ARRI WCU-4 User Manual
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ARRI WCU-4 User Manual

Wireless compact unit
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WCU-4
WCU-4
Wireless Compact Unit
Wireless Compact Unit
U S E R M A N U A L
U S E R M A N U A L
2nd May 2016
2nd May 2016

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Summary of Contents for ARRI WCU-4

  • Page 1 WCU-4 WCU-4 Wireless Compact Unit Wireless Compact Unit U S E R M A N U A L U S E R M A N U A L 2nd May 2016 2nd May 2016...

  • Page 2: Revision History

    Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Errors, omissions, and modifications excepted. ARRI, ALEXA, AMIRA, LDS and LENS DATA SYSTEM are trademarks or registered trademarks of Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be treated as such.
  • Page 3 10001397 K5.74422.0 W01107 02.05.2016...
  • Page 4 Neither ARRI nor its subsidiaries assume any liability for infringement of patents, copyrights or other intellectual property rights of third parties by or arising from the use of ARRI products or any other liability arising from the use of such products. No license, express, implied or otherwise, is granted under any patents, copyrights or other intellectual property right of ARRI or others.
  • Page 5 or economic loss of any kind or for any claim by a third party, downtime, good-will, damage to or replacement of equipment or property, any cost or recovery of any material or goods associated with the assembly or use of our products, or any other damages or injury of the persons and so on or under any other legal theory.

  • Page 6: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Table of Contents ....................1 For your safety..............8 Audience and intended use..........10 Scope of delivery and warranty........11 Introduction.................12 Getting started..............14 Overview................16 Wireless and wired operation........16 Control functionalities..........16 LDS - Lens Data System........... 16 Hardware combinations..........18 Layout..................
  • Page 7 Table of Contents 11.5.2 Circle of confusion......... 54 11.6 User Buttons.............. 55 11.7 Backlight..............56 11.8 User Settings............. 57 11.9 Firmware..............58 11.10 System Info..............61 11.10.1 Region settings..........62 Appendix................63 12.1 Screen Icons.............. 63 12.2 Screen Messages............65 12.3 Part numbers............. 66 12.4 Compatibility...............68 12.5 Pinouts...............

  • Page 8: For Your Safety

    For your safety For your safety Before use, please ensure that all users read, understand, and follow the instructions comprehensively in this document. Risk levels and alert symbols Safety warnings, safety alert symbols, and signal words in these instructions indicate different risk levels: DANGER! DANGER indicates an imminent hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

  • Page 9: General Precautions

    Use only the tools, materials and procedures recommended in this document. Unplug all cables during transport. Do not store the WCU-4 in places where it may be subject to temperature extremes, direct sunlight, high humidity, severe vibration, or strong magnetic fields.

  • Page 10: Audience And Intended Use

    ARRI guidelines. Use the product only for the purpose described in this document. Always follow the valid instructions and system requirements for all equipment involved. The WCU-4 is solely and exclusively for use on professional camera setups.

  • Page 11: Scope Of Delivery And Warranty

    Wireless Compact Unit WCU-4 Hand strap Lanyard Plain white marking ring SD-Card User manual Original packaging Warranty For scope of warranty, please ask your local ARRI Service Partner. ARRI is not liable for consequences from inadequate shipment, improper use, or third-party products.

  • Page 12: Introduction

    ALEXA remote control functionality. The large lens data display reflects ambient light and remains clearly visible even in direct sunlight, while the backlit focus knob and control buttons allow the WCU-4 to also be used in darkness. WCU-4 Main Features:...

  • Page 13: How To Use This Manual

    How to use this manual Connectors are all written in capital letters, for example, LCS. Buttons are all written in capital letters, for example, MENU soft button. Menus and screens are written in italic letters, for example home screen. The appendix at the back of the manual contains useful reference material including radio frequencies, spare parts and additional accessories, connector pin-out diagrams and dimensional drawings.

  • Page 14: Getting Started

    Getting started Getting started This quick start guide takes you through setting up the WCU-4 with a motor controller and up to three motors for wireless lens control. Setting up motor controller First, set up the motor controller on the camera. For details, please consult the motor controller manual.
  • Page 15 Using a Pre-Marked Focus Ring The use of pre-marked focus rings on the WCU-4 hand unit requires lens data from the motor controller or camera. Press the WCU-4 MENU button. Enter the Pre-Marked Focus Rings menu and select a focus ring.

  • Page 16: Overview

    Overview Overview Wireless and wired operation The WCU-4 can be connected wireless or hardwired to camera or motor controller. Three hand units are operable wireless in parallel. In both modes, wired or wireless, all remote control functions are given. In hardwired operation, the WCU-4 is powered via cable (See "Electrical Data", page 72 for information about the power...
  • Page 17 Focus tracking Focus tracking is a continuous, automatic focus adjustment based on the distance measured by an ultrasonic measuring device such as the UDM-1. The distance information will be forwarded from the camera or the motor controller to the WCU-4.

  • Page 18: Hardware Combinations

    Overview Hardware combinations The WCU-4 can be combined with hardware shown below. NOTICE See "Compatibility", page 68 for detailed information about hardware compatibility.

  • Page 19: Layout

    Layout Layout...
  • Page 20 Layout Interface Description Antenna Integrated antenna. Power Switches the unit on/off. Press button briefly to Button power-on the unit. Press and hold for approx. 3 seconds to turn the unit off. REC But- Press button briefly to start/stop recording. Status Displays the same status as currently shown on the camera.
  • Page 21 SD Card Protected by rubber cap. Insert SD card ‘face up’. Slot Lanyard Attach the lanyard here. Bushing Hand Attach the hand strap here. Strap Lug M4 mounting points for optional accessories. Mounting Points WCU-4 with mounting plate (K2.0006501)

  • Page 22: Control Panel

    Power Button Press the power button momentarily to switch the WCU-4 on. To switch the WCU-4 off, press the button for three seconds and a countdown is displayed. If the button is released before the countdown has elapsed, the WCU-4 does not shut down.

  • Page 23: Menu Navigation

    Control Panel Soft Buttons Six soft buttons are located above and below the display. They change their behavior depending on the screen content, indicating the function related to each button. Buttons without a label have no function in that screen. Menu Navigation To access a new menu level, press the SELECT soft button or press the USER button.

  • Page 24: Home Screen

    WCU-4 Home screen if connected to the respective motor controller or camera. The distance readout is displayed as green numbers in the center of the WCU-4 screen. Note: Fast focus racks can result in an offset between the...

  • Page 25: Motor Calibration

    Home Screen 10.1 Motor calibration Press the CAL soft button for three seconds to calibrate all motors attached to the motor controller. NOTICE Note: A lens motor must be recalibrated under the following conditions: When a lens motor is detached from the lens After changing lenses After a change in motor position while powered down NOTICE...

  • Page 26: Camera Remote

    Home Screen 10.2 Camera remote The CAM screen displays detailed camera information, if available from the connected camera. The optional ALEXA Remote License (See "Firmware", page 58) offers extended camera setup functionality, including: Frame Rate Shutter Angle Exposure Index White Balance ND Filter * Monitor Output Configuration User Button Access *...
  • Page 27 Home Screen SETUP Press the SETUP soft button on the CAM screen to enter the CAMERA SETUP menu. Use the UP and DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick to select an option from the list. Press the SELECT soft button or the USER button to enter the corresponding sub-menu.
  • Page 28 Home Screen USER Press the USER soft button on the CAM screen to enter the USER BUTTONS screen. The USER BUTTONS screens containing the camera User buttons 1 to 3 and 4 to 6. To toggle between the two screens press the soft button NEXT. Press the respective USER soft button to activate or deactivate the corresponding function on the camera.
  • Page 29 Home Screen MONOUT: Press the MONOUT soft button on the CAM screen to enter the MONI- TOROUT screen. The MONITOR OUT screen allows changing moni- tor output settings.Use the UP and DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick to select a monitor output option from the list.

  • Page 30: Focus Setup

    Home Screen 10.3 FOCUS setup Press the FOCUS soft button to enter the WCU-4 Focus screen. Pressing the MARKER/MOTOR soft button toggles the lower three soft buttons between MOTOR mode (LIMIT, K-LIM, OFFSET) and MARKER mode (MARK, RESET, REMOVE). Focus control screens with Motor mode (left) and Marker mode...
  • Page 31 A colored line will appear on the lens data display focus scale. Up to eight color-coded focus marks can be set. The WCU-4 will vibrate when passing a mark with the focus knob, if vibration is activated.

  • Page 32: Iris Setup

    10.4 IRIS setup Press the IRIS soft button to enter the WCU-4 IRIS menu. It allows the setting of iris motor limits as well as locking of the iris slider. LIMIT The LIMIT soft button lets you set motor limits. To set a motor limit,...
  • Page 33 Home Screen LOCK Press the LOCK soft button to lock the iris slider. A blue padlock symbol will appear next to the LOCK soft button and next to the IRIS soft button on the Home screen. Press the LOCK soft button again to unlock the iris slider.

  • Page 34: Zoom Setup

    Home Screen 10.5 ZOOM setup Press the ZOOM soft button to enter the Zoom menu. It allows the setting of zoom motor limits and zoom control speed, as well as locking of the zoom stick. LIMIT The LIMIT soft button lets you set motor limits. To set a motor limit, proceed as follows: Drive the motor to the first limit position.
  • Page 35 Home Screen LOCK Press the LOCK soft button to lock the zoom stick. A blue padlock symbol will appear next to the LOCK soft button and the ZOOM soft button on the Home screen. Press the LOCK soft button again to unlock the zoom stick.

  • Page 36: Menu

    Menu 11 Menu Press the MENU soft button to enter the WCU-4 main menu. The main menu contains all parameters for the basic WCU-4 and motor setup.

  • Page 37: Radio Channel

    SET soft but- ton. Pressing the SET soft button will automatically return to the Home screen. Select the same channel on the WCU-4 and the corresponding motor controller. See "Region settings", page 62 for further radio settings.

  • Page 38: Control Setup

    Menu 11.2 Control Setup The Control Setup screen provides an overview of the current WCU-4 control configuration. Control Setup and Knob Setup screens KNOB Enter the Knob Setup screen by pressing the KNOB soft button. Use the UP and DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick to select Control and press the CHANGE soft button to assign the knob control to the focus or iris motor or to switch the knob control off.
  • Page 39 Menu Use the UP and DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick to select BlankScreen and press the CHANGE soft button to activate the blank screen mode for the iris scale on the Home screen. Use a water-based felt marker for manual iris marks on the white area next to the iris slider on the Home screen.
  • Page 40 Menu STICK Enter the STICK SETUP screen by pressing the STICK soft button. Use the UP and DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick to select Control and press the CHANGE soft button to assign the zoom stick to control the zoom motor or to switch the zoom stick off.

  • Page 41: Motor Setup

    Menu 11.3 Motor Setup The MOTOR SETUP menu allows the torque and direction of the focus, iris and zoom motors to be set. Motor and torque setup screens TORQUE The torque of all motors (except CLM-2) can be adapted to prevent sensitive lenses from mechanical overload.
  • Page 42 Menu NOTICE Ensure that the motor torque level matches the lens to avoid lens damage. Stiff, hard-to-move lenses require a higher torque level. For highspeed applications and large lenses, the torque may be set to higher values. For small, less ruggedly designed lenses, the torque should be set to lower values.

  • Page 43: Pre-Marked Focus Ring

    Menu 11.4 Pre-marked Focus Ring The WCU-4 offers lens mapping to pre-marked focus rings (See "Part numbers", page 66 for available focus pre-marked rings). Enter the Pre-marked Focus Ring menu to select one of five different premarked focus rings, corresponding to the physical ring you are using on the WCU-4.

  • Page 44: Lens Data

    The ARRI Lens Data System (LDS) allows display and capture of lens data information provided by cameras or motor controllers. The WCU-4 displays the same lens data on its integrated lens data display. See "Compatibility", page 68 for devices which supports LDS.
  • Page 45 Establish a wireless or wired connection between WCU-4 and the motor controller. Set the correct motor direction and torque. Insert the SD card into the SD card slot of the WCU-4. Go to MENU > LENS DATA > LENS PROGRAMMING > CREATE LENS FILE.
  • Page 46 Menu Select the lens brand. Use the UP and DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick to select the lens brand from the list. Select Custom to enter a custom lens brand (see the following paragraph about how to enter custom names). Press the OK soft button or the USER but- ton to confirm the selection.
  • Page 47 Menu Enter the lens serial number. Use the zoom stick to scroll though the numbers. Press the USER button to select a num- ber. Press the DELETE soft button to delete the last number. Press the OK soft button to set the serial number.
  • Page 48 Menu Use the focus knob to drive the lens focus scale to its infinity mark. Press the OK soft button or the USER but- ton to set the infinity data point. Use the focus knob to drive the lens focus scale to the close focus mark.
  • Page 49 Menu Select the lens axis to be programmed next. Press the IRIS soft button to program the iris scale. Skip this step if you do not want to pro- gram the iris scale. Use the iris slider to drive the lens iris scale to its open iris mark.
  • Page 50 Menu After entering all iris points, press the OK soft button to return to the Select Axis screen. If necessary, the programming could be finished before reaching the limit by press- ing the FINISH softbutton. Select the lens axis to be programmed next.
  • Page 51 SD card (folder /AR- RI/ALEXA/LDA). Make sure to have an SD card in the WCU-4! Note: You can use the FOCUS, IRIS or ZOOM soft buttons to edit/check an ex- isting scale or to reprogram an existing lens scale.
  • Page 52 LDA. Editing a Lens File Existing lens files can be edited with the WCU-4 hand unit and then stored back on the SD card. Load the lens file to edit onto an SD card in the (folder /ARRI/ ALEXA/LDA) and insert the SD card into the SD card slot of the WCU-4.
  • Page 53 Focus edit screen Offset Function Use the OFFSET soft button to correct a fixed offset between the complete lens scale and the corresponding scale on the WCU-4 screen: Select a reference witness mark on the WCU-4 display (e.g. infinity).

  • Page 54: Circle Of Confusion

    WCU-4 screen to the currently set lens position: Drive the lens scale to a witness mark. Press the SNAP soft button. The nearest available data point on the WCU-4 screen will jump to the currently set position. Press the RESET soft button to reset all editing actions.

  • Page 55: User Buttons

    USER button pressed will set the zoom speed to 100%. Knob Marker Select Knob Marker for setting digital focus marks on the WCU-4 lens data display. Pressing the USER button momentarily will add a new focus mark to the lens data display.

  • Page 56: Backlight

    Menu 11.7 Backlight The WCU-4 display, buttons and focus knob illumination can be dimmed according to operational needs. The Backlight menu lets you select a fixed or an automatic backlight mode. Press the MODE soft button to toggle between the two.

  • Page 57: User Settings

    User Settings User Settings A user setting is a profile of WCU-4 settings. It can be saved to the SD card and be transferred to a different WCU-4. Up to six user settings can be stored on or recalled from an SD card.

  • Page 58: Firmware

    Copy the Software Update Package to the folder / ARRI/WCU4/Firmware on an SD card (FAT16 or FAT32 formatted). Insert the SD card into the SD card slot of the WCU-4. Turn the WCU-4 on. Go to MENU > FIRMWARE > SELECT UPDATE FILE Use the UP and DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick to scroll through the list of update files the SD card.
  • Page 59 Before purchasing a license key, please save the WCU-4’s hardware info file for upload during the purchasing process: Switch the WCU-4 on. Insert the SD card into the SD card slot of the WCU-4. Go to MENU > FIRMWARE > LICENSED FEATURES.
  • Page 60 Download the license key file and copy it to the SD card, to the folder /ARRI/WCU4/Licenses. Insert the SD card into the SD card slot of the WCU-4. Go to MENU > FIRMWARE > LICENSED FEATURES. Press the INSTALL soft button and select a license file from the INSTALL LICENSE screen using the UP/DOWN soft buttons or the zoom stick.

  • Page 61: System Info

    Press the DELETE soft button again, then confirm your selection by pressing both DELETE soft buttons simultaneously. Once purchased, a license key can be re-installed again to the corresponding WCU-4 at any time. 11.10 System Info The System Info screen shows the firmware version and WCU-4 serial...

  • Page 62: Region Settings

    NOTICE If the master device (camera or motor controller) is also equipped with a radio module which is able to set regions, the master will override the region settings of the WCU-4 with it's settings.

  • Page 63: Appendix

    Appendix 12 Appendix 12.1 Screen Icons Iris motor connected, but not available for the WCU-4, e.g. control through another remote unit. Equivalent for zoom motor and focus mo- tor. No iris motor connected. Equivalent for zoom motor and focus motor.
  • Page 64 Appendix Radio connection disabled. WCU-4 is hardwired with motor controller or camera. Low battery. Pre-marked focus ring active, but no lens data available from motor controller.

  • Page 65: Screen Messages

    Equivalent for zoom and focus motor. Warning! Second motor The WCU-4 is connected to one controller detected! Select motor controller and has detected another channel! a second motor controller on the same radio channel.

  • Page 66: Part Numbers

    12.3 Part numbers Wireless Compact Unit WCU-4 K2.72103.0 Wireless Compact Unit WCU-4 K2.72117.0 White Focus Ring for WCU-4 or SXU-1 (includ- ed in K2.72103.0) K2.0002067 Hand Strap for WCU-4 (included in K2.72103.0) K2.0002069 Lanyard for WCU-4 (included in K2.72103.0) Pre-marked focus rings K2.0001651...
  • Page 67 Cable ALEXA mini to LCS K2.0007318 Cable LBUS to LCS 0,8m/2.5ft Miscellaneous K2.0006501 WCU-4 Plate K2.0008271 WCU-4 Monitor Mount K2.72146.0 Carrying case for WCU-4 and ac- cessories 10.0000268 ALEXA Remote License for WCU-4 (available from ARRI li- cense shop: http://alshop.arri.de)

  • Page 68: Compatibility

    Cameras • ALEXA Mini – Direct compatible with WCU-4 wireless and wired (Cable ALEXA mini to LCS needed - K2.0007624). – Camera control - ALEXA Remote license needed (See "Miscellaneous", page 67). Following control functions are provided: Frame Rate, Shutter Angle, Exposure Index, White Balance, ND Filter, Monitor Output Configu- ration, User Button Access.
  • Page 69 Appendix • AMIRA • ALEXA Classic • ALEXA XT – Camera control with the UMC-4. ALEXA Remote license needed (See "Miscellaneous", page 67). Following control functions are provided: Frame Rate, Shutter Angle, Exposure Index, White Balance, ND Filter (Amira only), Monitor Output Configuration, User Button Access. Motor controllers UMC-4 Universal Motor Controller...

  • Page 70: Pinouts

    ENG Motor Controller – Wireless and wired control. – Control ENG-Type lenses – Lens data is transmitted to the WCU-4 NOTICE For questions about hardware, which is not listed above, please contact our customer support service@arri.at. 12.5 Pinouts LCS connector...

  • Page 71: Dimensions And Weight

    Appendix 12.6 Dimensions and weight Weight (without straps and battery): 730g / 25.8oz.

  • Page 72: Radio System

    -4 to +122 °F 12.7 Radio system The WCU-4 contains a radio unit that enables wireless lens control and lens data communication with a white coded radio module. A white ring at the base of the antenna socket identifies it. There are 8...

  • Page 73: Service Mode

    WCU-4 units. All WCU-4 units above serial number 6262 are delivered with the extended knob calibration from the factory and usually do not need a re-calibration.
  • Page 74 Attach the WCU-4 Knob Calibration Ring K2.0000848. Press TEST to check if the engravings on the Knob Calibration Ring align with the corresponding values on the WCU-4 screen. If they do not align, press the K-LIN soft button to start the knob linearizing procedure.
  • Page 75 Press the UNDO soft button if you missed the correct alignment position and repeat the last step. Press the READY soft button at the end of the procedure to return to the SERVICE MODE screen. The new calibration becomes effective after rebooting the WCU-4. Knob Setup screens...
  • Page 76 Press the READY soft button at the end of the procedure to return to the SERVICE MODE screen. The new calibration becomes effec- tive after rebooting the WCU-4. Note: Be aware of a possible parallax error between the slider pointer and the displayed alignment bar.

  • Page 77: Service Contacts

    Appendix 12.9 Service contacts Munich, Germany Vienna, Austria Arnold & Richter Cine Technik ARRI Cine + Video Geräte +49 89 3809 2121 Ges.m.b.H. service@arri.de +43 1 8920107 30 Business hours: service@arri.at Mo. - Fr. 9:00 - 17:00 (CET) Business hours: Mo.

  • Page 78: International Declarations

    Appendix 12.10 International declarations EC Declaration of Conformity The product WCU-4 conforms to the specifications of the following European directives: Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic...
  • Page 79 It may not be legal to operate Wireless Compact Unit WCU-4 in a country/region other than the country/region selected in the WCU-4 region menu. Switch radio off and use the device in hardwired mode if you are not sure of the correct region setting.

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