously. Cycles A Compu Live CYCLE is a button that sequentially recalls cue lists of Scenes and Switches.
Compu Live II Basic programming Color, gobos, effects, etc… Depending on the features of individual lighting fixtures, there will be a button that will correspond to every function that a lighting fixture can perform. You can visualize most of these in the 3D window. The ones that you cannot visualize (like macros, for example) still have a button on the screen that would trigger the lighting effect if the real lighting fixture was connected to the computer.
Compu Live II Basic programming RGB If your lighting fixture has RGB or CMY capability, there will be a Color Wheel button that will allow you to select the color displayed by the fixtures and the intensity of the light beam. As we explained earlier, you can press different buttons simultaneously.
Compu Live II Basic programming 4. Example: create your first scene Overview This section provides a step-by-step example to create a simple lighting scene with the DEMO moving heads. If you have some kind of scanner or moving head already connected to your Compu Live controller, you can use the preprogrammed buttons for your own fixtures. Step 1 - Turn lamps ON The first thing you want to do is turn ON your lighting fixtures. This can be done in a number of ways.
Compu Live II Basic programming Step 3 - Adding effects Once you have your positions adjusted, you should as many effects to your lighting scene as you want: colors, gobos, prism, etc. Feel free to use as many of the preprogrammed buttons available. Notice that you can activate effects by clicking on them once, and deactivate them if you click on them a second time. Step 4 - Save AS YOU SEE NOW Once you find a combination of buttons that you like, you will probably want to save that look.
Compu Live II Basic programming (Button menu is the pull down menu at the top of the main Compu Live screen) You can set the name of the button at the top. It is important to select the "As you see now" option, which allows you to include all or any of the buttons that you activated already. Leave the options at the end of the window as they are. These will be explained in detail in later sections of the manual. Finally, click [OK] to create your new button.
Compu Live II Basic programming buttons, while generally Switch buttons will add to other existing Switch buttons. Keep pressing preprogrammed buttons and create as many scenes as you want. Remember, the more you practice, the faster you will learn, the easier it will be to create elaborate lighting shows... 5. Record Cycles (cue lists/shows) Once you have many Scenes and Switches saved as buttons on your screen, you will probably want to reproduce them sequentially. CYCLES will help you do this.
Compu Live II Basic programming 1. Click on the Cycle button 2. Start clicking on the Scene and Switch buttons in the order you want them to be played 3. When you are done, click the [PLAY] button inside the Cycle editor window, and click on [YES] when asked if you wish to save the Cycle Clicking Play will start running the cycle, scrolling through your buttons. If you wish to change the timing between each Scene or Switch, first click on [STOP], and then click on the TIME button (with [2.
Compu Live II Basic programming 6. Keyboard triggering (hotkeys) Buttons on the screen can be triggered using your computer’s keyboard, along with your mouse. You can assign any button on the screen to any key on your keyboard. To do this, you need to go into: - Button - Settings Select the "Trigger" option on the left, then tick the "Trigger key" box on the top, and assign whatever letter you want.
Compu Live II Basic programming green, which represents FLASH keys (explained above). You can only use a key once within each page, but you can use the same key on multiple pages. This allows you to trigger effects simultaneously across all your lighting fixtures (i.e. try the red color, or the closed shutter, etc, across multiple pages). The Master page makes this simultaneous control much easier, and will be explained in the following chapter.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming III Intermediate programming The following chapter presents you with intermediate level tools to continue creating lighting scenes. 1. EasyStep scenes The EasyStep rack (tab) inside the BUTTON EDITOR allows you to create simple scenes based on steps, where you can set fade and wait times between each. Create a "New scene" or "New switch" from the "Button" menu and then select the "Link the EasyStep function to all channels of the page".
Compu Live III Intermediate programming channel. For the moment, it is best if you leave all channels as EasyStep channels. When you create an EasyStep sequence, you can go through your steps for each channel in one of two ways: with or without fade. Light beam movement might look better fading in between positions, but gobo rotation might look better as a step change in between the two.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Other available functions on the EasyStep rack are copy, cut, paste and insert step. The PLAY button allows you to preview your scene. You can choose to make your scene loop or not. Finally you can convert your EasyStep scene into an EasyTime sequence (advantages of EasyTime will be explained in the Advanced Programming section). 2.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Selecting any of these options will assign that particular property to every channel of fixtures for that particular button.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming If neither "Dimmer" nor "EasyStep" functions are selected, the channels will have the OFF property by default. If a channel is OFF, the final output for this channel will not be affected by this particular scene/switch. For example, a COLOR switch has all of its channels in OFF, except for the COLOR channel, which is assigned a DIMMER property and a particular value. DIMMER channels are fixed values within the scene/switch.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming buttons. Note: 3. Group/Individual control of fixtures Fixture grouping is one of the most powerful tools within our control software. As you may have noticed, our preprogrammed buttons (movement, color, gobo, effect, etc) operate on all fixtures within a page. If you want to have independent control of your lighting fixtures (assign each a different color, for example), you will find our Fixture Group tools very helpful.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Fixture positions The sofware allows you to arrange the icons (fixtures) in any way, ideally representing the same layout you have on stage. Simply left-click and hold on a selected fixture (orange) while moving it to its new position. You can arrange them, for example, like the circle shown below.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Creating groups This tool allows you to create groups of fixtures (stage left, stage right, house lights, etc). Going back to our example with 4 moving heads arranged in a circle, imagine now that we want to create 2 groups [Mo1 + Mo3] and [Mo2 + Mo4]. Click on the icons to select/unselect until you reach your desired group (also, you could first click on the "ALL OFF" button to unselect all fixtures and then select only Mo1 and Mo3).
Compu Live III Intermediate programming There is no limit to the number of groups that can be created in each page. Even when this simple example includes only 4 fixtures, you can imagine the potential of the grouping tool when using a larger number of fixtures. It is possible to assign shortcut keys F1 through F12 on your keyboard to any of these groups. All you need to do is right click on the group name to access this feature.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming LIVE mode To use this mode, select the second button of the toolbar (remember that, by default, LIVE will be disabled after every action unless you click and unselect the last button "Return to disabled"). Back to our 4 Moving Head example, imagine you want to have you 1st group [Mo1 + Mo3] in cyan and [Mo2 + Mo4] in red.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 5 - Activate the Color Red button on the page 6 - Disable SAVE (1st button of the toolbar) If you look closely at your 2 color buttons (red and cyan), you will see a small 'S' flag inside. This means that a group (or individual fixture) was assigned and saved into the button, which will not be disabled even when the SAVE mode is no longer active.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 4. The X-Y window (pan/tilt) The X-Y buttons (referred to as TAKE in previous versions of our software) allow mouse control of the PAN/TILT channels in each fixture within a page. These are very useful when you want to control a single fixture while a movement sequence is running, or also to create scenes with static positions. There is one X-Y button for each fixture in the page. Static position 1. Turn the light beam ON (CENTER or any movement switch) 2.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming Example The following example will show you how to create two fixed position scenes within the Master page, using the Demo Moving Head page and 3D Demo stage. Your first scene will have all light beams pointed to the drum set, while the second to the music keyboard on the stage. Furthermore, these scenes will be compressed together, allowing for easier organization and editing of the positions.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming X-Y Settings You can access X-Y settings by right-clicking on the white area. These settings include locking pan (X) or tilt (Y), allowing better control of your fixture, and a resolution control. Changing the resolution of the X-Y window will allow you to move your fixtures' beams larger or smaller distances with the same movement of your mouse (very useful for fine tuning positions, for instance).
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 5. Using the MASTER page The MASTER page allows you to bring fixtures from different pages together: - You can record scenes using fixtures from multiple pages - You can add scenes and switches coming from different pages 1. As you see now (global) In the same way you can create new scenes within each page using the AS YOU SEE NOW option, the Master Page allows you to create new scenes that include lighting effects from all pages and all fixtures.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming 2. Drag and drop into Master buttons It is easy to edit a Master scene/switch after it has been created. All you need to do is left click on a button within the conventional fixture pages, and drag it into the Master button. Select "Add to the button" to replace its properties with those included in the dragged button. 3.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming The easiest way to leave this PLAYBACK PAGE is to simply close all windows within the software controller (except the Master Page, of course) by clicking the [X] on the titlebar for each window. After this, you want to lock all windows to prevent users from closing your Master page as well. Go to - Windows menu - Reset positions - Lock docked windows - 6.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming then go to Button menu - Button Settings Select the "Dimmer/Speed" tab and select which fader you want to show in that particular button. The Speed function If you want to increase (or decrease) the speed of a sequence (Easy Time or Easy Step) in real time you must use the SPEED function. This feature allows you to modify the speed property without editing the button.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming a DIMMER fader on preprogrammed buttons like Dimmer, Zoom, Iris, Focus, etc. These faders allow you to modify the DMX values for those particular channels without using the button Editor. You can also use this function with conventional lighting (PAR, etc). Such a button would allow to modify the beam intensity in real-time for one or any group of fixtures included in the button.
Compu Live III Intermediate programming You can also add a small fader to the button. To do this, select your new button nnd go to - Button menu - Button Settings - Dimmer/Speed tab -. Then select: - Show the Dimmer fader - Draw the fader on the button - Use the minimum and maximum levels of each channel There you go! now you have a button with a fader that controls the DMX output between 100 and 200 for a particular channel only.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming IV Advanced programming 1. Overview This chapter introduces all advanced features of the sofware (the editor screen, the fade function, the external triggering...). These parts of the sofware require to understand the difference betweeen a scene and a switch, to create and edit a new button, to record a cycle, to arrange the user-screen... 2. The Editor 2.1. Easy Time 2.1.1.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Each line refers to a specific moment, since the button was activated. To activate a period of time, i.e. to be able to visualize what will happen at some point, just move (yellow) edit line to appropriate time-cell. Each column in a time-sheet represents a channel. As soon as a "Scene" or a "Switch" has been activated, the time-sheet associated with this button will be read from line 000'00'00 to the final line containing information.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 2.1.2. How to use Easy Time for movement If you use moving lights, this software contains extremely quick basic functions to create sophisticated vectorial motion-effects. A circle will then automatically appear and EasyTime will display green cells including X/Y values as referential points. By default, a circle is drawn from 4 points. To move any of these, several methods can be used : - Adjust the X/Y channels with one of the faders.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming As you can see, moving a point is carried out in real time on the fixture ! To add or delete a point, several methods can be used: - Select the cells corresponding to the referential point (2,or 4 cells if the fixture has micro-steps) then use "Cut,Copy or Insert" from toolbar. - Click right on the point and select "Cut","Copy" or "Insert " from menu.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming There are 3 different types of vectorial movements : - Curve (e.g. a Circle) - Line (e.g. a triangle) - Positions (going straight away from one point to another) NB: - A channel operated by a vectorial movement in EasyTime can be identified by green cells whereas red cells indicate that the channel is in "non vectorial" mode - In one button, each fixture can only be assigned one type of vectorial movement (curve, line or positions).
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 2.1.3. Tools and options EasyTime : "Fade" function The "Fade" function makes it possible to create a fade-effect in between 2 cells by computing intermediate values. It can only be used with cells in "Not vectorial" mode (red cells). To use the "Fade" function, first select a block of vertical cells, then click on "Fade" function. You will then have an alternative : "linear" fade in between the 1st and last cell : intermediate cells are totally re-computed.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 2.2. Color Manager The "Color Manager" tool is basically a colour editor for RGB or CMY fixtures. It allows to create either static or dynamic colour sequences very easily. Imagine you want to load a bitmap or simply write a text on your matrix of LEDs, "Color Manager" will help you to make it in a few seconds. To open "Color Manager", click with the right button of your mouse on a color mixing channel in the editor screen.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming - Pipette: to pick a color from the fixtures area - Copy, Paste: to copy or paste pixels - Load an image: to draw an image (BMP, JPG...) with your fixtures You must use the colour picker to change the colour of the selected pixel(s). You can also enter the RGB values manually. Text wizard The text wizard allows to write easily a text on your matrix. You can make either static or scrolling text, choose the font, the background color...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming area makes it possible to change the speed of the scrolling. 2.3. Copy/Paste and Phasing This feature is available with "EasyTime" and "EasyStep" racks, let us see now how to use it. With this new tool, you can quickly copy and paste a sequence to one or several fixtures.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming The phasing tool allows to easily create a "wave" with your scanners or a rainbow effect with your CMY colour changers. Basically, this new tool allows to copy some channels from a fixture to the other one. However, there is an advanced option which helps you to add a delay between each fixture for the selected sequence.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Once we have made this, we can copy the "PAN&TILT" channels and paste to one fixture. The "Copy/Paste" window appears and we must select "Advanced" to access the phasing function. After having selected "Phasing (only with EasyTime or EasyStep channels)", you must specify the type of phasing: - Manual means you have to specify the delay manually with the cursor - Other options are pre-programmed delays taking the number of fixtures into account 3.
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Compu Live IV Advanced programming All the channels of our page are listed in the list situated on the left side of the window. We want to make a fade between 2 positions, so we must enable the "FADE" function on Pan&Tilt channels for all our fixtures. Please note that the function is already enable on Pan&Tilt channels...however this is good to see how to do it. Now it is time to create our 2 scenes. In the previous chapter we saw how to create a scene "As you see now"...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Once the "Fade" function has been selected, we can setup the fade times.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Please keep in mind that the FADE function is not available on channels which have been programmed with the ON/OFF mode. This is very useful to make some channels fading or not in a scene. Imagine you want to fade from one position to another one with your fixtures but you want to change the gobo without fading in the same scene. The gobo channel must be programmed with the ON/OFF mode, or the FADE function (Page Settings window) must be disable on this channel. 4.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.1. MIDI - Easy Console 4.1.1. EasyConsole, what is it ? EasyConsole is a new powerful tool for LIVE control. It allows users to connect any MIDI controller to the software and assign numerous features to it. It is possible to control the speed or size of a sequence, jump from page to page, select a particular button, freeze all DMX channels... and many others.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.1.2. First, setup your controller on screen The first thing you want to do is draw your MIDI controller on your screen, which will simplify its use within the software. To make this work, a simple white square with faders and buttons can be enough. However, you can make the screen representation of your controller closer to reality by pasting pictures of it. The EasyConsole tool allows you to do that.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming There are 4 types of controls available : horizontal and vertical sliders, rotating and regular buttons. These controls are available from the "Toolbox" window. Select the desired control from the toolbox and then click on your project to insert a new control. Using the "Properties" window you can, for example, move, resize or change the background image. You can also write labels on any control to clearly see its function within the Compu Live software.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Assigning the MIDI controller to the software is very simple. Each button or fader must be assigned independently. There are two ways to assign to assign a button: the regular and the quick method.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Once this window is opened and if the "Auto setup MIDI" option is activated, turn on the corresponding fader or button on your controller and it will be automatically assigned. Repeat the operation for all controls. Do not forget to save the configuration by clicking with the right button of the mouse on the title bar and selecting "Save" from the menu. These are not new functions and are explained in numerous chapters throughout this manual.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming automatically. Quick method This is method is really faster and enables to setup 80% of the available features. Imagine now you want to assign a scene or a switch to a button of the MIDI controller, a blackout button for instance. Use the shift-click function (hold the shift key and click with the right button of the mouse) on the switch and select "Button activation" from the "Link to Midi Controller" option.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.2. MIDI - Midi Time Code (MTC) MIDI TIME CODE input is useful to synchronize a cycle with an incoming MIDI TIME CODE signal. In this case the software is said to be "Slave" and the external system "Master". The signal can be generated by a CD/DVD player, an SMPTE generator, a 3rd party software (sound, video, laser...).
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.3. DMX Several functions can be triggered by DMX input channels on the user screen. You can start a button (scene, switch or cycle), control the SPEED and DIMMER faders...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Now, you can modify the dimmer of your page in real time with your external DMX controller. This option may not be available with your version of the sofware. 4.4. Clock and Calendar The sofware can be triggered by Time (PC clock and calendar). This feature is available only in Pro version and is very useful for architectural lighting. You must open the following window to setup time triggering ("Button" menu, then "Settings").
Compu Live IV Advanced programming First of all, we must click on "Enable" to modifiy the settings. Several options are available to trigger a button (scene, switch or cycle): Appointed time Select what time you want to start your button. Repeating time slot Imagine you want to start the same sequence every 30 minutes from 10 am to 3 pm. You must setup 10H00 in the "From" box, then 15H00 in the "to" box and finally 0H30 in the "Repetition" box.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.5. Contact closure A 10-pin connector is available on the USB-DMX interface and makes possible to send 8 different contacts to the software. The reference of the connector is HE 10 (male). You don't need to send any power to the connector. You only have to create a contact between the pin 2 (ground) and the other 8 pins (please note that the pin 10 is not used). Several things can be triggered by ports.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Note: If the "ONLY" option is selected, all settings will work on the cycle called "SYNCHRO". You can find more informations about the connection of DMX interfaces by reading the hardware manual. This option may not be available with your version of the sofware.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming 4.6. Audio Analysis The Audio Analysis program allows to read and analyze a sound data through a sound card or straight through computer files (CD, WAV files...). Tempo and BPM can thus be picked out. Bass, medium and treble filters are made available in the SOUND TO LIGHT tab. When Audio Analysis program operates as background task, the following icon appears on the Windows toolbar.
Compu Live Sound to Light The following window appears on screen: Page 84 IV Advanced programming
Compu Live IV Advanced programming The three filters may be personalized independently. 5. Page settings The PAGE SETTINGS window contains all global options for each page. It is important to understand the different options available. Simple options like buttons size and font can be customized, and advanced otions as well: patch, compression (buttons arrangement), triggering, channels and fixture options, etc... General In the "General" section, you can basically do 2 things: 1.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Channels The "Channels" section allows you to change the properties of individual fixtures using the buttons on the top. Starting from the left: 1. Insert fixture; you can insert a new fixture into a page that has already been created 2. Delete fixture 3. Set shortcuts; these shortcuts allow you to quickly access the channels for each fixture inside the Button Editor 4.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Buttons The "Button" section allows you to define the font and size of the buttons on your page. This is very useful if you need larger buttons because you have a very small screen, because you are using a touchscreen monitor, etc...
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Compression The "Compression" section allows you to create or modify the groups of buttons within your page. Notice how all COLOR, GOBO, PRISM icons are grouped together in your pages. When you create a new Compression group, all buttons whose name starts with those same letters as the name of the group will be linked together. For example, COLOR RED, COLOR BLUE, COLOR YELLOW, COLOR WHITE can all be compressed under the group named COLOR.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Trigger Keep in mind that these features act on he current page only and can be assigned differently in other pages. Some specific features can be triggered either by the computer mouse, shortcut keys, DMX input channels... For instance, it is possible to start a cycle, stop it, go to the next scene...this is a very important feature for theatre applications.
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Advanced The "Advanced" section allows you to assign MIDI commands to a different properties within the page. Notice that the 2006 software allows right-clicking from the controller page and do a simple LINK TO MIDI devices (see "Console" section in Advanced Programming).
Compu Live IV Advanced programming Groups The "Groups" section allows you to see a table with all your fixture groups within the page and their assigned shortcut keys. You can modify or add groups from this window by right-clicking on it. Options Finally, the "Options" section provides a couple more properties that can be modified within each page.
Compu Live V General settings V General settings 1. Starting parameters The software has several global parameters (ethernet, audio, midi, outputs...) that are loaded at startup. These settings can be modified by the user with the "Starting parameters" window. To open it, go to the "Controller" menu and select "Starting parameters". 3 sections are available: Hardware, Options and Other.
Compu Live V General settings To use the audio (audio analysis) and midi triggering (Easy Console, MTC...), several options must be selected in this section. The 1st option enables to read the audio signal from the sound card, the 2nd one enables to read MIDI informations and the last one to send MIDI informations to another device. Pages priority Here we can setup the priority level between the MASTER page and the sub pages.
Compu Live V General settings To software helps to find the correct position with the following tool. Moving the mouse on it enales to create to create a new tab or split the screen vertically or horizontally. The icon in the centre creates the tab and the other 4 icons split the window.
Compu Live V General settings 3. Backup /Technical support If you ever experience any difficulties with the sofware, there is the possibility to send a complte backup to our technical support. Select full backup from the "?" menu and it opens the following window. There is also the possibility to send an email to the technical support by clicking on "Email" from the "?" menu or to post a message on our Internet forum at www.elationlighting.
Compu Live V General settings 4. Setting up multiple DMX universes The software can control up to 50 DMX universes simultaneously. The different universes can be sent with our electronic interfaces (USB or IP) or with the ethernet connector of the computer (Art-Net protocol). It is important to understand how to setup the multiple universes in order to send the DMX information to the correct output. We will see in the following chapter how to setup and use multiple DMX universes with your software. 4.1.
Compu Live V General settings 4.2. Using the IP interfaces To use the IP interface you must first make sure that your IP interface is connected and configured correctly, and recognized by the network and the computer which will control your lights. Refer to the Appendix "IP/Ethernet configuration" for detailed instructions on how to do this. Then, in Compu Live, under the "controller" tab, open the "Starting parameters"; then under "hardware" select "output.
Compu Live Page 98 V General settings
Compu Live V General settings 4.3. Using the Art-Net protocol To use the Art-Net protocol first make sure that you have an interface connected to your computer. Art-Net protocol will not work unless you have an interface connected which will unlock this feature. Connect your fixture using your computers ethernet port. Now, in Compu Live, under the "control" tab select "starting parameters" and then under hardware select "outputs." Now simply select the universe and assign it to PC-Ethernet.
Compu Live VI Appendix VI Appendix 1. DMX512 brief description By the time you are done reading this section, you will understand how DMX works and why the lighting world uses this standard communication protocol. For a more technical and detailed description, please visit www.dmx512-online.com 1. The need for a standard About 20 years ago, most lighting and console manufacturers had their own proprietary communication protocols.
Compu Live VI Appendix watch on your TV, in a lighting fixture you set the channel that you want your fixture to display the information for. This is known as the DMX address. In other words, if I set my lighting fixture to channel 21, then my fixture’s DMX address is 21. Both expressions are common in the lighting world. Example Imagine we have a DMX dimmer that controls a simple light bulb.
Compu Live VI Appendix 0-10 White 11-20 Red 21-30 Purple … 241-255 “whatever color” So, if the lighting fixture receives a DMX value of 25 for Channel 3, it will display the Purple color. If that DMX value changes to 15, it will automatically change to Red, and so on. Luckily for us, the Compu Live software (and most controllers) includes profiles for these lighting fixtures. These profiles contain all the DMX values and channel information required to have full control of the lighting fixture.
Compu Live VI Appendix 2. Accessories The following is a list of accessories that can be used along with our software and interfaces. It is not a comprehensive list, but it should give you a good idea of where to start looking. IO Ports and Power Supplies Jameco (USA) 112547CH Multicolor Ribbon Cable 32491CH Socket Connector 252793CH Power Adapter Keypads Search online for “8 key common” or “12 key common”.
Compu Live VI Appendix You can search online for these names and compare pricing and features. DMX Boards The Compu Live software can take input commands from DMX boards. Any button on the Compu Live screen can be triggered through DMX, and also any fader can be linked to a DMX fader on a board. The following sites will give you an idea of where to start looking: www.proformance.
Compu Live VI Appendix Once the software is open, go to the “?” menu, then About. A circular popup with the logo will be shown with a white box underneath. In this box, you should read something like this: Compu Live June 13 2006(Release date) 1 SLESA-IP (interface description in red letters) If you can read this interface description, this means that there is good communication between the software and the interface...
Compu Live VI Appendix 4. Troubleshooting Software and/or interface do not work 1. Check the USB interface Connect the interface to the computer. You should see 3 LEDs turn on, green, yellow, and red. Green should be blinking slowly. Yellow should be completely on. Red should be blinking fast. If non of the LEDs are on, check the back of the interface, there is a small switch that turns power ON/OFF.
Compu Live VI Appendix - The drivers seem to be installed correctly, but the interface/software does not work, and the Device Manager name for the USB device is "SUIDI-OUT" instead of "Intelligent Usb Dmx Interface" Scenes/Switches do not work If you find problems using your scene and switch buttons, check for the following common solutions: 1. Deactivate all buttons Double-click on the [INIT] scene in each page, all buttons should be deactivated.
Compu Live VI Appendix 5.
Compu Live FEATURES Close and save Close without saving Channel-level display in DMX value Channel-level display in % No channel-level display Visualize right hand part of the channel-list Visualize left hand part of the channels list Display preset-list VI Appendix EQUIVALENT MENUS Adjust several similar type of channels to the same value (e.g Pan, Shutter,...
