Making-The-Connections

SYSTEM LAYOUT

Showstopper 4 Accessory Cable Connection

The Spikemark Console requires a Showstopper 4 Accessory connection for E-Stop functionality. Spikemark Console is self terminating, and must be the end of an Accessory run.

The Showstopper 4 Accessory Input plug is an Industrial Rectangular Connector. There are many manufacturers of this plug. Below is a table of manufacturer part numbers for the plug on Spikemark Console, the mating connector, and the crimps for either plug or connector.

Below is the cable/connector pin out.

Showstopper 4 Accessory Cable

The cable must have at least 6 twisted pairs (12 conductors) of 20AWG (20/6 STP). Here are a few purchasing options:

Ethernet Connection

Spikemark Console requires a network connection to Make It Move. Spikemark Console comes equipped with a Neutrik etherCON connector and is compatible with standard RJ45 connectors.

A network connection is not necessary if Spikemark is running solely in Simulator mode.

Multiple Spikemark Console System

In most systems, a single Spikemark Console is all that is required to run your show. However, if you need to create separate areas of responsibility for different operators, or automation zones, you can layout your system to have multiple Spikemark Consoles or Showstopper 4 Consolettes. If mixing control devices, please note that Consolettes are only able to run controls for a single playback.

When setting up a multi Spikemark Console system, you will need a single Showstopper 4 Base, with all Spikemark Consoles connected to the Base or a connected Showstopper 4 Hub. This connection method allows any e-stop button to stop all motion, no matter which Spikemark Console is running which axis.

Spikemark Software Integration

Connecting the Console to Spikemark Software

Once Spikemark Console and the PC are powered on, each Playback Dial will boot up, then enter its ‘Disconnected’ state. Open Spikemark software, if Spikemark Console doesn’t automatically connect, open the configuration window by clicking on the ‘Spikemark Console’ button under the Control Devices section or from the ‘Console’ menu.

Click on the ‘Connect’ button, and if it is not already checked, click the ‘Auto Connect’ check box. No additional configuration is required

The new Spikemark Console connects to Spikemark via built-in serial ports - no extra configuration needed!

The Spikemark Console Settings dialog box will appear.

• Playback Status – This label will update to show if the Console’s playbacks are Disconnected, Connecting, or Connected to the Spikemark computer. Note that the number of playbacks listed here correspond to the number of playbacks you have added to your show.

• Console Controls Status - This label will update to show if the console-wide controls (jog controls, HTR bar, and next/previous cues) are Disconnected, Connecting, or Connected to the Spikemark computer.

• Auto-Connect Preference - Select this option to have Spikemark automatically connect to your Spikemark Console. (Recommended)

• HTR Preference (Default: Unchecked) – You can select either Hold To Run (checked) or Soft Stop (unchecked) to affect how the large wrist rest button below the playbacks or foot pedal behaves. The two options are:

  • Hold To Run

    • The button must be held down continuously while you are running cues. If you release the button, Spikemark will issue a Soft Stop command to all machines causing everything to decelerate to a stop immediately.

  • Soft Stop

    • When the button is pressed a Soft Stop command is sent to all Stagehands, no matter the Playback, but does not need to be held down during normal operation.

  • Which HTR mode should you choose? That choice is left up to you. There is certainly momentum in the entertainment industry towards Hold To Run as the standard. For less experienced operators, or venues where the automation must be run by technicians who are serving double-duty as operators and stagehands, Hold To Run is clearly safer since it forces an otherwise distracted automation operator to pay attention to what is moving on stage. For professional operators, or operators that accept the responsibility of the task with appropriate discipline, Hold To Run offers only a sore thumb and possibility that a mistimed sneeze will stop the show. Choose appropriately.

• Playback ‘Go On Release’ Preference (Default: Unchecked)

  • Determines if the Playback ‘Go’ buttons should run the loaded cue when the button is released (checked) versus when the button is pressed down (unchecked).

• Console E-Stop ID

  • The settable Showstopper Node ID for Spikemark Console’s E-Stop. This allows you to dynamically set what E-Stop ID the Console should report as when looking at the Showstopper statuses.

• Connect

  • Pressing this button will try to establish a serial connection with the Spikemark Console.

• Disconnect

  • Pressing this button will stop the serial connection with the Spikemark Console. Note that if Auto-Connect is turned on, the Console will immediately reconnect after disconnection.

• Close

  • Pressing this button will just close the dialog.

Once connected, the backlights for the next/previous, hold to run, and jog enable buttons (these backlights may be faint and hard to see) will turn on. Note that the Go button backlights will remain off until a cue is loaded or running on that playback. Additionally the Soft Stop buttons will be off if nothing is running on that playback. The playback dial displays will enter its connected state. The Console configuration window should also show all playbacks as ‘Connected’ and the Console Controls as ‘Connected’.

You’re ready to start running your show with Spikemark Console!

Configuring Playbacks

In addition to configuring console-wide settings, you are able to configure each playback. These changes will be reflected both virtually and on the hardware. For more information, see the Spikemark 6 documentation.