Which Controller Do I Need?

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Our controller families

If you’re not sure which Pharos 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 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 controllers and remote devices over Ethernet to create a cohesive system, all programmed in the same environment, with a combination of features to suit the project.

Our controllers are grouped into two families – the LPC family and VLC family – which differ in the control/programming method used:

LPC family

With completely flexible zoning/grouping, the LPC family has the versatility to control your fixtures however your project requires.

Featuring individually controllable and independently running timelines and scenes, you can build dynamic, precise, fully customisable pre-programmed lighting effects with the freedom of real-time manual overrides.

LPC

1/2/4 universes of DMX/eDMX control
Many integration options, including RS232, RS485, DMX in, MIDI and contact closures.
Rugged solid state device in installer-friendly DIN rail form factor

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 with customisable touch interface
Single Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) network connection

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 and DALI with customisable touch interface
Mains powered, 8 inputs and RS232

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

LPC X

10-100 universes of eDMX control
1U 19″ rack-mount form factor
Optional DVI live video input

Ideal for large installations requiring unrivalled programming power and flexiblity.

VLC family

The VLC family features exceptional value per universe for controlling lighting fixtures which are being used to form a “screen”.

Fixtures are arranged on a single canvas onto which video clips, live video input and effects can be played, using individually controllable timelines.

VLC

50-1500 universes of eDMX control
Cross-fade from one HD video playback to another
DVI live video input

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

VLC+

50-3000 universes of eDMX control
Cross-fade from two HD video playbacks to two others
Real-time video rotation, movement, gain and masking
Additional layers for low resolution video playback
DVI live video input

Ideal for advanced facade projects, observation wheels and wrap-around applications like stadia.

Capacity comparison

Universes of DMX/eDMX output per controller

Combine up to 40 controllers in a single Designer project

Detailed controller comparison

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Overview

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Key features	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Channels of DMX/eDMX output Channels can be flexibly mapped to DMX/eDMX universes	512	1024	2048	5120-51200	512	512	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	1	2	4	10-100	1	1	50-1500	50-3000
Controller family	LPC family	LPC family	LPC family	LPC family	LPC family	LPC family	VLC family	VLC family
Control concept	Fully flexible	Fully flexible	Fully flexible	Fully flexible	Fully flexible	Fully flexible	Single canvas	Single canvas
Built-in touch panel interface	-	-	-	-			-	-
Scalability	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Add extra controllers for increased capacityUp to a maximum of 40 controllers per project
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.
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	16	32	64	100	16	16	100	100

Interfaces

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DMX512 output	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in DMX512/RDM output ports Each up to 512 channels, RDM compatible, and individually isolated	2 (mirrored)	2	2	-	-	1	-	-
Additional DMX512 output ports with RIOLimited to 96 channels per port
Ethernet and eDMX output	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Dedicated eDMX output ports	-	-	-	1	-	-	1	2
Dedicated management Ethernet ports	-	-	-	1	-	-	1	1
Shared management Ethernet/eDMX ports	1	1	1	-	1	1	-	-
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 input	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in DMX512 input port For triggering and mastering, shared with RS232 and RS485 input (if applicable)				-	-	-	-	-
eDMX input via management portsACN, Art-Net, triggering and mastering, not at same time as DMX512 input (if applicable)
eDMX to DMX512 pass-throughLocal to a controller	1 universe	2 universes	2 universes	-	-	1 universe	-	-
DALI	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in DALI control buses	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Support for input triggering on DALI bus
Additional DALI buses with RIO D
Video	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Live video inputDVI-I, local to a controller	-	-	-	Optional	-	-
Confidence monitor video outputDVI-D	-	-	-		-	-	-
Outputs	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in relay output	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Additional relay outputs with RIO 44/08 Individually isolated (1KV) relay outputs (48V 250mA)
Inputs	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in input pins Freely divide inputs between supported modes	8	8	8	-	-	8	-	-
Additional input pins with RIO 80/44
Supports contact closure mode
Supports digital input mode
Supports analogue input mode
MIDI	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in MIDI input MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode				-	-	-	-	-
Additional MIDI inputs with RIO AMIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode
Built-in MIDI output MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode				-	-	-	-	-
Additional MIDI outputs with RIO A MIDI Notes, SysEx or Timecode
Audio	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
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)
Built-in analog audio outputTimeline programmable audio clips	-	-	-		-	-
Built-in digital audio output SPDIF. Timeline programmable audio clips	-	-	-		-	-
Serial	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
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
Infrared	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in infrared receiver	-	-	-	-			-	-
Additional infrared receivers with BPS/TPC/TPS
Learning infrared codes per TPC/TPS receiver	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16
Learning infrared codes per BPS receiver	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8

Layout and playback

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Fully flexible layout/programming (LPC family)	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	N/A	N/A
Fully flexible fixture grouping and layout							N/A	N/A
Fixtures may appear in multiple groups							N/A	N/A
Fixtures may appear in multiple layouts							N/A	N/A
Fixture template support							N/A	N/A
Single canvas layout/programming (VLC family)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	VLC	VLC+
Fixtures positioned freely on canvas	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Number of canvases Per controller	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	1
Fixture grouping For organisation/patching only	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fixture template support	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Video composition (VLC family)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	VLC	VLC+
Full HD video clip playback with cross-fading	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	2
Multiple video clip instances For duplicating content across across the composition	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Maximum number of simultaneous video playbacksPerformance may vary when playing more clips than the specified number of Full HD layers with cross fading.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	8
Colour gains with definable mask regions	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
Video clip transparency with user-definable masks	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
Video clip movement and rotationRun-time controllable	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-
Playback	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
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 override	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
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 Support	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
LED fixtures (RGB, RGBA, RGBAW, 8-bit, 16-bit, white)
Tunable white							-	-
Intensity channels (RGBI etc)							-	-
Generic fixtures							-	-
Automated/moving fixtures							-	-
Media servers							-	-
Fountain jets							-	-

Triggering

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Triggering logic	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Trigger / condition / action logic
Variables
Scripting
Built-in real-time clock for time based triggers
3rd party integrations	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Full IO module library support
Custom IO module support

Human Interaction

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Touch panel interfaces	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in touch panel interface	-	-	-	-			-	-
Additional touch panel interfaces with TPS/TPC
Selectable user interface styles
Fully customisable interface design
Fully customisable interface logic
Buttons	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Support for BPS button panels
Fully customisable logic/triggering
Web interfaces	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Built-in web server
PC and mobile device support
Supplied with Pharos-designed web interface
Fully customisable web interface
PC and mobile device support
Comissioning	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Comissioned with Pharos Designer Only relevant features are presented to the user
Remote management	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
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

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Mechanical	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
DIN rail mountable				-	-	EXT	-	-
Wall mountable	-	-	-	-		TPC	-	-
19" rack mountable	-	-	-	1U	-	-	1U	2U
Electrical	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
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
Warranty	LPC 1	LPC 2	LPC 4	LPC X	TPC	TPC + EXT	VLC	VLC+
Warranty period	5 years	5 years	5 years	5 years	5 years	5 years	5 years	5 years