Enttec S-play SP1

The revolutionary Smart Player for hassle-free, professional light shows and automated projects.

Not every project requires an on-site lighting operator to respond in real-time to an unpredictable performance. Often, the ideal light show is a standalone one: pre-programmed and set to play back flawlessly to predetermined events, precisely when and where you want it to.

Say hello to S-PLAY: The smart player for light shows.

In simple terms, think of it as being like a video recorder for lights – only so much more, because it can trigger non-lighting events too.

With intuitive, onboard controls to record, edit, schedule and play cues, you don’t have to be an experienced lighting designer or systems integrator to conjure up amazing performances using the S-PLAY, but your audience will think you are. Plug and play show technology has never before looked so good, or been this easy to master.

With countless applications from theatrical or entertainment events to architectural design and smart home integrations, S-PLAY is the dream companion for any automation project.

Why S-PLAY? Let’s take a closer look.

Do you need to run a light show featuring more than two DMX or LED pixel universes with without leaving a laptop on site to run mapping software?

With a huge 16U of playback, plus the complete flexibility that triggers and events provide, S-PLAY will take your installs to a level you never knew possible. To discover how, we’ll walk you through some of S-PLAY’s key features and processes.

Let’s begin with some simple terminology that we use for ease of operation when describing the main functions:

S-PLAY Glossary 

• CUE: The basic building block of your show – can be a static scene, or a dynamic recording.
• TRIGGER: Control information transmitted into the S-Play, allowing for the activation of a cue/playlist.
• EVENT: Control information transmitted out of the S-Play, allowing for the activation of an external device.
• PLAYLIST: A sequence of cues, triggers, and events stored as a group on a dynamic timeline.

The Interface

While S-PLAY’s handy onboard LCD menu is perfect for accessing key functions, especially while your show is underway, it’s the dedicated browser interface where you’ll get to experience the full power and versatility of S-PLAY at your fingertips.

RECORD

Record static or dynamic cues

Static scenes: Individually add or bulk assign DMX values to channels, or simply record them from a DMX source.

Dynamic recordings: Record a DMX source using the five-pin XLR ports, or Art-Net or sACN data via the network port.

Start and stop recording manually (perfect for simple, non-looping sequences), or configure precisely using remote triggers via the S-PLAY’s web browser home page (for more complex or seamlessly-looping shows).

The SPLAY’s internal and removable storage options allow for complete flexibility to accommodate incredibly complex shows. Save your recordings using the S-PLAY’s impressive 8GB internal memory, or expand your storage capacity with a micro HCSD card via the handy slot on the front of the unit.

ENTTEC recommends Class 10 (minimum write speed of 10MB/s or higher) for best performance and have successfully tested cards of up to 64GB capacity.

EDIT

Playlists

With easy access to your entire cue library within the web browser, simply drop your dynamic recordings or static scenes onto the timeline to create a playlist, then drag each cue around to set start and end times or transitions such as fading in or out.

Group multiple cues together in a sequence to be stored and played back at will. The S-PLAY’s engine also allows for multiple playlists to be triggered at the same time with varying priority levels.

Triggers

With support for OSC, RS232, DMX, Art-Net, sACN and digital input protocols, you can add up to 128 different external triggers for your shows to respond to.

Use the four dry contact inputs (GPIO) with sources as varied as a switch on the wall, a BMS dry contact relay (e.g. to allow DALI systems to control DMX playback) or even a PIR motion sensor. Save and name your trigger, then simply drag it onto the playlist timeline sequence to create new events to allow users to interact with your lighting.

PLAY

LED pixels

First and foremost, the S-PLAY was designed to be your go-to unit for the playback of LED pixel shows, which is why – in addition to the two DMX ports that can be assigned as outputs for your more traditional DMX fixtures – the S-PLAY also features the ability to playback sequences via sACN or Art-Net.

By using a Pixelator Mini, or a couple of Pixel Octos, Tritons or Pixel Ports you can easily expand your options to get 16U of pixel control. Alternatively, connect a pair of Storm 8s or Datagate MK2s for 16U of DMX output. Still need more universes? Just add more S-PLAYs!

But S-PLAY is far more versatile than you might imagine. With its ability to coordinate and control the many different components of an entire performance, S-PLAY allows you to integrate so much more than just lighting into your project.

Events

With the ability to create and name up to 128 events, you can use relays or RS232 to activate equipment as part of a live show or sequence, such as curtains or hydraulic effects that need to operate at a precisely-calculated moment.

What’s more, triggers can be used to generate short bursts of Art-Net, DMX, or sACN data to control fog machines or fans as well as lights with a higher priority than all active playlists. An event in one playlist can even be used to activate a trigger in another S-PLAY unit! The only true limit to the variety of external factors you can control using S-PLAY is your imagination.

Failsafe

In the event that an external device fails (preventing the triggering of an event within the S-PLAY), you can override and advance your playlist manually by simply pressing ‘play’ on either the intuitive LCD or web interface … and your show will continue as if nothing had gone wrong!

Hardware

The S-PLAY’s robust 1U half-width hardware allows for surface, truss and half-width rack mounting straight out of the box thanks to its innovative design (optional rack ears included).

It features a front-facing, full colour LCD and control buttons allowing intuitive navigation of the active playlists and configuration of the S-PLAY’s network settings. Full unit backup and restore can be undertaken by inserting a USB thumb drive and selecting the relevant options

Features

• Reliable and compact solid state design: the perfect tool for permanent installations.
• Web-based scene generator, timeline editor and comprehensive scheduler: simply drag and drop cues, events and triggers in the user-friendly interface.
• Play back static and dynamic scenes using multiple protocols via a wide range of I/O connectors.
• Versatile triggering options: send commands to remote hardware (e.g. Crestron, Control4, Philips Dynalite, Clipsal C-Bus).
• Control S-PLAY from an iPad or tablet by using one of the many Remote API options.
• Use DC power or the convenience of Power over Ethernet.

The rear of the unit is packed with useful I/O making the S-PLAY ready for virtually any project:

Inputs / outputs

• 10/100 network port with Power over Ethernet (If you are not using PoE, the S-PLAY supports a direct 12-24vDC power input through a DC jack)
• 2 x bi-directional 5-pin XLR DMX Ports for recording or playing back shows.
• Bi-directional serial port to send or receive RS232 commands.
• 4 x Digital contact closure inputs for detecting switching.
• 2 x change over relays for controlling analog or switchable hardware.