4. Import Fixture Type and grandMA Patch into PHOTON
This fourth step covers import of the .xml files tied to your show lighting fixtures.
Remove the USB stick from the grandMA console and insert it in your ALBION Controller server.
Launch PHOTON and open your current show project.
Open the I/O Manager module by pressing [Alt+I] or by selecting {System > I/O Manager}.
Click on the DMX tab.
In the “Fixtures” sub-window, click on the [Edit Fixture...] button to open the Custom Fixtures window.
Click on the import button (the arrow pointing in the right direction).
Using the Windows file browser, navigate to the USB stick and select the (*.xml)’ filter to see the various grandMA files.
Do a group selection with all your lighting project fixture type .xml files and click on the [Open] button. Your files will now be accessible from PHOTON.
Make the following verifications in order to avoid potential errors which could create malfunctions in your project:
Make sure the channels’ names, DMX footprint and Depth are correct for all imported fixtures by comparing to the data stored in the grand MA.
Set the correct type for each Attribute. ALBION moving light attributes should be assigned to the right PHOTON parameters. For example, TRACKING = Enable Tracking, COPID = Copernic ID, etc.
We recommend deleting channels you don't need to control in Photon in order to simplify the display of the Art-Net Attributes (Gobos, shutter, colors, etc.). The default universe value will be sent for all not patched channels. You can also Hide ('H' tickbox) them if you want to keep control on them.
Make sure the grandMA’s default Attributes and the Attributes created for ALBION do not reside on the same patch break. VYV recommends to leave the default Attributes on patch break 1 and assign the ALBION Attributes to patch break 2.
Check if there is any inversion on Attributes. Make sure inverted Attributes were kept that way when they were imported in PHOTON. Manually check the 'I' tickbox for inverted Attributes that were not interpreted correctly during import. Inversions can occur in 3 different places in the grandMa: in the patch layer (Pan inv. and Tilt inv.), in the fixture type attribute (invert) and in the fixture attribute options (From / To. Or From DMX / to DMX). These inversions can be combined, check them all.
Make sure the min and max values of pan and tilt are the same than in the grandMA (usually -540, 540 and -270, 270).
Make sure the min and max zoom values correspond to the values in degrees defined in the fixture’s technical documentation (ex : 5° to 40°).
Open the 3D Scene module by pressing [Alt+C] or by selecting {System > 3D Scene}.
Select the “Import Fixtures” option in the Primitive drop-down menu.
Using the Windows file browser, select the fixture layer file and click on the [Open] button. You should now see all of your lighting fixtures sorted by layer in the Scene Primitives List.
Some of the fixtures might not have been named correctly during the export process from the grandMA. We have encountered cases where a single fixture generated different names in the fixture layer and its fixture type XML output files. The names contained in the fixture layer file and the fixture type files have to be the same for Photon to instantiate the fixture. If such problem arises, a generic moving light primitive will be created but won’t be linked to the appropriate fixture in the I/O Manager. If you encounter this type of situation please contact us at support@vyv.ca. The issue can be resolved by modifying the content of the XML files using a text editor.
This is how a project is structured in the file generated by the grandMA.
1st Layer = Your grandMA project
2nd Layer = Fixture layer
3rd layer = Fixture (the actual moving light)
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