NovaStar VX400 All-in-One Controller

1 Applications

The VX400 supports the following typical application scenarios:

Work as a video controller

This scenario involves using the VX400 as a central video controller. A control PC connects to the VX400 via USB for management. Input sources such as SDI, HDMI, and DVI can be connected to the VX400. The processed video output is sent to an LED screen via RJ45 Ethernet cables. A light sensor can also be connected to the VX400. A monitor can be connected to the VX400 for preview or monitoring.

Work as a fiber converter for long-distance transmission

In this mode, the VX400 functions as a fiber converter for long-distance video transmission. Input sources like SDI, HDMI, and DVI are connected to the VX400. The device operates in "Fiber Converter Mode". The output is transmitted via optical fiber to an LED screen, enabling long-distance connectivity. A monitor can also be connected.

2 Quick Configuration

Prerequisites

• The LED screen must be a regular screen.
• Cabinets of the screen must be regular cabinets with the same resolution.
• The following data flow settings are supported. During data flow settings, ensure that the physical connection of each port is along the same direction and downward to the next one.
• During data flow settings, ensure that Ethernet Port 1 is at the beginning position of the whole physical connection.

Procedure

1. Power on the VX400 and the LED screen.
2. On the home screen, press the knob to enter the main menu screen.
3. Navigate to Screen Configuration > Quick Configuration to enter the quick configuration screen.
4. Set Cabinet Row Qty and Cabinet Column Qty according to the actual row and column quantities of the cabinets.
5. Rotate the knob to select Port 1 Cabinet Qty to set the quantity of the cabinets loaded by Ethernet port 1.
6. Rotate the knob to select Data Flow (Front View) and press it, then select an appropriate physical connection for the cabinets. During data flow settings, you can view the real-time effects of different data flow settings on the LED display by rotating the knob. When you are satisfied with the LED display image, press the knob to save the settings.

[Notes]

• Cabinets loaded by Ethernet port 1 ≥ cabinets loaded by Ethernet port 2 ≥ cabinets loaded by Ethernet port 3 ≥ cabinets loaded by Ethernet port 4.
• The quantity of cabinets loaded by each Ethernet port must be an integer multiple of Cabinet Row Qty or Cabinet Column Qty of the screen.

3 Layer Operations

Add Layers

On the device front panel, locate and press the desired layer button in the CONTROL area. The button will flash, and the device screen will display the layer settings screen.

On the layer settings screen, rotate the knob to set the layer status to "On" to add a layer.

[Tip] You can also add a layer via menu operations. On the main menu screen, navigate to Layer Settings > Main Layer/PIP > Status, and select "On" to add the layer.

Rotate the knob to select Input Source and press the knob. Select the desired input source for the layer and press the knob to confirm.

The layer parameters are illustrated as follows: The greater the priority number, the higher the priority the layer has. For example, the main layer priority is 1 and the PIP priority is 2.

Switch Layer Input Sources

The VX400 offers two ways to switch the layer input source:

• Via menu operations
• Via front panel buttons

Via menu operations

On the main menu screen, navigate to Layer Settings > Main Layer/PIP > Input Source, select the desired source, and press the knob to confirm.

Via front panel buttons

Step 1: On the device front panel, locate and press the desired layer button in the CONTROL area. The button will flash, and the device screen will display the layer settings screen.

Step 2: Press the desired input source button in the INPUTS area to switch the layer input source.

[Notes]

• If you do not select a specified layer, pressing the input source button switches the input source for the main layer.
• The PIP layers do not support the mosaic source.

4 Preset Operations

The VX400 supports up to 10 user-defined presets. You can save the layer layout, input source, and other information as a preset for future use.

Save Presets

Prerequisites

You have completed the layer size, position, and related settings.

Procedure

1. On the main menu screen, navigate to Preset Settings > Preset 1 to open the preset operations window.
2. Rotate the knob to select "Save" and press the knob to confirm.

Save: Saves the current layer settings to a specified preset. If the target preset is already saved, it will be overwritten.

Load: Loads and applies the selected preset to the LED screen.

Clear: Clears all the layer data in a saved preset.

Copy To: Copies the preset to another preset.

Load Presets

1. On the main menu screen, rotate the knob to select "Preset Settings" and press the knob to enter the preset settings screen.
2. Rotate the knob to select a saved preset and press the knob to open the preset operations window.
3. Select "Load" and press the knob to apply the preset to the screen.

[Note] When the device shows the Preset Settings screen, the number buttons on the device front panel are lit. You can press a number button to quickly load a corresponding preset.

5 Backup Operations

The VX400 supports three kinds of backup: device backup, Ethernet port backup, and input source backup.

Device Backup

The connection diagram for device backup is shown below. After the hardware connections are completed, navigate to Advanced Settings > Device Backup on the main menu screen, and then set the devices as the primary and backup devices respectively.

[Notes]

• In device backup mode, the quantity of cabinets loaded by each Ethernet port on both the primary and backup devices must be the same, but their data flow must be in a reversed way.
• The layers and layer property settings on both the primary and backup devices must be the same.

Ethernet Port Backup

When setting the backup between the Ethernet ports, you need to complete it in NovaLCT. The connection diagram is shown on the right.

Log in to NovaLCT, and then navigate to Screen Configuration > Sending Card. Under the Sending Card tab, set the backup between Ethernet ports in the Redundancy area.

1. Click "Add" to open the Redundancy Settings window.
2. Set the serial number of the primary port on the left and the serial number of the corresponding backup port on the right.
3. Click "Add" to complete the backup settings of an Ethernet port.
4. If needed, repeat Step 2 to Step 3 to complete the backup settings for other Ethernet ports.

Input Source Backup

When the input source hot backup function is turned on, if an input source fails, its backup source will be used seamlessly to ensure the screen will not go black. On the main menu screen, navigate to Advanced Settings > Input Backup to enter the input source backup screen.

Step 1: Rotate the knob to turn on the input source backup function. On the left are the default input sources, and on the right you can set the backup sources.

Step 2: Rotate the knob to select a backup source on the right and press the knob to show the available source list, then rotate the knob again to select the desired source and press the knob to confirm. The sources on the right serve as the backup for the sources on the left.

6 Working Mode

The VX400 supports three kinds of device working modes: Video Controller (default), Fiber Converter, and ByPass.

• Video Controller: The device works as an all-in-one controller offering both video processing and control capabilities. In this mode, OPT 1 is used for either input or output, and OPT 2 backs up or copies the output on the Ethernet ports.
• Fiber Converter: The device is used for long-distance transmission. In this mode, OPT 1 and OPT 2 are both used for input, and the Ethernet ports are used for output.
• ByPass: The device is used as a sending card to realize pixel-to-pixel display and meanwhile reduce latency.

On the main menu screen, select "Working Mode" and press the knob to enter the device working mode screen.

OPT Port Descriptions

• OPT 1 is used for either input or output depending on the connected device.
• When the N9, VE7, or other device that uses OPT port to transmit videos is connected to OPT 1 of the VX400, OPT 1 is used for input.
• When a fiber converter is connected to OPT1 of the VX400 or the VX400 works as a fiber converter, OPT 1 is used for output and transmits data on the 10 Ethernet ports.

Device Connections in Different Working Modes:

Video Controller: This mode connects input sources to the VX400. The VX400 then outputs to LED screens via optical fiber and Ethernet cables. A monitor is also connected to the VX400.

Fiber Converter: Input sources connect to the VX400. The VX400 operates in "Fiber Converter Mode", using OPT 1 and OPT 2 for input and transmitting data via Ethernet ports for output.

ByPass: An input source connects to the VX400. The VX400 then outputs to an LED screen via an Ethernet cable, functioning as a sending card for pixel-to-pixel display with reduced latency.