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Which controller do I need?

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Home Products Which controller do I need?

Our controller families

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 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 system can be scaled by combining multiple Pharos 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.

Our controllers are grouped into two families – the LPC (Lighting Playback Controller) family and VLC (Video Lighting Controller) family – which differ in the control/programming method used:

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

LPC

  • 1/2/4 universes of DMX/eDMX
  • 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.

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.

LPC X

  • 10-100 universes of eDMX
  • Optional DVI input

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

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 as well as rotation, movement, masking, wrapping and more

Ideal for controlling the lighting of advanced facade projects, observation wheels and wrap-around applications like stadiums.

Capacity comparison

Universes of DMX/eDMX output per controller

capacity-comparison-v2

Combine up to 40 controllers in a single Designer project

Detailed controller comparison

Select products to compare

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Overview

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Key featuresLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Channels of DMX/eDMX output Channels can be flexibly mapped to DMX/eDMX universes512102420485120-5120051251225600-76800025600-1536000
Equivalent universe count Controller output is limited by channel count not universe count. Channels can be flexibly mapped to DMX/eDMX universes12410-1001150-150050-3000
Controller familyLPC familyLPC familyLPC familyLPC familyLPC familyLPC familyVLC familyVLC family
Control conceptFully flexibleFully flexibleFully flexibleFully flexibleFully flexibleFully flexibleSingle canvasSingle canvas
Built-in touch panel interface----YesYes--
ScalabilityLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Add extra controllers for increased capacityUp to a maximum of 40 controllers per projectYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Add extra controllers for extra interfaces/featuresControllers work seamlessly together as a single system. Most interfaces can be used by any controller in the system. Some limitations apply.YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Add Pharos remote devices for extra interfaces/featuresYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Add Pharos wall stations for human interfacesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
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

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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 20Limited to 96 channels per port for the RIO, or 20 full universes for the EDN 20YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Ethernet and eDMX outputLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Dedicated eDMX output ports---1--12
Dedicated management Ethernet ports---1--11
Shared management Ethernet/eDMX ports111-11--
Multi-protocol eDMX output sACN, Art-Net, KiNET and Pathport support YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
UDP/TCP/Multicast send/receive Send/receive of any Ethernet message/syntax; UDP, TCP, Multicast via management Ethernet portYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
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)YesYesYes-----
eDMX Input via Data portSingle Eternet port devices accept eDMX via main portYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
eDMX to DMX512 pass-throughLocal to a controller1 universe2 universes2 universes--1 universe--
DALILPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in DALI control buses-----1--
Support for input triggering on DALI busYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Additional DALI buses with RIO DYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
VideoLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Live video input via DVI-DDVI-D (Dual-Link), local to a controller---Optional--YesYes
Confidence monitor video output via DVI-IDVI-I (Dual-Link)---Yes---Yes
OutputsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in relay output--------
Additional relay outputs with RIO 44/08 Individually isolated (1KV) relay outputs (48V 250mA)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
InputsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in input pins Freely divide inputs between supported modes888--8--
Additional input pins with RIO 80/44YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Supports contact closure modeYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Supports digital input mode up to 24VYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Supports analogue input mode up to 24VYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
MIDILPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in MIDI input MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode YesYesYes-----
Additional MIDI inputs with RIO AMIDI Notes, SysEx or TimecodeYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Built-in MIDI output MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode YesYesYes-----
Additional MIDI outputs with RIO A MIDI Notes, SysEx or TimecodeYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
AudioLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in audio/timecode inputSupports multi-band audio spectrum analysis, or linear timecode (LTC)--------
Additional audio/timecode inputs with RIO ASupports multi-band audio spectrum analysis, or linear timecode (LTC)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Built-in analog audio outputTimeline programmable audio clips---Yes--YesYes
Built-in digital audio output SPDIF. Timeline programmable audio clips---Yes--YesYes
SerialLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in RS232 port Shared with DMX512 input and RS485 integration (if applicable)YesYesYesYes-YesYesYes
Additional RS232 ports with RIOYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Built-in RS485 port Shared with DMX512 input and RS232 integration (if applicable)YesYesYes-----
Additional RS485 ports with RIOYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Supports any syntax send/receive Send/receive free syntax in ASCII, HEX or decimalYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
InfraredLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in infrared receiver----YesYes--
Additional infrared receivers with BPS/TPC/TPSYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Learning infrared codes per TPC/TPS receiver1616161616161616
Learning infrared codes per BPS receiver88888888

Layout and playback

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Fully flexible layout/programming (LPC family)LPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTN/AN/A
Fully flexible fixture grouping and layoutYesYesYesYesYesYesN/AN/A
Fixtures may appear in multiple groupsYesYesYesYesYesYesN/AN/A
Fixtures may appear in multiple layoutsYesYesYesYesYesYesN/AN/A
Fixture template supportYesYesYesYesYesYesN/AN/A
Single canvas layout/programming (VLC family)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AVLCVLC+
Fixtures positioned freely on canvasN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AYesYes
Number of canvases Per controller N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A11
Fixture grouping For organisation/patching only N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AYesYes
Fixture template supportN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AYesYes
Video composition (VLC family)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AVLCVLC+
Full HD video clip playback with cross-fadingN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A12
Multiple video clip instances For duplicating content across across the compositionN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AYesYes
Maximum number of simultaneous video playbacksPerformance 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 regionsN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-Yes
Video clip transparency with user-definable masksN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-Yes
Video clip movement and rotationRun-time controllableN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-Yes
PlaybackLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Scenes for recalling static looksYesYesYesYesYesYes--
Timelines for programming dynamic effectsYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Simultaneous playback of scenes/timelines (as applicable)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
User-definable timeline prioritiesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Stacking last-action-takes-precedence playback Fixtures not controlled by a scene/timeline retain previous state YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Timeline loop or hold at endYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Real-time and astronomical timelines Useful for creating lighting effects that vary according to time-of-day, such as circadian rhythm effectsYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Timeline flagsYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Media clip playback from internal memoryYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Parameterisable 2D effectsYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Output overrideLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Manual colour overrideAny groupAny groupAny groupAny groupAny groupAny groupAny content targetAny content target
Manual intensity masteringAny groupAny groupAny groupAny groupAny groupAny groupAny content targetAny content target
Fixture SupportLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
LED fixtures (RGB, RGBA, RGBAW, 8-bit, 16-bit, white)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Tunable whiteYesYesYesYesYesYes--
Intensity channels (RGBI etc)YesYesYesYesYesYes--
Single channel fixturesYesYesYesYesYesYes--
Automated/moving fixturesYesYesYesYesYesYes--
Media serversYesYesYesYesYesYes--
Fountain jetsYesYesYesYesYesYes--

Triggering

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Triggering logicLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Trigger / condition / action logicYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
VariablesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
ScriptingYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Built-in real-time clock for time based triggersYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
3rd party integrationsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Full IO module library supportYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Custom IO module supportYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

Human Interaction

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Touch panel interfacesLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in touch panel interface----YesYes--
Additional touch panel interfaces with TPS/TPCYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Selectable user interface stylesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Fully customisable interface designYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Fully customisable interface logicYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
ButtonsLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Support for BPS button panelsYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Fully customisable logic/triggeringYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Web interfacesLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Built-in web serverYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
PC and mobile device supportYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Supplied with Pharos-designed web interfaceYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Fully customisable web interfaceYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
PC and mobile device supportYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
ComissioningLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Comissioned with Pharos Designer Only relevant features are presented to the user YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Remote managementLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Support for Pharos Cloud Simple, secure remote management from any Internet-connected device, anywhere, any time.YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Support for Pharos Director A tool for managing video content and scheduling for sites spanning multiple Pharos systemsYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

Physical

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MechanicalLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
DIN rail mountableYesYesYes--EXT--
Wall mountable----YesTPC--
19" rack mountable---1U--1U2U
ElectricalLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
PoE power inputYesYesYes-Yes---
DC power input9-48V DC9-48V DC9-48V DC-----
AC power input---100-240VAC-100-240VAC100-240VAC100-240VAC
Power consumption4W4W4W40W4W10W40W40W
WarrantyLPC 1LPC 2LPC 4LPC XTPCTPC + EXTVLCVLC+
Warranty period5 years5 years5 years5 years5 years5 years5 years5 years

Pharos Architectural Controls Limited
International House
7 High Street
Ealing Broadway
London W5 5DB
United Kingdom

+44 (0)20 7471 9449

sales@pharoscontrols.com

Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2004 - 2022 | Cookies | Privacy Policy | Company registered in England and Wales no. 05286891
  • Why Pharos?
    • What is Pharos?
    • Applications
      • Bridges & Structures
      • Water Features
      • Landscapes
      • Urban Spaces
      • Cityscapes
      • Facades
      • Heritage Architecture
      • Video Mapped Buildings
      • Themed Attractions
      • Museums & Exhibitions
      • Art Installations
      • Son et lumière
      • Venues
      • Stadiums & Sports
      • Retail
      • Hospitality
      • Residential
      • Healthcare
      • Places of Worship
    • Features
      • Intelligent Programming
      • Extensive Fixture Support
      • Powerful Pixel Mapping
      • Sophisticated Triggering
      • Remote Management
      • Easy Integration
      • Endless Scalability
      • Intuitive Software
      • Extreme Reliability
  • Products
    • Controllers
      • LPC Family
        • LPC (Lighting Playback Controller)
        • LPC X
        • TPC (Touch Panel Controller)
        • TPC + EXT
      • VLC Family
        • VLC (Video Lighting Controller)
        • VLC+
      • Which controller do I need?
    • Software
      • Designer 2
      • Director
    • Pharos Cloud
    • Wall Stations
      • BPS
      • TPC (Touch Panel Controller)
      • TPS
    • Remote Devices
      • EDN
      • BPS
      • RIO
      • RIO A (AUDIO)
      • RIO D (DALI)
    • Accessories
      • SDI
      • CVD / CCD
      • EXT
      • POE
      • RDM
  • Showcase
  • Downloads
    • Software
      • Designer 2
      • Director
      • Migrating to Designer 2
      • Software Archive
      • Legacy Designer 1
    • Brochures
    • Documentation
      • Datasheets & Specifications
      • Manuals
      • Application Notes
      • Wiring Diagrams
      • Document Archive
    • Resources
      • Custom Presets
      • Custom Web Interfaces
      • Drafting Aids
      • IO Modules
      • Project Files
      • Script Examples
      • Timeline Presets
      • TPC Interface Themes
      • Web Interface Themes
  • Support
    • Online Help
    • Video Tutorials
      • Online Training
      • Designer 2 Tutorials
      • Webinars
      • Pharos Cloud Tutorials
      • Introduction to Scripting
      • Large Projects
    • Tips & Tricks
      • Designer 2 Quick Tips Videos
    • Troubleshooting & FAQ
    • Training
    • Contact Support
  • About Us
    • News
    • Upcoming Trade Shows
    • Careers
    • Stay in Touch
    • Contact Us
Pharos Controls