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Pharos Controls

Dynamic Lighting Control for Iconic Installations

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You are here: Home / Products / VLC+

VLC+

VLC+

The Pharos Designer VLC+ (Video Lighting Controller+) is designed to control the world’s largest HD video and lighting façade projects.

Technical Details

Powerful processor

The VLC+ renders multiple layers of effects and HD video from internal storage or live input, and features processing including rotation and masking. Up to an unprecedented 3,000 universes (1,536,000 channels) of eDMX and DVI-D can be output from a single control unit with integrated show control.

Playback two full HD videos, while seamlessly crossfading into two further videos

Wrap video content around a structure, with the built-in video composition reducing the need for external equipment

Offers simultaneous playback and blending of multiple layers of video, picture-in-picture and adjustable masking

Translate and rotate multiple layers of content during playback

Features

Render Engine

Make your light fixtures a canvas onto which you can paint with creative effects or video playback. The powerful Pharos Designer 2 software allows you to build your fixture layout fast with pixel-precise adjustment. Then use individually controllable and independently running timelines to build dynamic, striking, pre-programmed lighting displays across your canvas. Read more

Designer Trigger

Designer Trigger is a rules engine that uses conditional logic and a broad range of interfaces and protocols so you can control your lighting with responsive, reactive programming. Send and receive any command, to and from any system. Conditional logic is supported, along with a powerful built-in scripting language for unlimited flexibility. Read more

Massive Capacity

Big just got a whole lot easier. The VLC+ can output all commonly used eDMX protocols (sACN, Art-Net, KiNET, as well as the EDN), over Gigabit Ethernet and there are no restrictions on using these protocols simultaneously. The VLC+ renders effects and video from internal storage or live input onto a canvas up to 16,000 pixels wide or high, and can output from 50 up to 3,000 universes of eDMX from a single unit.

Composition Engine

Programmed using our Designer 2 software, the powerful composition engine lets you move and rotate video content in real time, apply custom masks for video transparency, and apply colour and intensity gains to user-defined areas of the image.


High Definition

Live video can be captured on the DVI-D input at resolutions up to 1080p60. Dual 1080p30 internal playback means two full HD video streams can be played by the video lighting controller, and cross-faded seamlessly into two further streams. In total, up to eight players are available, subject to performance limitations. Support for all major formats such as H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, MJPEG and QuickTime with the built-in 512GB SSD provides plenty of capacity for media storage.


Remote Management

Future-proof your lighting projects by connecting your Designer Controllers to Pharos Cloud. This allows remote, but direct, control of your controllers from anywhere in the world, letting you check the status, fire triggers, schedule events, upload new projects and much more. All through one portal, accessible at your own Internet domain. Read more


Scalable

The right fit for every installation. Multiple Pharos Designer controllers can be seamlessly linked together to work as one via a standard Ethernet network to synchronise your façade and your interior lighting automatically. For additional integration options simply add Remote Devices to further extend the network. Whether one controller or many, it’s all easily programmed using our Designer 2 software. Read more


Perfect for very large video and lighting applications such as observation wheels, bridges, and stadia

Rugged Unit

Rugged 2U 19″ device is self-contained using its 512GB SSD for media, ensuring dependable, 24/7 operation. Designed and manufactured in the UK, with a 5 year warranty.

Gigabit Ready

Separate Gigabit Ethernet ports for management and DMX-over-Ethernet (eDMX) output.

Easy to use

Easily build huge lighting projects for use across stadiums, architecture and landmarks with powerful Pharos Designer 2 software, with tools to simplify high pixel-count layouts

Video Layers

Additional video layers can be made available for playing up to 8 presets, media, text or other such content simultaneously, subject to hardware performance limits.


Unsure which controller to choose? Learn more about the LPC & VLC families here

TECHNICAL INFORMATION & DOWNLOADS

VLC+ Datasheet

Click on the image below to download the datasheet.

Download

Download Software

Download the latest version of our Designer software.

Download

Comparison Chart

See and compare features and specs of all our products.

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Supported Fixtures

LEDs

LEDs in any colour configuration (RGB, RGBW, 8 bit, 16 bit, tuneable white)

Fixture Library

Pharos offers an online fixture library with over 20,000 fixture profiles, for easy download of your luminaires

Output

sACN

ANSI E1.31 (with per fixture priority)

Art-Net

Art-Net, Art-Net 2, Art-Net 3, Art-Net 4 (configurable broadcast override)

KiNET

KiNET V1 (DMX out) and V2 (Port out); PDS/Data Enabler discovery

Pathport

Pathway Connectivity protocol

DMX512

Via the EDN or any other eDMX node

EDN

Can natively integrate with and output DMX through the ports of the EDN

SPI

Supports synchronous and asynchronous serial data output via the EDN + SDI

Scalable

Synchronises with up to 40 Pharos Designer Controllers over network

Simultaneous

Multiple protocols can be in operation simultaneously. Limited by patched channels, not universes used

Triggering & Integration

Startup

Commences programmed playback automatically on receiving power

Clock

Battery-backed real-time clock for calendar and time-based triggers

Astronomical

Sunrise/Sunset/Twilight and Lunar phases

Ethernet

UDP, TCP, Multicast; send/receive any Ethernet message

RS232 Serial

Configurable port; send/receive free syntax in ASCII, HEX or decimal

eDMX

sACN or Art-Net

Inputs

Contact closure, active low, active high or 0-24V analog level via RIOs

MIDI

MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode via RIO A

Timecode

Linear Timecode via RIO A (SMPTE, Film, EBU, NTSC)

Audio Level

Stereo 30-band spectrum analysis via RIO A

RS485 Serial

Via RIO; configurable port; send/receive free syntax in ASCII, HEX or decimal

DALI

Trigger on any message, via RIO D

Web Interface

Built-in or custom designed

Wall Stations

Integrate with BPS or TPS 5

Conditions

Full conditional logic support

Scripting

Lua scripting for total flexibility

IO Modules

Supports our extensive IO Module library for easy integration

Scalable

Supports Pharos Designer Remote Devices

Specifications

Certifications

CE compliant, UKCA compliant, ETL/cETL listed, may be used as part of a Title 24 compliant lighting control system

Power

100-240VAC / 50-60HZ / 0.4-0.2A
40W typical (100W maximum)
IEC connector with switch (power cable not supplied)

Data Storage

Internal 512GB SSD (supplied)

Configuration

Pharos Designer 2.5 or later

Temperature

0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F)

Physical

19″ Rack unit, 2U, 16″ deep

Recovery

Hardware watchdog and recessed reset button

Warranty

5 years

Interfaces

Ethernet

Neutrik etherCon (RJ45 compatible) for 10/100/1000Base-TX Ethernet; Static IP or DHCP

eDMX

2 x internally-switched dedicated Ethernet port for eDMX; Neutrik etherCon (RJ45 compatible) for 10/100/1000Base-TX Ethernet; Static IP or DHCP

DVI-D Input

Live video input up to 1080p60

DVI-I Output

DVI-I output for monitoring patched pixels and DVI fixtures

Serial

RS232 via DB9 connector

USB

Two USB 2.0 Type A ports (for future development)

Audio Out

Stereo analogue & digital audio ports with RCA connectors

Order Code & Variants

VLC+ 50

Designer Video Lighting Controller Plus 50 (25,600 channels eDMX)

VLC+ 100

Designer Video Lighting Controller Plus 100 (51,200 channels eDMX)

VLC+ 250

Designer Video Lighting Controller Plus 250 (128,000 channels eDMX)

VLC+ 500

Designer Video Lighting Controller Plus 500 (256,000 channels eDMX)

VLC+ 1000

Designer Video Lighting Controller Plus 1000 (512,000 channels eDMX)

VLC+ 1500

Designer Video Lighting Controller Plus 1500 (768,000 channels eDMX)

VLC+ 3000

Designer Video Lighting Controller Plus 3000 (1,536,000 channels eDMX)

Downloads:

VLC+ Datasheet

VLC+ Specifications

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