Until JLCooper starts offering a VidBlasterX edition of this controller you will need to recap some of the controller's buttons. This can be done quite easily using this (Word) template, transparent (overhead projector) sheets and a laser printer. As the horizontal row of player buttons has etched caps they cannot be used. Instead use the spare set of button caps you received with the controller (if you did not receive them JLCooper will ship them to you free of charge). The controller's firmware is also checked and you'll receive a notification if it needs to be replaced. You can download the firmware and the uploader utility from here.




This controller requires the JLCooper I/O module to be loaded. Connect the controller to your network through its ethernet port (USB is not supported). To configure the controller, power it on while pressing down both the F1 and C4 buttons. Make sure to set it to Client mode. (Instructions how to setup a direct connection between your controller and PC is given below.) Finish by pressing the controller's Enter button. It should now connect to VidBlasterX.


Storing & trimming a clip

Jog to the start of the clip and press IN. Jog to the end of the clip and press OUT. Find a free clip number (optionally select a different bank) and press the corresponding digit key. The digit key will now turn green indicating it is occupied. To recall a clip find one and press the corresponding key, which will turn red indicating the clip is loaded. You can trim the clips by changing its in & outs. To change an in or out point jog to its new position and press IN or OUT.


Controller buttons


1 2 3 4

Select "camera angle", i.e. which Slomo module is used for program or preview video.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Digit keys, used to store or recall a clip or enter a bank number (first press Shift).


C1 (playlists/playlist 1/exit)

Opens playlist mode. In playlist mode select playlist 1 or exit playlist mode.


C2 (playlist 2)

In playlist mode select playlist 2.


C3 (playlist 3)/prev clip)

In playlist mode select playlist 3 or previous clip in playlist.


C4 (prev/playlist 4/prev bank)

Selects the previous bank of clips. In playlist mode select playlist 4 or previous bank of clips.


C5 (playlist 5/add clip)

In playlist mode select playlist 5 or add clip to playlist.


C6 (playlist 6)

In playlist mode select playlist 6.


C7 (playlist 7/next clip)

In playlist mode select playlist 7 or next clip in playlist


C8 (next/playlist 8/next bank)

Selects the next bank of clips. In playlist mode select playlist 8 or next bank of clips.


Clear

Used to clear settings like in & out points. Activate this function by pressing once, the light will turn yellow.


IN

Marks in point (again). Use Shift > IN to go to in point. Use Clear > IN to clear the in point.


LIVE

Returns to live video. Any in & out points will be cleared, use Shift > LIVE to skip this step.


Option > C1 (stop record)

Stops recording. Recording is paused but playback functionality remains available.


Option > C2 (start record)

Resumes recording.


Option > C5 (export clip)

Exports IN/OUT selection for the current camera angle as compressed video file to the Clip Export Folder set in the Slomo modules. Often used for posting clips on social media.


OUT
Marks out point (again). Use Shift > OUT to go to out point. Use Clear > OUT to clear the out point.


PLAY

Plays from current position at 100% speed.


PVW

Select preview mode. Clear > PVW will sync preview timecode to program timecode.


Shift

Used to access secondary commands like go to in & out points. Activate this function by pressing once, the light will turn green.


TAKE

Performs a take.


X2

Select jog speed multiplier (1, 2, 4, 0.5).


Button colour codes for the large buttons are yellow (available) and red (active), for the smaller buttons green (available) and red (active).


Adding a clip to a playlist

In its simplest form adding a clip to a playlist requires just 3 button presses: C1 to open playlist mode, the playlist index and the clip to add from the current bank. If you want to insert a clip first use the clip buttons to mark the clip after which the new clip will be added.


Creating a direct cable connection between controller and PC

Typically the controller will be connected to a network for local, or to the internet for remote productions. For small productions or testing it may be preferable to connect the controller directly to the VidBlasterX PC with just an ethernet cable. If you have no experience in this, the list of instructions below may be used as a guide.


  1. The default setting for an ethernet port is DHCP. If there is no DCHP server offering you an IP, a random self assigned IP in the 169.254.x.x range will be used. This is not very suitable in our case, as we want full control of the IP in order to be able to tell the controller where to connect to. Best thing to do here is to assign a static IP address for the port in the 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x range, e.g. 192.168.1.10.


  1. Either disable Windows firewall for the ethernet port or create a firewall rule allowing communication with the controller.


  1. Set the controller to Function as a Client.


  1. Set the controller's DESTIP Address and DEST Port Numb to the IP address and port number of the ethernet port (this is displayed in the JLCooper I/O module).

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  1. The IP of the computer and the controller need to be different, but in the same subnet. So for the controller's IP Address enter e.g. 192.168.1.11.


  1. Change the subnet mask on the controller to 255.255.255.000.