Light Master User Manual
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Packing List
Section 3 - Operating Instructions
Section 4 - Light Master Control
Section 5 - Figures and Illustrations
Section 6 - Warranty and
Replacement
Section 7 - Topaz Enterprises Information
Introduction
Welcome to Light Master. With this product you have leaped into the
world of MIDI light control without losing your wallet. Light Master is a
fully functional dimmer pack that does not require a high priced
proprietary master controller. If you or someone in your “band”,
"circle", "family" or whatever has a sequencer, MIDI
program controller, a computer with MIDI software, or any other MIDI
source, you’re ready to go.
Packing List
Your package should contain the following:
¨ The Light
Master
¨ Power Cord
¨ This User Manual
¨
Warranty Card
Please fill out the warranty card and send it in
today, Darnit! By registering, you will receive valuable information about
product updates, new products and well basically, we can annoy you with
junk mail.
Operating Instructions
On the Light Master, there are two MIDI ports, four power outlets,
one power inlet, fuse access hole and a 10 switch Dip.
Simply
hook a MIDI plug into the MIDI in port, plug lights in, set the MIDI
address on the Dip switches and plug the supplied power cord into the
receptacle and a handy outlet...You are now ready to setup scenes and
create your own light show. Following are detailed instructions to assist
you.
Connections
Power Inlet
Please use the
enclosed power cord only! It is rated at 15 amps while most other cords
have lower ratings. Simply insert the appropriate end of the cord into the
Light Master power inlet (see figure) and the standard end into a suitable
electrical outlet (not one on the Light Master since at this point it has
no power! DUH).
MIDI Connectors
Connect a standard 5
pin MIDI cable to the MIDI IN of the Light Master. Connect the other end
to the MIDI OUT of your control device. For daisy chaining additional MIDI
devices, connect another MIDI cable to the MIDI OUT of the Light Master to
the MIDI IN of the next device in the chain.
Power Outlets
Connect the power plugs of your lights to the Light Master’s
power outlets. Only 600 watts (5 amps) per outlet and a maximum of 1800
watts (15 amps) per Light Master!!! (This is very important for your
safety and product longevity)
OOH OOH you’re all connected
up baby!
Setup
There is a configuration switch
module (DIP switch) located at one end of the Light Master (see figure).
The switch settings are as follows:
Switch 1 is Baud rate. Up
is MIDI Baud rate(31250), Down is 9600. We have included this in case you
would like to run Light Master off the serial port of a PC compatible
computer (most IBM compatibles will not run the standard MIDI baud rate
off their COM ports).
Switches 2-6 are Bank number. These
switches represent binary numbers thus the right most switch(6) is the
least significant bit. Value can be 0-31.*
Switches 7-10 are
MIDI channel. These switches represent binary numbers thus the right most
switch(10) is the least significant bit
* Bank number is
explained in the ‘Light Master Control’ section of this manual.
There are tables for switch settings in the appropriate sections as well.
Notes:
On power up, the LightMaster
turns the lights on. Also, dip switch settings are read at power up only.
Light Master Control
The Light Master is a MIDI device that can be controlled via 'Note
On' mode or the 'Program Change' mode. 'Note On' allows setting of light
intensity (dimming) while 'Program Change' has some dimming capabilities
and several chase options for a versatile light show.
Dimming
Dimming is accomplished through the use of three MIDI commands:
'Note On', 'PolyAftertouch' and 'Control Change'. We are assuming that
'Note On' will be the most popular mode, thus the instructions for dimming
are written using 'Note On' references. You can substitute
'PolyAftertouch' and 'Control Change' for 'Note On' in the following
instructions. MIDI command parameter interpretation is in the following
table:
|
MIDI Mode |
Light Number |
Intensity |
|
Note On |
Note Number |
Velocity |
|
PolyAftertouch |
Note Number |
Pressure |
|
Control Change |
Control Number |
Value |
Dimming control in your Light Master is implemented using the
'Note On' mode. In 'Note On' mode, there are two parameters; note number
and note velocity. Note numbers are mapped to lights and note velocity to
light intensity. Note number converts to bank number and light number (see
section on Bank Number for specifics). Note velocity is how dimming takes
place. Note velocity is a number between 0 and 127. Light Master takes the
velocity number divided by two and that is the light intensity, therefore
intensity ranges from 0 to 63 ( 0 being off, 63 maximum on). So, for
example, if a note velocity of 96 (or 97) is received, the light will be
set to an intensity of 48 or 75% on.
Midi
Channel Number
The MIDI channel number on
the Light Master must be set to match the MIDI channel setting on the
control device. MIDI channel is a number 1-16. To set channel number on
the Light Master, use DIP switches 7-10 (located on the end of the Light
Master opposite from the MIDI Din connectors). The following table shows
the switch settings for the different MIDI channels.
|
Switch 7 |
Switch 8 |
Switch 9 |
Switch 10 |
MIDI channel |
|
U |
U |
U |
U |
1 |
|
U |
U |
U |
D |
2 |
|
U |
U |
D |
U |
3 |
|
U |
U |
D |
D |
4 |
|
U |
D |
U |
U |
5 |
|
U |
D |
U |
D |
6 |
|
U |
D |
D |
U |
7 |
|
U |
D |
D |
D |
8 |
|
D |
U |
U |
U |
9 |
|
D |
U |
U |
D |
10 |
|
D |
U |
D |
U |
11 |
|
D |
U |
D |
D |
12 |
|
D |
D |
U |
U |
13 |
|
D |
D |
U |
D |
14 |
|
D |
D |
D |
U |
15 |
|
D |
D |
D |
D |
16 |
Switch setting to MIDI channel mapping TABLE.
Bank Number
Bank number is a Light Master exclusive. A bank number represents a group
of 4 lights out of a possible 128 lights, or in other words, there are 32
banks of 4 lights each PER MIDI CHANNEL. Lights 1-4 are bank number one,
lights
5-8 are bank number two, etc. The next table shows the
relation between Note/Light number and Bank number. This applies only if
you are using dimming (Note on mode et al), if you are using the alternate
control method (Program Change mode) then bank numbers do not apply.
|
Note Number |
Bank Number |
Note Number |
Bank Number |
|
0-3 |
1 |
64-67 |
17 |
|
4-7 |
2 |
68-71 |
18 |
|
8-11 |
3 |
72-75 |
19 |
|
12-15 |
4 |
76-79 |
20 |
|
16-19 |
5 |
80-83 |
21 |
|
20-23 |
6 |
84-87 |
22 |
|
24-27 |
7 |
88-91 |
23 |
|
28-31 |
8 |
92-95 |
24 |
|
32-35 |
9 |
96-99 |
25 |
|
36-39 |
10 |
100-103 |
26 |
|
40-43 |
11 |
104-107 |
27 |
|
44-47 |
12 |
108-111 |
28 |
|
48-51 |
13 |
112-115 |
29 |
|
52-55 |
14 |
116-119 |
30 |
|
56-59 |
15 |
120-123 |
31 |
|
60-63 |
16 |
124-127 |
32 |
Note/Light number to Bank number
mapping
For example, if you wanted to send commands to notes 0-3 on MIDI channel
2, Dip switches 2-6 would be up (in the off position) setting Bank number
to 1, switches 7,8 and 9 would be up and 10 down setting the MIDI channel
to 2. The following table gives mappings of switch settings to bank number
and Notes affected.
| Switch 2 | Switch 3 | Switch 4 | Switch 5 | Switch 6 | Bank # | Note # |
| U | U | U | U | U | 1 | 0-3 |
| U | U | U | U | D | 2 | 4-7 |
| U | U | U | D | U | 3 | 8-11 |
| U | U | U | D | D | 4 | 12-15 |
| U | U | D | U | U | 5 | 16-19 |
| U | U | D | U | D | 6 | 20-23 |
| U | U | D | D | U | 7 | 24-27 |
| U | U | D | D | D | 8 | 28-31 |
| U | D | U | U | U | 9 | 32-35 |
| U | D | U | U | D | 10 | 36-39 |
| U | D | U | D | U | 11 | 40-43 |
| U | D | U | D | D | 12 | 44-47 |
| U | D | D | U | U | 13 | 48-51 |
| U | D | D | U | D | 14 | 52-55 |
| U | D | D | D | U | 15 | 56-59 |
| U | D | D | D | D | 16 | 60-63 |
| D | U | U | U | U | 17 | 64-67 |
| D | U | U | U | D | 18 | 68-71 |
| D | U | U | D | U | 19 | 72-75 |
| D | U | U | D | D | 20 | 76-79 |
| D | U | D | U | U | 21 | 80-83 |
| D | U | D | U | D | 22 | 84-87 |
| D | U | D | D | U | 23 | 88-91 |
| D | U | D | D | D | 24 | 92-95 |
| D | D | U | U | U | 25 | 96-99 |
| D | D | U | U | D | 26 | 100-103 |
| D | D | U | D | U | 27 | 104-107 |
| D | D | U | D | D | 28 | 108-111 |
| D | D | D | U | U | 29 | 112-115 |
| D | D | D | U | D | 30 | 116-119 |
| D | D | D | D | U | 31 | 120-123 |
| D | D | D | D | D | 32 | 124-127 |
Switch to Bank and Note Number Mapping
Alternative Control Method
If a Note On mode controller is unavailable, you may use a Program
Change mode controller such as a MIDI foot stomper. This mode provides
limited dimming capabilities and 8 different chasing algorithms with 8
speeds each. Program Change mode has 1 parameter, program number, with
values from 0 to 127 (or 1 to 128 depending on the device). This next
table maps out what happens to each of the four lights on the Light Master
for each Program Number (If there is no value in the box then that light
is not affected by that particular program cahnge number). This allows for
16 channels of four lights each (a total of 64 lights controlled) using
this alternate method.
| Program # | Light 1 | Light 2 | Light 3 | Light 4 |
| 0 | ||||
| 1 | Turn Off | |||
| 2 | Turn Off | |||
| 3 | Turn Off | Turn Off | ||
| 4 | Turn Off | |||
| 5 | Turn Off | Turn Off | ||
| 6 | Turn Off | Turn Off | ||
| 7 | Turn Off | Turn Off | Turn Off | |
| 8 | Turn Off | |||
| 9 | Turn Off | Turn Off | ||
| 10 | Turn Off | Turn Off | ||
| 11 | Turn Off | Turn Off | Turn Off | |
| 12 | Turn Off | Turn Off | ||
| 13 | Turn Off | Turn Off | Turn Off | |
| 14 | Turn Off | Turn Off | Turn Off | |
| 15 | Turn Off | Turn Off | Turn Off | Turn Off |
| 16 | ||||
| 17 | 50% on | |||
| 18 | 50% on | |||
| 19 | 50% on | 50% on | ||
| 20 | 50% on | |||
| 21 | 50% on | 50% on | ||
| 22 | 50% on | 50% on | ||
| 23 | 50% on | 50% on | 50% on | |
| 24 | 50% on | |||
| 25 | 50% on | 50% on | ||
| 26 | 50% on | 50% on | ||
| 27 | 50% on | 50% on | 50% on | |
| 28 | 50% on | 50% on | ||
| 29 | 50% on | 50% on | 50% on | |
| 30 | 50% on | 50% on | 50% on | |
| 31 | 50% on | 50% on | 50% on | 50% on |
| 32 | ||||
| 33 | 75% on | |||
| 34 | 75% on | |||
| 35 | 75% on | 75% on | ||
| 36 | 75% on | |||
| 37 | 75% on | 75% on | ||
| 38 | 75% on | 75% on | ||
| 39 | 75% on | 75% on | 75% on | |
| 40 | 75% on | |||
| 41 | 75% on | 75% on | ||
| 42 | 75% on | 75% on | ||
| 43 | 75% on | 75% on | 75% on | |
| 44 | 75% on | 75% on | ||
| 45 | 75% on | 75% on | 75% on | |
| 46 | 75% on | 75% on | 75% on | |
| 47 | 75% on | 75% on | 75% on | 75% on |
| 48 | ||||
| 49 | 100% on | |||
| 50 | 100% on | |||
| 51 | 100% on | 100% on | ||
| 52 | 100% on | |||
| 53 | 100% on | 100% on | ||
| 54 | 100% on | 100% on | ||
| 55 | 100% on | 100% on | 100% on | |
| 56 | 100% on | |||
| 57 | 100% on | 100% on | ||
| 58 | 100% on | 100% on | ||
| 59 | 100% on | 100% on | 100% on | |
| 60 | 100% on | 100% on | ||
| 61 | 100% on | 100% on | 100% on | |
| 62 | 100% on | 100% on | 100% on | |
| 63 | 100% on | 100% on | 100% on | 100% on |
| Program # | Chase Pattern | |||
| 64-71 | Left to Right | |||
| 72-79 | Left to Right | Sweep | ||
| 80-87 | Right to Left | |||
| 88-95 | Right to Left | Sweep | ||
| 96-103 | Pong L-R-L | |||
| 104-111 | Inside to Out | |||
| 112-119 | 1&3 to 2&4 | |||
| 120-127 | Flash |
Program Change to Lights Map
System Exclusive
The Light Master has incorporated the MIDI system exclusive command
as well. For now, you can find out:
- The version of firmware
your Light Master is running;
- The current switch settings (MIDI
channel, Bank number, configuration stuff).
To do this, send
the MIDI system exclusive command: f0h followed by TOPAZ's system
exclusive address: 00h 01h 08h, a Topaz product code: 01h for the Light
Master or 00h for all Topaz products to respond, and finally, the command
you wish to send. The only command implemented at this point is 00h for
version and configuration information. When you send this command to a
Light Master, what you will get back is the following:
LightMaster 2.0 - Copyright 1996 Topaz Enterprises, Inc.
CONFIG:0Xhex#1hex#2
Where X is a number 0-3 decimal
representation of the binary settings of switches 1 and 2, hex#1
representing the settings of switches 3-6 and hex#2 the settings of
switches 6-10. We will expand upon the system exclusive command set in
future versions and accept all suggestions and ideas for enhancements.
* 'h' after a number is for hexadecimal notation
Warranty and Replacement
Topaz Enterprises, Inc warrants the enclosed Light Master MIDI
controlled light dimmer pack to be free of material and manufacturing
defects for a period of 2 years after the original date of purchase. This
warranty does not include damage to the product resulting from accidents,
misuse or use of the product for other than intended purposes. If the
product is defective within the warranty period, Topaz will repair or
replace the unit (at our option) without charge.
Return
transportation fee will be paid by Topaz if returned to:
Topaz
Enterprises
7600 Plateau Rd
Longmont, CO 80501
attn:
Warranty Dept
TOPAZ Enterprises Information
For information, or just to drop us a line, or to tell us you're out
there, or to let us know whatever; interesting facts - please include
references, 'Did you know', or anything else that's on your mind. Your
information could get published! Please write to:
TOPAZ Enterprises
10536 Clermont Way
Thornton, CO 80233
or visit our web site at -
http://www.tpz.com
or E-mail us at topaz@tpz.com
Technical
Support! Technical Support! Technical Support!
Please call:
(303)252-4844, visit our web site at -
http://www.tpz.com
or
E-mail us at topaz@tpz.com
Copyright 1995-1996 TOPAZ
Enterprises
Light Master is a trademark of TOPAZ Enterprises
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