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Author Topic: DSS200 GPIO and automation cues Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 05-09-2010 02:55 PM                     Does anyone know how to get a grip on DSS200 GPIOs and automation cues? The installation manual only mentions the GPIO usage for 'Lights On' and has a general reference to the serial and ethernet automation option. Ho do I set up and use automation cues in playlists for these automation interfaces? - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Demetris Thoupis Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1240 From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus Registered: Apr 2001 posted 05-09-2010 04:18 PM                     The GPIO is actually only enabled in the latest software version only for triggering transport buttons on the server via external contact closures. For anything mire advanced you need to hook an NA10 unit. Demetris  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 05-09-2010 05:09 PM                     Thanks. Anything known about the serial interface? I guess that Dolby would at least enable it to control older CPs without ethernet? - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Demetris Thoupis Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1240 From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus Registered: Apr 2001 posted 05-10-2010 01:48 AM                     Sorry to dissapoint you but for the time being nope!  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 05-10-2010 02:22 AM                     Or use a serial automation interface. You could program a PLC if you're that way inclined. There are various devices on the market from various manufacturers. I designed one for our installs, fairly basic it gives you 16 relay output, and 16 opto-isolated inputs. In reality you only really want Stop, Start, Pause and Emergency. In real reality we've only ever used Start and Emergency. We can control Tabs, Masking, House Lights, Stage Lights & Sound Format. The NA10 is a good piece of kit, but way over specified for most installs, and very expensive. Also there is no dedicated easy way to define a Emergency (Fire Alarm) input.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 05-10-2010 05:17 AM                     Hmm, would I be able to use this serial automation interface from the DSS200? Maybe I don't get your approach? You mean I could use external automation and control the DSS200 through GPIO the way Demetris described it - just basic transport? - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-10-2010 06:39 AM                     The current software (4.x.x) will allow transport controls via the GPIO and I believe there are a couple of outputs status given. Via serial, you can define the strings you want the DSS200 to listen to or to send out as "cues"...thus any serially controlled device can get a cue. As for the NA10 and Emergency...oh that is defined...just not written anywhere. I'm not near my notes but it is something to the effect of "ShowStopOn" or something near that. The actual command will stop the show and turn the lights on. Steve  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 05-10-2010 08:26 AM                     Carsten, From the DSS200/100, via serial we control theatre functions, I named them as I described above, but you can of course name them how you wish. We also have the DSS200/100 listening for control via serial. Whilst you can program the output cues as you wish, you are limited to STOP, START and PAUSE for serial input cues. In the real world this is fine. Steve, The issue with the NA10. Here in the UK, depending on the mood of local council licensing and fire inspectors, it is usually a legal requirement to extinguish the lamp as well as raise lights and stop show. We couldn't find an easy way of doing that, in fact to the letter of the law it should shut down on xenon lamp failure too. Both easily enough done with our box, and you can knock a '0' off the end of the price of an NA10.  |  IP: Logged Matt Fields Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 545 From: Ohio, United States Registered: Jun 2005 posted 05-10-2010 08:53 AM                     I use the Christie ACT for serial automation with my Dolby servers and it works well, less expensive then the Dolby automation as well.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 05-10-2010 09:43 AM                     >Via serial, you can define the strings you want the DSS200 to listen to or to send out as "cues"...thus any serially controlled device can get a cue. Thanks - that's what I was looking for. Where and how do I define these strings, there must be some kind of macro/cue editor in the software then? - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 05-10-2010 11:12 AM                     Carsten, it's all in Show Manager, either local or the PC Client. Details are in the installers manual.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 05-10-2010 05:27 PM                     I just received the DSS200 Installation manual PDF, issue 1, software version 4.1 And yes, seems to be there, on page 48, 'Importing and Exporting Serial Automation Cues' (from/to USB-Memory). Doesn't say anything about the format of the file I expect it to write. Probably just look into it and find a simple ASCII table. One needs to get a configuration password from Dolby to be able to do this using the 'serial' login name. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Kevin Fairchild Expert Film Handler Posts: 125 From: Kennewick, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 05-10-2010 06:32 PM                     Carsten, do you even have a Dolby server? Just go to the system tab, then click on serial automation. If you cant see serial automation, click on auditorium and check the box that says "this auditorium uses serial automation" Just type in any name and serial command that you want.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-10-2010 09:18 PM                     I was told recently that the NA-10 will soon be phased out in favor of GPIO automation. Mark  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 05-11-2010 05:38 AM                     Carsten, you're confusing setting up the serial cues with importing/exporting them. Only import/export involves USB sticks and serial passwords. Setting them up in the first place is all done through the GUI Show Manager. A word to the wise about iporting/exporting cues. The system will export cues to a USB drive and import them from a USB drive. But it does not import/export the serial settings (baud rate etc). Mark, that would not surprise me, it's way over spec'd and way over priced.  |  IP: Logged

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