ETC Emphasis Lighting Control System Quick Manual
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ETC Emphasis Lighting Control System Quick Manual

ETC Emphasis Lighting Control System Quick Manual

Lighting control system
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emphasis™
Lighting Control System

Quick Guide

Version 1.4.0
C o p y r i g h t © E le c tr o n i c T h e a t r e C o n t r o l s , I n c .
A l l R i g h t s r e s e r v e d .
P r o d u c t in f o r m a t i on a n d s p e c i f i c a t i o n s s u bj e c t t o c h a n g e .
P a r t N u m b e r : 4200M1300-1.4.0 R e v A
R e l e a s e d : S e p te m b e r 2 0 0 3

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  • Page 1: Quick Guide

    emphasis™ Lighting Control System Quick Guide Version 1.4.0 C o p y r i g h t © E le c tr o n i c T h e a t r e C o n t r o l s , I n c . A l l R i g h t s r e s e r v e d .
  • Page 2 ® ® ET C , E m p h a s i s ™ , E x p r e s s io n , In s i g h t ™ , I m a g i n e ™ , F o c u s ™ , E x p r e s s ™ , U n i s o n ®...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Hooking Up the Hardware ..... . .9 Connecting a Printer ......10 Software Installation .
  • Page 4 C h a p t e r 3 EDMX ........33 Where do I patch my channels? .

  • Page 5: Introduction

    Introduction This quick guide covers the basic installation and operation of the Emphasis Control System. Specifically, this guide contains basic information about creating a show in Emphasis, including a step-by-step tutorial covering all the basic functions of Emphasis. The introduction contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 6: Using This Quick Guide

    Using this Quick Guide This quick guide is intended for use in conjunction with the Emphasis Visualization and Emphasis Console User Manuals. This guide assumes that you have a basic familiarity with the Microsoft Windows system, opening and closing files, closing and resizing windows, using Windows Explorer, and performing basic disk operations.

  • Page 7: Help From Etc Technical Services

    Help from ETC Technical Services If you are having difficulties, your most convenient resources are the references given in the manual and the Help system. To search more widely, try the ETC website at www.etcconnect.com. If none of these resources is sufficient, contact ETC Technical Services directly at one of the offices identified below.
  • Page 8 This page intentionally blank. Emphasis Control System Quick Guide...

  • Page 9: System Overview

    C h a p t e r 1 System Overview Emphasis integrates the functionality of WYSIWYG with the Expression-style control consoles to give you a powerful, but user-friendly, control system offering both a graphical, point-and-click environment and a tactile button-and-wheel interface. Emphasis ensures consistency and accuracy with total integration of data across all modes.

  • Page 10: Emphasis Options

    Emphasi s Opti ons Emphasis systems are created by choosing the server type, maximum channel count and Facepanel type. Emphasis is offered as an upgrade to an existing Express or Expression- style console (see below for compatible Facepanel types), or as a complete package. Server Types •...

  • Page 11: System Components

    System Components Emphasis Server The Emphasis Server is a Dell the Emphasis Visualization and Emphasis Console applications. The Server is provided pre-configured and should not require any software installations for its initial use. This section contains information on specific differences between your Server and a regular PC.

  • Page 12: Emphasis Visualization

    procedure for exporting your show to v3.1 format is described in the Emphasis Visualization User Manual. The procedure for returning your Facepanel to v3.1 operation is described in the Emphasis Console User Manual. Emphasis Visualization Emphasis Visualization is the software application that provides the graphic interface to the Emphasis Control System.

  • Page 13: Installation Guidelines

    Facepanel. Step 7: Connect the Dell keyboard and mouse that came with the Server to the appropriate connectors on the Server. These connections are colour coded. You may also have a second keyboard connected to the Facepanel, if desired, for labeling items on the console, such as cues, groups and submasters.

  • Page 14: Connecting A Printer

    Connecting a printer to your Emphasis Server follows the same setup rules as any Windows computer. If your printer requires a software installation, you will need to logon as the System Manager. If you have problems connecting a printer to your Emphasis Control...

  • Page 15: Software Installation

    Software Installation Your Emphasis Server will arrive with all software fully installed. If you have purchased a complete Emphasis Control System, including an Emphasis Server and a Facepanel, the Facepanel Software should also be loaded and ready to use. If you have purchased Emphasis as an upgrade to an existing Express or Expression-style console, you will need to upgrade the software in your console.
  • Page 16 To install software: Step 1: Power up the Emphasis Server. Step 2: When the Dell screen appears, press F12. Step 3: Insert Emphasis Software CD #1 into the CD drive on the Emphasis Server. Step 4: Press “4” to select Boot from IDE CD ROM and press ENTER.

  • Page 17: Registration

    Registration When you first start your Emphasis Control System, you will be prompted to register the system. Registration will enable ETC to track your system for support purposes, and will enroll your system in the software subscription included with your Emphasis Control System, providing you with software upgrades for the duration of the subscription.
  • Page 18 Step 2: If you cannot find the form, you can print a new copy from the Emphasis Server. Ensure you have a printer connected to your Emphasis Server. See a Printer, page a: Power up the Emphasis Server. If the system is unregistered, the Registration dialog should open.

  • Page 19: Upgrades

    Upgrades To upgrade your Emphasis Control System, contact the ETC dealer who provided your Emphasis Control System to purchase the upgrade. When purchased, you will receive an Upgrade Code that will unlock the new features you have purchased. You can upgrade from a lower channel count to a higher channel count, and/or from 2D to 3D operation.

  • Page 20: System Procedures

    System Procedures Power-up Procedure For best performance, power-up your system in the following order: Step 1: Turn on the hub(s) and/or switch(es). Step 2: Turn on the Server and monitor(s). Wait for the Emphasis application to start up completely before proceeding to the next step. N o t e : In a network with multiple Emphasis Control Systems online, allow one Emphasis Server to fully startup before starting the other Emphasis Servers.

  • Page 21: Login As A Different User

    Login as a Different User There are a number of different user accounts contained in the Emphasis system. When the system is turned on, it will open using the Emphasis User settings. To gain access to the other user accounts, exit Emphasis. N o t e : When you load new system software onto your Emphasis Server, you will see an advisory indicating that the library indices are being rebuilt the first time each user type...

  • Page 22: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting The Emphasis Facepanel type defaults to the Expression 3. This affects the video output of your Facepanel and the virtual facepanel in Emphasis Visualization. If you have an Insight or Express console as your Emphasis Facepanel, or if you swap Facepanels from an Expression-style to an Insight or Express, you will need to change the settings to reflect this in the Emphasis Visualization, Emphasis mode Setup menu.

  • Page 23: How Do I Find The Software Version

    performance speed of your system. The wallpaper is set to “None” as a default. • Additional software applications (games, internet browsers, word processors, etc.). It is not advisable to load additional applications onto your Emphasis Server. Conflicts may occur between applications that could severely impact your system’s performance. The Emphasis Server should not be connected to the Internet.
  • Page 24 Step 3: Click the General tab. You will find the Windows version information as well as the Emphasis system version. The Support Info button also displays the version number, as well as the phone numbers for ETC Americas, ETC Europe and ETC Asia.

  • Page 25: Emphasis User Interface

    C h a p t e r 2 Emphasis User Interface The Emphasis user interface includes the displays, toolbars, menus and commands available on the Emphasis Server, and the displays and commands available from the Emphasis Facepanel. These are used together to create and playback your show file. This chapter contains the following sections: •...

  • Page 26: Overview Of The Console User Interface

    Overview of the Console User Interface Emphasis Console drives the Facepanel and the console displays within EMPHASIS mode in Emphasis Visualization. Stage vs. Blind The Stage display shows you the current levels of all active channels.The Blind display looks almost exactly the same as Stage, but is used to view and edit cues, groups, submasters, subroutines and effects without affecting the look on stage.

  • Page 27: Select Channels And Set Levels

    C h a n g i n g d i s p l a y p a g e s If you are using more channels than can be displayed on a single display, you can use softkeys [S4-Previous Page] and [S5-Next Page] to view more channels. You can also use the arrow keys to change pages: left-arrow [ ] jumps to the first page of channels, up- arrow [ ] displays the previous page, down-arrow [ ] displays the next page and right- arrow [ ] jumps to the last page of channels.
  • Page 28 • In Emphasis Visualization, you can click on a fixture symbol to select its channel. See the Emphasis Visualization User Manual for more information on selecting fixtures using the mouse. Select dimmers: • Press <Dim> [x] to select a single dimmer for dimmer check, or in Patch or Park displays.
  • Page 29 Set levels using [Full]: Step 1: Select channels using the procedure described in and Fixtures, page Step 2: Press [Full] to set the channel(s) to 100%. Set levels using the level wheel (Expression/Insight only): Step 1: Select channels using the procedure described in and Fixtures, page Step 2: Roll the level wheel away from you to raise the level, or toward you to lower the...

  • Page 30: Captured Channels And The [Release] Command

    C a p t u r e d c h a n n e l s a n d t h e [ R e l e a s e ] c o m m a n d When you set channels to levels and then move on to select other channels, the channels you have just set are displayed in red and become captured.
  • Page 31 Fixture channels Fixture Box Encoder assignment Control fixtures using the encoders (Expression/Insight 3 or 2x with MLM): Step 1: Press [S8 - Fixture] [x], where [x] is the fixture number you want to select. Use [And], [Thru] and [Except] to select multiple fixtures. The fixture box will be displayed.

  • Page 32: Record Cues And Submasters

    Record Cues and Submasters Emphasis provides two basic recording functions – [Record] and [Track]. The [Record] function saves all channels at their Stage levels in the cue, group or submaster you specify. When you use [Record] for cues, only the cue you specify is affected. [Track], on the other hand, can make changes across a series of cues (see the Emphasis Console User Manual for more information on [Track]).

  • Page 33: Cue Playback

    C u e P l a y b a c k Playing back cues is as simple as pressing the [Go] key on a fader pair. With each [Go] press, the selected cue (or next cue) will play back in that fader pair. If you have cues recorded and you have just turned on your system or loaded a new show, the cue with the lowest cue number automatically becomes the next cue, and you are ready to play back your show.

  • Page 34: Overview Of The Emphasis Visualization User Interface

    Overview of the Emphasis Visualization User Interface Emphasis Visualization provides a graphic user-interface designed to facilitate smooth transitions from mode to mode, and to keep the data organized and easy to find. Mode and Layout Tabs The mode buttons are used to access the different modes available within Emphasis Visualization.
  • Page 35 Access menu commands using the keyboard: Step 1: Press ALT+n, where n is the underlined letter in the menu name. The menu will drop down. Step 2: Press the key corresponding to the underlined letter in the command you want to execute.

  • Page 36: Shortcuts

    N o t e : You can also right-click on a toolbar to see the toolbar list. A check mark to the left of a toolbar name indicates it is currently visible. Click the toolbar’s name to change its visibility. Shortcuts Shortcuts are available on the left-hand side of the screen.

  • Page 37: Patch

    Patch To control dimmers and other DMX controlled devices using your Emphasis Control System, you will need to create a patch. Emphasis uses control channels to record data in cues and submasters. Control channels must have dimmers assigned to them, so that the dimmers (or other DMX controlled devices) know which channel to listen to for level information.

  • Page 38: Patch Conventional Lights In Emphasis Console

    Show Requirements My show only contains conventional lights. I do not want to draw anything or create any paperwork. My show contains only conventional lights, but I want to create my channel schedule and instrument schedule in Emphasis. My show contains only conventional lights, but I want to create my plot and paperwork in Emphasis.

  • Page 39: Patch In Data Mode

    Unpatch dimmers in Emphasis Console: Step 1: On your Emphasis Facepanel or from the virtual facepanel in Emphasis Visualization, press [Patch] to access the Patch display. Step 2: Press <Dim> [x] [Enter], where [x] is the dimmer number, to select the dimmer. You can use [And], [Thru] and [Except] to select ranges of dimmers.

  • Page 40: Insert Fixtures

    I n s e r t F i x t u r e s You can insert fixtures directly into the Spreadsheet using the Library. Insert fixtures one at a time: Step 1: In the Library menu, click Browse Library. Step 2: Navigate to the fixture you want to insert.

  • Page 41: Enter And Edit Data

    E n t e r a n d E di t D a t a Entering data into the Spreadsheet is as simple as selecting the cell or cells you want to edit and typing in a new value. For data that is generated by the fixture library, you may be asked to select a value from a list.

  • Page 42: Saving Your Work

    Saving Your Work It is important to save your work often during your work session. Emphasis has an Auto Save function that will help to keep your data safe, however it is always a good idea to get in the habit of saving your show document to the hard drive and to an external disk periodically during your work session.
  • Page 43 Save destination Show file name Step 2: Insert a 3.5” floppy disk into the drive on the Server. Step 3: Set the floppy drive as the save destination. Step 4: Type the file name into the File name box. Step 5: Click Save.
  • Page 44 Step 5: Insert new CD-R and click Format CD. Step 6: Type a label for your CD and click Start Format. When the format is complete, you can access the CD just like any other disk on your Server. Step 7: Click Emphasis on the Windows Task Bar to maximize Emphasis Visualization.
  • Page 45 Eject a CD-R: Step 1: Minimize the Emphasis application and right-click on Start menu on task bar and click Explore. Alternatively, you can press any time. Step 2: Right-click on the CD-R’s volume name and click Eject. The Eject CD dialog opens.
  • Page 46 Emphasis Control System Quick Guide...

  • Page 47: Quick Start

    C h a p t e r 3 Quick Start This chapter provides a guide for new Emphasis users with WYSIWYG experience, and a tutorial for new Emphasis users with little or no WYSIWYG experience. N o t e : This chapter takes you quickly through many of the basic functions of your Emphasis Control System.

  • Page 48: Emphasis For Experienced Wysiwyg/Expression Users

    Emphasi s for Experi enced WYSIWYG/Expression Users Emphasis Visualization is based upon the levels of WYSIWYG software. If you have used these applications, you will find the user interface very familiar. Emphasis Visualization replaces the DESIGN and LIVE modes of WYSIWYG Design and WYSIWYG Perform with the new EMPHASIS mode.

  • Page 49: Basic Show Creation For New Emphasis Users

    Basic Show Creation for New Emphasi s Users This tutorial will take you through many of the basic steps in creating a show file: • Create a CAD drawing for a small show • View and modify your data in DATA mode •...
  • Page 50 Step 2: Click the CAD mode button at the top of the Emphasis Visualization screen. Step 3: Click Wireframe layout tab at bottom of work area. Step 4: Open toolbars. Toolbars give you quick access to commands at the click of a mouse.
  • Page 51 Step 5: Insert a Venue. The Venue is a representation of your theatre space. Emphasis provides you with three basic venue shapes: Black Box, Arena and Proscenium Arch. All of these venues can be customized. a. In the Draw menu, click Venue, then Black Box.
  • Page 52 In the File menu, click Save Show. Step 7: Draw a Cyc by extruding a line. a. In the Draw menu, click Line, then click Solid. b. Place the first end of the line at -20’-0”, 14’-0” by moving the mouse to that point (watch the coordinates display in the status bar).
  • Page 53 b. Press TAB and change missing coordinate to -6’-0”. c. Click the XZ Ortho button toolbar to constrain the surface to vertical and horizontal sides. d. In the Draw menu, click Surface. e. Place the mouse at -21’-0”, -6’-0”, 18’-0” and click to place the first corner of the surface.
  • Page 54 d. Right-click the 8’ Ladder and click Property. This allows you to view the object before you place it in your drawing. e. Click Insert. Drag the ladder to the upstage-right corner and click to place it. g. Click the “+” next to Outdoors. h.
  • Page 55 e. Drag the dimmer pack to the riser and click to place it. Change to a side or front view to see how everything is placed. Step 13: Place a human figure in the drawing. Emphasis contains a library of hundreds of human figures in various poses. a.
  • Page 56 k. Repeat for as many elements as you Step 16: Place focus positions in your drawing. Focus positions are useful for focusing fixtures at a specific place in your plot. A focus position defines a point in space at which fixtures are pointed.
  • Page 57 c. Set the pipe length to 50’-0”. The height for the pipe is set in the Draw Pipe dialog. We’ll use the default height of 20’-0”. d. Click the Position Manager button [...] to the right of the position name list. e.
  • Page 58 c. In the Library Browser, click the Truss icon. Unlike pipe, d. Find the following type of truss in the library: e. Double-click on the truss name. A piece of truss will g. Right-click and click Finish Placing Truss. h. Right-click on the truss and click k.
  • Page 59 g. Right-click each shortcut and click Properties. Rename each shortcut to be more descriptive of their lens settings. Step 20: Set an interval for placing fixtures on pipes. There is a feature that constrains placement of fixtures on pipes to a specific hang interval. This feature is called Pipe Snap.
  • Page 60 d. Drag your cursor over pipes in e. Click on the pipes and truss to g. Repeat for all Source 4 fixtures you want to place. Step 22: Place fixtures on your pipes from the Library. You can place fixtures directly from the Library Browser if you like. For fixtures you use frequently, you may want to create a shortcut.
  • Page 61 Step 24: Patch your fixtures using Quick Tools. Quick Tools is a feature that lets you quickly set fixture properties like patch, colour and gobos. All of the data you set with Quick Tools can also be set or edited in DATA mode. a.

  • Page 62: Create Reports

    c. [Emphasis 3D] Click the Shutter d. In the File menu, click Save Step 26: Edit fixture data in DATA mode. DATA mode provides you a spreadsheet view of all the data associated with fixtures and controllable devices (such as colour scrollers, gobo rotators and other DMX-controlled devices) in your plot.
  • Page 63 Use the shortcuts to view some of the other reports that are provided. You can customize your own reports, if you like. If you have a printer attached to your Emphasis Server, you can print these reports using the Print command in the File menu.
  • Page 64 b. Click on the Quad layout tab. c. Click on the top left window in d. Click on the top right window in e. Click on the bottom left window g. Right-click and click Intensity. You can choose one of the h.
  • Page 65 Play back your cues to verify they look all right. g. In the File menu, click Save Show. Step 31: Emphasis 3D: Create a Rendering. In Emphasis 3D, you can create photo-realistic renderings of your lighting cues. There are many different settings you can play with to find the best look for your own renderings.
  • Page 66 Emphasis Visualization v1.4.0 User Manual...
  • Page 67 This page intentionally blank.
  • Page 68 Americas 3030 Laura Lane, P.O. Box 620979, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562-0979 USA Tel: +608 831 4116 +800 688 4116 Fax: +608 836 1736 +800 555 8912 Europe Unit 5, Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Road, London W3 6UU, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 8896 1000 Fax: +44 (0)20 8896 2000 Asia Room 605-606, Tower III Enterprise Square, 9 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2799 1220 Fax: +852 2799 9325 Web: www.etcconnect.com...

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