Avolites D4E901 ShowSafe User Guide
ShowSafe D4E901 is a backup device for the Diamond 4 and Pearl Expert console ranges. It can track all the changes you make on the console in real time, and if there is a problem with the console, you can flip a changeover switch on the rear of the console, and the console's front panel now controls the identical show which is running on the ShowSafe unit. DMX will continue to come out of the connectors on the console, but you can swap to backup connectors on the ShowSafe unit if you need to.
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ShowSafe User Guide
ShowSafe User Manual v1.3a 01/10/2008 12:19:00
Useful Avolites phone numbers:-
Avolites England
Sales and service* (+44) (0) 20 8965 8522
Service out of hours*(+44) (0) 78 3117 8888
Fax (+44) (0) 20 8965 0290
Email [email protected]
Website http://www.avolites.com
Distribution of Avolites products in USA:-
Avolites America
Sales and service* (+1) 865 938 2057
Fax (+1) 865 938 2059
*Before contacting Avolites for service enquiry please ensure that you have the
product serial number and the Software version.
The latest version of this manual (in Microsoft Word or PDF format) and
Console Software can be downloaded from the website
www.avolitesdownloads.com
The small print :
No Liability for Consequential Damages
Avolites has a policy of continuous product and documentation improvement. As such the
detail within this manual may not match the operation of the product this manual describes.
In no event shall Avolites be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or
consequential damages or loss whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of
profits, business interruption, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use or inability to
use the product this manual describes even if Avolites Ltd. has been advised of the possibility
of such damages. Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.
Reprint and revision history:
Created Check Dates: RS
Updated for D4 25 October 2007 and initial release: RS
Updated 7 March 2008 Tim Mitchell
Layout edits RS 1 October 2008 version 1.3a
Useful Avolites phone numbers:-
Avolites England
Sales and service* (+44) (0) 20 8965 8522
Service out of hours*(+44) (0) 78 3117 8888
Fax (+44) (0) 20 8965 0290
Email [email protected]
Website http://www.avolites.com
Distribution of Avolites products in USA:-
Avolites America
Sales and service* (+1) 865 938 2057
Fax (+1) 865 938 2059
*Before contacting Avolites for service enquiry please ensure that you have the
product serial number and the Software version.
The latest version of this manual (in Microsoft Word or PDF format) and
Console Software can be downloaded from the website
www.avolitesdownloads.com
The small print :
No Liability for Consequential Damages
Avolites has a policy of continuous product and documentation improvement. As such the
detail within this manual may not match the operation of the product this manual describes.
In no event shall Avolites be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or
consequential damages or loss whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of
profits, business interruption, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use or inability to
use the product this manual describes even if Avolites Ltd. has been advised of the possibility
of such damages. Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.
Reprint and revision history:
Created Check Dates: RS
Updated for D4 25 October 2007 and initial release: RS
Updated 7 March 2008 Tim Mitchell
Layout edits RS 1 October 2008 version 1.3a
C O N T E N T S
1. INTRODUCTION – WHY USE SHOWSAFE? 4
1.1 How it works 4
1.2 Planning your backup system 4
1.3 ShowSafe front panel and controls 5
2. CONNECTING UP SHOWSAFE AND THE CONSOLE 7
2.1 What you need 7
2.2 Connecting the console to D4 or Pearl Expert 7
2.3 Connecting the D4 and showsafe via a network hub 8
2.4 Connecting a VDU 9
2.5 Turning ShowSafe on and off 9
2.6 Installing console software on ShowSafe 9
2.7 Troubleshooting USB connections 9
3. SETTING UP THE DIAMOND FOR TRACKING BACKUP 11
3.1 Setup if you are not using DMX over ethernet 11
3.2 Setup when using DMX over ethernet 12
3.3 Check that tracking is operational 13
3.4 Logical Data Flow 14
3.5 What happens if….? 15
4. USING SHOWSAFE 17
4.1 Testing ShowSafe 17
4.2 Copying shows to ShowSafe 17
4.3 Changeover to ShowSafe when not using tracking backup 18
4.4 Using ShowSafe stand-alone 19
1. INTRODUCTION – WHY USE SHOWSAFE? 4
1.1 How it works 4
1.2 Planning your backup system 4
1.3 ShowSafe front panel and controls 5
2. CONNECTING UP SHOWSAFE AND THE CONSOLE 7
2.1 What you need 7
2.2 Connecting the console to D4 or Pearl Expert 7
2.3 Connecting the D4 and showsafe via a network hub 8
2.4 Connecting a VDU 9
2.5 Turning ShowSafe on and off 9
2.6 Installing console software on ShowSafe 9
2.7 Troubleshooting USB connections 9
3. SETTING UP THE DIAMOND FOR TRACKING BACKUP 11
3.1 Setup if you are not using DMX over ethernet 11
3.2 Setup when using DMX over ethernet 12
3.3 Check that tracking is operational 13
3.4 Logical Data Flow 14
3.5 What happens if….? 15
4. USING SHOWSAFE 17
4.1 Testing ShowSafe 17
4.2 Copying shows to ShowSafe 17
4.3 Changeover to ShowSafe when not using tracking backup 18
4.4 Using ShowSafe stand-alone 19
Introduction – Why use ShowSafe?
What we have observed is that most companies have spare moving
lights, but few carry a spare console. ShowSafe gives you most of a
spare console at a far lower cost then a spare console.
ShowSafe gives you a second “heart” for the Diamond 4 and Pearl
Expert console ranges. It also gives you a number of other options if a
replacement heart is not enough, including an option to do a show using
only the Showsafe device if the console is lost in transit!
Think of ShowSafe like an insurance policy. You can take out all sorts of
insurance, or none at all, in which case you take on the risk yourself or
full insurance to take account of any risk. ShowSafe is a mid range
insurance policy, it covers the most likely events for a relatively low
price, the cost is probably less than a spare fixture. We say if you take
spare fixtures then take a ShowSafe - after all, if a single fixture goes
wrong you can probably do a show, but without a console …
1.1 How it works
The Showsafe unit is basically a console without a front panel.
For the Diamond 4, Showsafe can track all the changes you make on the
console in real time. If a problem occurs with the console, you flip a
changeover switch on the rear of the console, and the console’s front
panel now controls the identical show which is running on the ShowSafe
unit. The DMX will continue to come out of the connectors on the
console, but you can swap to backup connectors on the Showsafe unit if
you need to. Read on for possible configurations of the showsafe with
the D4.
For the Pearl Expert, you need to make sure you regularly copy your
showfile across to the Showsafe. If there is a problem with the console
you can flip 2 switches to change over to the copy of the show on the
Showsafe unit. As with the Diamond, the console’s front panel now
controls the ShowSafe unit and the DMX continues to come out of the
connectors on the console.
1.2 Planning your backup system
When using a console with ShowSafe, it is important to decide how you
want the backup system to work before you set it up.
In the event of a failure, how do you anticipate the backup system will
get the show on the road again? In the discussion below, the Ethernet
(tracking) option is only available to the D4.
You may use only the USB connection for both the Diamond 4 and the
Pearl Expert, and as this method switches the DMX board, there is no
requirement to use a DMX switch/Merge box, or physically change over
the DMX cables. However, it is then not possible to restart the Main
console motherboard without resetting the panels including the DMX
board.
A suggested configuration, is to switch over to your ShowSafe before
running your show. Now, in the event of a problem, you can switch
over to the main console’s “heart” which also powers the DMX and front
panels allowing you to safely restart the showsafe machine. When this
is back online and re-sync’d, you should switch back to the ShowSafe
What we have observed is that most companies have spare moving
lights, but few carry a spare console. ShowSafe gives you most of a
spare console at a far lower cost then a spare console.
ShowSafe gives you a second “heart” for the Diamond 4 and Pearl
Expert console ranges. It also gives you a number of other options if a
replacement heart is not enough, including an option to do a show using
only the Showsafe device if the console is lost in transit!
Think of ShowSafe like an insurance policy. You can take out all sorts of
insurance, or none at all, in which case you take on the risk yourself or
full insurance to take account of any risk. ShowSafe is a mid range
insurance policy, it covers the most likely events for a relatively low
price, the cost is probably less than a spare fixture. We say if you take
spare fixtures then take a ShowSafe - after all, if a single fixture goes
wrong you can probably do a show, but without a console …
1.1 How it works
The Showsafe unit is basically a console without a front panel.
For the Diamond 4, Showsafe can track all the changes you make on the
console in real time. If a problem occurs with the console, you flip a
changeover switch on the rear of the console, and the console’s front
panel now controls the identical show which is running on the ShowSafe
unit. The DMX will continue to come out of the connectors on the
console, but you can swap to backup connectors on the Showsafe unit if
you need to. Read on for possible configurations of the showsafe with
the D4.
For the Pearl Expert, you need to make sure you regularly copy your
showfile across to the Showsafe. If there is a problem with the console
you can flip 2 switches to change over to the copy of the show on the
Showsafe unit. As with the Diamond, the console’s front panel now
controls the ShowSafe unit and the DMX continues to come out of the
connectors on the console.
1.2 Planning your backup system
When using a console with ShowSafe, it is important to decide how you
want the backup system to work before you set it up.
In the event of a failure, how do you anticipate the backup system will
get the show on the road again? In the discussion below, the Ethernet
(tracking) option is only available to the D4.
You may use only the USB connection for both the Diamond 4 and the
Pearl Expert, and as this method switches the DMX board, there is no
requirement to use a DMX switch/Merge box, or physically change over
the DMX cables. However, it is then not possible to restart the Main
console motherboard without resetting the panels including the DMX
board.
A suggested configuration, is to switch over to your ShowSafe before
running your show. Now, in the event of a problem, you can switch
over to the main console’s “heart” which also powers the DMX and front
panels allowing you to safely restart the showsafe machine. When this
is back online and re-sync’d, you should switch back to the ShowSafe
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Key Features
- Real-time tracking of console changes
- Backup console functionality
- DMX output from ShowSafe
- Stand-alone operation
- Use with Avolites Pilot controller
- Virtual Panel for control
- USB and Ethernet connections
Related manuals
Frequently Answers and Questions
How does ShowSafe work?
ShowSafe is a backup console for the Diamond 4 and Pearl Expert console ranges. It can track all the changes you make on the console in real time and, in the event of a problem with the console, you can flip a changeover switch on the rear of the console and the console's front panel now controls the identical show which is running on the ShowSafe unit. The DMX will continue to come out of the connectors on the console, but you can swap to backup connectors on the ShowSafe unit if you need to.
How do I set up ShowSafe?
To set up ShowSafe, you need to connect it to the console using USB cables and, for tracking backup with the Diamond 4, an Ethernet cable. You also need to configure the IP addresses on the Diamond 4 and ShowSafe, and then set ShowSafe to become a slave console and attach the Diamond 4 console to ShowSafe through the tracking backup menu.
How do I use ShowSafe standalone?
In the event that your main console is lost or unusable, you can run your show using only ShowSafe. Connect your DMX lines to the outputs on the front of the ShowSafe unit. If you are using DMX over Ethernet, connect the Ethernet line to the rear of the ShowSafe. You can then use the Avolites Pilot controller or a mouse and keyboard with the Virtual Panel to control the show.
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