Theatrelight Nova 24 Operation Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Theatrelight Manuals
  4. Lighting Equipment
  5. Nova 24
  6. Operation manual

Theatrelight Nova 24 Operation Manual

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Nova 24 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for Theatrelight Nova 24

  • Page 2 NOVA QUICK OPERATION Start with both the Fade and Speed Masters UP. The Record LED must be ON (Green) to record Scenes, Chases, and Shows. TWO PRESET AUTO-FADE OPERATION Both CHANNELS and PARK Masters should be moved up and down together. Start with both Masters DOWN: Preset the next Scene on the Channel faders, and preset the fade time on the Fade Master.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..............1 FLASHING SCENES ...........21 FEATURES ..............3 RECORDING A SCENE BLIND........21 FRONT PANEL LAYOUT ..........5 SCENE FADE PLAYBACK..........23 BACK PANEL LAYOUT ...........9 TIMED CROSS-FADING..........23 DESK SET-UP..............9 HOLDING A FADE............23 TWO PRESET MANUAL OPERATION......11 SNAP FADES..............23 TWO PRESET MODE ..........11 CHANGING PAGES ............23 PRESETTING A SCENE ..........
  • Page 4 BASS SPEED SLOW ..........36 REMOTE CUE FORWARD ..........44 BASS SPEED FAST............ 37 REMOTE CUE REVERSE ...........44 BASS AUTO SLOW............. 37 SHOW RESTART............45 BASS AUTO FAST............37 REMOTE INPUT SPECIFICATIONS ......45 SHOW RECORDING AND PLAYBACK......39 PREVIEW MODES............47 RECORDING AND ASSIGNING A SHOW ....39 READING CHANNEL LEVELS........47 SHOW PLAYBACK .............

  • Page 6: Introduction

    INTRODUCTION The Theatrelight Nova is a general purpose memory assisted lighting control desk available in two models, the Nova 24, and the Nova 36. Both models have been designed for simple operation but with more sophisticated functions than a manual preset desk, and make the Nova a perfect introduction for students of lighting design and operation.
  • Page 7 2 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 8: Features

    NOVA OPERATION 3 FEATURES The Scenemasters in the Nova can record Scenes or Chases. Scenemasters marked "Shows" can record Scenes or Shows. 24 Channel model memory capacity: 80 total Scenes (10 pages of 8 Scenemasters) 60 total Chases each of 60 steps for a total of 3600 Chase steps (10 pages of 6 Chase masters) 20 total Shows each of 60 cues for a total of 600 cue states (10 pages of 2 Show masters) Total cue states is 4800 (10 pages of 8 Scenemasters each of 60 Chase steps or Show cues) 36 Channel model memory capacity:...
  • Page 9 4 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 10: Front Panel Layout

    NOVA OPERATION 5 FRONT PANEL LAYOUT INSTRUCTION SUMMARY lists commands for most Nova functions on the front panel as a convenient memory aid for the operator. CHANNEL FADERS allow setting of lighting levels for manual playback or recording. CHANNEL FLASH KEYS give an instant flash of the channel to Full, or flash the channel off if it is at full. The flash keys are also used with the Edit Up and Down keys to edit recorded levels, to mimic levels, and for entry of Record and Erase codes.
  • Page 11 6 NOVA OPERATION...
  • Page 12 NOVA OPERATION 7 SPEED MASTER controls the speed at which cues of a Chase are stepped, from Stop, and 1 per 60 seconds through to 1200 beats per minute. The Step LED mimics the step rate, as well as indicating chase direction Forward (Green) and Reverse (Red).
  • Page 13 8 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 14: Back Panel Layout

    NOVA OPERATION 9 BACK PANEL LAYOUT POWER SUPPLY socket is wired and labelled for either 120 or 240 volts AC, 50/60 Hertz supplies depending on model and country. POWER SWITCH AND FUSE may be fitted depending on model. REMOTE STEP socket enables Show cue step control from a push-button, or from external Audio-Visual, Midi, or SMPTE decoders.
  • Page 15 10 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 16: Two Preset Manual Operation

    NOVA OPERATION 11 TWO PRESET MANUAL OPERATION TWO PRESET MODE You can emulate the operation of a two preset manual panel by using the Park key and the Park Master fader. Pressing Park records the current output levels into an electronic memory or "preset". Playback from this preset is controlled by the Park Master. You will see that the Park Master scale is upside down: Full is at the bottom, Off is at the top of the scale.
  • Page 17 12 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 18: Timed Cross-Fading

    NOVA OPERATION 13 TIMED CROSS-FADING You can use the Fade Master to time the cross-fade as follows: With both Channels and Park Masters down, preset the next scene, and set a suitable fade time, say 5 seconds, on the Fade Master. On cue, move both Channels and the Park Masters UP quickly together for a dipless cross-fade to the new lighting.
  • Page 19 14 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 20: Blackout

    NOVA OPERATION 15 BLACKOUT Pressing the DBO key gives an instant dead blackout on stage.The blackout is held as long as the key is held down, and the original lighting restored instantly when the key is released. If you want to remain in a blackout, you can set the Channels Mastser (and Park Master) off before releasing the DBO key: With some Channel faders live on stage, hold down [DBO]: the lighting will go immediately to black.

  • Page 21: Memory Operation

    16 NOVA OPERATION MEMORY OPERATION RECORDING METHOD Each time the Record Key is pressed, the channel levels of the current output of the desk are stored in spare memory. The output may come from any combination of the Channel Faders, the Park preset, or a mix of pre-recorded Scenes or Cues. Record can be pressed at any, even during a fade to obtain a snap-shot recording.

  • Page 22: Scenemaster Flash Keys

    NOVA OPERATION 17 SHOW A Show is a number of cues recorded under a Scenemaster marked as a Show. Each cue step lists all Channel levels. Show playback fade time is set by the Fade Master. A Show can be single stepped forward through its cues with the Cue Go key, and stepped backward using the Cue Go and Park keys.
  • Page 23 18 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 24: Record And Erase Enable

    NOVA OPERATION 19 RECORD AND ERASE ENABLE Before you can record scenes the Record Enable LED must be set on using a key code. The Record and Erase codes will be found on a removable sticker on the back of the desk when you first take delivery. RECORD ENABLE To allow any change to the permanent memory, the LED above the Record key must be on.
  • Page 25 20 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 26: Scene Recording And Playback

    NOVA OPERATION 21 SCENE RECORDING AND PLAYBACK Scene levels may be recorded into any Scenemaster, even those marked "Shows": RECORDING AND ASSIGNING A SCENE You should always make sure the Record LED is GREEN before recording any new levels: if it is Red or flashing Red, the Record Buffer needs to be cleared: >...
  • Page 27 22 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 28: Scene Fade Playback

    NOVA OPERATION 23 SCENE FADE PLAYBACK For applications requiring accurate fade times, the desk allows fade times from 0.5 second to 30 minutes duration. To use timed fade playback, you must first record and assign Scenes as described previously. TIMED CROSS-FADING You can play back Scenes with a timed cross-fade as follows: Set a suitable fade time, say 5 seconds, on the Fade Master.
  • Page 29 24 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 30: Scene Editing

    NOVA OPERATION 25 SCENE EDITING You can edit the playback levels of any Scene using the Edit Up and Down keys. Editing must be done with the scene live on stage, with Record enabled. Editing Scene channel levels immediately changes the level in memory. EDITING SCENE LEVELS The Edit Up and Down keys fade channel levels at a default 5 second rate to prevent obvious errors on stage.
  • Page 31 26 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 32: Deleting A Scene

    NOVA OPERATION 27 DELETING A SCENE You can delete any Scene as follows: > Hold [RECORD] and then press the Flash key of the Scene to be deleted. Wait for a long Mimic flash, then press it again before releasing [RECORD]. The long Mimic flash after the first press of the Scenemaster Flash key is a warning that the master holds a previously recorded Scene.
  • Page 33 28 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 34: Chase Recording And Playback

    NOVA OPERATION 29 CHASE RECORDING AND PLAYBACK RECORDING AND ASSIGNING A CHASE You can record a Chase under any Scenemaster (other than those marked "Shows" in a similar fashion to a Scene. Every time you press the Record key, the current output of the desk is recorded in spare memory. Chases are recorded by pressing the Record key after each set-up, and then assigning the recording to a master for playback.
  • Page 35 30 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 36: Chase Up And Down Fade Times

    NOVA OPERATION 31 CHASE UP AND DOWN FADE TIMES Chase Up and Down fade times are modified by the Fade Master as well as the Speed Master. The times change depending on whether the Fade Master is within the limits Snap, Comet, or Fade Chase marked on the right side of the Fade Master scale. SNAP Chase Up and Down fade times are both instant (up=0, dn=0).
  • Page 37 32 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 38: Over-Writing A Chase

    NOVA OPERATION 33 OVER-WRITING A CHASE You can over-write any previously recorded Chase as follows: Set up a new Scene or step of a Chase using the Channel faders. Press [RECORD] to record the levels. Hold [RECORD], and press the Flash key of the old Chase. Wait for a long Mimic flash, then press it again. The long Mimic flash after the first press is a warning that the Scenemaster holds a recorded Scene or Chase.
  • Page 39 34 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 40: Bass Chase Playback

    NOVA OPERATION 35 BASS CHASE PLAYBACK The Nova is fitted with an internal microphone (and an external audio input) with a filter sensitive to bass music frequencies. Signals derived from the bass filter are used in Bass Chase mode in a number of ways to change the playback mode of Chases. Depending on the setting of the Speed Master and the Bass mode LED, a bass beat can step a Chase, stop a Chase, burst a Chase, or modulate the speed or intensity of a Chase.

  • Page 41: Bass Step Slow

    36 NOVA OPERATION BASS STEP SLOW If the Bass mode LED is On (Bass Slow), each bass beat of the music steps the Chase to the next step. The Up and Down fade time of each step can be changed by moving the Speed Master within the range of 10 seconds up to 114 BPM (a fade time of nearly half a second).

  • Page 42: Bass Speed Fast

    NOVA OPERATION 37 BASS SPEED FAST If the Bass mode LED is Flashing (Bass Fast), each bass beat of the music speeds up the Chase within the range 2 secs per step up to 1200 BPM. Depending on the setting of the Fade Master, the Up and Down fade time of each step is changed automatically to match the speed of the Chase.
  • Page 43 38 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 44: Show Recording And Playback

    NOVA OPERATION 39 SHOW RECORDING AND PLAYBACK The Show cue facility of the Nova gives you the ability to run a complex show—a number of cue states can be recorded into a Scenemaster, and played back on cue by setting a fade time and pushing the Cue Go button. At the same time, other special effects can be added by fading or flashing pre-recorded Scenes or Chases, or by fading or flashing channels on the Channel preset.
  • Page 45 40 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 46: Flashing Show Cues

    NOVA OPERATION 41 FLASHING SHOW CUES Pressing the Flash key of a Show during an automatic fade instantly flashes the cue: levels over 5% over-ride other levels. CONTINUOUS SHOW CUE PLAYBACK You can cross-fade through hundreds of cues by splitting the lighting for an entire performance into segments over a number of Show masters on all the pages.
  • Page 47 42 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 48: Show Editing

    NOVA OPERATION 43 SHOW EDITING You can edit the playback levels of any cue of a Show while it live on stage using the Edit Up and Down keys: EDITING CUE LEVELS Level editing of a cue must be done with only one Show master up, and all other masters down. The Cue Go and Cue Back commands are used to find the cue.

  • Page 49: Remote Show Playback

    44 NOVA OPERATION REMOTE SHOW PLAYBACK You can operate a Show by stepping it through the cues from a remote location. Control is provided for Forward Cue, Reverse, and Home—reset to Cue 1. The Forward, Reverse and Home commands require a simple three wire connection to two low current make-to-earth contacts, which can be a pair of manual push buttons or other source such as a musician's foot-switch, or electronic control from a daylight sensor, Audio Visual decoder box, SMPTE time decoder, Midi decoder, computers, or a tone decoder from a taped sound-track.

  • Page 50: Show Restart

    NOVA OPERATION 45 SHOW RESTART If you hold the Forward push-button down for a period exceeding 2 seconds, the Show will reset to Cue 1. Since the Scenemaster cycles back from the last cue to the first cue there will be a smooth restart to the Cue 1 state. REMOTE INPUT SPECIFICATIONS The remote control input requires a stereo phone jack with the following connections: Forward connection...
  • Page 51 46 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 52: Preview Modes

    NOVA OPERATION 47 PREVIEW MODES You can view the contents of any Scenemaster or the Park Master on the Channel Mimic LEDs. Previewed levels are not visible on stage. READING CHANNEL LEVELS You can read channel levels on the first 10 Mimic LEDs of the top preset by pressing both the Up and Down keys together: >...
  • Page 53 48 NOVA OPERATION...

  • Page 54: Memory Card Operations

    C = Card not found; P = write Protect on; F = File/volume ID error; E = Errors during card initialisation/read/write. § Nova 24 and 36 volumes may be saved on the same card. Saved volumes can only be restored to the same size Nova. §...

  • Page 55: Maintenance

    The wetted parts should then be rinsed in clean warm water, air blasted, and dried thoroughly in hot air before reassembly. Contact Theatrelight or your agent if necessary. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________...

  • Page 56: Specifications

    DMX DECODERS DMX-512 to optically isolated, analogue output receivers can be supplied by Theatrelight to drive any make of dimmer requiring plus or minus 10, 12, or 15 volts, with or without diode offset. Each receiver may be programmed with a channel offset. Up to ten of these 64 channel receivers can be used in larger installations.
  • Page 57 52 NOVA OPERATION EXTERNAL CONNECTIONS POWER Internal power supply switchable to 120 or 220/240 VAC 50/60 Hz, 5 watts, via IEC 630 male socket, DIMMER OUTPUT EIA-485 250 K Baud to DMX-512 1990 standard via 5 pin Cannon XLR female socket. REMOTE STEP Two channel short to earth via 6.25 mm Stereo jack socket.

  • Page 58: Glossary

    NOVA OPERATION 53 GLOSSARY ADD MODE Mode in which pressing a channel Flash key adds the channel to the other lighting. ASSIGN Allocate a recording to a Scenemaster. BLACKOUT All lights out on stage. BLIND Not showing on stage. Blackout; all lights out on stage. Beats per minute: applied to music rhythms.
  • Page 59 54 NOVA OPERATION LEVEL The brightness of a channel or dimmer as a number from 0 (off), to 10 (full on), or from 0% to 100%. MASTER A fader which has overall control of a number of levels or some other major function. MIMIC DISPLAY A display often using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) representing the channels on in a scene.

  • Page 60: Index

    NOVA OPERATION 55 INDEX Add mode............... 15 Comet fade..........5, 7, 31, 35, 36 Audio input ..............9, 35 Copying scenes .............. 25 Bass mode LED ............7, 35 Copying shows ............... 43 Bass modes ............7, 35, 36 Cross-Fader Presets............5 Blackout ..............
  • Page 61 56 NOVA OPERATION Fade LED ............5, 13, 23, 39 Overwriting shows............41 Fade master ........ 31, 33, 35, 36, 39, 43, 44 Overwrititng chases............33 Fade Master ..............5 LEDs ................7 Flashing chases............17, 31 Page key........... 7, 23, 25, 29, 47 Flashing scenes............
  • Page 62 NOVA OPERATION 57 Scene Flash Keys............. 5 Deleting cues .............. 43 Scenemasters ..............17 Editing ................ 43 Cross-fading..............13 Editing cue levels ............43 Scenes Flashing..............41 Copying ..............25 Over-riding fade times ..........39 Cross-fading ............... 23 Overwriting..............41 Deleting ..............
  • Page 63 58 NOVA OPERATION...

This manual is also suitable for:

Nova 36

Table of Contents

Save PDF