Robe Universal Interface User manual

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Tableofcontests

1.Introduction................................................................................................................................................................3

2.Fixtureexteriorview....................................................................................................................................................3

3.ConnectingtheRobeUniv ersalInterface...................................................................................................................4

3.1Softwareupdateofthefixture.............................................................................................................................4

3.2ConnectingaDMXconsoletotheMediaFusion..................................................................................................5

3.3Fixturesstatusmonitoringandsetting.................................................................................................................6

3.4ConnectingtheRobeUniversalInterface

tothefixtureslink..............................................................................6

4.InstallingtheRDM‐networksoftware........................................................................................................................7

5.ThemainwindowoftheRDM‐networksoftware......................................................................................................7

5.1DMXnetworkwindow..........................................................................................................................................8

5.2Devicegroupswindow..........................................................................................................................................8

5.3Parameterarea....................................................................................................................................................9

5.3.1Getparameterswindow................................................................................................................................9

5.3.2Setparameterwindow................................................................................................................................10

6.Groupingfixtures......................................................................................................................................................12

7.Scanningfixtures.......................................................................................................................................................13

8.Patchingfixtures......................................................................................................................................................14

9.Collectingparameters...............................................................................................................................................16

10.Viewsensorvalues.................................................................................................................................................19

11.Controlofnon‐displayfixtures...............................................................................................................................20

12.Settingpreferences.................................................................................................................................................21

13.Rescanning

USBports............................................................................................................................................23

14.Selectingaport.......................................................................................................................................................23

15.Technicalspecifications..........................................................................................................................................23

16.RobefixturessupportingRDMoperation..............................................................................................................24

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1.Introduction

RobeUniversalInterfaceis amulti‐functionaltoolboxwith2DMXportsandoneUSB2.0port.RobeUniversal

InterfacecommunicateswithaPCorLaptopviaUSB.RobeUniversalInterfaceprovidesfixturesoftwareupdates

andwithadditionalROBERDM‐networksoftwareprovidesRDM(RemoteDeviceManagement)functionality.The

Robe

UniversalInterfacesupportsRDM‐newcontrolprotocolfeaturingAutoPatchandFixtureStatusMonitoring.

TheRobeUniversalInterfacecanbeusedincombinationwithRobeMediaFusionsoftwareasDMXinputfromany

DMXconsole.

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Mainfeatures:

‐Supportedoperatingsystems:Windows98,ME,2000,XP,Vista,Server2003,Linux

‐

BringsRDMcommunicationprotocolintoDMX512controlsystems

‐USB/DMXorDMX/USBconverter

‐Ruggedaluminiumhousing

‐NoextraPSUneeded

‐Galvanicisolationof1kVbetweenDMXInputandUSB/DMXOutputandUSB

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2.Fixtureexteriorview

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1‐DMXoutput4‐PoweronLED

2‐DMXinput5‐ReceivedataLED

3‐TransmitdataLED6‐USBinput

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3.ConnectingtheRobeUniversalInterface

3.1Softwareupdateofthefixture

TheRobeUniversalInterfacecanbeusedtouploadnewsoftwareintoROBEfixtures.Theconnectionhappensvia

USBcomputerinterfa ceandthusitreplacesthe"RS232toDMXFlashingCableforsoftwareupdate"(number1305

0624).



Touploadsoftwareintothefixture.

1.ConnectboththecomputerandthefixturetotheRobeUniversalInterface.

2.Inthefixturemenu,selecttheUpdatingSoftwareitemintheSpecialFunctionsmenu.

3.RuntheSoftwareuploaderprogramonyourPCandselectaRobeUniversalInterface1

optionfromthelistof

COMports.

4.ClickontheConnectbuttonandcontinueinthesoftwareupgradefollowinginstructionsintheHelpmenu

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Robe

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3.2ConnectingaDMXconsoletotheMediaFusion

ThemediaFusionisanintuitivemediaserverenvironmentthatseamlesslyintegratessoftwareandhardwarefora

professionalquality,hassle‐freeperformance.



ToconnectaDMXdesktoMediaFusionviatheRobeUniversalInterface.

1.ConnecttheRobeUniversalInterfacetothecomputerrunningtheMediaFusion.

2.Start(restart)theMediaFusionsoftware.

3.IntheMediaFusion,gointoPreferencesÆDMXÆInterfacesandselectRobeUSB‐DMXinthe

DMXInterface

field.



4.ConnectaDMXdeskintotheDMXinputoftheRobeUniversalInterface.TheRobeUniversalInterfacenow

worksasaDMXinputdevicesoyoucanpatchyourDMXDesktoDMXcontrolMediaFusion.Don'tforgettoset

upaDMXaddressoftheMediaFusionin

thePreferencesÆDMXÆPatchsection.



FordetaildescriptionaboutinstallingandcontrollingtheMediaFusionseetheMediaFusionSoftwareuser

manual.

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3.3Fixturesstatusmonitoringandsetting

ConnectingtheRobeUniversalInterfacetotheDMXlinkallowssettingandmonitoringofthefixturesviatheRDM‐

networksoftwarerunningonthecontrolPC.



3.4ConnectingtheRobeUniversalInterfacetothefixtureslink

1.DMX512connection

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2.EthernetconnectionwithArt‐Net

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Note:IfyouuseEthernetforcontroloffixtures,neversettheEthernet/DMXoptioninthefixture(Fixture

AddressÆEthernetSettingsÆSetEthernetModeÆEthernet/DMX),otherwisetheRDM‐networksoftwarewillnot

functionproperly.

4.InstallingtheRDMnetworksoftware

1.ToinstalltheSoftwareRobeUniversalInterface,pleaseinserttheRDM‐networkinstallationflashdriveintoyour

computer’sUSB2.0port.

2.Double‐clickontheRDM‐networkinstallationfile(RDM‐network‐setup_100.exe,locatedinthedirectoryRDM‐

networkontheflashdrive(thereareversionsforWindowsand

Linux).ThiswilllaunchtheRDM‐networkinstaller.

3.Followtheon‐screeninstructions.

4.Oncetheinstallationiscomplete,click“Finish”.TheRDM‐networksoftwareisnowreadytobeused.

5.RuntheRDM‐networkbygoingtoStart‐>Programs‐>Robe‐>RDM‐network.

5.ThemainwindowoftheRDMnetworksoftware

   

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8

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Inthemainwindowyoucanuseastandardtoolbarforquickaccesstocommonlyusedcommandsandtools.

Themainwindowisorganizedintothreemainareas.

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5.1DMXnetworkwindow

ThetopleftpartofthemainwindowshowsthelistofRDMtalkingfixturesfoundontheDMXlink.Usetheiconsin

theDMXnetworktoolbartosortthefixturesbyamanufacturer/amodelIDorbyamod elIDandamanufacturer.







ThefixturesintheRDM‐networkwindowcanbedisplayedintwostates:

1.On‐linestate–thefixturenamesaredisplayedinastandardblackcolour,allchangesmadeintheSetParameter

windowcanbepromptlysenttothelinkedfixturesbyusingthe

buttonintheGet/SetParameterstoolbar.

2.Off‐linestate–thefixturenamesaredisplayedinaredcolour.Thismodemeansthatfixturessettingswere

loadedintoRDM‐networksoftwarebuthavenotbeensenttothefixtures.Youmayworkwithdisplayedfixtures

aswithfixturesin

on‐linemode,butthechangesyouhavemadewillnotbesenttothefixturesuntilyouswitched

themtotheon‐linestatebyusingthe

buttoninaDMXNetworktoolbar

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5.2Devicegroupswindow

ThebottompartofthemainwindowbelowaDMXne tworkwindowshowsgroupsoffixtures.Thebuttonsinthe

DeviceGrouptoolbarhavethefollowingmeaning:

Thebutton+addsanewgroupinto existinglistofgroups.

Thebutton

deletesagrouporafixturefromthegroup.

Thebutton

closesthiswindow(ifyouwishtodisplaythewindowagain,checktheoptionGroupsintheView

menuoftheMenubar).

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5.3Parameterarea

TherightsideofthemainwindowshowsthelistofGet/Setparametersofthefixturethathasbeenselectedina

DMXnetworkwindow.Use

and buttonsintheParametrareatoolbartotogglebetweenGetandSet

parameterswindow.Therestofbuttonshasthefollowingmeani ng:

Thebutton+addsanewparameterintothelistofparameters.

Thebutton

inaSet/Getparameterstoolbarclosesthiswindow(ifyouwishtodisplaythewindow again,check

theoptionParametersintheViewmenu.

Thebutton

sendsvaluesofselecteditemstothefixture(fixtures).

Theicon

nexttotheitemmeansthattheparameterisnotavailable. 



5.3.1Getparameterswindow 

Thelistofitems,whicharedisplayedinthewindow,informyouaboutfixturebehaviour.

The

buttonnexttotheitemremovestheitemfromthelistofitems.Toputtheitembacktothelist,clickonthe

+buttonintheGet/Setparametertoolbarandselectitfromthelistofitems.

RDMProtocolVersionMajor

‐showsthefirstfigureofRDMprotocol

version.

RDMProtocolVersionMinor

–showsthesecondfigureofRDMprotocol

version.

DeviceLabel

‐showsthecustomnameofthefixture.

LampHours

‐showstheaccumulatedtotalnumberoflamphours.

LampStrikes

‐showstheaccumulatedtotalnumberoflampstrikes.

DeviceHours

‐showstheaccumulatedtotalnumberofoperationhours

thefixturehasbeenon.

DisplayInvert

‐showshedisplayorientation.

DisplayLevel

‐showstheadjusteddisplayintensity.

PanInvert

‐showspancontrol.

TiltInvert

‐showstiltcontrol.

SubdevicesCount

–showsnumberofcontrolleddevicesconnectedto

thecurrentfixture.

LampState

‐showsthelampstate(On/Off)

ProductCategoryCoarse

‐showsthefirstfigureoftheproductcategory

ProductCategoryFine

‐showsthesecondfigureoftheproductcategory

SoftwareVersionLabel

‐showsthesoftwareversionofthemain

processor(IC1)inthefixturebase.

SoftwareVersionID

‐showsthefigureofsoftwareversionofthemainprocessor(IC1)inthefixturebase

LampOnMode‐

showstheway,howthefixtureswitchesitslamponautomatically.

DMX512StartAddress

‐showsthestartchannel(firstchannelwhichreceivesinstructionsfromthecontroller).

DeviceModelID

‐showsthefigureofthefixturetype(6‐spotlight,4‐washlight).

DMX512Footprint

‐showsthenumber ofcontrol channelsinacurrentDMXmode.

DMX512CurrentPersonality

‐showsacurrentDMXmode.

DMX512Totalofpersonalities

‐showsthetotalnumberofDMXmodes.

SensorCount

‐showsthenumberoffixturesensorssendinginformationtotheRobeUniversalInterface(e.g.

temperaturesensors).

Manufacturerlabel

‐showsthenameofthefixturemanufacturer.

DeviceModelDescription

‐showsthenameofthefixture.

IdentifyDevice

‐determineswhetherthefixturerunsinanidentificationmode.



10



5.3.2Setparameterwindow

Thefollowingitemsdisplayedinthiswindowallowyoutosetafixturebehaviour.

The

buttonnexttotheitemremovesthisitemfromthelistofitems.Toputtheitembacktothelist,clickonthe

+buttonintheGet/Setparametertoolbarandselectitfromthelistofitems.

DMX512CurrentPersonality

‐selectdesiredDMXmodeinthe

field.

IdentifyDevice

–iftheitemison,thefixtureperformspan/tilt

movementtoidentifyitbetweenanotherfixtures.

DMXStartAddress

‐setdesiredstartchannelinthefield.

DeviceLabel

‐typethenameofthefixture,max.32characters.

DeviceReset

‐theitemstartsafixturereset.

LampState

‐theitemenablestoswitchon/offthefixturelamp.

LampOnMode

‐selectthewayhowtoswitchthelampon

automatically:

Lampoff

‐thelampstaysoffuntildirectlyinstructedtostrike.

LamponbyDMX

‐thelampstrikesuponreceivingaDMX512

signal

LamponatPower‐Up

‐thelampstrikesautomaticallyat

power‐up.

Lamponaftercalibration

‐thelampstrikesaftercalibrationor

homingprocedure

DisplayInvert

‐selectdesireddisplayorientation.

DisplayLevel

‐setdesireddisplayintensity(0‐min,255‐max).

PanInvert

‐theiteminvertspanchannel.

TiltInvert

‐theiteminvertstiltchannel.



Changingthefixturesetting

Ifyouwishtochangethefixturesetting,selectdesiredfixtureintheDMXNetworkwindow,setfixtureparameters

intheSetparameterwindow,checktheboxesontheleftside

andclickontheicon intheGet/SetParameters

toolbartosendparameterstothefixture.

Note:Youcanchangesettingallfixturesofselectedmanufactureratatime.Selectdesiredmanufacturerinthe

DMXNetworkwindow,setfixtureparametersinSetparameterwindow,checktheboxesontheleftsideofitems

andclick

ontheicon intheGet/SetParameterstoolbartosendadjustedparameterstoallmanufacturer´s

fixtures.



  



Savingcurrentfixturessettings

Currentsettingwhichhavebeensenttothefixturescanbesavedtoafileandthenloadedintothefixturesatany

time.

11



Tosavecurrentsetting.

1.ClickontheSaveWorkspaceitemintheFilemenuontheMenubar.

2.SelectdesiredfolderandtypethenameofthefileandclickontheOKbutton.



Loadingsettingtothefixtures.

Oncesavedfixturessettingscan

beloadedbackintofixtures.



Toloadfixturessettings.

1.ClickontheLoadWorkspaceitemintheFilemenuontheMenubar.

2.SelectdesiredfolderandthenameofthefileandclickontheOKbutton.





3.Thefollowingwindowwithinformationaboutuploadingthefixtureswillappear.



12



4.ClickontheOKbuttonandtheloadedfixtureswillappearintheDMXNetworkwindow.



Thefixturenamesaredisplayedinaredcolourastheyareintheoff‐linemode

,itmeansthattheycannoteffect

thelinkedfixtures.

5.Inordertoswitchthefixtures totheon‐linemode

,clickonthe buttoninaDMXNetworktoolbar.All

datafrom“xml”filewillbesenttothefixtures.Thefixturenamesaredisplayedinastandardblackcolouratthis

time.



6.Groupingfixtures

Thegroupoffixturescanbeveryusefulwhenseveralfixtureshavetohavethesamesettings.Youdonotneedto

adjustfixturebyfixturebutyoucansetthesameparametersforallfixturesinagroupatonce.



Tocreateafixturegroup.

1.Clickonthe

+buttonintheDeviceGroupstoolbarandtypethenameofthegroupandclickontheOKbutton.

13



2.ThenewemptygroupwillappearintheDeviceGroupswindow.

MovedesiredobjectsfromthelistofthefixturesinaDMXNetworkwindowtothisgroupbydrag&drop.

Youcanmoveeitherindividualfixturesoragroupofselectedfixtures(selectthembyclickingon

desiredfixtures

whilepushingtheSHIFTkey).

Ifyouselectamanufacturerfolder,youwillmoveallfixturesincludedinthisfolder:



Todeleteagroupoffixtures(orindividualfixturefromagroup),selectdesiredgroup(fixture)andclickonthe



buttonintheDeviceGroupstoolbar.



7.Scanningfixtures

TofindfixtureslinkedtotheRobeUniversalInterface,selecttheScanDevicesintheScanmenuorclickonthe 

button(

button)intheStandardtoolbar.TheScannetworkwindowappears.



Afterscanning,foundfixtureswillappearinthelistoffixturesintheDMXnetworkwindow.

TherearetwooptionsintheScanmenuhowtosearchlinkedfixtures:

ScanDevice

s–findsallconnectedfixtures.

ScanNewDevices

–findsnewconnectedfixtures.

Note:thenewdevicepresentsafixturewhichhasbeenconnectedtoaDMXlinkandswitchedon.Ifsomefixture

wasunlinkedandlinkedagainwithoutswitchingitoff,theoptionScanNewDevicesdoesnotconsid erthisfixture

asanewdeviceand

willnotfinditonaDMXlink.

14



8.Patchingfixtures

YoucansetthefixturestartingDMXaddresseitherbyusingtheSetParameterswindowaswasdescribedearlieror

byusingtheDMXpatchoption.Thissecondwayismorecomfortablethenformer.

Topatchafixture.

1.SelecteithertheDMXpatchoptionintheToolsmenuorclick

withtherightbuttonofthemouseonthefixture

(oramanufacturericon)andselectthePatchDMXAddressoptionfromthemenulist.TheDMXPatchwindowwill

appear.



2.DragthefixturefromtheDevicesToPatchwindowanddropitatadesiredDMXstartaddressinthePatch

window.

15







Byclickingwiththerightbuttonofthemouseonafixture icon (DMXstartaddress)youcanchangethechannel

modeofthefixture.



3.Usethesameprocessforallfixturesinlistoffixtures.TheproperlyassignedDMXchannelsaregreen,red

channelsindicateoverlappingchannels,yellowchannelsindicatethatsomechannelswillbemissing.

4.ToclickonthePatchDevicesbuttonintheDMXpatchtoolbartosendthesesettings

tothelinkeddevices.



16



NextbuttonsintheDMXpatchtoolbarhavethefollowingfunctions:



TheLoadPatchStatebuttonallowstoloadafilewithfixtureDMXstartaddressesyouhavespecifiedinthepast.



TypethenameofthefileintheFileNamefieldandclickontheOKbutton.



TheSavePatchStatebuttonallowstosaveacurrentDMXaddressessettingforusageinfuture.



TypethenameofthefileintheFileNamefieldandclickontheOKbutton.



TheAutoPatchbuttonstartsautomaticplacingofDMXstartaddresses.

ThePatchByDevicesbuttonplacescurrentDMXaddresses.



TheResetActualPatchbuttoncancelscurrentassigni ngofDMXstartaddresses

andwillmoveallfixturestothe

DevicesToPatchwindow.

9.Collectingparameters

YoucangetinformationaboutfixtureseitherbyusingtheGetParameterswindowaswasdescribedaboveorby

usingtheCollectParametersoption.

17



Tocollectparameters.

1.SelecteithertheCollectParametersoptionintheToolsmenuor clickwiththerightbuttonofthemouseonthe

fixture(oramanufacturericon)andselecttheCollectParametersoptionfromthemenulist.TheCollect

Parameterswindowwillappear.



2.Clickwiththerightbuttonofthemouseontherightpanelofthiswindowandthefollowinglistofitemsunder

AddNewParameteroptionwill appear.



Clickondesiredparameterandthisonewill appearintherightpaneloftheCollectParameterswindow.

BythiswaymovedesiredparameterstotherightpaneloftheCollectParameterswindow.



18



3.ClickontheStartInitialCollectbuttoninthetoolbarafterhavingmovedalldesireditemstotherightpanelof

thewindow.Thecurrentloadedparameterswillappearateachfixtureline.

TheStartCollectbuttonusespreviouslyloadedparametersofthefixtures,sotheirdisplayingisfasterbut

they

maybewillnotbesocurrentlikeparametersobtainedbytheStartInitialCollectbutton.



YoucanalsoremoveoraddanitemtotheParameterstablebyclickingwiththerightbuttonofthemouseonthe

fieldunderadesiredparameter.



19



10.Viewsensorvalues

Youcangetinformationabouttemperaturesensors(orothersensorswhichareinstalledinthefixture)andinthis

wayyouwillbeabletomonitorthetemperatureconditionsinthefixture.



Toviewsensorvalues.

1.SelecteithertheViewSensorValuesoptionintheToolsmenuorclickwiththe

rightbuttonofthemouseonthe

fixture(oramanufacturericon)andselecttheViewSensorValuesoptionfromthemenulistasshownbelow.



TheViewSensorValueswindowwillappear.







Inthiswindow,thearetableswithindividualtemperaturesensorsandtheirvalues:

PresentValue

–thecurrenttemperatureofmeasuringpoint. 

LowestValue

–theminimumtemperatureofmeasuringpointsincethefixtur e hasbeenfabricated.

HighestValue

–themaximumtemper atureofmeasuringpointsincethefixturehasbeenfabricated.

TheSensor

Definition

icon

20



IfyouclickwiththeleftbuttonofthemouseontheSensorDefinitionicononthebottomrightcornerofeach

table,thewindowwithdetaileddescriptionofthefixturewillappear.





11.Controlofnondisplayfixtures

Youcanalsocontrolfixtureswithoutbilt‐ondisplay.IfsuchfixtureisconnectedtotheRobeUniversalInterface,

theoptionRemoteLEDdisplaywillappearinthemenuatthefixtureanditallowsfullcontrolofthefixture.



Tocontrolnon‐displayfixture.

Clickwiththerightbutton

ofthemouseonthefixture(oramanufacturericon)andselecttheRemoteLEDdisplay

optionfromthemenulistasshownbelow.





Robe Universal Interface User manual

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