SuperConsolePro Lighting Console — User Manual (1)

Overview · Quick Start · UI Layout · Window Management

Chapter 1 Overview

1.1 What Is SuperConsolePro

SuperConsolePro is a professional-grade lighting console system built into the Unreal Engine editor. It enables lighting designers to perform the following operations within Unreal Engine’s 3D scenes, just like operating a real physical console (such as MA3, ETC Eos):

Fixture Patching
Fixture Selection and Grouping
Attribute Programming (Dimmer, Color, Position, Beam, etc.)
CUE Recording and Playback
Frame Effects (dynamic effects such as Chase, Rainbow Chaser, etc.) Editing
Timeline Arrangement and Music Synchronization
Real-time DMX Output
Show File Saving and Management

All operations are performed within the editor window using a mouse and keyboard, without the need for external hardware consoles.

1.2 Applicable Scenarios

Scenario	Description
Virtual Production	Preview lighting effects during the VP stage, verifying fixture positions and programming in advance
Show Pre-visualization	Simulate real performance lighting in a 3D environment, linked with stage design plans
Lighting Education	Learn professional console operation workflows at zero cost
Film/TV Lighting Preview	Preview lighting effects using Unreal Engine’s physical lighting system
Live Performances	Control real fixtures via DMX output for live show control

1.3 Core Concepts at a Glance

Before getting started, please understand the following core concepts:

Patch

Importing SuperDMX fixtures from the scene into the console, assigning each fixture a Fixture ID. Only patched fixtures can be selected and controlled by the console.

Selection

The currently selected set of fixtures. Encoders and the Programmer only affect selected fixtures.

Programmer

A “temporary staging area.” Values adjusted via encoders first enter the Programmer and are displayed with red highlighting. Values in the Programmer are not yet “saved” and will be lost when the console is closed.

CUE

Saving a “snapshot” of the Programmer contents creates a CUE. A CUE contains fixture attribute values along with fade/delay time parameters. Multiple CUEs can be organized in a CUE List for sequential playback.

Preset

Similar to a CUE but lighter. Presets typically save only one category of attributes (such as Color, Position) for quick recall of commonly used settings.

Frame Effect

A waveform-based dynamic effect engine (comparable to MA3 Phaser). Capable of generating periodic effects such as Chase, Rainbow, and Strobe effects.

DMX

The standard communication protocol for the lighting industry. The console sends control signals to fixtures via DMX. Each DMX Universe contains 512 channels.

Show File

A file that saves all patching, CUE, Preset, Timeline, window layout, and other data (in .ssshow format), equivalent to the console’s “project file.”

Chapter 2 Quick Start

2.1 Opening the Console

In Unreal Editor, click the SuperConsolePro button on the top toolbar (or via menu Window → SuperConsolePro)
The console main window will open as an independent panel

2.2 Five-Minute Getting Started Walkthrough

The following is the shortest path to completing a full lighting programming session from scratch:

Step 1: Patch Fixtures

Open the Settings panel in the console window
Switch to the Patch tab
Click the Scan Scene button
All SuperDMX fixtures in the scene will appear in the list
Check the fixtures you want to control, click Import Selected
The fixtures appear in the console and are now selectable and controllable

Step 2: Select Fixtures

Open the Fixture Sheet panel
Click a fixture row → selects a single fixture
Hold Ctrl + click → multi-select
Hold Shift + click → range selection
Selected fixtures are highlighted in blue

Step 3: Adjust Attributes

Check the Encoder Bar at the bottom
The Encoder Bar automatically displays the available attributes of the selected fixtures
Drag the encoder wheels up/down → adjust attribute values
Click different categories in the attribute tab bar (Dimmer, Color, Position, etc.) to switch the displayed attribute groups

Step 4: Store a CUE

Open the Playback panel
Right-click an empty executor slot
Select Store
The values in the Programmer are saved as a CUE

Step 5: Playback a CUE

In the Playback panel, click the stored CUE button
The CUE is activated and the fixtures output the set effect
Click again to release (in Toggle mode)

Step 6: Save the Show

Open the Settings panel → Show tab
Click Save
All data is saved to the .ssshow file
The console will automatically load the last show file the next time it is opened

Chapter 3 UI Layout

3.1 Main Interface Structure

The console main interface consists of the following areas (from outside to inside):

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Control Bar                                       Title Bar   │
│  ┌──────┐                                              ┌────┐ │
│  │      │                                              │View│ │
│  │Control│         Grid Window Manager                  │ Bar│ │
│  │  Bar  │      (Grid Window Manager)                  │    │ │
│  │      │        16 cols × 8 rows grid                 │View│ │
│  │      │      Various panels displayed here            │Bar │ │
│  │      │                                              │    │ │
│  └──────┘                                              └────┘ │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │  Command Line                                             │ │
│  ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │
│  │  Encoder Bar                                              │ │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

3.1.1 Control Bar — Left Side

Located on the far left of the main interface, collapsible/expandable. Provides the following quick action buttons:

Button	Function
Clear	Clears all Programmer values for selected fixtures. Does not affect running CUE output
Highlight	Temporarily sets selected fixtures to highlight values (Dimmer=100%, other attributes at highlight preset values), for quickly locating fixtures in the scene. Click again to cancel highlight
Full	Sets the Dimmer of selected fixtures to 100% (writes to Programmer)
Zero	Sets the Dimmer of selected fixtures to 0% (writes to Programmer)
Default	Restores all attributes of selected fixtures to factory default values (writes to Programmer)
Activate	Reads all current DMX output values of selected fixtures into the Programmer (equivalent to “capturing the current state”)

Usage Tips:

Clear is the most frequently used operation. After programming a CUE, remember to Clear the Programmer before selecting other fixtures for the next CUE’s programming
Highlight does not affect the Programmer and is a non-destructive operation. After releasing, the fixtures return to their original state

3.1.2 Title Bar — Top

Displays the current show file name and system status information.

3.1.3 Grid Window Manager — Center

The core area of the console interface. Uses a 16 column × 8 row grid layout, with various function panels placed in the grid as windows.

For detailed operations, see 3.2 Window Management in this chapter.

3.1.4 View Bar — Right Side

Located on the far right of the main interface, collapsible/expandable. Used for managing view layout presets, i.e., remembering the current window arrangement to switch between different work interfaces with a single click.

For detailed operations, see 3.3 View Management in this chapter.

3.1.5 Command Line — Bottom

Located above the Encoder Bar. Used for entering text commands (an advanced feature, not commonly used in daily operation).

3.1.6 Encoder Bar — Very Bottom

The core interaction area of the console, detailed in the User Manual (3) Programmer and Encoders chapter.

3.2 Window Management

3.2.1 Adding Windows

In the Grid Window Manager, clicking any empty cell will bring up the “Add Window” dialog. The dialog displays all available panel types in a 3-column grid:

Panel Type	Description
Fixture Sheet	Displays all patched fixtures and their attribute values in a spreadsheet format
Playback	A grid of CUE executor buttons for triggering and managing CUEs
Preset	Preset pool, displaying and managing presets by category
Groups	Fixture group management panel
Color Picker	HSV color wheel for quickly setting fixture colors
Layout	2D fixture layout editor
Frame Editor	Waveform effect editor
Frame Presets	Frame effect preset library
Timecode	Multi-track timeline editor
Running Playbacks	Displays all currently running CUEs/effects
DMX	DMX Universe management and output control
Settings	System settings (Show File, Patch, DMX Configuration)
Show File	Show file management (Open, Save, New)
Patch	Fixture patching management panel

After selecting a panel type, a window will be created at the cell position you clicked.

3.2.2 Moving Windows

Hover the mouse over the window’s title bar
Hold the left button and drag; the window follows the mouse
Release the mouse; the window snaps to the new grid position

3.2.3 Resizing Windows

Hover the mouse over the window’s bottom-right edge
The cursor changes to a resize shape
Hold the left button and drag to change how many grid cells the window occupies
The minimum window size is 1×1 cells; the maximum can fill the entire grid (16×8)

3.2.4 Closing Windows

Click the × button on the right side of the window title bar
The window is closed, and the corresponding grid area returns to empty

3.2.5 Window Layering

When multiple windows overlap, clicking a window brings it to the front
It is recommended to plan window sizes and positions reasonably to avoid overlap

3.3 View Management (View Bar)

The View Bar is located on the right side of the main interface, providing quick view layout management.

3.3.1 Built-in Preset Views

The system includes the following preset view layouts:

Preset Name	Included Panels	Applicable Scenario
Default	Fixture Sheet + Playback + Encoder Bar	General programming
Programming	Fixture Sheet + Color Picker + Presets + Playback	Deep programming
Playback	Playback (large area) + Running Playbacks	Show playback
Timeline	Timeline (large area) + Playback	Timeline arrangement

3.3.2 Loading a View

Single-click a view button in the View Bar
The window manager immediately switches to that view’s window layout

3.3.3 Saving Custom Views

First arrange the windows into the desired layout
Right-click a view slot in the View Bar
Select Save
The current window layout is saved to that slot
You can optionally rename the view

3.3.4 Deleting / Renaming Views

Right-click a saved view button
Select Rename to enter a new name
Select Delete to clear that slot

3.3.5 Clearing the Screen

Click the Clear Screen button at the bottom of the View Bar
All windows are closed, returning to the empty grid

3.4 Detailed Description of Available Panel Types

The following is a functional summary of all available panels in the console. Detailed operation methods for each panel will be explained in the subsequent manual chapters.

Fixture Sheet Panel

Displays all patched fixtures in a spreadsheet format. Each row represents one fixture (matrix fixtures can be expanded into sub-fixture rows), and columns show the fixture’s attribute values. Supports click selection of fixtures, sorting, and search filtering.

Playback Panel

Displays CUE executors in a button grid format. Each button corresponds to a CUE. Left-click triggers a CUE; right-click opens a menu (Edit, Delete, Bind Key, etc.).

Preset Panel

A preset pool. Top category tabs (All / Position / Color / Beam / General) switch the display to show the corresponding type of presets. Left-click to apply a preset; right-click an empty slot to save.

Groups Panel

Displays fixture groups in a button grid. Click a group button → selects all fixtures in that group. Right-click to create a new group or manage existing groups.

Color Picker Panel

An HSV color wheel + color bar + numeric input. Drag the color wheel to pick hue and saturation; drag the color bar to adjust brightness. The selected color is applied in real time to the selected fixtures’ RGB attributes. The bottom shows color preset swatches.

Layout View Panel

A 2D top-down view showing the physical positions of fixtures on the stage. Supports dragging fixtures to adjust position, box-selecting fixtures, and zooming/panning the canvas.

Frame Editor Panel

A visual editor for waveform effects. The left toolbar selects waveform types and adjusts parameters; the center displays real-time waveform preview; the right side has a quick parameter panel.

Frame Presets Panel

A frame effect preset library. Contains system built-in presets and user-defined presets. Click a preset to apply it to the currently selected fixtures.

Timecode Panel

A multi-track timeline editor. Supports CUE tracks and audio tracks. CUEs can be arranged on the timeline for automatic playback by time.

Running Playbacks Panel

Displays information about all currently running CUEs and effects in real time, including name, type, fade progress, intensity, and more.

DMX Panel

DMX output management. Contains a global DMX output switch and independent enable/disable control for each Universe.

Settings Panel

System settings, containing three tabs:

Show: Create / Save / Save As show file
Patch: Fixture patching management
DMX: DMX output configuration

Show File Panel

Displays the show file list, supporting creating, opening, saving, saving as, deleting, and renaming show files.

Patch Panel

A dedicated fixture patching panel. Displays lists of imported and non-imported fixtures, supporting scene scanning, import, removal, filtering, and searching.

Chapter 4 General UI Control Descriptions

4.1 Console Button

Buttons in the console have multiple style variants:

Variant	Appearance	Purpose
Default	Dark gray background	Normal operation button
Primary	Blue background	Primary action (such as Confirm, Apply)
Secondary	Dark gray background, gray text	Secondary action
Success	Green background	Currently active/running state
Warning	Yellow background, black text	Operation requiring attention
Danger	Red background	Dangerous operations like Delete, Clear
Ghost	Transparent background	Small toolbar buttons

Buttons come in three sizes:

Small: For compact toolbar buttons
Medium: Default size
Large: For primary action buttons

Double-clicking the value area of an encoder brings up a numeric input popup. Supports:

Direct numeric input (e.g., 50)
Percentage input (e.g., 50%)
Time value input (e.g., 2s for 2 seconds)
Time expression input (e.g., 0 Thru 2 for linear distribution from 0 to 2 seconds)
Press Enter to confirm, press Esc to cancel

4.3 Right-Click Menus

Many elements in the console support right-click menu operations. Common right-click menu scenarios:

Empty slot in Playback panel → Store (store a CUE)
Existing CUE in Playback panel → Edit / Delete / Rename / Set Trigger Mode / Bind Key
Empty slot in Preset panel → Store (store a preset)
Existing Preset in Preset panel → Update / Delete / Rename
Empty slot in Groups panel → Store Group (save current selection as a group)
Existing Group in Groups panel → Update / Delete / Rename / Set Color
Slot in View Bar → Save / Rename / Delete

4.4 Confirmation Dialogs

When performing dangerous operations (such as deleting a CUE, creating a new show, overwriting a file), the system displays a confirmation dialog:

Title describes the operation
Message explains the consequences of the operation
Confirm button executes the operation
Cancel button aborts the operation

Next: User Manual (2) Fixture Patching, Fixture Selection and Fixture Groups