1.01	LIGHTING CONSOLE AND ACCESSORIES
A.	General
1.	The lighting control console shall be a microprocessor-based system specifically designed to provide complete control of stage, studio, and entertainment lighting systems.  The console shall be the SmartFade 2496 as manufactured by Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc., or equal.
2.	The system shall provide control of 512 DMX512 controlled dimmers or devices on a maximum of 96 control channels.  Any or all of the DMX512 outputs may be controlled by a channel.
3.	A maximum of 576 memories (cues), may be contained in non-volatile electronic memory.
4.	A playback fader pair shall be provided, with highest level operation between pair and last action operation within pair. Dynamic rate control shall be provided for playback within the memory stack.
5.	48 overlapping additive channel sliders shall provide access to individual channels.  The console shall provide three modes of operation: two-preset  mode, Normal mode and DMX Backup mode.  In two-preset mode, the console shall provide two scenes of 24 control channels each.  In Normal mode, the console shall combine the two-scene channel fader controls into one scene of 48 control channels with access to the second half of the available channel sliders via a page button.  In DMX Backup mode, 48 memory locations are available for recording and playing back the state of the entire DMX universe (512 levels). Selection of the operating mode shall be a menu option in the LCD display.
6.	Console software upgrades shall be made by the user via USB connection to a PC. Changing internal components shall not be required.
7.	The console shall provide an SD memory card socket allowing show data to be saved for archival or transfer to other consoles or a personal computer.
8.	Systems that do not provide the above capabilities shall not be acceptable.
B.	Controls and Playback
1.	Programming Section
a. 	The console shall provide an LCD with button and dial controls for navigation. The LCD shall provide system configuration, show data and channel level information.
b.	The console shall provide dedicated buttons for recording and editing memories, recording sequences and snapshots, copying memories and sequences, and creating random chases.
2.	Playback Section
a.	Two-Preset Operation
1)	Fading between scenes shall be accomplished with the crossfader pair.  Each crossfader may be operated manually in real time or may be assigned a time.  Timed crossfades are assigned using the LCD and dial for proportional modification of cue timing.  The actual modified time value for the cue shall be dynamically displayed as the rate is altered.
b.	Normal Operation
1)	Normal mode shall provide manual single scene operation via channel faders, two scene operation using a combination of the channel faders, the [Next] key and the [Go] key, and memory operation via pages of recordable memories and cue stack playback. Switching among these playback options shall be provided through direct keys.
c.	DMX Backup operation
1)	DMX Backup mode shall provide one memory location per channel fader. Each memory location shall store the static state of the full DMX universe (512 channels) at the time of recording.
3.	Channel Faders
a.	48 proportional, fully overlapping faders shall be provided with 45mm potentiometers and bump buttons.
b.	The 48 faders shall provide direct manual control of the first 24 or 48 channels, depending on console model and mode of operation.  Channel levels may be affected at any time by the individual channel sliders.
4.	Master faders and Blackout key
a.	A 60mm Master potentiometer shall be provided that shall master output levels of all channel faders and the crossfader.  An alternate action Blackout key shall be located near the Master fader.
b.	A 60mm Bumps potentiometer shall be provided that shall master the maximum output level of the channel bump buttons.
C.	Operating Modes
1.	Two Preset Mode
a.	Two Preset mode shall provide two banks of 24 channel faders and a manual/timed crossfader.
b.	The mode shall provide both 1-to-1 and custom DMX patches. All 512 DMX addresses may be patched to the 24 available channels.
c.	Channel faders shall have bump buttons that illuminate to mimic the output level. Bumps shall operate in pile-on and solo modes.
d.	A bump level master shall be provided.
e.	A grand master fader and black out button shall be provided.
f.	Two independent channels shall be provided with on/off functionality. Independents may be patched like any other channel.
g.	Output levels shall be displayed in the LCD menu.
h.	DMX merge functionality shall be provided.
2.	Normal Mode
a.	Normal mode shall provide 96 channels in two blocks of 48 faders. Channel faders shall have bump buttons that illuminate to mimic the output level. Bumps shall operate in pile-on and solo modes.
b.	The mode shall provide both 1-to-1 and custom DMX patches. All 512 DMX addresses may be patched to the 96 available channels.
c.	The Next function shall allow manual, preset -style playback of all 96 channels using the two blocks of channel faders and the crossfader GO button.
d.	Faders shall also control up to 576 (12 pages of 48) recordable memories. Memories shall record user-selected channel levels or console-generated random levels.
e.	Four faders shall provide control of up to 48 sequences (12 pages of 4 faders). Sequences shall include up to 24 steps containing channel levels and/or recorded memories, or console-generated random chases. Steps shall be editable and steps shall be able to be individually deleted and inserted.
f.	A cue stack of up to 199 steps shall be provided. Steps shall be editable and steps shall be able to be individually deleted and inserted.
g.	The cue stack and sequences shall be able to be played back using manual fades, timed fades, or overridden timed fades using the Rate function.
h.	Preview of recorded memories and sequences shall be provided in the LCD display.
i.	Snapshot memories shall provide temporary storage of up to 10 looks.
j.	An Undo command shall undo the last record command executed.
k.	A bump level master shall be provided.
l.	A grand master fader and black out button shall be provided.
m.	Two independent channels shall be provided with on/off functionality.  Independents may be patched like any other channel.
n.	Output levels shall be displayed in the LCD menu.
o.	DMX Input functionality shall be provided. DMX Input may either be merged with DMX output from the console, or mapped to a fader for control.
3.	DMX Backup Mode
a.	DMX Backup mode shall provide 48 memories of 512 channels each.
b.	Memories shall be available for manual playback on the memory faders and for crossfader playback in a pre-formatted 48 step sequence. Crossfader playback shall be adjusted using the Rate button and the dial.
c.	Memories shall record the DMX output of the console. DMX output shall be generated by DMX input to the console.
d.	The console shall be able to pile-on its levels with the DMX input levels or to automatically take control if the DMX input fails.
4.	MIDI Operation
a.	In DMX Backup mode, multiple consoles shall be able to connect via MIDI to provide DMX Backup for multiple universes. Critical playback operations performed on the master console shall be followed by the slave consoles.
b.	The console shall be able to receive MIDI data from a time-based sequencer or show control system.
c.	Two consoles shall be able to be connected via MIDI to double the available channel count. One unit is set to master and the other to slave. DMX Input on the master console shall provide merge functionality.
D.	Interface Options
1.	The console shall provide connectors for the following:
a.	AC or 12V DC input for external power supply
b.	DMX512/1990 outputs (one connector)
c.	DMX512/1990 input (one connector)
d.	MIDI In
e.	MIDI Out
f.	USB input (Series B device connector)
g.	SD Memory Card socket
E.	Displays
1.	The console shall support connection via USB to the SmartSoft software application. SmartSoft shall run on either a PC with Windows XP or Windows 7 OS, or on a Macintosh computer with OS X. SmartSoft shall provide live display of show data and on screen data editing. The show file may be stored directly to and opened from the hard disk of the computer as well as to/from the SD card on the SmartFade console.
F.	Physical
1.	All operator controls and console electronics for a standard system shall be housed in a single desktop console.
2.	SmartFade 2496 console shall be 27" nom. wide x 10" x nom. deep x 2.5" nom. high (including controls). Weight APPROX 3.6kg ~ 8lbs.
3.	Console power shall be 12V AC or DC via an external power unit.  The power unit shall operate with 90-265VAC line voltage, 50 or 60Hz.