System Requirements and Capabilities
LightDesigner Computer Requirements
Paradigm LightDesigner is installed by running the setup installer on a PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11. Additional hardware requirements include:
- 2.7 GHz+ Intel or compatible AMD equivalent processor (or better)
- 32 MB non-integrated graphics chip with OpenGL 2.0 support (or better)
- 4 GB RAM
- 2 GB available SSD or HD storage
- Display capable of 1920x1080 resolution (or better)
- 10/100/1000base-T/TX Ethernet port
- USB Port
- Keyboard
- Mouse/Trackpad/Trackball
System Capabilities
It is highly recommended that you review the System Estimator View within LightDesigner for a visual indication of your system in its current state compared to the maximum allowed per processor and per project.
Note: Exceeding any of the maximum capabilities outlined in this document can have negative effects on your system performance.
Paradigm Processor Mk2
| Object | Limits per Processor |
|---|---|
| 6.0.0 and later | |
| Network Station Power Supply | 5 |
| Echo Expansion Bridge (EEB)* | 16 |
| Mobile Button Stations | 16 |
| Channel outputs | 2,048 |
| Stations† | 128 |
| Touchscreens‡ | 18 |
| Wireless Access Stations§ | 32 |
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*EEB Spaces, Walls, and Zones count towards overall project maximums. See Note below for more information. †Includes LinkConnect, NetConnect (Ethernet), and Mobile Button. ‡Includes all touchscreen variants, including wall-mount, portable, wireless handheld, and docking stations. Up to six may use LinkConnect with the appropriate auxiliary power supply. §A maximum of 16 are allowed per compatible Paradigm Station Power Supply. |
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Note: Use care when configuring your system with Echo Expansion Bridges. Each Echo zone counts against the Paradigm Processor Mk2 channel count (2,048 channels).
For example, one connected Echo system with 16 spaces, 16 zones, and 4 Echo Expansion Bridges would utilize half of the entire output capacity of the Paradigm Processor Mk2 (2,048 channels) leaving fewer channels to patch additional DMX/sACN addresses. Reducing the number of Echo spaces and zones an EEB uses will reduce the overall impact on the Paradigm Processor channel count.
Paradigm Processor Mk1
| Object | Limits per Processor | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0–1.1.1 | 1.1.2–1.2.2 | 2.0.1–2.0.5 | 2.1.0–2.1.2 | 3.0.0 | 3.1.0–4.2 | 5.0.1 and later | |
| Network Station Power Supply | 5 | ||||||
| Echo Expansion Bridge (EEB)* | 16 | ||||||
| Mobile Button Stations | 16 | ||||||
| Channel outputs | 1,024 | ||||||
| Stations† | 63 | 128 | |||||
| Touchscreens‡ | 18 | ||||||
| Wireless Access Stations§ | 32 | ||||||
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*EEB Spaces, Walls, and Zones count towards overall project maximums. See Note below for more information. †Includes LinkConnect, NetConnect (Ethernet), and Mobile Button. ‡Includes all touchscreen variants, including wall-mount, portable, wireless handheld, and docking stations. Up to six may use LinkConnect with the appropriate auxiliary power supply. §A maximum of 16 are allowed per compatible Paradigm Station Power Supply. |
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Note: Use care when configuring your system with Echo Expansion Bridges. Each Echo zone counts against the Paradigm Processor channel count (1,024 channels).
For example, a connected Echo system with 16 spaces, 16 zones, and 4 Echo Expansion Bridges would utilize the entire output capacity of the Paradigm Processor (1,024 channels) leaving no channels to patch additional DMX/sACN addresses.
Reducing the number of Echo spaces and zones an EEB uses will reduce the overall impact on the Paradigm Processor channel count.
Data Output
Paradigm Processors are limited to two hardline DMX connections configured as either inputs or outputs depending on processor and mounting type (e.g. in DRd Rack Enclosures, Port B is always an output). Two input sources of a single universe carry the same amount of data as one input source of two universes.
Example: In a system with seven ERn processors, Processors 1-6 are configured so that each is sending DMX A's input to sACN 1, and DMX B's input to sACN 2. If Processor 7 is configured to listen to sACN universes 1 and 2, it is receiving 12 universes of data.
| sACN / DMX Universes | Limits |
|---|---|
| Output by a single processor | 12 |
| Input to a single processor | 12 |
| Outputs from a channel in a configuration | 6 |
| Inputs to a channel in a configuration | 6 |
A Paradigm Processor is capable of receiving and arbitrating 6,144 active levels, including 1,024 from the local DMX input ports. Excluding the DMX input port(s), 6,144 levels are possible from as few as a single sACN universe, if there are 12 sources of 512 addresses for that universe, or as many as 48 single source SACN universes (of fewer than 512 addresses each).
A single Paradigm Processor accepts no more than 12 external input levels for an individual output address.
Patched Outputs
Paradigm Processor Mk1 can output up to 1,024 levels, and Paradigm Processor Mk2 can output up to 2,048 unique levels at a time (using DMX and sACN). While many channels consist of a single intensity attribute level, some fixtures consist of multiple parameters that require one level each. The same value calculated in multiple places (such as a single channel patched to multiple addresses) counts as a single level.
Note: For the Paradigm Processor Mk1, a maximum of 1,024 unique addresses can be snapshot at a time. For the Paradigm Processor Mk2, a maximum of 2,048 unique addresses can be snapshot at a time.
Server Project
- A Server Project must be accompanied by a Paradigm Central Control Server (P-CCS).
- A Server Project must include at least one project (sub-project) with at least one Paradigm Processor (P-ACP Mk2 , or P‑ACP Mk1).
| Stations | Limits per Server Project | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0.1‑2.0.5 | 2.1.0 and later | |
| Central Control Server (P‑CCS) | 1 | |
| Sub-projects (*.pcf) per Server Project (*.spcf) | 24 | 64 |
| Paradigm Processor per Server Project | 48 | 64 |
| Virtual Touchscreen (P‑TS18/P‑TSI/P‑VTS) | 24 | 32 |
| BACnet I/O Binary Inputs, Binary Outputs, Analog Inputs, and Analog Outputs | 1,000 each | |
Project
| Object | Limits per Project | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0–1.1.1 | 1.1.2–1.2.2 | 2.0.1–2.0.5 | 2.1.0–2.1.2 | 3.0.0‑5.0.0 | 5.0.1 and later | |
| Processors* | 12 | |||||
| Controls† | 32,768 | 65,535 | ||||
| Indicators† | 32,768 | 65,535 | ||||
| Station Pages† | 1,024 | 65,535 | ||||
| Spaces* | 128 | 255 | ||||
| Timed Events | 4,096 | |||||
| Holidays | 1,024 | |||||
| Overrides | 1,024 | |||||
| Triggers* | 1,024 | |||||
| Macros | 1,024 | |||||
| Macro Steps | 32,768 | |||||
| Presets | 1,024 | |||||
| Palettes | 1,024 | |||||
| Sequences | 512 | |||||
| Stations* | 512 | 744 | 1,536 | |||
| UH1RS Connectors* | 256 | 1,536 | ||||
| Touchscreens * | 216 | |||||
| Virtual Touchscreen Stations | 24 | 32 | ||||
| Walls* | 128 | |||||
| Mosaic Shows | 8 | |||||
| Echo Expansion Bridge (EEB)‡ | 128 | |||||
| Control Groups† | 2,048 | 4,096 | ||||
| Unique Scripts§ | 256 | |||||
| Script Instances (all objects) | 65,535 | |||||
| Script Variables | 65,535 | |||||
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*Sub-projects observe these limits separately. †Sub-projects and the total collection of server-level items independently observe these limits. ‡EEB Spaces, Walls, and Zones count towards overall project maximums. §Individual totals for Actions, Condition Scripts, Controls, Indicators, and Triggers. |
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Note: Adding a Central Control Server to a project does NOT increase the maximum number of allowed Echo Expansion Bridges (EEBs) per Paradigm system.
Power Supplies
- Up to 63 Paradigm control stations per Paradigm Station Power Module (P-SPM-E).
- Up to 63 Paradigm control stations per Network Station Power Supply (P-NSPS-D).
- Up to 63 Paradigm control stations per Paradigm Station Power Supply (P-SPS-D).
- Up to 4 LinkConnect Paradigm Touchscreen Stations per Station Power Module or Station Repeater Module.
- Up to 6 LinkConnect Paradigm Touchscreen Stations per Paradigm Station Power Supply (P‑SPS‑D) or Network Station Power Supply (P‑NSPS‑D) with an added 24 VDC (45 W) auxiliary power supply.
Stations
Stations attached to a Paradigm processor via LinkConnect, including touchscreens, are subject to the limitations identified below.
| Stations | Limits per Processor | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0–4.2.4 | 5.0.1 and later | |
| Connected per processor | 63 | 128 |
| Connected to a Station Power Module (P‑SPM)* | 31 | |
| Connected to a Station Power Module Mk2 (P‑SPM‑E)* | 63 | |
| Connected to a Repeater (P‑REP)* or Dual Repeater (P‑DREP)* | 31 | |
| Connected to a Network Station Power Supply (P‑NSPS‑D)† | 63 | |
| Connected to a Station Power Supply (P-SPS-D) | 63 | |
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*Maximum one P‑SPM‑E/P‑SPM and one P‑REP/P‑DREP per processor. †Maximum five P‑NSPS‑D per processor. |
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Note: A Station Power Module, Station Power Supply, or Network Station Power Supply is required for any processor controlling LinkConnect stations.
Note: Portable stations only count against these limits when they are physically connected to the system.
Touchscreens
Wired and wireless touchscreen hardware have their own set of limitations to consider when planning your system.
| Wired Touchscreen | Limits per Paradigm Processor |
|---|---|
| Connected via NetConnect* | 18 |
| Connected via LinkConnect† | 6 |
| Connected to a Station Power Module (P‑SPM) | 4 |
| Connected to a Station Power Module Mk2 (P‑SPM‑E) | 4 |
| Connected to a Station Power Supply Mk2 (P‑SPS-D)‡ | 6 |
| Connected to a Network Station Power Supply (P‑NSPS‑D)‡ | 6 |
| Connected to a Repeater (P‑REP) or Dual Repeater (P‑DREP) | 4 |
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*No more than 18 touchscreens, regardless of model or connection type, can be connected to a single Paradigm Processor. †A Paradigm Station Power Module or Network Station Power Supply is required for any Paradigm Processor controlling LinkConnect stations. A Portable Touchscreen counts against the processor limits only when it is connected to the system. ‡When used with the appropriate rated 24 VDC power supply. |
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Note: The P‑LCD Touchscreen station is not supported in Paradigm v4.0.0 and later software. Systems that include P‑LCDs will need to remain at their current firmware version or upgrade to P‑TS7 touchscreen hardware.
| Wireless Touchscreen and Accessory Connections | Limits per Paradigm Processor |
|---|---|
| Touchscreen to Docking Station (NetConnect) | 18 |
| Touchscreen to Wireless Access Station (LinkConnect) | 6 |
| Wireless Access Station to Paradigm System (LinkConnect) | 16 |
Touchscreen configurations (.lcdconf) created using ControlDesigner software are for wired, wireless, and Virtual Touchscreen Stations and also have specific software limitations.
| Object | Limits per Project | |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0–2.0.2 | 2.0.3 and later | |
| Popups | 1,024 | |
| Pages | 1,024 | |
| Action Lists from Buttons and Keypads | 1,024 | 16,384 |
| Timed Event Exceptions* | 65,535 | |
| *Limited to 365 old (expired) instances per Timed Event. | ||
Echo Expansion Bridge and the Echo System Capabilities
- The Echo Expansion Bridge (EEB) is powered using 24 VDC auxiliary power or by Power over Ethernet (PoE).
- Each EEB has 4 Echo segments, each separately powered by an external Echo power supply and each segment supporting up to 16 output products and 16 control products.
- A maximum of 64 output products and 64 control products are allowed per Echo system.
- All devices connected to an EEB will share the same 16 Echo spaces.
- EEBs do not communicate with each other.
- Echo controls that are connected to the EEB cannot control anything outside of their own connected Echo system.
- You may not connect an Echo segment of one EEB to the segment of another EEB.
Echo Expansion Bridge in a Paradigm System
- The EEB allows control of connected Echo systems from within the Paradigm system where features to monitor and control Echo presets, Echo zones, space combine, and space lockout from any Paradigm control, including timed events, are possible.
- An EEB's configuration can be edited both using the EchoAccess Mobile App or Paradigm LightDesigner and is saved as part of the Paradigm project configuration file.
- LightDesigner can both upload and retrieve the EEB configuration data separate from the main Paradigm configuration file, although Live Edit of the EEB configuration data is not supported from LightDesigner.
- EEBs can be added to a Paradigm configuration file in LightDesigner by dragging the object from the "ETC Paradigm" station library into the any space.
- An EEB cannot be added to the space of any other EEB.
- EEB spaces can be edited in the LightDesigner Plan view using the Design view.
- When used in a LightDesigner configuration, the EEB is associated with an individual Paradigm Processor.
- The LightDesigner configuration does not store level data for any Echo presets.
- EEBs do not allow Echo control products to trigger or control Paradigm.