amBIENT XC FAQ
The amBIENT XC only has one universe of DMX but I want to control more than one zone in the venue I am installing lights into. How can I do this with just one box?
The amBIENT XC allows you to control as many lights as you like. Our location model allows groups of fixtures to share the same DMX address, extending the maximum number of fixtures above that supported by a single DMX universe. It also allows the flexibility to create multiple zones each with different lighting effects. Our mode library contains many multiple zone Modes which are available for download into the XC.
I plan to rack-mount the box into a control room and need to provide an alternative way to control it.
How do I connect the amBIENT XC to a remote external controller?
There are many ways in which this can be done. The amBIENT XC is RS232 compatible so can be integrated via RS232 into any system which supports this. It can be linked with other hardware controllers such as Dynalite, Lutron and Crestron. The amBIENT XC is a Crestron certified hardware product.
Additionally the XC can be integrated with other DMX controllers which have RS232 output such as CueServer and Pharos. This allows XC Modes to be triggered by cues from those controllers or from DMX lighting desks via CueServer or Pharos DMX-in.
See Integrating the amBIENT XC with a CueServer.
See amBIENT XC RS232 Control Command Specification
Can I use amBIENT XC via Ethernet?
The Ethernet port on the box is there for future extension of the product. Whilst currently there is no direct Ethernet connection to the box, it can be controlled through Ethernet to RS232 converters such as SitePlayer Telnet or solutions from ipcas GmbH.
See Controlling the amBIENT XC via ethernet using SitePlayer Telnet
How can I give show control to the VJ/DJ with the amBIENT XC?
We are currently working on a PC controlled application that allows the direct triggering of sophisticated lighting effects in combination with automated background effects. This will allow a venue to have constantly changing lighting automatically and give control back to an operator for the occasions where that is required. And that control need not be all or nothing as the XC can provide an automatically generated background effect (derived from the audio or video if required) over which exciting spot effects, triggered by the VJ/DJ, can be superimposed.
Can the box only be installed with 12 presets or scenes?
The amBIENT XC comes with 12 Modes and it is important to understand that a Mode is not a preset, a scene or a timeline. A mode is a virtually limitless collection of dynamic experience fragments which are combined together in the amBX engine to produce both simple and complex, dynamic effects which can be linked to both audio and video content or play through on their own. In effect each mode is a complete lightshow and the amBIENT XC can be loaded with any 12 of these from the extensive library. Not just a lighting controller – an experience in a box!
Can I connect an amBIENT XC into a Control 4 system?
The amBIENT XC can now be easily integrated with Control4 systems through an easy-to-use and intuitive software interface.
Specialist solution provider for the Control4 platform, UK- based Extra Vegetables Ltd have released an application and driver set which allows the amBIENT XC to be used as a lighting controller on Control4 systems.
You can find out more about their app here
Control 4 programmers can alternatively control the amBIENT XC directly by issuing appropriate RS232 commands from the XC control protocol available here.
What is the Pinout of the DMX Connector on the amBIENT XC?
This conector follows the DMX512 standard pinout:
| Pin 1 | Common | Pin 2 | DMX512 Data -ve |
| Pin 3 | DMX512 Data +ve |
Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 11:35 Thursday, 22 April 2010 10:53