STAIRVILLE LED Pixel Rail Drive 640 MKII Controller User Manual

STAIRVILLE LED Pixel Rail Drive 640 MKII Controller

General information

This document contains important instructions for the safe operation of the product. Read and follow the safety instructions and all other instructions. Keep the document for future reference. Make sure that it is available to all those using the product. If you sell the product to another user, be sure that they also receive this document.
Our products and documentation are subject to a process of continuous development. They are therefore subject to change. Please refer to the latest version of the documentation, which is ready for download under www.thomann.de.

Symbols and signal words

In this section you will find an overview of the meaning of symbols and signal words that are used in this document.

immediate dangerous situation that will result in death or serious injury if it is not avoided.
NOTICE!| This combination of symbol and signal word indicates a possible dangerous situation that can result in material and environmental damage if it is not avoided.
Warning signs| Type of danger
---|---
| Warning – high-voltage.
| Warning – danger zone.

Safety instructions

Intended use

This device is used to control Pixel Rail Strips (item no.: 449739). Use the device only as described in this user manual. Any other use or use under other operating conditions is considered to be improper and may result in personal injury or property damage. No liability will be assumed for damages resulting from improper use.
This device may be used only by persons with sufficient physical, sensorial, and intellectual abilities and having corresponding knowledge and experience. Other persons may use this device only if they are supervised or instructed by a person who is responsible for their safety.

Safety

DANGER!
Risk of injury and choking hazard for children!
Children can suffocate on packaging material and small parts. Children can injure themselves when handling the device. Never allow children to play with the packaging material and the device. Always store packaging material out of the reach of babies and small children. Always dispose of packaging material properly when it is not in use. Never allow children to use the device without supervision. Keep small parts away from children and make sure that the device does not shed any small parts (such knobs) that children could play with.

DANGER!
Danger to life due to electric current!
Within the device there are areas where high voltages may be present. Never remove any covers. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Do not use the device when covers, safety equipment or optical components are missing or damaged.

DANGER!
Danger to life due to electric current!
A short circuit could lead to a fire hazard and risk of death. Always use proper ready-made insulated triple-core mains cable with a safety plug. Do not modify the mains cable or the plug. In case of isolation damage, disconnect immediately the power supply and arrange repair. If in doubt, seek advice from a qualified electrician.

NOTICE!
Risk of fire due to covered vents and neighboring heat sources!
If the vents of the device are covered or the device is operated in the immediate vicinity of other heat sources, the device can overheat and burst into flames. Never cover the device or the vents. Do not install the device in the immediate vicinity of other heat sources. Never operate the device in the immediate vicinity of naked flames.

NOTICE!
Damage to the device if operated in unsuitable ambient conditions!
The device can be damaged if it is operated in unsuitable ambient conditions. Only operate the device indoors within the ambient conditions specified in the “Technical specifications” chapter of this user manual. Avoid operating it in environments with direct sunlight, heavy dirt and strong vibrations. Avoid operating it in environments with strong temperature fluctuations. If temperature fluctuations cannot be avoided (for example after transport in low outside temperatures), do not switch on the device immediately.
Never subject the device to liquids or moisture. Never move the device to another location while it is in operation. In environments with increased dirt levels (for example due to dust, smoke, nicotine or mist): Have the device cleaned by qualified specialists at regular intervals to prevent damage due to overheating and other malfunctions.

NOTICE!
Damage to the device due to high voltages!
The device can be damaged if it is operated with the incorrect voltage or if high voltage peaks occur. In the worst case, excess voltages can also cause a risk of injury and fires. Make sure that the voltage specification on the device matches the local power grid before plugging in the device. Only operate the device from professionally installed mains sockets that are protected by a residual current circuit breaker (FI). As a precaution, disconnect the device from the power grid when storms are approaching or it the device will not be used for a longer period.

NOTICE!
Risk of fire by exceeding the maximum current
The device can supply power to other devices of identical design and connected in series. If too many devices are connected, the power consumption can exceed the maximum permitted power consumption, which can cause the device to overheat and burst into flames. Only connect devices of identical design to the device. When deciding how many devices you can connect in series, make sure that the maximum permitted power consumption as stated on the device is not exceeded. Also refer to the specifications in the technical specifications for the device. Only use power cords with a cable cross-section designed for the required current intensity when connecting the devices in series.

NOTICE!
Risk of fire due to installation of a wrong fuse!
Using fuses of a different type than compatible with the device may cause a fire and seriously damage the device. Only use fuses of the same type. Observe the labelling on the device casing and the information in the “Technical data” chapter.

NOTICE!
Possible staining due to plasticiser in rubber feet!
The plasticiser contained in the rubber feet of this product may react with the coating of the floor and cause permanent dark stains after some time. If necessary, use a suitable mat or felt slide to prevent direct contact between the device’s rubber feet and the floor.

NOTICE!
Functional impairments due to improper wiring!
Improper wiring can lead to functional impairments. Observe the wiring instructions in the user manual.

NOTICE!
Damage to the device due to use with other, incompatible devices!
Using the device with other incompatible devices may damage the device. Use the device only with Starkville Pixel Rail 40 RGB MKII LED-strip (item no. 449739).

Features

• Controller for up to 16 Starkville LED Pixel Rail 40 RGB MKII type pixel rail strips (maximum four per output) (item number: 449739)
• Control protocols: DMX (10/55 channels), Art Net (4×480 channels), RDM
• Operating modes: Stand-alone (30 Programmes), master/slave, sound control
• Inputs and outputs: DMX, RJ45 (Art Net)
• Operation via buttons and display on the unit
• Lockable connections (Power Twist) for self-supply and to supply further devices
• Convection cooling
• Robust die-cast aluminium housing, black

Installation and starting up

Unpack and check carefully there is no transportation damage before using the unit. Keep the equipment packaging. To fully protect the product against vibration, dust and moisture during transportation or storage use the original packaging or your own packaging material suitable for transport or storage, respectively.

The device has two lateral attachment lugs each with two slots for wall or ceiling mounting (mounting hardware not included).

Make sure that the installation complies with the standards and rules that apply in your country.

Connect the units to be controlled via suitable DMX or RJ45 data cable to the device. A maximum of 30 additional DMX devices may be serially connected to each serial port.

Create all connections while the device is off. Use the shortest possible high-quality cables for all connections. Take care when running the cables to prevent tripping hazards.

Connection examples

The following figures show the connection configuration of the pixel strips in the various operating modes.

Master/slave operation

Control via Art Net

Control via DMX

NOTICE!
Data transfer errors due to improper wiring!
If the DMX connections are wired incorrectly, this can cause errors during the data transfer.
Do not connect the DMX input and output to audio devices, e.g. mixers or amplifiers.
Use special DMX cables for the wiring instead of normal microphone cables.

Notes on wiring

A maximum of four Starkville LED Pixel Rail 40 RGB MKII can be connected per output. The maximum permitted total cable length of 80 m must not be exceeded. Keep cable paths as short as possible to ensure trouble-free operation.

Connections and controls

Front panel

1. [POWER IN] | Lockable input socket (Power Twist) for power supply

2. [POWER OUT] | Lockable output socket (Power Twist IP65) for the power supply of further units

3. Fuse holder

4. [Switch] | Main switch for turning the device on and off

5. Safety cable eyelet

6. [MODE] | Activates the main menu and toggles between menu items. Closes an open submenu.

7. [ENTER] | Selects an option of the respective operating mode, confirms the set value.

8. Display

9. [UP] | Increases the displayed value by one.

10. [DOWN] | Decreases the displayed value by one.

11. [SIGNAL] | Indicator LED. This LED lights up on incoming signal.
    Back

12. [DMX IN] | DMX input (3 and 5-pin) for controlling control the device via DMX

13. [ARTNET IN] | RJ45 input for controlling the device via Art Net

14. [ARTNET OUT] | RJ45 output for controlling further devices via Art Net

15. [DMX OUT] | DMX output (3 and 5-pin) for connecting additional DMX devices in a DMX universe

16. [Outputs] | RJ45 outputs for controlling the pixel strips via LAN cable. A maximum of four Starkville LED Pixel Rail 40 RGB MKII units can be connected per output.
    

Operating

Connect the device to the mains and switch it on with the [Switch] main switch.

Auto operating mode

Automatic operation can only be activated if the unit is operating alone or as master in a master/slave combination. This setting is only relevant if the device is not controlled via DMX or Art Net.
Press [MODE] and use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the ‘Auto Mode’ option. Confirm with [ENTER] to open the ”Auto Mode” menu.
Here you can activate one of 30 available show Programmes and set the programme speed.
Use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the required option and confirm with [ENTER].
Adjust the displayed value with [UP] and [DOWN] and press [ENTER] to confirm each new setting.
Use [MODE] to return to the previous menu level.

Sound contro

In this mode, the unit follows the rhythm of the background music or sounds detected by the built-in microphone.
Press [MODE] and use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the ‘Sound Mode’ option.
Confirm with [ENTER] and use [UP] and [DOWN] to select the ‘YES’ option. The device is now running in sound mode.
Use [MODE] to return to the previous menu level.

DMX address

This setting is only relevant when the device is controlled via DMX.
Press [MODE] and use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the ‘DMX Address’ option. Confirm with [ENTER] to open the “DMX Address” menu.
Use [UP] and [DOWN] to set the required DMX address in a range from ‘001’ … ‘512’ and press [ENTER] to confirm the new setting. If more than one Pixel Rail driver are used, each device uses 8 DMX channels. The first controller, for example, occupies address 1 to 8. The second controller must accordingly be set to address 9, the third controller to address 18 and so on.
In 8-channel operation, the address 009 must be assigned to the first controller, the address 018 to the second and so on.
Use [MODE] to return to the previous menu level.

Software info

This menu allows you to display the currently installed software version.
Press [MODE] and use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the ‘Software Version’ option.
Confirm with [ENTER] to display the version information.
Use [MODE] to return to the previous menu level.

Length and number of pixel strips

In this menu you determine the length and thus the number of possible pixel strips per output.
Press [MODE] and use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the ‘Length’ option. Confirm with [ENTER] to open the “Length” menu.
Use [UP] or [DOWN] to specify the required length in a range from ‘1M’ … ‘4M’ (1 metre / one strip per output … 4 metres / four strips per output) and confirm with [ENTER] to accept the new setting.
Use [MODE] to return to the previous menu level.

Network settings

In this menu you determine the network settings.
Press [MODE] and use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the ‘Network Settings’ option.
Confirm with [ENTER] to open the “Network Settings” menu.
Use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the required option and confirm with [ENTER].
Adjust the displayed value with [UP] and [DOWN] and press [ENTER] to confirm each new setting.

Slave operating mode

This setting is only relevant if the device is controlled via DMX and working as slave in a master/slave configuration.
Press [MODE] and use the [UP] and [DOWN] buttons to select the ‘Slave Mode’ option.
Confirm with [ENTER] and use [UP] and [DOWN] to select the ‘YES’ option. Then the device operates in Slave mode.
Use [MODE] to return to the previous menu level.

Menu overview

Functions in 10-channel DMX mode

be played automatically.)
7| 0 … 255| Automatic programme 2 (colour effect. The colour can be selected with CH9. The last effect will be played automatically.)
8| 0 … 255| Programme speed (slow … fast)
9| 0 … 255| Colour selection for colour effect in the automatic programme
10| 0 … 255| Microphone sensitivity for sound control (low to high)

Functions in 55-channel DMX mode

be played automatically.)
4| 0 … 255| Automatic programme 2 (colour effect. The colour can be selected with CH9. The last effect will be played automatically.)
5| 0 … 255| Programme speed (slow … fast)
6| 0 … 255| Colour selection for colour effect in the automatic programme
7| 0 … 255| Microphone sensitivity for sound control (low to high)
8| 0 … 255| Red intensity, first spotlight on the first output
9| 0 … 255| Green intensity, first spotlight on the first output
10| 0 … 255| Blue intensity, first spotlight on the first output
…| |
55| 0 … 255| Blue intensity, fourth spotlight on the fourth output

Network connection

Art Net

For operation via Art Net, you first have to install the necessary software on your PC (Windows or Mac with fixed IP address). Connect the pixel rail strips to the controller and switch it on.
Give the controller an IP address corresponding to the Art Net settings. Set the subnet mask of the controller and the software to “255.0.0.0”.
Connect the controller to your PC. The software automatically recognizes all connected devices.

Technical specifications

Plug and connection assignment

Introduction

This chapter will help you select the right cables and plugs to connect your valuable equipment so that a perfect light experience is guaranteed.
Please take our tips, because especially in ‘Sound & Light’ caution is indicated: Even if a plug fits into a socket, the result of an incorrect connection may be a destroyed DMX controller, a short circuit or ‘just’ a not working light show!

DMX connections

The unit offers a 3-pin XLR socket for DMX output and a 3-pin XLR plug for DMX input. Please refer to the drawing and table below for the pin assignment of a suitable XLR plug.

A five-pin XLR socket serves as DMX output, a five-pin XLR plug serves as DMX input. The drawing below and the table show the pin assignment of a matching coupling.

Cleaning

Device components

Clean the device components that are accessible from the outside regularly. The cleaning frequency depends on the operating environment: damp, smoky or particularly dirty environments can cause greater accumulation of dirt on the device components.

• Clean with a dry soft cloth.
• Stubborn dirt can be removed with a slightly dampened cloth.
• Never use solvents or alcohol for cleaning.

Protecting the environment

Disposal of the packaging material

For the transport and protective packaging, environmentally friendly materials have been chosen that can be supplied to normal recycling.
Ensure that plastic bags, packaging, etc. are properly disposed of.
Do not just dispose of these materials with your normal household waste, but make sure that they are collected for recycling. Please follow the notes and markings on the packaging.

Disposal of your old device

This product is subject to the European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) in its currently valid version. Do not dispose with your normal household waste.
Dispose of this device through an approved waste disposal firm or through your local waste facility. When discarding the device, comply with the rules and regulations that apply in your country. If in doubt, consult your local waste disposal facility.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Thomann GmbH
Hans-Thomann-Straße 1
96138 Burgebrach
Germany
Telephone: +49 (0) 9546 9223-0
Internet: www.thomann.de
10.10.2023, ID: 449740 (V5)

References

• Buy musical instruments online from the market leader – Thomann United States

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