ChamSys
MagicHD User Manual
Version 1.6.5.0
1 Introduction
MagicHD is a DMX controlled media player. Media playback is managed in layers. MagicHD can
display up to 8 media layers (depending on product), one text layer and a final output layer for
overall control of the output.
MagicHD runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and can exist as a stand-alone player, or be launched
from MagicQ PC. It can be installed on dedicated hardware, either supplied by the user, or
purchased from ChamSys. See [1].
Each media layer can display one media file (movie or picture) and optionally apply a mask. Layers
are stacked from 1 (the bottom) to 8 (the top). Subject to masking and blending, higher layers will
hide lower layers. The output layer can also apply a mask, with the intention that this is used for
shuttering, edge blending and similar projector control effects. You can of course use the masks for
anything you wish.
The text layer can display static or moving text. The text is displayed in a window whose colour,
position and orientation can be controlled. Content is supplied as raw text files.
Both the media and output layers can apply a number of basic colour effects. Effects applied in the
output layer affect the appearance of the whole output.
Conceptually, the output seen by the viewer is the top of a stack of layers:
Top
Colour control
Final mask
Text
Media N
...
Media 3
Media 2
Bottom
Media 1
MagicHD has no user interface as such, being entirely controlled by DMX. It does provide a Head
Up Display (HUD) which shows a lot of useful information, live, superimposed on the output.
The DMX control personality is deliberately simple: complexity is added by the lighting console.
Since everything is controlled by DMX channels, the console can be used to add effects to any
channel by simply altering the values sent to the player.
1.1 Disclaimer
This product is not fully released so the DMX personalities used to control it may change without
notice. If such a change occurs then show files using MagicHD will have to be manually updated.
Changes will be detailed in Appendix A .
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