HLS User Manual and Reference Guide

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This User Manual and Reference Guide is a detailed guide to using all aspects of HLS. It is currently under significant development.


To quickly get up and running with a sequence, you may want to look at the HLS Getting Started Manual.


Due to the rapid development of HLS, the links that follow will contain, in parenthesis, information that can help the user with a quick visual inspection:

  • ##X: The page is up to date as of the listed version.
  • CN: Content Needed to complete the page and it currently contains very little information.



Getting HLS


Download and Installation

Upgrading HLS

Moving HLS Data Directories


Creating a Sequence


An HLS Sequence consists of an audio file (generally) with lighting and other effects synchronized with the music.

HLS Sequence Creation Wizard (16J)

Time Resolution (16J)


Channel Management


Managing channels in HLS is one of the core tasks to building a sequence. Each of the sub-pages will address various channel configurations and tasks.

Setting up HLS Channels (16F)

Advanced Channel Management (16J)

RGB Channels (16J)

Configuring Display Groups (16J)

Sticky Channels (16J)

Segment Channels (16J)


Display Preview


A Display Preview is a method of previewing how a display will look by assigning virtual channels to drawn objects superimposed over a picture.

Creating a Display Preview (16J)


Sequencing Channels and Adding Effects


Sequencing is the main "work" of syncronizing effects with the music. HLS has basic effects which can be combined into more complex compound effects. The sub-pages in this section discuss the various methods of adding effects to sequences.

Creating Basic Effects (16J)

Adding and Using Beat Tracks (16J)

Setting Defaults for Effects (16J)

Creating Chase Effects (16J)

Mirroring Effects (16J)

Fill Effects (16J)

Submaster Lighting Channels (16J)

Sequencing with RGB Channels (16J)

Custom Effects (16J)

Creating a Library of Group Effects (16J)


Creating and Using PixelPlanes


A PixelPlane is a single channel in the sequence editor that represents multiple pixels. This allows macro control of pixels, with the ability to "drop" effects onto a plane, such as with Nutcracker, and manipulate the entire effect as if it were one channel.

Creating a PixelPlane (16J)

The PixelPlane Editor: Creating Effects (16J)

Using Nutcracker with a PixelPlane (16J)

Fill Channels (16J)

PixelPlane Transitions Using Lighting Channels (16J)

Drawing a PixelPlane in the Display Preview (16J)


Facial Animation


Facial Animation (CN)


Sequence Playback


Sequence Playback (16J)


Sequence Output


Preparing Channels for Output (13F)

Hardware Configuration (13F)

Working with Playlists (13F)

Creating and Running a Schedule (13F)


Advanced Features


Trigger Events (CN)

RDS Output (CN)

Servo Motors (CN)

Remote-Controlled Video Player (CN)

Using Audacity Labels (16J)


Importing and Exporting Data and Sequences


Using HLS Sequence Images (16J)

Importing and Exporting CSV (16J)

Importing a Sequence from Vixen (16J)

Importing a Sequence from LOR (16J)

Sharing HLS Sequences (16J)

Sharing Library Effects (16J)

Copying and Pasting Channels from Another Sequence (16J)


Reference Guide


Restoring a Sequence from Backup (16J)

HLS Dimming Curves (16J)

Crosshair Cursor (16J)

The HLS Toolbar (16J)

Master Lighting Channel (16J)