Spikemark Console

Getting Started

Congratulations on your purchase of the Spikemark Console from Creative Conners, Inc.

Spikemark Console is a compact operator interface for the Spikemark scenic automation software, and also a remote emergency stop button. It presents a comfortable way to jog motors, load and execute cues on playbacks, and engage the emergency stop circuit when needed.

This manual will direct you through:

• Unpacking

• Installation and testing

• Connecting to Spikemark

• Setup and Operational procedures

• Updating the Console Firmware

• Troubleshooting

If you need help along the way contact us by email ([e-mail]), online (www.creativeconners.com) or by phone [phone]).

What's Included

• User manual (this document)

• Spikemark Console

• IEC Power Cord

• Keyboard

• Mouse

• 27” Monitor with DisplayPort cable

If any of these items are missing or damaged, please contact us immediately for a replacement. If you purchased any accessories (cables, adapters, or hardware), those items are packaged separately.

Features

Let’s take a look at the features and connectors on the Spikemark Console.

Front View

1. Playback Dials x4

   1. The TFT LCD screen on the dial displays critical information about the playback, including the playback number and color, live speed, the loaded cue number, and the status of any running or faulted cues.

   2. When the outer ring of the dial is turned, the playback speed is adjusted. Clockwise turns increase the playback speed up to the maximum playback speed, and counter-clockwise turns decrease the playback speed down to the minimum playback speed.

   3. Double clicking the bottom orange bezel around the dial will reset the playback speed to 100%.

2. Playback Soft Stop x4

   1. Pressing this button will initiate a soft-stop for all loaded and running sequences on the individual playback. The button is only illuminated if there is something running on the playback.

3. Playback Go x4

   1. Pressing this button will run a loaded cue for the given Playback. All of the keys are backlit, but the Go button backlighting will vary depending on the cue status in Spikemark.

      1. A pulsing glow indicates that a cue is loaded

      2. Steady illumination indicates that one or more cues are running

      3. The backlight shuts off when no cues are running or loaded.

   2. The backlight color corresponds to the Playback color set in Spikemark.

4. Prev/Next Cue

   1. Pressing these buttons will load the previous or next cue in the show.

      1. When loading a cue, all playbacks in the cue will have the corresponding sequence loaded. Any playbacks not included in the cue will not have anything loaded.

5. Emergency Stop and System Ready

   1. Pressing the large red mushroom switch will initiate a CAT1 stop across all motors.

   2. The button will illuminate red when engaged.

   3. To release the e-stop, turn the button CW.

   4. When all Emergency Stop buttons in the Showstopper system (base, console, pendant, and remotes) are released, the ‘Ready’ indicator glows green.

6. Jog Joystick

   1. The Jog Joystick controls the speed of the motor during jogging.

7. Jog Enable

   1. This button must be held down continuously during jog operations.

8. HTR / All Soft-Stop

   1. This button serves double-duty.

   2. By default, this button is configured to work as a Hold-To-Run button that must be pressed and held while running cues. [HTR] is displayed in the control devices window when enabled.

   3. It can also be configured as a Soft-Stop button that will abort any running cues across all playbacks when pressed.

Rear View

1. IEC Input Power and Switch

2. Showstopper 4 Accessory Input

   1. Connect to the Showstopper 4 Base or a Showstopper 4 Hub

3. Ethernet

   1. Connect to the Spikemark network switch with a standard RJ45 or etherCON connector

4. Display out

   1. DisplayPort connector for a 4K monitor

   2. Daisy-chain multiple monitors from the single output

5. Foot Pedal (HTR option)

   1. 3 pin XLR port to connect an optional foot pedal. The foot pedal can be used instead of or in parallel with the HTR/Soft-Stop bar.

6. USB Ports

   1. Connect USB accessories through any of the four USB ports

7. PC

   1. Dell OptiPlex Micro Form Factor, Intel i7 processor with Spikemark software pre-installed

Playbacks

A playback is the mechanism for executing cues. Multiple Playbacks allow you to divide complex cues into multiple “go’s”, which can be started and stopped individually. Playbacks and cues (steps and triggers and actions!) are complex. Check out the Spikemark manual to learn all about them.

Playbacks themselves are made up of several parts including buttons, speed adjustment, and indicators. They can be fully virtual, appearing only on the Spikemark software, but when connected to a Spikemark Console, up to four playbacks can be synced to the hardware controls.

In addition to the Playback ‘Go’ and ‘Soft Stop’ buttons, each playback has a Dial that serves as an interaction control and information hub. The screen of each dial displays the most critical information about what’s going on with a playback. When all playbacks are connected, you’ll see the dial displays on the Spikemark Console look similar to what’s shown here.

Playback Dial Screen

There’s a lot of information on the Playback Dial, so let’s break down exactly what you might see.

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Disconnected Playback State

1. When Spikemark isn’t running or the console isn’t connected yet, the screen will display a white ring and blank text fields.

2. This is also what a playback dial will look like if there isn’t a corresponding playback added to the show. For example, if you only have three playbacks in your show file, the fourth playback on the Console will display a disconnected state. See Adding and Removing Playbacks for more details.

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Connected Playback State

Once connected to Spikemark, each playback will go to its appropriate state. The colored ring around each playback dial will correspond to the playback color set in Spikemark. See Changing Playback Color for more details.

1. Playback Number

   1. Each playback has an assigned number that is displayed at the top of the screen. Playbacks 1 - 4 can be synced to the Spikemark Console hardware.

2. Playback Speed

   1. The current speed percentage at which all sequences on this Playback will run at. This can be adjusted with the speed slider in Spikemark or by rotating the outer dial ring.

3. Loaded Cue

   1. The loaded cue number on this playback, if one exists. If there is no cue loaded, or the loaded cue does not contain any sequences on this playback, ‘--’ will be displayed.

4. Running Sequence Icon

   1. A green triangle icon that appears to the right of the cue number. It indicates if there are any sequences still running on this playback.

5. Faulted Sequence Icon

   1. A yellow exclamation mark that appears to the left of the cue number. It indicates if any sequence has become faulted/soft-stopped on this playback.