Release Notes ArKaos VJ 3.6.1 DMX Attention: This Release Notes is specific to ArKaos VJ DMX, it contains extensive information, configuartion instructions and in-depth description for features related to DMX compatibility in ArKaos VJ. For general ArKaos VJ features such as effects description, software configuration and settings or registration process please have a look at the general ArKaos VJ Release Notes document or at the ArKaos VJ User Guide.
Table Of Contents ArKaos VJ 3.6.1 DMX 1 1. Description 1.1. New features in version 3.6.1 1.2. New features in version 3.6 1.3. How does it works? a. ArtNet protocol (Mac or PC) b. DMX-USB Interface c. ETCNet2 protocol 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2. Interest of DMX 2.1. Software vs. Hardware Media Server 2.2. ArKaos VJ main features 2 3 3 3. Configuration 3.1. Using the ArtNet protocol with ArKaos (Mac and PC) 3.2. ArtNet setup dialog box 3.3. Setting up your Enttec Open DMX USB device (PC Only) 3.4.
6.2. Standard Mode 6.2.1. 3D Effects category 6.2.2. Video Effects category 6.2.3. Transition Effects category 6.2.4. Artistic Effects category 6.2.5. FreeFrame Effects 6.3. HW Mode 6.3.1. 3D Effects category 6.3.2. Video Effects category 6.3.3. Transition Effects category 6.3.4. Artistic Effects category 21 21 22 24 24 25 26 26 28 29 30 ArKaos VJ 3.6.1 Medialon 31 1. Description 31 2. Setup in ArKaos 2.1. Medialon Server setup dialog 31 31 3. Setup in Medialon 3.1.
ArKaos VJ 3.6.1 DMX 1. Description ArKaos VJ DMX allows you to assign visuals, camera inputs, effect parameters, etc.. To the sliders and buttons of a DMX console and have full control over your visuals and effects from the console. Different DMX control modes will allow ArKaos to get the best out of your DMX controller. These modes are: Simple Control, Tiny Fixture and Full Fixture.
1.3. How does it works? To connect a DMX control machine to a PC running ArKaos, you can use either the ArtNet Ethernet protocol or a DMX-USB interface. ArKaos VJ DMX ETC Edition allows to use the ETCNet2 protocol to communicate with Congo consoles. a. ArtNet protocol (Mac or PC) ArtNet is a public domain DMX protocol developed by Artistic Licence.
2.1. Software vs. Hardware Media Server ArKaos VJ is a really accessible software and it does not require advanced skills to achieve results. On the other hand, the software is so powerful that once you get to know it better, you’ll discover that the possibilities are virtually endless! All common movie formats are accepted and the graphic engine is optimized to give great results on Mac or PC.
3. Configuration Once your version of ArKaos VJ will be registered with a DMX-compatible serial number (or during the 21 days demo period), a DMX Setup dialog box will be available through the menu Edit / Preferences / DMX Setup. From the dialog you will be able to choose the DMX device you want to use, as well as the desired control modes and their parameters. Screenshot of the DMX setup dialog box 3.1. Using the ArtNet protocol with ArKaos (Mac and PC) In an ArtNet network, all devices are called Nodes.
Screenshot of the ArtNet setup dialog box Important: Ensure that no Firewall is preventing your computer to receive data from the network. 3.3. Setting up your Enttec Open DMX USB device (PC Only) The drivers for the Enttec Open DMX USB interface can be found on the ArKaos VJ installation CD, more recent drivers may be released in the future on the Enttec web site at http://www.enttec.com/ For more information about this interface you can also check out the Enttec support web site at http://www.enttec.
3.6. Using the ETCNet2 protocol with ArKaos (Mac and PC) If you have a license for ArKaos VJ DMX ETC Edition, the DMX Preferences dialog box in ArKaos will have “ETCNet2” preselected in the “Use device’” menu: The main difference between ETCNet2 and other implementations of DMX over ethernet is that you can have 65536 DMX channels. In the console, set the same channel as the one where ArKaos VJ is listening, as you defined in the ArKaos VJ DMX preference dialog.
4. DMX Control modes 4.1. Control modes overview There are two very different ways to control ArKaos from a DMX controller: We call them the Simple mode and the Fixture mode. Anyone that is used to lighting design and yokes knows what a fixture is. But the Simple mode may be unfamiliar to light designers. Both control modes have advantages and drawbacks, and some low cost DMX consoles will not be compatible with fixtures. The Simple control mode has been developed to be compatible with any DMX controller.
4.2.3. Simple control mode keyboard view The DMX keyboard view in Simple control mode displays DMX controllers and layers. As with the MIDI keyboard or the computer keyboard view, you can drag and drop your visuals (movies, pictures, cameras and flash texts) or effects directly on a key and double click on any item with your mouse to set its parameters. The layers displayed in red are currently running (the DMX level controlling them is over 127). Screenshot of the DMX view in Simple control mode 4.3.
4.3.2. Setting up the parameters The fixture control mode offers different options. First, you have to select in ArKaos the same DMX fixture as you have selected in your DMX console (“ArKaos Tiny” or “ArKaos Full”). These fixtures will be available on our web site for various DMX consoles; check out the ArKaos VJ DMX pages at http://www.arkaos.
4.3.3. Checking your setup Once you made your setup, you can start working. This part will describe simple steps to check that your DMX setup is working. You must have a file opened in ArKaos. Have a look at the User Manual to understand how to manage files, import media etc. With the fixture, everything is controlled from the DMX console, except monitor settings and resolution (cf User Manual). Create a new file and drag & drop some visuals from your file browser to the Visuals Database.
• Mask Mode: None, Luminance - Band Reject, Luminance - Band Pass, Chrominance - Band Reject, Chrominance - Band Pass & Alpha from source. If you select “Alpha From Source”, ArKaos will use the alpha channel that you can store in a 32 bits BMP or a movie file.
5.1. “ArKaos Tiny” Fixture mode 5.1.1. Properties • n layers are available, from 1 to 8 • A single layer is using 25 DMX channels • When mapping a single layer, the channels are called C01 to C25 5.1.2. Channel functions Channel C01 Function: Range: 0-255 Dimmer Transparency of the layer when C08 is 0-31 If the copy mode is not Transparent, C01 is just triggering the layer. Steps: 0-127 Description: Layer start when the value is different from 0 Def.
Channel C05 Function: Range: 0-255 Associated effect. Steps: 0 1 2 ... Description: No effect associated First effect Second effect ... Def. Value: 1 Channel C06 Function: Range: 0-191 Copy mode. Steps: 0-31 32-63 64-95 96-127 128-159 160-191 Description: Transparent Addition Substraction Multiplication Minimum Maximum Def.
Channel C11 Function: Range: 0-255 Movie speed control Steps: 0 64 128 255 Description: Movie is stopped Movie is playing at normal speed Movie is playing at 2X speed Movie is playing at 4X speed Def. Value: 64 Channel C12 Function: Range: 0-255 Movie speed control Steps: 0-31 32-63 64-95 Description: C11 is speed control C11 is speed in forward backward mode C11 is speed in Ping Pong motion Def.
Channel C20 to C25 Function: Range: E1, E2, ..., E6 Steps: Description: E1 = First parameter of effect E2 = second parameter of effect ... E6 = sixth parameter of effect Def. Value: 0 5.2. “ArKaos Full” Fixture mode 5.2.1. Properties • n layers are available, from 1 to 8 • A single layer is using 43 DMX channels • When mapping a single layer, the channels are called C01 to C43 5.2.2.
Channel C04 Function: Range: 0-255 Effect category index Steps: 0-31 32-63 64-95 96-127 128-159 ... Description: 3D Effects Video Transitions Artistic FreeFrame Reserved to future developments Def. Value: 0 Channel C05 Function: Range: 0-255 Associated effect. Steps: 0 1 2 ... Description: No effect First effect Second effect ... Def. Value: 1 Channel C06 Function: Range: 0-191 Copy mode.
Channel C09 Function: Range: 0-255 Luminance/Chrominance width Steps: 0-255 Description: Width of the luminance/chrominance filter Def. Value: 50 Channel C10 Function: Range: 0-255 Luminance/Chrominance smooth Steps: 0-255 Description: Smooth parameter of the luminance/chrominance filter Def.
Channel C18-C19 Function: Range: 0-65536 Pan (Position X) as a 16 bits value Steps: 0 65535 Description: Left position of the screen Right position of the screen Def. Value: 32768 Channel C20-C21 Function: Range: 0-65536 Tilt (Position Y) as a 16 bits value Steps: 0 65535 Description: Top position of the screen Bottom position of the screen Def. Value: 32768 Channel C22-C23 Function: Range: 0-65536 Position Z as a 16 bits value Steps: 0 65535 Description: Nearest position Farest position Def.
Channel C32-C33 Function: Range: Rotation Z in HW mode Steps: Description: Def. Value: 32768 Channel C34 Function: Range: 0-255 Red level in HW mode Steps: Description: 255 for original level Def. Value: 128 Channel C35 Function: Range: 0-255 Green level in HW mode Steps: Description: 255 for original level Def. Value: 128 Channel C36 Function: Range: 0-255 Blue level in HW mode Steps: Description: 255 for original level Def.
Channel C44 Function: Range: 0-255 Keystone X1 Steps: Description: Horizontal position for upper left corner Def. Value: 0 Channel C45 Function: Range: 0-255 Keystone X2 Steps: Description: Vertical position for upper left corner Def. Value: 0 Channel C46 Function: Range: 0-255 Keystone X3 Steps: Description: Horizontal position for upper right corner Def. Value: 0 Channel C47 Function: Range: 0-255 Keystone X4 Steps: Description: Vertical position for upper right corner Def.
6. Effects presets & parameters 6.1. HW Mode vs Standard Mode Since the effects set is different when ArKaos VJ runs in HW Mode, the effect presets available from your DMX console in Fixture mode will be different: The effect category and index have not changed for all effects that are compatible with the new HW Mode.
Index: Effect name: Param.: Description: E1 Animation speed E2 Particle size 14 Particles Tunnel 15 Aspheroïds Warp E1 E2 Orbital speed Revolution speed 16 Aspheroïds Symphony E1 E2 Orbital speed Revolution speed 17 PlanetWorks E1 Animation speed 18 Tunnel Simple (speed) E1 Animation speed Tunnel Full Control E1 E2 E3 Speed Direction Opacity 20 3D Box E1 E2 E3 Distance Rotation 1 Rotation 2 21 Galactic Scrolling 22 WavingFlag E1 E2 Speed Distance 19 6.2.2.
Index: Effect name: 18 Motion Blur Param.
Index: Effect name: 49 Target Square Lines (Position) Param.: Description: E1 X Position E2 Y Position 50 Target Square Lines (Position & Size) E1 E2 E3 E4 51 Target Circle (Position) E1 E2 X Position Y Position Target Circle (Position & Size) E1 E2 E3 E4 X Position Y Position Width Height 52 X Position Y Position Width Height 6.2.3.
Index: Effect name: 10 Spectrum Shape Blue Param.
Index: Effect name: 6 Vectorize Color Param.: Description: E1 Size 7 Vectorize B&W E1 Size 8 Colour Warp E1 E2 Saturation Hue 9 Posterize E1 Level 10 Burn Edge Red Green Blue 11 Chromium E1 E2 E3 E4 13 Fisheye E1 E2 Distortion Radius 14 Glow 15 Halftone E1 E2 Size Style 16 Tile E1 E2 E3 E4 Angle 1 Angle 2 Width Height 17 Rec Distort 18 Time Slice 6.3. HW Mode 6.3.1.
Index: Effect name: 8 3D Sphere-Light 9 3D Cube-Light 10 3D Cylinder - Light 11 3D Donut - Light 12 3D Plane-Light 13 Cube Inside 14 Screens 15 Tile Scrolling 1 16 Tile Scrolling 2 17 Plane Simple 18 Plane Full 19 Planes Rotation 20 Ripple 21 Tunnel 1 22 Tunnel 2 ArKaos VJ 3.6.1 DMX Param.
Index: Effect name: 23 Tunnel Full Param.: E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 Description: Speed Tiling Curve Orientation Transparency Param.: E1 E1 E2 E3 E1 E2 E3 Description: Level Red Shift Green Shifrt Blue shift Red Level Green Level Blue Level 6.3.2.
Index: Effect name: 25 Mirror 26 Sepiatone 27 AsciiArt Ascii-BW 28 AsciiArt Square-BW 29 AsciiArt Pixels-BW 30 AsciiArt Bubbles-BW 31 AsciiArt Bubbles-Color 32 AsciiArt Squares-Color 33 AsciiArt BubblesHand-BW 34 AsciiArt Japanese 35 HalfTone Bubbles 36 HalfTone Cross 37 HalfTone Squares 38 PopArt 1 39 PopArt 2 40 Cartoon Param.
Index: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Effect name: Scroller Left Fast Scroller Left Slow Scroller Right Slow Scroller Right Fast Scroller Top Slow Scroller Top Fast H Slide Slow H Slide Fast V Slide Slow V Slide Fast Turnix 1s Turnix 2s Turnix 5s Param.: Description: 6.3.4.
Index: Effect name: 21 Bumpy Surface 22 Neon 23 Neon Invert 24 25 Noiz Color Noiz BW Param.: E1 E2 E1 E2 E1 E2 E1 E1 Description: Position X Position Y Blur Level Edge Highlight Blur Level Edge Highlight Preset Preset Param.: E1 E2 E1 E2 E1 E2 E3 E1 E1 E1 E1 E1 E2 E1 Description: Angle Scale Param 1 Param 2 Param 1 Param 2 Param 3 Blur Level Level Filter Size Filter Size Saturation Hue Level 6.3.5.
ArKaos VJ 3.6.1 Medialon 1. Description ArKaos VJ is compatible with Medialon Manager show control software through a special ArKaos VJ Medialon license. You can now automate a visual performance for a whole event with Medialon Manager show control software sending orders directly to ArKaos through the network. When enabling Medialon compatibility in ArKaos VJ, you activate a server that listens to network input.
This interface implements all the orders you can send to ArKaos and provide a Custom Order text area, which allow you to type manually your orders. You can enter several orders separated by “;” and send them in one time. 3.2. Connection settings First enter the IP address and the TCP port of the computer running ArKaos (as set in the ArKaos Medialon Server Setup Dialog Box), then click “Open Connection”.
3.5. ArKaos commands Here is the list of commands that can be sent to the ArKaos server: Command: Description: Example: Command: Description: Example: Notes: Command: LoadFile file_name Loads (or select if already loaded) a .kos file (Synth) in the application. The file loaded will be activated and all note / controller events will occur on this Synth. LoadFile d:\arkaos\demo.kos SelectPatch index_num Selects the active patch (of the current Synth). The active patch is the one that will receive key messages.
Command: Description: Example: Example: Fullscreen value Tells ArKaos VJ to activate / deactivate full screen display.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of ArKaos S.A. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by ArKaos S.A. All product and company names are TM or © trademarks of their respective owners. © ArKaos S.A. 2007. All rights reserved.
