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OVERVIEW
Show Designer is a new lighting controller designed to control the many intelligent moving stage lights
that are now available. The approach of this controller is to try to simplify the programming process as
much as possible while still offering a high level of control at a low cost.
Sixteen lighting fixtures of up to 32 channels each can be controlled using the DMX 512 protocol. Unlike
many small lighting controllers, control of all 512 DMX channels is possible. A selection of the most
popular fixtures is available to assign to any of the 16 fixtures as well as several generic settings.
Groups of like fixtures can be defined within a single fixture provided that the number of channels per
fixture will allow them to fit in a 32 channel space. For example, fixture 1 can be made up of 8 fixtures of
the same type that use 4 channels each. This allows Show Designer to control up to 128 fixtures of 4
channels each or 64 fixtures of 8 channels each. Individual control of each fixture is possible using the
faders which are arranged in 4 banks of 8.
Non-volatile memory is provided for Presets, Chases, Scenes, and Shows. Presets are preprogrammed
channel levels for any number of channels. Chases are recordings of sequences of movements or changes
within fixtures or across groups of fixtures. Scenes are recordings of what the stage currently looks like
including all chases or static fixture settings, and Shows are timed sequences of scenes.
Programming is quick and simple. Fixture selection, channel changes, Presets and Chases are used to
achieve a look on stage. This can then be saved as a Scene. A Scene is defined as the entire state of the
stage which can include channel levels, any number of presets as well as up to 8 chases running
simultaneously. Saving the scene is as simple as pressing the Record switch and then selecting a page
number and a scene number. Up to 1024 scenes can be saved this way. Editing scenes is also simple.
Call the scene, make any changes then save it.
The operating system uses flash memory instead of an EPROM so that the system software can be
updated using any PC. Software updates will be made available on the American DJ web site at
www.americandj.com.
Show Designer is packaged in a 3 space rack mount chassis that has a 45 degree angle cut into the rear
panel so that it can sit on a flat surface and face the operator at a convenient viewing angle.
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
Rear connectors include:
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A power input for an external 9V power supply. This requires a transformer with a 9VDC output at
500ma. The plug polarity is + center with an inside diameter of 2.1 mm.
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A DMX 512 output using a 3 pin female XLR connector. Next to the connector is a polarity switch
for pins 2 and 3. Some lighting fixtures send data minus on pin 2 and some on pin 3. The more
commonly used polarity is data minus on pin 2 (switch is to the right as you’re looking at the back of
the unit).
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MIDI in and out. MIDI is used for external calling of scenes and shows and for memory backup.
