Media Servers

Useful Information

Many Media Servers are designed to be controlled using DMX (often over ArtNET) in a similar manner to any other moving light with multiple attributes. If using simple DMX control then any of the Avolites consoles are capable of controlling a Media Server (you may need one of the available 3rd party DMX-USB devices in order for the media server PC to connect to a DMX cable). If using a Diamond 4 or Pearl Expert you can connect the console to the media server using the onboard network interface and send DMX across the network using ArtNET.

On the Diamond 4, Avolites have developed a system for controlling complex devices, such as media servers, directly from the console in a way that allows 2 way communication between console and media server. In this scenario, the Media Server is termed an Active Device and each of the Media "Layers" an Active Fixture. When working with Active Fixtures, it is possible, for example, for the console to display the name of each media clip above the encoder wheels and to present the user with thumbnail clips of the media content on the VDU. The console can also tell the media server to set its DMX address to a certain value.

In order for the console to communicate in this way, you will need to install a small piece of software, called an Active Fixture Plugin, onto the Media Server PC. Please download the relevant plugin from the links below and follow the instructions given in the associated documentation.

Active Fixture Plugins (Media Servers)

These plugins allow Media Servers to be used as Active Fixtures on Avolites consoles, providing features such as media clips on the console's display and clip names on the attribute controls.

For Active Fixture Plugins to work, you must have a correctly configured network between the console and the Media Server. There is a networking section in the Diamond 4 manual, available for download from here, which may help you in getting your network running. You will also need to make sure that the console is correctly outputting DMX over the right ArtNET universes

Currently, the Diamond 4 is the only Avolites console supporting Active Fixtures and must be running software version 1.5.0 or later. We recommned you download and install the latest version of the console software from here
Quick Start Guide:

Download and install the correct plugin on the PC running your Media Server software

Ensure you have a correctly configured and working network between the PC and the console

Ensure you have configured the console for DMX control using ArtNET

Run the Active Fixture Plugin on the PC

Run the Media Server software on the PC

Ensure that the ArtNET settings on the media server match those set on the console

Start the console software

Patch the Media Server as an "Active Fixture"

Hippotizer V2

Version 2.1 [12th June 2007]
For use with Hippotizer software version 2 or earlier HippoPlugin 2.1.zip 209KB 12/06/2007

Hippotizer V3

Version 3.1 [25th June 2008]
For use with Hippotizer software version 3.0.11 or later*
HippoPluginSetup_3.1.zip 401KB 25/06/2008

Arkaos

Version 2.2 [5th August 2008] ArkaosPlugin 2.2.zip 297KB 05/08/2008

* Please ensure that your hippotizer has both the DMX and the HMAP2 components installed and running before starting the Avolites plugin (You may need to click on [Reset Config] from the DMX component dialog). For more information see the Green Hippo website.

Active Fixture Plugins (Media Servers)
These plugins allow Media Servers to be used as Active Fixtures on Avolites consoles, providing features such as media clips on the console's display and clip names on the attribute controls. For Active Fixture Plugins to work, you must have a correctly configured network between the console and the Media Server. There is a networking section in the Diamond 4 manual, available for download from here, which may help you in getting your network running. You will also need to make sure that the console is correctly outputting DMX over the right ArtNET universes Currently, the Diamond 4 is the only Avolites console supporting Active Fixtures and must be running software version 1.5.0 or later. We recommned you download and install the latest version of the console software from here Quick Start Guide: Download and install the correct plugin on the PC running your Media Server software Ensure you have a correctly configured and working network between the PC and the console Ensure you have configured the console for DMX control using ArtNET Run the Active Fixture Plugin on the PC Run the Media Server software on the PC Ensure that the ArtNET settings on the media server match those set on the console Start the console software Patch the Media Server as an "Active Fixture"
Hippotizer V2 Version 2.1 [12th June 2007] For use with Hippotizer software version 2 or earlier	HippoPlugin 2.1.zip	209KB	12/06/2007
Hippotizer V3 Version 3.1 [25th June 2008] For use with Hippotizer software version 3.0.11 or later*	HippoPluginSetup_3.1.zip	401KB	25/06/2008
Arkaos Version 2.2 [5th August 2008]	ArkaosPlugin 2.2.zip	297KB	05/08/2008
* Please ensure that your hippotizer has both the DMX and the HMAP2 components installed and running before starting the Avolites plugin (You may need to click on [Reset Config] from the DMX component dialog). For more information see the Green Hippo website.