Controlling ArKaos using MagicQ

Controlling ArKaos using MagicQ

Introduction

MagicQ is ideally suited to controlling media servers through its powerful Cue Engine and its
large colour touch screen. The eight encoder wheels enable quick and easy access to the large
numbers of control parameters.

MagicQ has extremely powerful support for media servers. It is possible to connect to up to 50
different media servers or intelligent media yokes each with different media content. MagicQ
downloads thumbnail previews for the media content from each media server independently.

MagicQ supports a special window, solely for controlling media servers, the Media Window. This
window makes it much easier to control media servers. You can select media server, media layer,
attributes and media content all from the same window. You can also see what content is selected
on each of the layers of the selected media server. Open the Media Window by using the 5th Spare
button – above the Macro button.

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In addition, there is a Live Preview window, which shows the output of the media server, or the
output of each of the layers. This is transferred is real time from the media server – so that you
can see exactly what the media server is playing. This is particularly useful in situations with
many media servers, or media servers that are remote from the control position.

Patching ArKaos on MagicQ

There are several personalities in MagicQ to choose from. For ArKaos 3.5, use the arkaos vj35
personality. For ArKaos 3.6 you have four to choose from. To use ArKaos in standard mode,
either use arkaos vj36 or arkaos vj36hw if you are using hardware accelerated graphics. To use
ArKaos in maxi mode, either use arkaos vj36max or arkaos vj36maxhw if you are using hardware
accelerated graphics.

The table below shows an example of how to patch three ArKaos 3.6 servers in standard mode
without hardware acceleration.

ArKaos Personality Universe Address

1 arkaos vj36 1 1
1 arkaos vj36 1 44
1 arkaos vj36 1 87
1 arkaos vj36 1 130
1 arkaos vj36 1 173
1 arkaos vj36 1 216
1 arkaos vj36 1 259
1 arkaos vj36 1 302
2 arkaos vj36 2 1
2 arkaos vj36 2 44
2 arkaos vj36 2 87
2 arkaos vj36 2 130
2 arkaos vj36 2 173
2 arkaos vj36 2 216
2 arkaos vj36 2 259
2 arkaos vj36 2 302
3 arkaos vj36 3 1
3 arkaos vj36 3 44
3 arkaos vj36 3 87
3 arkaos vj36 3 130
3 arkaos vj36 3 173
3 arkaos vj36 3 216
3 arkaos vj36 3 259
3 arkaos vj36 3 302

Two pre-patched shows are included with the MagicQ and can be downloaded from our website,
containing 8 layers and several cues to demonstrate the software. arkaosdemo.shw is for use
without hardware accelerated graphics, and arkaosdemohw.shw is for use with hardware
accelerated graphics.

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Connect the ArKaos servers over LAN

Connect the ArKaos servers to the MagicQ via Ethernet and enable the required Art-Net universes
outputs on the MagicQ (Setup, View DMX I/O).

Configure the ArKaos servers and the MagicQ so that they are on the same IP subnet - i.e.. 2.x.x.x.

To check the IP settings you can try and "ping" the MagicQ from the ArKaos. From the Windows
menu select run and type in ping 2.x.x.x where 2.x.x.x is the IP address of the MagicQ

Configuring a media server

First patch the media server using the normal MagicQ Patch Window. Each media server should
have unique head numbers.

In the Setup Window, Media View configure the media server parameters.

Set the IP address of the media server. This will be used to locate the media server on the network
and to retrieve thumbnails and live previews. The IP address should be in the format of 2.x.x.x.

To determine the IP address of the media

server on Windows XP machines, load
the Control Panel, and open the Network
Connections screen. Double click on the
network connection, choose the support
tab, and the IP Address is displayed.

For other Windows machines choose Start > Run, type in cmd and type enter. Enter ipconfig into
the command line and type enter. The IP address of the network card(s) will then be displayed.

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Optionally set up a name for the media server. This may help you to distinguish the different
media servers.

Select the type of media server, MSEX(ArKaos) for ArKaos 3.6 and MagicQ 1.3.0.1 and above, or
ArKaos for older versions.

Set the number of layers you have patched – this is the number of media layers, and does not
include master layers, soft edge or camera layers.

Set the head number of the first media layer. This tells MagicQ which patched layer is the first
media layer on the media server. MagicQ expects layers to be sequential head numbers, e.g. set
you head numbers for your layers to 1 to 8.

Thumbnail view

MagicQ retrieves thumbnails from the media server and shows them on the screen for easy
selection of media banks and media images. The media server must be enabled in the Setup
Window, Media View for it to retrieve thumbnails. MagicQ can handle different media on each
media server thus making it easy to program larger configurations of media servers.

In the Setup Window, Media View, if Autothumbs is set to Yes, the thumbnails will reload every
time a page is loaded. If Autothumbs is set to No, you can reload thumbnails as and when required
by pressing the Reload Thumbs soft button in the media window. We recommend you leave this
set to No.

MagicQ retrieves thumbnails when a media bank is selected for the first time, or when the media
has been changed by the media server. MagicQ caches the thumbnails on its hard drive. You may
need to change to a bank a few times before all the thumbnails for that bank have been
downloaded.

To force a reload of all the media from the media server, move the cursor to the required media
server in the Media View of the Setup Window and press the ERASE CACHE soft button.

The media thumbnails are also shown in the top 8 preview windows to indicate which media is
selected on each layer.

Live previews

MagicQ can connect to a media server to retrieve a live preview of the master output or of the
individual layers. This is very useful where the media server is remote to the console, or in a
multiple media server configuration.

Enable the Live Preview option in the Media View of the Setup Window.

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The live preview is shown in the large window on the left of the Media Window. Choose using
the top soft buttons whether the preview shows the output, or the currently selected layer.

When connected to media servers that do not yet support live previews, the preview window will
show the image thumbnail from the 1st layer that has its intensity channel above zero.

Using MagicQ and ArKaos on the same PC

Using the loopback IP address

It is possible to use MagicQ and ArKaos on the same PC by altering some of the settings given
above. In the Media View of the Setup Window, set the IP address of the media server to
127.0.0.1. This is the local loopback IP address and will allow the PC to talk to itself to retrieve
thumbnails and live previews.

In the Settings View of the Setup Window, scroll down to Interface Settings. Set the option for
Send to Applications on this PC to YES.

With the loopback IP and Send to Applications set correctly, you should be able to control ArKaos
and use the live previews and thumbnails.

Using Microsoft Loopback Adapter

If you still experience problems using the loopback IP address method described above, you will
need to install the Microsoft Loopback Adapter. For more information on installing the Microsoft
Loopback Adapter, view their Knowledge Base article at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/839013

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Controlling ArKaos

Open the Media Window (button above Macro).

To view images on ArKaos you to need to first select a layer (e.g. layer 1) and perform a
LOCATE. This will initialise the settings for the layer to their default values including the level at
100%. Now select the BEAM window and use the two large encoder wheels to select an image
bank and image.

The table below shows where the various parameters are found

Function Attribute page

Layers Media selection BEAM 1
FX BEAM 2
Text BEAM 3
Colour mixing, brightness, contrast COLOUR
Position, rotate, zoom POSITION

Troubleshooting

If you do not have control of the ArKaos at all, check:

• The MagicQ is connected to the ArKaos via LAN or network crossover cable
• You can "ping" the MagicQ from the ArKaos
• Windows Firewall is not restricting access between ArKaos and MagicQ
• MagicQ is enabled to output Art-Net (Setup, View DMX I/O)
• ArKaos is configured to the correct DMX universe and address
• MagicQ is patched with the arkaos vj35 layers at the correct addresses
• Loopback IP and Send to Applications set up correctly if using MagicQ and ArKaos on the
same PC
• Installed and correctly configured the Microsoft Loopback Adapter for using MagicQ and
ArKaos on the same PC

Any comments on how these instructions could be improved will be gratefully received at
support@chamsys.co.uk.

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