Loading...
 

Single and Multi-Fixture Calibration

To calibrate a fixture, measurement points must be collected. Measurement points are samples of fixture and BTBeacon data collected by the BTSystem.

You can collect measurement points for a single fixture or multiple fixtures. Each fixture requires its own measurement points to calibrate correctly.

Attention: For accurate fixture calibration to occur, ensure that BTSensors are correctly calibrated and accurate first.

Collecting Calibration Data for a Single Fixture

To collect measurement points for a single fixture

  1. In BlackTrax, in the Fixture Calibration View, in the Fixtures section, select the Preset number from the Preset: drop-down list. You may click Rename to type a new name for the selected preset.
    • Note: The preset numbers displayed will not change.
    • Result: The measurement points for the single fixture will be collected under this preset number, which can be recalled in the Edit Chapters widget and displayed in the Running Chapters widget.
  2. In BlackTrax, in the Fixture Calibration view, in the Fixtures section, select the fixture that needs to be calibrated.
  3. A BTBeacon will be used to calibrate the fixture. Click Assign Beacon to view a drop-down list of all available BTBeacons.
  4. Select the desired BTBeacon from the drop-down list.
    • Result: The selected fixture will follow the selected BTBeacon in the Space.
  5. In the Physical Space, take the chosen BTBeacon. Make sure that a single Stringer is connected to port 1 of the BTBeacon.
  6. Move the BTBeacon to a point within the Space.
    • Result: The selected fixture should be following the BTBeacon in the Space.
    • Attention: The LED of the Stringer must be visible to 2 or more BTSensors simultaneously for tracking to occur.
  7. At a point in the Space with the fixture following the BTBeacon, in BlackTrax click Freeze Beam.
    • Tip: Pressing the A button on the BTBeacon being tracked activates Freeze Beam remotely.
    • Result: The fixture will stop in place.
  8. In the Physical Space, put the Stringer LED as close to the center of the fixture beam as possible.
  9. With the LED still in the center of the beam, in BlackTrax click Collect Data Point.
    • Tip: Pressing the B button on the BTBeacon being tracked activates Collect Data Point remotely.
    • Result: BlackTrax will collect the data of the BTBeacon and fixture as a measurement point when Collect Data Point is selected. It will add the data to the Fixture Calibration Points section. The fixture will unfreeze and continue following the BTBeacon. The fixture will also pan-flip after collecting a point to ensure you are collecting points on both sides of the tilt range.
  10. At a different location in the Space, repeat steps 5 to 8 until you create a total of 5 measurement points.
    • Attention: The minimum number of measurement points needed for calibration is 5.
    • Note:
      • For best results the measurement points samples should be at different points in the Space, creating different pan and tilt angles. It is recommended to take measurement points in different areas of the Space and at different heights, creating the most variation.
      • Points should be collected until the fixture is calibrated (typically 5-8 but sometimes more). The fixture will auto-calibrate after each point once 5 points have been achieved. Auto-calibration feature can be turned off in settings.

Collecting Calibration Data for Multiple Fixtures

Multiple fixtures can be calibrated at the same time to speed up the fixture calibration process. It may be easier to first assign the desired fixtures into a single fixture group. The fixtures are calibrated as normal by capturing measurement points for each fixture, but with the additional ability to cycle through the fixtures in the fixture group.

To create a fixture group

  1. In the Fixture section, select the fixtures that need to be calibrated.
  2. In the Group drop-down list, select New Group From Selected....
    • Result: The New Fixture Group window appears.
  3. In the New Fixture Group window, enter a name for the fixture group in the Group Name field.
  4. Click OK.
    • Result: The selected fixtures are joined in a fixture group.

To collect measurement points for multiple fixtures

  1. In BlackTrax, in the Fixture Calibration View, in the Fixtures section, select the Preset number from the Preset: drop-down list. You may click Rename to type a new name for the selected preset.
    • Note: The preset numbers displayed will not change.
    • Result: The measurement points for the multiple fixtures will be collected under this preset number, which can be recalled in the Edit Chapters widget and displayed in the Running Chapters widget.
  2. In BlackTrax, in the Fixture Calibration view, in the Fixtures section, use CTRL to select all fixtures you want to calibrate.
  3. A BTBeacon will need to be used to calibrate the fixtures. Click Assign Beacon to view a drop-down list of all available BTBeacons.
  4. Select the desired BTBeacon from the drop-down list.
    • Result: The selected fixture will follow the selected BTBeacon in the Space.
  5. In the Physical Space, take the chosen BTBeacon. Make sure that a single Stringer is connected to port 1 of the BTBeacon.
  6. Move the BTBeacon to a point within the Space.
    • Result: The first fixture of the selected fixture group should be following the BTBeacon in the Space. All fixtures will follow the BTBeacon in the Space. Only the active fixture will turn on, the rest are doused.
    • Attention: The LED of the Stringer must be visible to 2 or more BTSensors simultaneously for tracking to occur.
  7. At a point in the Space with the fixture following the BTBeacon, in BlackTrax click Freeze Beam.
    • Tip: Pressing the A button on the BTBeacon being tracked will activate Freeze Beam remotely.
    • Result: The fixture will stop in place.
    • Attention: You will not be able to use Freeze Beam if the BTBeacon is not tracked within the Space.
  8. In the Physical Space put the Stringer LED as close to the center of the fixture beam as possible.
  9. With the LED still in the center of the beam, in BlackTrax click Collect Data Point.
    • Tip: Pressing the B button on the BTBeacon being tracked activates Collect Data Point remotely.
    • Result: BlackTrax will collect the data of the BTBeacon and fixture as a measurement point when Collect Data Point is clicked. It will add the data to the Fixture Calibration Points section. The fixture will douse, flip, then the next fixture in sequence will turn on.
  10. Collect a measurement point for the currently selected fixture.
  11. Continue cycling through fixtures and collecting measurement points at the current location until every fixture has one measurement point at that location.
  12. At a different location in the Space, repeat steps 5 to 10 until you create a total of 5 measurement points for each fixture.
    • Attention: The minimum number of measurement points needed for calibration is 5.
    • Note: For best results the measurement points samples should be at different points in the Space, creating different pan and tilt angles. It is recommended to take measurement points in different areas of the Space and at different heights, creating the most variation.

To calibrate a fixture using collected measurement points

Once measurement points are created for a fixture, they can be used to create calibration data for the fixture and determine the fixtures calibrated position.

  1. In the Fixtures section, select the fixture that needs to be calibrated.
    • Note: In the Fixture Calibration Points section, have a minimum of 5 measurement points created.
  2. Click Calibrate Selection.
    • Result: Calibration data is created from the measurement points and displayed in the Calibration Results section under the Calibration Status column. The Calibration Status is automatically applied to fixtures. In the Fixtures section, the Calibrated field for the fixture will change to (green) to indicate that calibration data was created and that it is applied to the fixture. In the Fixture Calibration Points section, in the Calibration Error (Residual) column, residual values are created for each measurement point.

Copying Calibration Data Presets

Fixture calibration data can be copied between Presets in the Copy to Preset window.

To copy a calibration preset

  1. In the Fixtures section of the Fixture Calibration View, right-click on a Fixture (or Fixtures) with calibration data that you want to copy.
    • Tip: Use the keyboard Ctrl or Shift to select and right-click multiple fixtures. 
  2. Select Copy to Preset from the menu options that appear.
    • Result: The Copy to Preset window appears and displays: the list of Presets (ID and Name) where you can paste the copied calibration data, the name of the Preset that will be copied, and the number of selected Presets.                                                          CopytoPreset240 Copy to Preset window
  3. On the Copy to Preset window, click on a Preset (or Presets) where the calibration data will be copied to.
    • Result: The selected Preset (or Presets) is highlighted.
    • Notes: 
      • Use the keyboard Ctrl or Shift to select and highlight multiple Presets.
      • Clear Selection: You may click the Clear Selection button to clear your selected Presets and remove the highlight.
      • Select All: You may click the Select All button to select and highlight all the Presets displayed in the Copy to Preset window.
  4. Click the Copy button.
    • Result: The fixture calibration data is copied to the selected Preset and the Copy to Preset window will close.

 

History