Hardware Configuration

Introduction

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To output your sequence data to your light controllers, there are specific components that must be defined in HLS output settings:

• Physical Hardware Settings
  • This is where you setup COM ports or Ethernet/Wireless connections to get the sequence information "out" to your controllers.
• Universe Assignment
  • HLS then has to know where the sequence data for a universe of channels should go (either a COM port or network connection previously setup).
• Output Protocol
  • Finally, HLS has to know what "language" (output protocol) your controller speaks (Renard, DMX, sACN(DMX over Ethernet), or straight RS485)

Physical Hardware Settings

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Setting Up Com Ports

The first thing you will need to do is determine what port numbers are assigned to your com device(s). For Windows, you can follow this guide.

Figure 9-3

• After determining port numbers, click Output -> Setup COM Ports in the HLS main menu (see Figure 9-3).
• To add a new COM port, click Add.

Figure 9-4

• In the window that opens, enter the appropriate COM number, then click OK (see Figure 9-4).
• Note: Other settings are correct by default and most likely need not be adjusted.

Figure 9-5

• Once your port(s) have been added, they will appear in the COM Port Manager (see Figure9-5).
• If you need to modify or remove a port, select it and click the appropriate button.
• Once done adding and modifying COM ports, click OK.

Setting up a Network

• Network card determination: Plug cable, remove cable.

Figure 9-6

• To setup the use of a network card, click Output -> Select Specific NIC Card (see Figure 9-6).
• Select the appropriate IP address for the network card you wish to use.
  • Note:' This can be a physical connection or a wireless connection.
• If you check Just Use Default, HLS will send out network data on whichever network connection you have set to default and active at that time.
• Once you have selected your network connection, click OK.

Universe Assignment

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Once the physical hardware connections have been defined, HLS needs to know where to send each universe of channel data.

Figure 9-7

• Click Output -> select Output Method and Compile for Show.
• Each of your created universes will appear. (See Figure 9-7.)
• Three things must be configured for each Universe:
  • Transport: What port to use for output (COM or Ethernet).
  • Protocol: What "language" to speak to the controllers (Renard, DMX, sACN DMX).
  • Active: Checking this box makes the universe Active for output.

Transport

Figure 9-8

• Click the Transport column to choose the method of output.
• These were previously setup in the Physical Hardware Settings.
• Select your type of transport for the universe selected, then click OK.

Protocol

Figure 9-9

• Choose the protocol you wish to use (see Figure 9-9).
  • For COM ports, you can choose Renard, DMX, or Renard_USB.
  • For Ethernet ports, you can choose E1.31 or RS485.

Active

Figure 9-10

• Once you have assigned the protocol and transport, Status will be green or read 1 if everything is setup properly (see Figure 9-10).
• Check active to make that universe active for output.
• When finished assigning universes to outputs, click OK.

Output Sequence

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Figure 9-11

• In manage Universes, verify the Active checkbox is checked.
• In the main sequence window, click Output Sequence next to the save button (see figure).
• Click Play to run the sequence and output lights to the controller(s).

Hardware Tests

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Testing hardware.

HLS User Manual and Reference Guide
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Preparing Channels for Output	Chapter 9: Sequence Output	Working with Playlists