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        Device Profile: Hog iPC theater lighting console

        Doug | Date: Apr 28, 2006 | Comments: 1


        The Hog iPC console, from High End Systems, is a small, mid-range theater lighting controller controller based on an integrated PC motherboard (hence the name iPC) running Windows XP Embedded. It directly controls up to 2048 DMX dimmer channels with an additional 2048 channels available through USB connected devices.
        Hog iPC console
        (Click image to enlarge)
        The Hog iPC features ten playback faders for programming, and incorporates a backlit trackball with four programmable buttons for cursor and position control. Two 12-inch high-brightness touchscreen monitors with adjustable viewing angle are included. An output is also provided that enables optional use of a third monitor.

        High End lists the following key hardware features and specifications for the Hog iPC:
        • Integrated PC motherboard running Windows XP Embedded
        • Shock-mounted hard disk and re-writable CD drive
        • Four 512-channel "universes" of direct DMX output
        • Connectivity:
          • 10/100 Ethernet
          • Five USB ports
          • MIDI input, output, and thru supports MIDI Show Control and MIDI Time Code
          • Single LTC input via 3 pin female XLR connector
          • Audio -- mic, line in, line out
          • Serial and parallel ports
          • PS/2 keyboard and mouse
        • Video -- two VGA out, one DVI out

        Hog iPA rear panel

        The Hog iPC supports up to four additional DMX universes (a "universe" is a set of 512 control channels), for a total of 4096 channels, through USB-connected DMX "widgets" (shown on the left). Each widget implements a single 512-channel universe. Also available is a "Super widget" that implements four universes.

        High End says its Wholehog III operating software offers an advanced graphical user interface with an intuitive programming environment and a high degree of user configurability. The software includes libraries and functions for programming conventional lighting fixtures, plus "personalities" for a variety of automated fixture types. Cues and scenes can be triggered manually via the device's touchscreens, or from a wide variety of automated triggers including timecode and MIDI Show Control.

        About DMX

        Known officially as "DMX512 Digital Data Transmission Standard for Dimmers and Controllers," the DMX protocol is touted as the world's most widely used entertainment lighting control standard. DMX uses RS-485 differential signaling of asynchronous serial data, at 250 Kbps data rates. RS-485 accomodates up to 32 receiver loads. The DMX protocol supports up to 512 channels on one cable, known as a DMX "universe." Additional channels are accommodated by adding more universes.

        A DMX data "packet" consists of one byte of data for each of up to 512 channels, with channel 1 sent first. A break signal of at least two bytes duration serves as synchronization for the start of the packet. Each dimmer or multi-channel "dimmer pack" has a way to set a channel address. It then simply counts off the corresponding number of bytes until its data appears.

        More information on DMX512 is available at the USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) website.


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