Chapter 1: Connecting to a LanBox

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Chapter 1: Connecting to a LanBox Welcome What is LCedit+? System requirements Mac PC Setup and Install The Configure Interface window

I prefer a layout as chapter 8, but do not know how to get rid of the blank lines. Anybody? Well, how about this? Yeh, but now no hard code (check chapter 7 naming) Chapter 1: Connecting to a LanBox Chapter 2: Rigging a stage Chapter 3: Control Your Lights Chapter 4a: Cues and Chases Chapter 5: Performing Shows Chapter 6: Fixture Definitions Chapter 7: Speed Up Handling Chapter 8: UDP networking usage Chapter 9: DMX input and MIDI usage

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Welcome

With the LanBox-LC system you've bought a modern desktop DMX controller that can compete with the best. We hope you will enjoy working with your LanBox.

What is in this manual? This manual is divided into seven chapters. The first part is a brief introduction and how to setup the box for LCedit+. Part 2-5 describes the most common commands of LCedit+. In the last three parts, more advanced operations, including visualizing with Capture, are shown.

Note:
The LCedit+ was primarily designed for the Macintosh platform (including OS X, as picture shows), but we also have a Windows 2000/XP version.

What is LCedit+?

LCedit+ is a computer program for editing the light cues, sequences and shows inside the LanBox. In other words, LCedit+ is just a friendly way to program the LanBox, all the "real" lighting work is done by the box.

The program has several types of windows:

• Stage (that holds the fixtures and light groups),
• Cast (shows all used fixtures and groups in a list),
• Control (for light-, and layer- sequencer control, setting layer and chaser parameters),
• Cuelist editor (for creating & editing of cues, including paths and patterns), and
• Monitor (to monitor various in/out values) .

LCedit+ has several built-in tools also which help you to:

• upload firmware,
• edit global settings of the LanBox (e.g. set name, password)
• manage files (Utilities, Backup and Restore),

• edit the fixture library,
• make patches (DMX channels, curves, slope limits, etc.).

For power users LCedit+ offers a CLI (Command Line Interface), with user definable presets, key sequences, macros etc.

Besides being a light editing program LCedit+ can be used to trigger light scenes and queues during performances. If you need a more specific run time control program (i.e. jingle machine with light queues) , you can use a MIDI sequencer (like Performer or Logic), use a show control program or built your own one with MAX (examples are included) or even trigger it by using external sensors (LCE and LCX only).

System requirements

Mac

Any PPC Macintosh running OS 8.6 or later, 16 bit color screen 800x600, 12 MB free RAM, LocalTalk port (or Ethernet and an iPrint-LT Ethernet to LocalTalk adapter). G3 or better and 1024x768 16 bit color screen recommended. A free serial port or USB to serial adapter (see also Stealth from GeeThree) can be used instead of the network connection as well. For LanBox-LCX you need to have a free USB or Ethernet port. For LanBox-LCE you need a free Ethernet 10-BT port.

PC

Any Pentium PC, Windows 2000/XP, 16 bit color screen 800x600 (1024x768 recommended), a free serial port (or USB to serial adapter).

For LanBox-LCE you must have a free Ethernet 10-BT port.
For LanBox-LCX you need to have a free USB port.

Install "CDS USB modem" driver for Windows (when using LCX)
There are two driver sets in the LCedit/Usbsetup directory; one for Win98SE and one for Win2000/XP. Please copy the appropriate set to a disc in drive A, so Windows can find them. Once you plug-in the USB cable, windows ask you to install software for new hardware: now let windows search drive A

Check our downloadsection for the newest Windows XP and Vista driver. Just place the inf file on your desktop and let Windows find it when being asked for CDSmodem driver.

Setup and Install

Before you can use LCedit+ the LanBox needs to be setup for a certain hardware configuration, for instructions see the LanBox-LC v2 manual for the LC or the LanBox user manual for the LanBox-LCM, LCE and LCX.

Upgrading from a LanBox-LC II to LanBox-LC+ (Classic LanBox)

We understand you are in a hurry, but please read this paragraph, it saves you and us a lot of trouble So, when upgrading the LanBox-LC+ firmware please follow these steps carefully: 1. Back up ALL scenes of your current LanBox-LC II with LCtools, otherwise they will be lost! 2. Remove your LanBox from the Chooser->CDS devices->List,     or disable the extension "CDS Devices"* by using the extension manager and restart your Mac 3. Now upload the LC+ firmware into the box     (This procedure can also be used to revert to the LCII firmware if needed)     a. Choose the "Tools->Upload Firmware..." menu command and in the upload dialogue, click "Update".     b. Choose the "LC+(v3) firmware v1.06.dat" file, the upload procedure is starting.     c. WAIT UNTIL UPLOADING IS *COMPLETELY FINISHED!*     d. After clicking the OK button, your LanBox will reconnect and the "Interface Status"        (Control window, click advanced triangle) should now list e.g. "LanBox-LC+, v1.06

The Configure Interface window

TCP/IP connectionsSerial connectionsAfter starting LCedit+ and opening a New project, this is the first window you will see. The editor needs to know what kind of interface you want to use, in order to communicate with a LanBox. Note: On OS X or Windows, only serial ports or TCP/IP can be used.

Note:
If you want to connect via TCP/IP (LanBox-LCX and LCE only), the default IP is 192.168.1.77 (mask is 255.255.255.0) so your computer should be set to any other IP in the 192.168.1.xx format and range.

Select the medium, port(s) or name, for AppleTalk and TCP/IP you can optionally save your password. Now give it a descriptive name, select the "Connect" checkbox and click "OK". The settings will be stored in your project file, in order to connect instantly when you double click the saved project file.

Hint:
If you wish to try LCedit+ without a LanBox, you can try to use our demo LanBox (if it is not in use) via the Internet. In that case you need to select TCP/IP and use the name demo.lanbox.com, with password 777. (you need to have access to the Internet in order to use our demo box).

After clicking OK, LCedit+ will try to establish a connection with your LanBox. On a network connection it will ask for a password, use 777 as it is the default password of a LanBox. If everything goes well, you will see a green square in the bottom right half of the control window.

• Put the network name of your LanBox in the name field e.g. LanBox 1, so you know which LanBox you are using in this project (even when it changed to e.g. serial).
  
  
• Once the connection is made, and your layout looks like this screenshot aside, save the project (File menu-> Save As..).

Note for LC users:
If you don't see anything in the "Layer control" list, like above, use the Layer menu command "New Layer", and select it in the list just below the "Go" button.

TIP:
Subscribe to the LanBox-Talk e-mail discussion list or browse our LanBox-Talk-Archive.

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-- FokkoVanDuin - 11 May 2007