Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: help about Christie Act Automation controller

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Posted by Muhammad Shoaib (Member # 9424) on 07-24-2016, 11:35 AM:

Dear Sir/Madam
I want to learn that how to configure roof lights with Christie Act Automation,and what would i need to do so.
Kindly Share your precious knowledge with me.
Thanks

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-25-2016, 07:32 AM:

First, ask the moderators to move this topic to the Digitial Cinema forum. Have you tried looking at the manuals first?

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 07-25-2016, 11:42 AM:

If asking to move this to the DC forum is first, wouldn't reading the manual be second? [Razz]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-25-2016, 01:36 PM:

Moving it here is the third thing I wold do. Having already looked at the manual and then smashed the ACT to bits using an 8 pound sledge hammer. Absolutely AWFUL automation!!

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-25-2016, 04:28 PM:

The ACT doesn't take pity on the uninitiated. You can use it primitively without too much effort but if you want to use its power, you need to get into its scripting thing

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 07-25-2016, 05:45 PM:

You have to get the scripting manual separately. At least, that was my experience. Christie will email it to you if you ask.
What little there is in the users' manual is pretty useless.
I haven't conquered the programming yet, it is not well explained.
Just raising and lowering the lights should be a pretty easy operation if you are not trying to get the ACT to do the heavy work. Send an on/off signal to the lights and or dimmer.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-25-2016, 06:05 PM:

I've been through the whole scripting thing with those when they were brand new. ITS NOT WORTH IT. There are much better automation options available out there for the same or less money that are miles ahead and offer way more flexibility than the act ever could...

Mark

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-26-2016, 05:46 AM:

I think you underestimate the ACT's flexibility. I has a lot of it BUT you have to know how to use it. Everything is flexible on it. You have serial ports you have an undefined number of Ethernet devices you can control, there are high and low current relays to control, there are front panel buttons that are completely configurable...there are LEDs on the front that can be used for any form of communication desired. BUT you have to get into the scripting thing to make use of it all. And if you DO...then you can clone your design VERY easily since, for the most part, the scripts don't contain any IPs...you merely apply those on installation so that the sound processor and projector...etc are defined to your scripts. It CAN be powerful. However, it isn't what 90% of the people really want/need.

I'm an eCNA guy...it isn't AS powerful but it has that right mix of power, configurability and flexibility for us. Lots of people are into the JNIOR. It packs a pretty good punch for its price range. Note, it too has a learning curve but it seems to satisfy many people. And even further down the food chain are those that just use the GPIO of the various servers to deal with the lights and maybe sound.

Then again, at the upper-end you could use something like AMX or Crestron where again, the sky is the limit on what you want the "automation" to do but it is entirely up to the programmer to make that happen and happen well.

I don't discount the ACT so much as to declare that, at this time, it isn't for me. I've been able to get it to do things and admire its potential but I don't find the application in the installations we've done where it is the best fit.