DMX/Art-Net Show Control with the EVP380

The EVP380 is not just an audio/video file player: it can also be controlled via DMX512 and Art-Net. It also allows you to record and replay DMX512 and Art-Net sequences.

TABLE DES MATIÈRES

• Principle of Creating a Project in Show Control Software
• Recording a DMX or Art-Net Show
  • First Recording
  • Reading Show Control Files and Control Mode
    • Show Control Playback Mode
    • Adjusting Show Delay
    • Player Control Mode via DMX / Art-Net
    • DMX Monitoring for Show Preparation

You have two options for recording a show:

1. With the Show Control software, you can create scenarios managing both audio playback and sending DMX/Art-Net commands to connected devices, in perfect synchronization.

2. With the player's recording capabilities from its DMX-in input port and Ethernet port. The maximum recording capacities are one DMX512 universe + 64 Art-Net universes @30 fps + one DMX512 universe for controlling the player's behavior.

Principle of Creating a Project in Show Control Software

The principle is to create DMX event tracks or output contact tracks, then place these events in a grid based on time and the associated audio/video file.

Once the file is created, simply copy it to the EVP380 media along with the audio/video files. The player operates identically whether it is an audio/video file, an event file alone, or the synchronized playback of both.

Note: Folders and their options, trigger input contacts, and all other control elements (such as scheduled programming) work the same way.
You can use as many event files as you want.

Recording a DMX or Art-Net Show

The Show Control Editor software is an ideal tool for quickly creating simple shows. For creating complex shows with many DMX channels or using devices with many settings (such as moving lights), it is recommended to use dedicated lighting software or consoles offering more comprehensive tools.

To record a show in the EVP380, you must first copy your audio/video files to your chosen media (USB drive, Micro SD, internal memory) and prepare the folders and their names accordingly. However, it is possible to record a show without an associated file.

You can record a show from:

• A DMX source via the player's DMX input,
• A system managing Art-Net over the Ethernet network.

When you connect a DMX/Art-Net system to the player, you can monitor the result by positioning the player in a transparent data transfer mode. What comes in via the DMX input or Art-Net network is sent identically to the DMX output and network output.

First Recording

To record a show, you must proceed step by step and first configure the player and settings related to recording. These elements are done in the player's menu Show Control > Recording, accessible via the infrared remote control or a USB keyboard connected to the player.

Steps to follow:

1. Choose the media to record on,
2. Select the folder that will contain the recorded file,
3. Select the associated audio/video file or let the player generate a name,
4. Define the start of recording conditions from:
   • Receiving a DMX frame,
   • A 5-second countdown,
   • Receiving a value on a dedicated DMX channel.
5. Define the end of recording conditions from:
   • The end of the associated audio/video file,
   • A fixed recording time (max 10 hours in 1-second steps),
   • Manual stop (Cancel or Finalize button),
   • Receiving a value on a dedicated DMX channel.
6. Select the data source to record from DMX Input, Art-Net 1 or 2,
7. Select the source of peripheral controls (output relays, RS-232) from DMX Input, Art-Net 1 or 2,
8. In the case of Art-Net recording, enable the function in Art-Net Recording, select the starting universe and the number of universes.

If the start or end of recording is conditioned by receiving a DMX value, it is necessary to configure the DMX channels and values that will be used in the corresponding menu.

Once all configurations are done, you just need to press the Record button. The player will then wait for the start condition to begin recording. In case of error, you can stop recording at any time by pressing Cancel and restart the operation.

Note: The Cancel button does not save any information. By pressing Finalize, you save the recording in the folder that will be written to the selected media.

Two types of data are recorded:

1. DMX show information that controls lighting devices and other peripherals and will be reproduced identically on the DMX output during playback.

2. Control data that allows controlling the player's output contacts to actuate objects or devices, as well as sending RS-232 frames to turn on/off a video projector, for example. This information is also recorded in the resulting file to be reproduced with the DMX data.

Be careful not to create conflicts between the Art-Net universes for controlling the player and the Art-Net universes intended to be replayed on the network.

Reading Show Control Files and Control Mode

Show Control Playback Mode

To play the result of your recording or other files already present in the media, you must ensure that in the Playback menu, the submenu DMX Output Source is set to File so that the data sent to the DMX output comes from the file.

Other modes allow you to control the player in controllable mode, meaning you can trigger audio/video file playback in real-time.

For the actions on output contacts or sending RS-232 frames recorded in the file to be reproduced, you must also set the Device Control Source mode to File.

Adjusting Show Delay

During playback of a show, you can edit the delay of the entire show (Art-Net and DMX). This feature is found in Show Control > Edit.

The delay can be adjusted between 0 and 2000 ms relative to media playback.

Player Control Mode via DMX / Art-Net

The EVP380 is capable of receiving orders to play audio/video/event files from a real-time order (lighting console or software) in a live context such as a concert, theater, or any event requiring image projections and/or manually controlled sound interventions.

For example, the lighting control room can thus send images or messages at the desired time according to the progress of a show.

The two sub-modes, control of output contacts/sending serial frames on one hand and playback control on the other, are separated into 2 parts, each of which can be controlled manually or pre-recorded in a file or a combination of both.

The player behaves like a DMX peripheral: what comes in via the DMX input goes out identically on the DMX output. The player's output contacts and RS-232 are not used.

To control the player from a DMX console, you must perform the DMX mapping, i.e., define on which channels the player will respond to orders. The channel configuration is done in the menu Show Control > General Settings > Device Mapping > Channel Assignment.

A folder playback command is generated when:

• Channel 2 makes a transition to ON (whether channel 3 has changed or not),
• The value of channel 3 changes while channel 2 is ON.

The final playback status reflects the value of channel 1 (STOP / PAUSE / PLAY).

Command Example:
DMX Command to Start Playback of Folder 006
On channel 3, choose the value 006,
On channel 1, set to playback mode with a value greater than 192,
When you are ready, send a value greater than 128 on channel 2 to start playback.

Stop Playback
On channel 1, set to STOP mode with a value less than 63,
When you are ready, send a value greater than 128 on channel 2 to start the STOP command.

DMX Monitoring for Show Preparation

You can prepare your show without unplugging or changing any configuration by using the monitoring function. What comes into the player via DMX or Art-Net goes out identically on the DMX output and network output.

DMX data can be used concurrently for 2 purposes:

1. DMX show information that controls lighting devices and other peripherals and will be reproduced identically on the DMX output.

2. Control data that allows controlling the player's output contacts to actuate objects or devices, as well as sending RS-232 frames to turn on/off a video projector, for example.

This part requires configuring the DMX channel mapping in the menu Show Control > General Settings.