Visual act Stage Control System used when testing Visual act 3D. Photo by Team Velocity Stunts

The Visual act Stage Control System is an integral part of all Visual act installations.

The system can move and position any theatrical equipment, from simple battens to advanced multiple axis machines.  Axes can be controlled by a variety of interfaces, including Canopen, Profibus, and Ethercat as well as traditional analogue and digital signals.  An independent routine controls the status of all axes both during movement and while at rest.  The relative positions of synchronized axes are also controlled continuously.

Positions and speeds are used to create movements, which are organized in ques and productions.  All of these elements can be reused, copied and moved.  Descriptive text can be provided for all elements.  The size of the database is, in practice, infinite such that older productions can be retained or archived for reuse or documentation.

Motion is controlled by one or more joysticks, allowing simple and instinctive control of speed and direction.  Movements and ques can be stopped and started during motion.  Links can be added to create sequences and special effects.  With optional modules, links can also be made to other control systems by the use of DMX, time code or other standard protocols.  A single key press switches between programming and motion.

The operator desk has been developed in close cooperation with active users.  The simple, intuitive user interface is easy for the beginner to learn and use.  The professional user will find tremendous flexibility and a comfortable workplace designed for use over long periods without fatigue.

The operator can skip ques or move easily to an earlier que.  An “on the fly” movement puts all axes in appropriate start positions for a que.  Similarly, a “start que” automatically controls the use of all the axes in a show, and makes for simple and effective control of start positions and preset.

Several desks can be used simultaneously.  The server makes certain that only one user can be in control of an axis, and informs as to who is in control of the axes.  The desks are totally independent of each other so that one can be removed from the system without effect on any other.