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Pharos Controls

Pharos Controls

Dynamic Lighting Control for Iconic Installations

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Which controller do I need?

Designer Controller families

All programmed using Designer software, our Designer controllers are grouped into two families – the LPC (Lighting Playback Controller) family and VLC (Video Lighting Controller) family.

Most features and functionality are common to all Designer controllers, but the families do have a few specific differences in programming and playback methods dependant on whether you’re primarily controlling lighting or video content. 

If you’re not sure which Pharos lighting controller is right for your project, we hope the breakdown below will help you pick. A more detailed table of the features of each controller follows at the end of this page, or you can contact us for more information.

All Pharos Designer controllers interface with lighting fixtures via DMX, eDMX and DALI and feature show control, a wide range of integration options, are extremely reliable and come with a 5 year warranty as standard. For complete peace of mind and control over your installation, all controllers have a range of remote management options built-in, including a customisable web-server and support for Pharos Cloud.

A Pharos Designer system can be scaled by combining multiple Designer lighting controllers and remote devices over Ethernet to create a cohesive control system, all programmed in the same environment, with a combination of features to suit the project.

This explainer video provides an overview of the main differences between the families. There is also a webinar on this subject, and this Tips and Tricks covers more detail about differences in content processing, level of fixture control, mapping and playback.

Here’s a top level summary of the differences between the two families:

LPC Family

Versatile control to realise your lighting design

Controllers in the LPC family feature individually controllable and independently running timelines and scenes, letting you build dynamic, precise, fully customisable lighting effects with the freedom of real-time manual overrides, and the versatility of powerful show control and integration features.


LPC

1/2/4 universes of eDMX with 2 local DMX ports
RS232, MIDI and 8 inputs
DIN-rail mountable

Ideal for ‘fit and forget’ applications – the controller is commissioned once, then can be left to reliably do its job.


LPC X

10-100 universes of eDMX
Optional DVI input

Ideal for large lighting installations requiring unrivalled programming power and flexibility.


TPC

1 universe of eDMX
Customisable touch interface
Single-cable installation

Ideal for projects requiring a combination of lighting control and a smart user interface in a compact package.


TPC + EXT

1 universe of DMX/eDMX, DALI, RS232, 8 inputs
Customisable touch interface

Combine the TPC with the EXT extension to create a versatile, mains-powered, touch panel lighting control solution.

VLC Family

Play videos on a canvas that has lights as pixels

VLC lighting controllers are cost-effective solutions for huge LED pixel arrays. Play videos with smooth crossfades in different compositions from internal storage and live HD video input. The VLC family comes complete with powerful show control and integration features for ultimate real-time control.


VLC

50-1500 universes of eDMX
Display video or DVI input with smooth transitions

Ideal for mapping video to lighting fixtures used as a single large video screen.


VLC+

50-3000 universes of eDMX
Display two videos or DVI input with smooth transitions, rotation, movement, masking and more

Ideal for advanced façade projects, observation wheels and wrap-around applications like stadiums.

Capacity Comparison

Universes of DMX/eDMX output per Controller type

Combine up to 40 controllers in a single Designer project

Detailed controller comparison

Select products to compare:

Overview
Key FeaturesLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Channels of DMX/eDMX output Channels can be flexibly mapped to DMX/eDMX universes.
51210242048

5120
-
51200

512512

25600
-
768000

25600
-
1536000

Equivalent universe count Controller output is limited by channel count not universe count. Channels can be flexibly mapped to DMX/eDMX universes.
12410-1001150-150050-3000
Controller familyLPCLPCLPCLPCLPCLPCVLCVLC
Control concept

Fully
flexible

Fully
flexible

Fully
flexible

Fully
flexible

Fully
flexible

Fully
flexible

Single
canvas

Single
canvas

Built-in touch panel interface------
ScalabilityLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Add extra controllers for increased capacity Up to a maximum of 40 controllers per project.
Add extra controllers for extra interfaces/features Controllers work seamlessly together as a single system. Most interfaces can be used by any controller in the system. Some limitations apply.
Add Pharos remote devices for extra interfaces/features
Add Pharos wall stations for human interfaces
Number of remote devices supported Remote devices per controller, total in system cannot exceed 200, or limit according to number of controllers, whichever is reached first.
1632641001616100100
Interfaces
DMX512 outputLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in DMX512/RDM output ports Each up to 512 channels, RDM compatible, and individually isolated
2 (mirrored)
22--1--
Additional DMX512 output ports with RIO and EDN 20 Limited to 96 channels per port for the RIO, or 20 full universes for the EDN 20.
Ethernet and eDMX outputLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Dedicated eDMX output ports
---1--12
Dedicated management Ethernet ports---1--12
Shared management Ethernet/eDMX ports
111-11--
Multi-protocol eDMX output sACN, Art-Net, KiNET and Pathport support.
UDP/TCP/Multicast send/receive Send/receive of any Ethernet message/syntax; UDP, TCP, Multicast via management Ethernet port.
DMX512/eDMX inputLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in DMX512 input port For triggering and mastering, shared with RS232 and RS485 input (if applicable).
-----
eDMX Input via Data port Single Eternet port devices accept eDMX via main port.
eDMX to DMX512 pass-through Local to a controller.
1 universe
2 universes
2 universes--1 universe--
DALILPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in DALI control buses-----1--
Support for input triggering on DALI bus
Additional DALI buses with RIO D
VideoLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Live video input via DVI-D Live video input via DVI-D.
---Optional--
Confidence monitor video output via DVI-I DVI-I (Dual-Link)
------
OutputsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in relay output--------
Additional relay outputs with RIO 44/08 Individually isolated (1KV) relay outputs (48V 250mA)
InputsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in input pins Freely divide inputs between supported modes
888--8--
Additional input pins with RIO 80/44
Supports contact closure mode
Supports digital input mode up to 24V
Supports analog input mode up to 24V
MIDILPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in MIDI input MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode
-----
Additional MIDI inputs with RIO A MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode
Built-in MIDI output MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode
-----
Additional MIDI outputs with RIO A MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode
AudioLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in audio/timecode input Supports multi-band audio spectrum analysis, or linear timecode (LTC)
--------
Additional audio/timecode inputs with RIO A Supports multi-band audio spectrum analysis, or linear timecode (LTC)
Built-in analog audio output Timeline programmable audio clips
-----
Built-in digital audio output SPDIF. Timeline programmable audio clips
-----
SerialLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in RS232 port Shared with DMX512 input and RS485 integration (if applicable)
-
Additional RS232 ports with RIO
Built-in RS485 port Shared with DMX512 input and RS232 integration (if applicable)
-----
Additional RS485 ports with RIO
Supports any syntax send/receive Send/receive free syntax in ASCII, HEX or decimal
InfraredLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in infrared receiver------
Additional infrared receivers with BPS/TPC/TPS
Learning infrared codes per TPC/TPS receiver1616161616161616
Learning infrared codes per BPS receiver88888888
Supports any syntax send/receive
Layout and playback
Fully flexible layout/programming (LPC family)LPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTN/AN/A
Fully flexible fixture grouping and layout
N/AN/A
Fixtures may appear in multiple groups
N/AN/A
Fixtures may appear in multiple layouts
N/AN/A
Fixture template support
N/AN/A
Single canvas layout/programming (VLC family)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AVLCVLC+
Fixtures positioned freely on canvas
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Number of canvases Per controller
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A11
Fixture grouping For organisation/patching only
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Fixture template supportN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Video composition (VLC family)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AVLCVLC+
Full HD video clip playback with cross-fading
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A12
Multiple video clip instances For duplicating content across across the composition
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Maximum number of simultaneous video playbacks Performance may vary when playing more clips than the specified number of Full HD layers with cross fading.
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A28
Colour gains with definable mask regions N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-
Video clip transparency with user-definable masks N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-
Video clip movement and rotation Run-time controllable
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-
PlaybackLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Scenes for recalling static looks--
Timelines for programming dynamic effects
Simultaneous playback of scenes/timelines (as applicable)
User-definable timeline priorities
Stacking last-action-takes-precedence playback Fixtures not controlled by a scene/timeline retain previous state
Timeline loop or hold at end
Real-time and astronomical timelines Useful for creating lighting effects that vary according to time-of-day, such as circadian rhythm effects
Timeline flags
Media clip playback from internal memory
Parameterisable 2D effects
Output overrideLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Manual colour override
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any content target
Any content target
Manual intensity mastering
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any group
Any content target
Any content target
Fixture SupportLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
LED fixtures (RGB, RGBA, RGBAW, 8-bit, 16-bit, white)
Tunable white--
Intensity channels (RGBI etc)
--
Single channel fixtures
--
Automated/moving fixtures
--
Media servers
--
Fountain jets
--
Triggering
Triggering logicLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Trigger / condition / action logic
Variables
Scripting
Built-in real-time clock for time based triggers
3rd party integrationsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Full IO module library support
Custom IO module support
Human Interaction
Touch panel interfacesLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in touch panel interface
------
Additional touch panel interfaces with TPS/TPC
Selectable user interface styles
Fully customisable interface design
Fully customisable interface logic
ButtonsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Support for BPS button panels
Fully customisable logic/triggering
Web interfacesLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in web server
PC and mobile device support
Supplied with Pharos-designed web interface
Fully customisable web interface
PC and mobile device support
ComissioningLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Comissioned with Pharos Designer Only relevant features are presented to the user
Remote managementLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Support for Pharos Cloud Simple, secure remote management from any Internet-connected device, anywhere, any time.
Support for Pharos Director A tool for managing video content and scheduling for sites spanning multiple Pharos systems
Physical
MechanicalLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
DIN rail mountable--EXT--
Wall mountable----TPC--
19" rack mountable---1U--1U2U
ElectricalLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
PoE power input
----
DC power input
9-48V DC
9-48V DC
9-48V DC
-----
AC power input
-
-
-
100-240VAC
-
100-240VAC
100-240VAC
100-240VAC
Power consumption
4W
4W
4W
40w
4w
10w
40w
40w
WarantyLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Warranty period
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years
5 years

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