ISSUE 2 01/06/06
Software V1.20
The XTBA DMX BACKFADE is designed to provide a multi universe lighting control back up system or show playback. Backfade is designed to be in line to the main console and can take-over a show in the event of a main desk failure.
Backfade will seamlessly cross fade from the existing lighting state and then act as the main control. If the main control becomes available again Backfade can be taken off line and will seamlessly cross fade back to the main console e.g. do a Backfade.
Lighting cues are recorded via the DMX inputs and stored with manually entered fade times. Backfade can also track the show in progress allowing for a quick switch over in the event of a main console problem.
Backfade uses an encoder pot with a push switch and a simple three button interface to access all the features via the 20 character, 2 line VFD screen.
The VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) provides greater clarity and greater viewing distance than a
conventional LCD.
The standard 1U case can control up to four universes of DMX. Backfade is a modular system so the 1U case can have between 1 to 4 universes fitted.
Additional universes can be added using the slave port and slave units. Backfade can also be supplied with a remote control that mimics the front panel and provides remote control via a five wire interface up to 1000m away from the main unit.
Backfade can also be supplied with and input card that allows simple push button panels to be made which interface to the main unit giving simple control to call memories from any or multiple locations.
Installation
The incoming DMX lines are terminated and the output is a retransmitted copy of the input. Backfade simply monitors the incoming DMX, it does not reprocess the data or modify it. When playing back the data inputs are ignored and control passes to the unit. In the event of power failure the unit will pass data through unaltered via the relay input override.
Operation
On power up Backfade will look for additional universe cards, the remote control and input card. Following the copyright message any remote or input cards found will be displayed and if tracking is enabled or disabled.
Certain menu options will not be offered if the remote control or input cards are not found.
This keeps the menu structure as simple as possible if the peripherals are not fitted. Following this the Backfade will enter the PLAYBACK menu.
User controls
To the right of the screen the four input buttons control what the screen will do.
From left to right :
YES By pushing the encoder knob activates the menu commands
GO Initiates a fade or completes a fade
RECORD Records incoming DMX to a memory
ESCAPE Escape back to the main menu
Data Leds
The data led(s) on the left of the unit will be lit if valid DMX is found on the input of the relevant universe.
Menu
From the PLAYBACK screen turning the encoder left or right will loop through the functions menu. Pressing the encoder YES will enter that menu.
Main Function Key Loop
PLAYBACK ?TRACK DMX 1 INPUT ? RECORD MEMORY ? DELETE MEMORY ?SET UP OPTIONS ?
PLAYBACK
In this mode pressing the YES key switches the unit to the PLAYBACK screen. The upper line displays as follows on first entry:
OUT=DMX IN NEXT = 1?
FADE TIME = 1 sec
The left of upper top line shows what is being sent. As no memories have been played back this displays DMX IN as DMX is still being passed through the unit.
Once a memory has been played back the ‘DMX IN’ will change to display what memory is being transmitted. The right of the upper line shows the next memory to be played back.
The lower line displays the fade time associated with that memory. On the far right of the display is a star ?. Pressing the YES key will toggle the star between the memory line and the time line.
With the star on the memory line the encoder can be used to alter the memory number up or down. As the memory number changes the memory time will change. The memory line will only show memories that have been recorded and will jump to the next or last available memory as the encoder is turned up or down.
Pressing the YES button will put the star on the time line. The encoder can now alter the time of the fade. If you wish to keep this new time press RECORD and the new time will be stored.
If not the changed time will be for this fade only and the recorded time will remain the same. During this time the incoming data is still being passed through the unit.
Pressing the GO key will crossfade the incoming data with the Backfade’s memory in the fade time selected. The incoming DMX is turned off but the data leds will still be lit if valid data is being received. The display will change to display the fade’s progress.
At the end of the fade the memory number will increment to the next available memory. So if we started with memory 1 the screen should look as follows:
OUT= MEM 1 NEXT = 2?
FADE TIME = 1 sec
Backfade Page 3
During the fade pressing the GO button again will override the fade time and finish the fade in two seconds. Pressing the YES button will hold the fade until the GO button is pressed or the ESCAPE button is pressed which will backfade the unit so the main console will have now control.
Backfade
During playback to escape back to the main menu screen press the ESCAPE key. If a fade has run the unit will then have control of the DMX line. Pressing
ESCAPE key will ‘backfade’ the unit in 2 seconds e.g. the incoming main console DMX will cross fade with units DMX and at the end of the fade give control back to the main console.
This allows seamless switch over between the main console and the Backfade unit when entering a fade or when giving control back to the main console.
If there is no data being received on input 1 Backfade will warn you are about to fade to a blackout. Pressing ESCAPE will fade to blackout, pressing YES will return to the playback screen.
Backfade only monitors input 1 so there might be valid data on any other universes fitted.
TRACK DMX 1 INPUT
Pressing YES when TRACK DMX 1 INPUT is displayed will enter the tracking screen. Backfade can track incoming DMX only on input 1. It compares its memory with the incoming DMX and if it finds a match will display the memory number and fade time. During a fade the input levels are changing so no comparison can be made until the end of the fade.
The upper line shows the memory being tracked the lower line shows the fade time for that memory. If multiple memories are found( e.g. more than one memory is identical to the incoming DMX) the display will cycle through the available memories.
If the unit can not identify a memory it will hold at the last memory it recognised. If data is lost on input 1 the screen will alternate between the number of the last memory tracked and ‘NO DMX TO TRACK ON INPUT 1’.
Pressing the GO button from the tracking screen will crossfade between the incoming DMX and the memory displayed. At the end of the fade the unit will return to the PLAYBACK screen as the unit now has control over the DMX rather than the main console. Backfade will now operate as in normal playback.
Pressing ESCAPE when in the tracking screen changes the display to the PLAYBACK screen allowing any memory to be played back. Pressing ESCAPE again will take you back to the main menu.
Note on Tracking
Backfade will only track on input one. So for tracking to work correctly each memory should be different from any other in universe one. The difference need only be 1 bit (or 1% desk level) in any of the 512 channels. So in shows with a number of identical looks a channel needs to be set differently in each look even if it is only by 1%.
RECORD
With RECORD MEMORY on the main menu screen pressing YES will enter the record memory screen and the record button led will light. As with playback the upper line displays the memory number to record to. The lower line displays the fade time associated with that memory.
On the far right of the display is a star ?.
Pressing the YES key will toggle the star between the record memory line and the time line.
With the star on the memory line the encoder can be used to alter the memory number up or down. As the memory number changes any memory that has been already been recorded will have ‘ovr’ next to the memory number. This warns you that you are about to over write a previously recorded memory.
Pressing the YES button will put the star on the time line. The encoder can now alter the time of the fade.
Pressing the RECORD button will display a screen prompt for you to confirm the recording of the memory and the record button led will flash. Pressing the RECORD button again will store the incoming data to the memory number indicated and the memory number will increment. In this way memories can be quickly recorded. Pressing the ESCAPE button will return to the main function loop.
In the event of no data being received on input 1 Backfade will warn you before you can record a memory as this will give a blank memory with a fade time.
DELETE MEMORY
With DELETE MEMORY on the main menu screen pressing YES will enter the delete memory screen and the record button led will be lit. The memory to be deleted can be altered by using the encoder up or down. Pressing the record button will prompt a second push to delete and the red record led will flash.
Pressing record again will delete the memory. The screen will then return to the DELETE MEMORY screen. Pressing YES will then allow further memories to be deleted.
Turning the encoder will then scroll through the menu options.
Pressing ESCAPE when in DELETE MEMORIES will return to the playback screen in the event you changed your mind.
Set Up Options
Pressing YES when SET UP OPTIONS is displayed in the main menu loop will enter the options menu. The number of options will depend on any additional cards found on power up.
Set up Options Loop
TIMEOUT SCREEN ON/OFF ? CHECK DMX1 ? CLEAR MEMORY ? INPUT CARD ENABLE / DISABLE ? ESCAPE TO MAIN MENU ?
Clear Memory
Pressing the yes key when CLEAR MEMORY is displayed will enter the Clear memory menu and prompt ‘Are You Sure?’. Pressing the YES key again will enter the next screen which will ask for a PIN code.
The PIN code is set for 215. (512 backwards) Setting the code via the encoder to 215 and then pressing the YES key will clear the memory. Wrong numbers will put the unit back to the PLAYBACK screen.
Load Default Memories
Following Clear Memory the unit can be loaded with a default memory by pressing the YES key. The default sets channel 1 @ full in memory 1, 2 @ 2 etc. The default time can also be set using the encoder.
This can be useful in testing or commissioning the system. In multi universe systems channel 1 on card two will be set to full etc.
Input card Enable / Disable – if available. See Input card section
TIMEOUT SCREEN
Enabling the timeout screen in the options menu will clear the VFD screen 5 minutes after the unit was last used. The screen will then display a dot in each corner to show the system is still on line.
Pressing any button will turn the screen back on but will not alter any functions until the next button press or encoder use. If the remote is fitted the remote screen will copy the main screen and timeout at the same time.
CHECK DMX1
In Check DMX 1 the display will show DMX timings and values of the data on input 1. The top line of the display shows what is being measured the figure below is the value, as follows:
BRK DMX Break Time in micro seconds (us)
MAB Mark after break time in micro seconds (us)
SCD Start code in decimal
DIM Number of channels received
SYS This will display OK all of the above are within the limits of DMX. If Backfade receives data that is outside the DMX512 specification the display will change to ERR and the green data led will flash quickly.
When the SYS parameter shows ERR by pressing the YES key ERR will be displayed below the parameter with the error.
ESCAPE TO MAIN MENU
To escape from the SET UP options turn the encoder until ESCAPE TO MAIN MENU appears. Pressing the encoder YES knob will then store any changes in the set up to memory and return to the PLAYBACK screen.
Screen Brightness
The brightness of the VFD display can be altered to 1 of 4 levels. This is not a menu option but is entered during power up. Once the unit is powered up pressing and holding the ESCAPE key during the copyright message will enter the screen brightness menu.
With the ESCAPE button still held down pressing the RECORD button will cycle through the four levels of brightness. Releasing the ESCAPE button will set and store the screen brightness.
Input Card
Backfade can be supplied with an Input card that allows memories to be faded from remote positions via simple cable connections. In addition the buttons can have a led fitted to show the memory in use driven from the same button control line.
The Input card can have up to eight buttons that (via the button patch) can fade the unit to any of the eight memories selected. Button nine is the backfade button that will return the DMX control back to the main console.
On power up Backfade will detect the Input card if available and switch directly into the playback screen, tracking is also automatically disabled.
The inputs are only available when the playback screen is in operation and the Input card is enabled.
So if the unit is set from the front panel to another screen the Input card is ignored.
When the Input card is detected an additional function is added into the SET UP menu.
Input Card Enable/Disable
Pressing the YES button will toggle the Input card on or off. This on/off state is stored in memory and is retained when power is turned off. Pressing the
ENTER button will take you to:
PLAYBACK MENU DISPLAY
In the PLAYBACK enter display if an Input card is detected and is enabled the second line will show ‘ INPUT CARD ONLINE’. Pressing the YES key will enter playback and allow the input card to take control.
Fades can be controlled from either the main unit or the Input card or the Remote.
The Input card is only active when a fade is not running.
During a fade the Input card is ignored. So pressing another button or the backfade button on the Input card will have no effect during a fade as the command is ignored.
POWER SUPPLY
The mains input to the transformer is via a 2A a/s fuse. A spare fuse is provided in the input connector block. The Backfade is fitted with switch mode PSU which will auto select100 - 135VAC or 210 -250VAC
19” RACK MOUNTING
The XTBA Backfade is provided with a pair of ‘ears’ for fitting into a 19” rack frame. The ears are fitted to the unit by removing the two screws on either side at the front of the unit. The stick on rubber feet (used when the unit is free standing) will need to be removed from the underside of the unit.
Technical Specifications 19” Rack.
Memories 99 memories. Full 512 channels
Memories Store Non Volatile Flash EEPROM
Dimensions 265/290mm inc. front handles x 40mm
Weight 4.5 Kg
Power 110 to 250V – auto switch Nominal 1A@ 230V AC
Receive Data DMX512 1986/1990
Transmit Data DMX1990 – 100us BRK,12us MAB, 44 updates p/sec
Pin Configuration Pin 1 Common, Pin 2 minus data, Pin 3 plus data.
Pins 4 and 5 are not looped through.
General Information
This product may only be used for controlling dimmers and moving lights. It must not be used in DMX512 applications for stage machinery or pyrotechnics.
Using the product out of these specifications will remove all responsibility from the supplier.
CE Declaration of conformity
XTBA declares that the following equipment meets the requirements of the EMC Directive 89/366/EEC.
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