System

• 2000 Logical Channels, with every channel able to hold an intelligent fixture
• 512 – 5120 PhysicalDMX Dimmers (Purchased in 512 dimmer blocks)
• Channel Dimmer state always saved. Even in a power outage your LightFactory software will return to its last lighting state
• Each feature is an independent window that allows you to arrange your LightFactory system how you like it. Spread different windows over multiple monitors and the software will remember this setting for next time.
• Supports industry standard USB and Ethernet DMX interfaces.
  • Soundlight USB to DMX
  • Sunlite USB to DMX
  • Enttec Open USB DMX
  • Enttec DMX over Ethernet
  • ArtNet DMX over Ethernet
  • ArtNet Dongle II

Input

• Attach a standard DMX based lighting desk to add up to 1000 sub-masters (10 pages of up to 100 sub-masters per page)
• Access channels, groups, cues, effects, and macros quickly and easily through shortcuts. (10 pages of 46 shortcuts) Implemented onscreen or through the LightFactory shortcut keyboard.
• Scroll-wheel-dimming feature makes for smooth dimmer control
• Access command interface from anywhere on the network through a standard Telnet session
• PC Audio trigger
• MIDI Note trigger
• Winamp, SMPTE and MIDI Timecodes

Command Interface

• Access channels and intelligent fixture properties from a simple command interface.
• The last 100 commands can be viewed in a history window.
• Use the up and down arrows on your keyboard (or shortcut keyboard) to access previously executed commands

Intelligent Fixtures

• Full 16 bit control.
• Easy to customize fixture library.
• Ability to assign a picture to every fixture for easy recognition.
• Actual colors can be assigned to DMX values for quick access
• Actual images of gobo's can be assigned to DMX values for quick access
• All features have access to real DMX values and helper values
• Option to automatically apply “shutter open” when the dimmer is on

Patching control

• Drag and drop interface
• Patch multiple fixtures in one drag drop operation
• The last patch that was applied remains highlighted so you can see what dimmers the previous fixture uses
• View an image of the fixture for easy recognition
• Ability to modify the characteristic curve for every channel. Catmull-Rom Spline curve ensures smooth dimming even with the most complex characteristic.
• Assign two description fields to every fixture

Channel Access

• View more than 450 Channels on a standard 1200 x 1024 display.
• View only the properties related to that channel when an intelligent fixture is assigned.
• Click and drag channel selection
• Undo, Invert, select active, select inactive, select all, unselect all options
• Channel on, off, solo and dbo buttons
• Inclusive and Exclusive selection modes
• Access groups of channels quickly by assigning a shortcut key.
• Intelligent fixture control visible only when an intelligent fixture is selected.
• Ability to dock the intelligent fixture control to the channel window or leave it floating free.
• Quick access to creating new channel groups, cues, fixture property shortcuts and effects.
• Switch between compact or detailed view of the channels

Channel Groups

• Unlimited* number of channel groups.
• Groups can be labels for easy recognition
• Any / All channels can be assigned to a group
• A fade time for each group can be assigned
• Available group modes include – Build, Override, Exclusive, Highest Takes Precedence, and Lowest Takes Precedence.
• Groups can be assigned to any of the 1000 sub-masters
• Groups can be assigned to a shortcut key for quick access
• Select all, Unselect all, Select inactive, and Select active options.
• Group channels can apply to any fixture properties. E.g. A group may control only the dimmer, pan control, or both.
• Sort group view by name, submaster, or shortcut number

Macros

• Unlimited* macros can be created to run simple commands through the system
• Shortcuts can be assigned to a macro for running the macro anywhere within the software.
• Additional commands are available in macros to help build useful tools. E.g. Sleep(1000) will cause the macro engine to wait for 1 second before executing the next command.
• C++ style comments can be added anywhere within a macro

Dimmer View

• Debug any operation by viewing the output dimmers directly.
• View more than 1000 dimmers on a standard 1200 x 1024 display

Shows / Cues

• Unlimited* show groups can be created to split up a show into manageable units.
• Each show group supports up to 9999999999 cues.
  (Cues 0.000 through to 9999999.999)
• Each cue can contain an unlimited* number of channels
• Each cue can contain an unlimited* number of effects
• Intelligent fixture control ensures only required properties are applied. E.g. If the gobo property is not used in the current or previous cue then it will not be reset.
• Cues can wait for user interaction or continue automatically.
  Completely flexible run order allows cues to be rearranged into any order
• Each cue can have its own delayed start, fade in, dwell, fade out, and effects delay start.
• Each channel within a cue can be assigned a delayed start and override fade time
• Each effect within a cue can be assigned a delayed start, override length and whether the effect will loop until the cue ends.
• "Pre-fetch" function can be used to automatically setup intelligent fixtures.

Show Runners Interface

• Access up to 150 (10 pages of 15) show groups through a simple interface.
• Each show runner can be assigned a show group and starting cue number
• Each show runner has a bold description (editable) to make identification easy.
• Each show runner has a progress bar and time indicator to show position through the cue. Also displayed is the current cue number and next cue number.
• Each show runner includes – Go, Stop, Back, and Reset.
• Individual shortcuts can be assigned to Go, Stop, Back, and Reset for each runner.
• Each show runner can be assigned a go sub-master. Go sub-masters override the fade time of a cue and use the sub-master position as the transition point between cues.
• Each show runner can be assigned a fade sub-master. Fade sub-masters override the dimmer level of all channels in the cue. Fade sub-masters do not affect intelligent fixture properties

Palettes

• Ability to set a shortcut key to quickly apply fixture properties/attributes. E.g. Setup you favorite CMY colors or Gobo's for quick access.
• Option to apply properties to a fixed list of channels / fixtures or to the selected channels

Effects Engine

• Unlimited* number of effects can be created and used within the system
• Effects can be grouped to make management easier.
• Add any number of fixtures to the effect.
• Multiple effects systems
  • Effects are built using a unique sequence type editor that gives the user a simple graphical view of time vs fixture.
  • Chases can be created using a simple interface.
  • Property / Attribute effect
• Effects can be tested within the editor to ensure timing is as expected
• Intelligent fixtures will automatically work out when they are free to prepare for the next time the dimmer is on. During a dark period of the effect the fixture will automatically setup properties such as pan, tilt, and color for the next segment.
• Right click on the effects builder to delete a segment, copy, cut, past segment(s).
• Change the length of the effect with the option to rescale.
• Use the auto-effect option to create simple chase sequences.
• The advanced path editor can be used to create moving light sequences. (Catmull-Rom Spline curve creates the perfect curve between points with adjustable elasticity)
• Each fixture can have its start offset for even more control. Use the auto offset button to create linear, exponential, saw, and sinious effects.

Effect Runner Interface

• An unlimited* number of effect runners can be created in the system (not much point in creating more runners than you have effects)
• A compact interface allows the user to maximize the number of effects that can be controlled from one view.
• Each runner shows a description, the effect name, how long the effect runs, and what shortcuts are assigned.
• Each effect runner provides back, play, and pause control.
• When an effect is running a timer indicates progress
• Each effect runner can be assigned a shortcut. When an effect is not running the shortcut will play the effect. Pressing the shortcut again will pause and pressing it twice within 1 second will cause the effect to return to its start position. (back)
• A sub-master can be assigned to an effect runner to control the overall dimmer intensity.
• An exclusive group can be assigned to make sure only one effect is running within that group.
• Assigning exclusive group 0 will allow the effect to run independently of all other runners.
• Effect length can be adjusted and rescaled per runner.

Task Scheduler

• Schedule lighting events in real time for operator free playback
• Simple wizard helps to build tasks
• Run events one off, every few minutes, hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly

Storage

• All show information stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database.
• Built in backup and restore of the SQL database.
• Access all show information via MS Excel, MS Access, or any reporting package such as Crystal Reports through ODBC
• The current show is always being saved to an internal show.
• The current show can be named and saved to the database