Is the lighting control system safe and reliable? This is one of the problems that plagues the film and television stage lighting division, and is also one of the important topics for lighting equipment manufacturers to tackle. Strand Lighting is the first to introduce a safety system that meets the requirements. This article introduces its ShowNet network digital dimming system.
The use value and application vision as the command center of the lighting system, the reliability of the lighting control system directly affects the lighting effect of the application. In order to ensure that the lighting control is foolproof, in addition to the dimming products with mature technology and stable performance, scientific and rational design of the backup control system is also the key.
In recent years, major professional lighting manufacturers have designed and implemented several programs in order to solve the problem of backup control. The most advanced mode is to put two dimming stations with the same function in the same control room to work at the same time, the signal output is preferred; when the main control station fails, it is controlled by the sub-control station. Since the connection between the main and standby consoles does not have mutual learning function, the lighting control program is usually programmed into the main and backup stations before the performance, which wastes resources and fails to achieve the best tracking backup effect. The wave of digitization, networking and intelligence in the TV field has promoted the rapid development of professional lighting technology. With full international technology, Spark Lighting has developed Server and ShowNet Configuration software and ShowNet network system. The system uses networked digital dimming technology to pass the main control station Strand 550i (or 530i, 520i, 300 series dimming stations, etc.), backup station Strand 510i (or 530i, 520i, 310i, etc.) through network distributors and network nodes. Connected to a dimming silicon cabinet to form a digital lighting control network. The ShowNet network digital dimming system technically guarantees the reliability and consistency of the light control DMX signal output.
Its characteristics are reflected in:
(1) Using network technology, remote control and technical support can be realized, and the desktop design computer of the lighting designer can be connected.
(2) Each console in the network learns from each other and backs up each other. The backup station is connected to the main control station by the network architecture, and uses the full tracking backup mode to learn the main control station, that is, the two dimming stations are processed in parallel, and any one of the buttons is pressed, and the other is learned; When any one in Taichung fails, the other will automatically switch to the follow-up output.
(3) Through the network communication interface and the dimming vertical cabinet Reporter PC software, the operator can monitor the flash system instantaneous information and working status through the PC or console display in the lighting control room to monitor the lighting of each loop.
(4) PC, designer position, remote control, show controler, etc. can be set through the network node to realize point control, multi-point control, portable remote control or unmanned control.
(5) The network system is stable and the programming is reasonable. When the hardware structure is not changed, the system can be upgraded by using software. The ShowNet system uses the TCP/IP protocol to share costs with other systems using TCP/IP to reduce cost and compatibility.
Three network configuration and technical requirements
System wiring
For the hardware architecture of the ShowNet system, the choice of wire can be determined according to the size of the system and the distance between the nodes.
As can be seen from the table, in addition to the optical fiber (10 Base-FL), the effective transmission distance is 10 Base-2. It should be the best choice, but in the configuration of the entire system, you must also pay attention to the distribution of terminals and lines. In a typical 10 Base-2 design, the line must have a 50Ω termination as the load for the entire network. The length of the segment can be up to 185m and must be linear. If there is a gap in the laying of the cable, the original two sections will be paralyzed. In addition, the interface and wire used are relatively expensive, and it is generally not recommended unless a two-point system is required. 10 Base-T is connected as a star, and the center is connected by a hub. Its interface RJ45 is similar to the telephone equipment connector, and the wire is a twisted pair Category 5 network cable (100Mb/s). The advantages of this connection method are: simple and clear, material economy, high insurance factor, and in case one of the sections is broken, other nodes connected with the network distributor can continue to work. Use the connection method in large stage and large and medium-sized studios (as shown). 10 Base-FL (optical fiber) is typically used in large network systems. It is generally designed as a connection between each subsystem, such as large outdoor performances and connections in various theme areas of large theme parks.
2. System hardware
The ShowNet system consists of a dimming station, network nodes, PCs, and hubs. The dimming station is the center of the entire system and is also the operating interface. A computer-based dimming station using a PIII processor such as the Strand 500 or the Strand 300 series can be used, and can be defined as a main mode, a backup station, and a remote control station. The main console is the core of the entire network, with 18,000 optical paths and 32 DMX-512 segments to control the entire system. The backup station connects to the console through the network and learns the console using the Full Tracking Backup mode. The remote control station is the sub-control console of the main console. In large-scale performances, it is often required to divide the work, such as the host to control the traditional lights, the sub-control console to control the computer lights.
Network points can be divided into: SN100, SN102, SN103 and SN104. In addition to providing DMX input/output, the SN100 and SN102 can also provide signals such as color display, MIDI, AUX, Reporter, remote control and floppy drive. A small Category 5 network cable can accommodate so many signals that traditional DMX lines cannot. The SN103 and SN104 also have DMX input/output, of which SN103 is AC power supply and SN104 is 24~48V DC power supply. The role of the PC is very important throughout the network. Genius Pro, ShowNet Pro, Reporter, and Server can be loaded on the PC.
3. System software
The company has developed software for use in lighting network digital dimming systems, including: Genius Pro, Tracker, Communique, Networker, Reporter, Server and ShowNet Configuration. Different software has different functions in the network.
(1) Genius Pro is the entire system or a stand-alone operating system. The software has functions such as processing 6000 optical path, 8192 silicon road, 2000 field, 1000 group, 2000 macro, 600×99 effect step, 30 effect performance, 3000 time code (SMPTE); in addition to application in the dimming station, it can also be installed. Into the PC as offline editing or PC backup.
(2) Tracker is used for computer light control. In a broad sense, it is a device that is controlled to control all DMX signals.
(3) Communique is the interface of the dimming station to the external signal connection, such as analog input trigger, SMPTE, MIDI and macro trigger.
(4) Networker is a bridge between single machine and network. It is stable at 10Mb/s and can run at speeds up to 100Mb/s in the future.
(5) Server is the centralized place for programming in all consoles, through which the console can share resources.
(6) The network workstation is a PC platform and the ShowNet Configuration software is installed. The software is responsible for the distribution of the whole system DMX address code. Its powerful function can merge any loop in a 512 loop with any loop in other segments into a new segment. ShowNet's latest version of ShowNet Pro has improved the original processing capacity from 16 segments to 32 segments, ie 32×512=16384 DMX address codes. These 32 segments are hidden on Netslot's network adapter tape, and each channel can be freely matched or Defined as input/output, embodied on any of the interfaces of any SN network node. After the setting is completed, you can switch to the PC Reporter Reporting Software to get all the information in the CD80SV dimming cabinet, so that the lighting engineer knows the working condition of the cabinet and the situation of the large power grid.
Four successful case introduction
(1) American Disneyland
Two Strand 550i computer desks are selected as the main and standby machines. Through software upgrade, 3000 optical path channels, 1000 color changers and computer lights can be controlled.
(2) Universal Studios Florida selects two Strand 550i computer stations as the main and standby machines. Designed 8 Strand CD80SV dimming cabinets as PARKNET structure; the park enters the PARKNET workstation as a map, monitors and sets the show by means of workstations to find maps and schedules, and temporarily stops playback of all performance information in all CD80 processors. Realize three shifts per day and two shifts per shift to control all ambient lighting and performance lighting within 100 hectares of the park.
(3) Central Television (CCTV)
In the CCTV 1000, 800 and 600m2 studios, the Strand 550i is the host, the Strand 530i or 520i is the backup machine, plus the remote control, SN103 network node and network distributor, forming a networked digital dimming system, through the Strand CD80SV dimming cabinet Or other digital silicon boxes for lighting control.
(4) Shanghai Oriental TV Station The 1200 and 400m2 studios use one of the Strand 550i and Strand 530i computer dimming stations, and control 7 Strand CD80SV and 3 Strand CD80SV dimming cabinets through the network.
(5) The Hebei Art Center takes the Strand 550i computer as the host, the Strand 520i as the backup machine, adopts the digital dimming network system, and the main console and the sub-control console are dual-machine hot backup to control 1000 dimming circuits.
(6) The Beijing Great Hall of the People chose two Strand 550i computer dimming stations, which were used as the stage show and conference lighting host respectively; the other Strand 550i was a public backup machine with a digital network system and a total of 1300 dimming circuits.
(7) Kunming Shilinyuan Scenic Spot is based on two Strand 550i and standby machines. Through the network node, network distributor and Strand CD80SV, the intelligent lighting control of each scenic spot is realized.
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