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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
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<HEAD>
<TITLE>Q Light Controller Plus Plus Documentation</TITLE>
<SCRIPT SRC="utility.js" TYPE="text/javascript"></SCRIPT>
<link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
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<BODY onLoad="replaceqrc()">
<H1>Input/Output Mapping Howto</H1>
<p>This howto document tells you how to patch plugins and their input/output lines
(physical input/output devices) to QLC+'s universes.</p>
<p>
By default QLC+ provides 4 universes but you can add/remove them as needed.<br>
The input/output mapping is saved in the currently loaded project.
This allows you to port your project on another computer/OS without the need to
reconfigure it every time.<br>
If no project is loaded, QLC+ will keep the I/O mapping as a "fallback" configuration.
</p>
<H2 id="input-output-manager">Input/Output Manager</H2>
<P>
To access the Input/Output Manager, just click on the tab with the <img src="qrc:/input_output.png" width=32> icon
placed on the bottom of the QLC+ main screen.<br>
The screen is composed in this way:<br>
<ul>
<li>On the left hand side there is the list of internal universes that QLC+ can manage</li>
<li>On the right hand side there is the list of devices and their mapped inputs, outputs and feedback lines that QLC+ has detected</li>
<li>On the bottom right hand side there is a panel displaying brief information on the currently selected device</li>
</ul>
Every device has a checkbox whenever an input, output or feedback line is available.<br>
Each QLC+ universe can map a single input, a single output and a single feedback line<br>
</P>
<P>
Some plugins might require configuration before they can be used' so you might
not be able to see all inputs/outputs at first. The configuration button
is place next to the information panel and it is enabled if the plugin
allows any manual setting.<br>
The button icon is: <IMG SRC="qrc:/configure.png" width=32>
</P>
<H2 "adding-universes">Adding/Removing universes</H2>
<P>
QLC+ supports any number of universes, depending on the CPU limit of the device controlling them.<br>
On the left hand side of the Input/Output Manager there is a toolbar where you can add/remove, name
and configure universes.
</P>
<TABLE BORDER=1 class="qlcTable">
<TR>
<TD><IMG SRC="qrc:/edit_add.png"></TD>
<TD>Add a new universe. The universe will have a name like "Universe X",
where X is a progressive number assigned by QLC+ (and also the Universe ID).
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD><IMG SRC="qrc:/edit_remove.png"></TD>
<TD>Remove the currently selected universe.<br>
<B>Please be careful with this operation as it can compromise your project and cannot be reverted.</B><br>
When deleting a universe, if it is currently patched or some fixtures are mapped
on it, a popup message will appear asking for confirmation if the operation should
be completed or abandoned.
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD><B>Universe name</B></TD>
<TD>An arbitrary string that you can set to quickly identify the meaning of a Universe</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD><B>Passthrough</B></TD>
<TD>See <a href="#passthrough">below</a></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2 id="patching">Patching</H2>
<P>
To patch a plugin's input/output line to the selected universe, you need to place
a checkmark on that particular plugin's input/output line. You can have only one
line assigned to a universe at a time, so when you check another line, the
checkmark will <u>move</u> from its previous position to the one you just checked.<br>
If you don't see any line on a plugin, it means you don't have any device that QLC+
understands and you're left with the one and only (non-selectable) choice: <u>None</u>.
</P>
<P>
When an input/output line is checked, the corresponding universe information on the left hand side of the screen
will change and will display the new configuration set.<br>
The plugin information on the bottom right hand side of the screen will change as well and will give
you the new status of the plugin line.
</P>
<H2 id="passthrough">Universe Passthrough</H2>
<P>
When passthrough is enabled, universe just forwards what it receives in its input line to its output line.
This is useful for several things:
<UL>
<LI><B>Protocol converter</B>: when you want to use QLC+ to act as a
"protocol" converter. For example you can use this feature to
transparently map an ArtNet network to a DMX USB adapter or even MIDI.
</LI>
<LI><B>Monitor external data</B>: patch fixtures and watch the data in DMX
monitor
</LI>
<LI><B>Merge data from external controller</B>: Have external lighting desk
control some of the channels independently (for example conventionals)
and QLC+ control intelligent lights on the same universe.</LI>
<LI><B>Raspberry Pi</B>: forward data from QLC+ on PC while programming scenes;
when the workspace is transferred, Raspberry becomes main controller; the
devices are always connected to RPi</LI>
</UL>
<P>Passthrough data is not affected by QLC+ grandmaster or channel modifiers.
It is merged in HTP fashion with QLC+ output if there are any fixtures
patched at that channel (Note: it does not use LTP/HTP channel settings).
Blackout affects passthrough data.
</P>
<H2 id="input-and-feedback">Input and Feedbacks</H2>
<P>
When a plugin input line is checked, it gets enabled right away, so you can perform a basic test
to double check if your hardware is working properly with QLC+.<br>
Just move a fader/knob on your external device, and if everything works fine, you will see a
<IMG SRC="qrc:/input.png" width=32> icon appearing beside the corresponding universe
on the left side of the screen.
</P>
<P>
If your input device supports a return channel, QLC+ can send a visual/mechanical feedback
to it. Devices such as Behringer BCF2000 support this feature.<br>
At the moment feedbacks are supported only through MIDI, OSC and loopback.
</P>
<P>
To learn how to setup your external input device for the best use with QLC+, please
continue your reading with the <A HREF="howto-input-profiles.html">howto for input profiles</A>.
</P>
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