Controlling Hippotizers using MagicQ

Controlling Hippotizers using MagicQ

Introduction

MagicQ is ideally suited to controlling media servers through its powerful Cue Engine and its
large colour touch screen. The eight encoder wheels enable quick and easy access to the large
numbers of control parameters.

MagicQ has extremely powerful support for media servers. It is possible to connect to up to 50
different media servers or intelligent media yokes each with different media content. MagicQ
downloads thumbnail previews for the media content from each media server independently.

MagicQ supports a special window, solely for controlling media servers, the Media Window. This
window makes it much easier to control media servers. You can select media server, media layer,
attributes and media content all from the same window. You can also see what content is selected
on each of the layers of the selected media server. Open the Media Window by using the 5th Spare
button – above the Macro button.

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In addition, there is a Live Preview window, which shows the output of the media server, or the
output of each of the layers. This is transferred is real time from the media server – so that you
can see exactly what the media server is playing. This is particularly useful in situations with
many media servers, or media servers that are remote from the control position.

MagicQ's 12 universes enables the individual control of up to a total of 12 different Hippotizer

Stages.

Patching Hippotizers on MagicQ

There are several different personalities for Hippotizer depending on the version – personalities
can be found under the Green Hippo folder. Each Hippotizer consists of 1 master and 4-16 layers
dependent on the configuration of the Hippotizer.

For v2 you need v214master.hed and v214layer.hed. For v3 select v3011master.hed and
v30111layer.hed

Hippotizer V2

The following table shows how two Hippotizer Stages can be patched in single output mode.

Hippotizer Personality Universe Address

1 v2master 1 1
1 v2layer 1 56
1 v2layer 1 106
1 v2layer 1 156
1 v2layer 1 206
1 v2layer 1 256
1 v2layer 1 306
1 v2layer 1 356
1 v2layer 1 406
2 v2master 2 1
2 v2layer 2 56
2 v2layer 2 106
2 v2layer 2 156
2 v2layer 2 206
2 v2layer 2 256
2 v2layer 2 306
2 v2layer 2 356
2 v2layer 2 406

For dual output mode, 2 master layers are required. Patch 1 master, 4 layers, then 1 master and 4
more layers.

The head numbers of the layers should always be sequential.

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Hippotizer V3

Single mode

Hippotizer Personality Universe Address Suggested Head No

1 v3011master 1 1 9
1 v3011layer 1 46 1
1 v3011layer 1 96 2
1 v3011layer 1 146 3
1 v3011layer 1 196 4
1 v3011layer 1 246 5
1 v3011layer 1 296 6
1 v3011layer 1 346 7
1 v3011layer 1 396 8

Dual mode

Hippotizer Personality Universe Address Suggested Head No

1 v3011master 1 1 9
1 v3011layer 1 46 1
1 v3011layer 1 96 2
1 v3011layer 1 146 3
1 v3011layer 1 196 4
1 v3011master 1 246 10
1 v3011layer 1 291 5
1 v3011layer 1 341 6
1 v3011layer 1 391 7
1 v3011layer 1 441 8

Pan mode

Hippotizer Personality Universe Address Suggested Head No

1 v3011master 1 1 9
1 v3011m2pan 1 46 10
1 v3011layer 1 76 1
1 v3011layer 1 126 2
1 v3011layer 1 176 3
1 v3011layer 1 226 4
1 v3011layer 1 276 5
1 v3011layer 1 326 6
1 v3011layer 1 376 7
1 v3011layer 1 426 8

In order for the layers to appear sequential in the Media Window, the standard layers (not the
master or pan master layers) should be sequential. We recommend setting the head numbers for
the layers to a different range of numbers to the master and pan layers.

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Connect the Hippotizers over LAN

Connect the Hippotizers to the MagicQ via Ethernet and enable the required Art-Net universes
outputs on the MagicQ (Setup, View DMX I/O).

Configure the Hippotizers and the MagicQ so that they are on the same IP subnet - i.e.. 2.x.x.x.

To check the IP settings you can try and "ping" the MagicQ from the Hippotizer. From the
Windows menu select run and type in ping 2.x.x.x where 2.x.x.x is the IP address of the MagicQ

Configuring a media server

First patch the media server using the normal MagicQ Patch Window. Each media server should
have unique head numbers.

In the Setup Window, Media View configure the media server parameters.

Set the IP address of the media server. This will be used to locate the media server on the network
and to retrieve thumbnails and live previews.

Optionally set up a name for the media server. This may help you to distinguish the different
media servers.

Select the type of media server – Hippo Express or Hippo Stage,

Select the version number – 2 for version 2 Hippo, 3 for version 3 Hippo.

Set the number of layers you have patched – this is the number of media layers, and does not
include master layers, soft edge or camera layers.

Set the head number of the first media layer. This tells MagicQ which patched layer is the first
media layer on the media server. MagicQ expects layers to be sequential head numbers, e.g. set
you head numbers for your layers to 101 to 108.

Thumbnail view

MagicQ retrieves thumbnails from the media server and shows them on the screen for easy
selection of media banks and media images. The media server must be enabled in the Setup
Window, Media View for it to retrieve thumbnails. MagicQ can handle different media on each
media server thus making it easy to program larger configurations of media servers.

MagicQ retrieves thumbnails when a media bank is selected for the first time, or when the media
has been changed by the media server. MagicQ caches the thumbnails on its hard drive. You may
need to change to a bank a few times before all the thumbnails for that bank have been
downloaded.

To force a reload of all the media from the media server, move the cursor to the required media
server in the Media View of the Setup Window and press the ERASE CACHE soft button.

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The media thumbnails are also shown in the top 8 preview windows to indicate which media is
selected on each layer.

Live previews

MagicQ can connect to a media server to retrieve a live preview of the master output or of the
individual layers. This is very useful where the media server is remote to the console, or in a
multiple media server configuration.

Enable the Live Preview option in the Media View of the Setup Window.

The live preview is shown in the large window on the left of the Media Window. Choose using
the top soft buttons whether the preview shows the output, or the currently selected layer.

When connected to media servers that do not yet support live previews, the preview window will
show the image thumbnail from the 1st layer that has its intensity channel above zero.

Thumbnails and live previews on a Hippotizer V2

To get thumbnails on a Hippotizer ensure that the Hippotizer is configured with a user account vj
with password vj. The media folders on the Hippotizer must be shared along with the root
directory. Share the root of the C drive as C. If you are using the “Stage” version of the
Hippotizer then you must also share the root of the D drive as D.

To get live previews on a Hippotizer ensure the TCP/IP service is running.

Thumbnails and live previews on a Hippotizer V3

Hippotizer have changed the method for lighting consoles to access thumbnails and live previews
in version 3. The new method should be simpler and easier to configure. Ensure that on MagicQ
the version in set to 3 in the Setup, System,View Media window.

On V3 Hippotizer it is not necessary to share any folders on the Hippotizer.

Controlling the Hippotizers

To view images on the Hippotizers you to need to first select the master layer and perform a
LOCATE. This will initialise the settings for the master layer to their default values including the
level at 100%.

Open the Media Window (the button above the Macro button) to control the Hippo.

Select one of the layers and perform a LOCATE. This will initialise the layer. Now select
BEAM and use the two large encoder wheels to select an image bank and image.

The table below shows where the various parameters are found

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Function Attribute page

Master Key-stoning BEAM 1
FX 1 BEAM 2
FX 2 BEAM 3
Colour mixing COLOUR
Position, rotate, zoom, squash POSITION

Layers Media selection BEAM 1

FX 1 BEAM 2
FX 2 BEAM 3
Colour mixing, brightness, contrast COLOUR
Position, rotate, zoom POSITION

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Troubleshooting

If you do not have control of the Hippotizer at all, check:

• The MagicQ is connected to the Hippotizer via LAN or network crossover cable
• You can "ping" the MagicQ from the Hippotizer
• MagicQ is enabled to output Art-Net (Setup, View DMX I/O)
• Hippotizer is configured to the correct DMX universe and address
• MagicQ is patched with the masters and layers at the correct addresses

If you have control of the Hippotizer, but no thumbnails on V2, check:

• Hippotizer has a vj account with password vj

• The Hippotizer C drive root directory is shared as C
• The Hippotizer D drive root directory is shared as D (Stage version of Hippotizer)
• The Hippotizer media directories are shared

Any comments on how these instructions could be improved will be gratefully received at
support@chamsys.co.uk.

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