Spirz - Startup and Shutdown

Startup  //  Shutdown

DO NOT TURN OFF COMPUTERS

Startup Procedures

The full startup procedure takes about 15 minutes, so make sure to arrive early.

• Put your name in Planetarium Usage Notebook upon arrival
• Put your backpack/outerwear in the closet.
• For public shows, use the iPads in the closet to check attendees in and leave them plugged in after the show.

Computer system - LEAVE​ ON 

1. If off: Turn key on left rack to ON
2. WAIT... after about 30 seconds to 2 minutes proceed. (Networking router is initializing during this time)
3. Press POWER buttons on both top and bottom computers
4. The system will boot Windows and will initialize the startup scripts for the software. Starry Night and ATM-4 will start automatically (This takes 3-5 minutes)

Projectors (Begin Here)

1. Once ATM-4 is open, go to the “Main” tab in the “Showlets” window and click “Proj ON”
2. If the Showlets window doesn’t pop up automatically when ATM-4 starts, go to View -> Showlets or press F6
3. Wait for the script to run, projectors will display “warming up” then a daytime picture when they are ready
4. They won’t be fully up when the script is done, but you can move to a different script as long as you let the “Proj ON” script finish!
5. As they are warming up you will see the words “warming up” on the dome. Then a white screen with the projector brand showing. When they are fully ready they will show the Oval, if Renderbox was just started

Audio Rack and Microphone

1. Turn key on right rack to ON
2. You’ll hear a “boom” from the subwoofer so do this before anyone arrives
3. Make sure display says “MULTI IN”
4. If it doesn’t, turn INPUT knob until it does
5. If you are playing music beforehand you may want to go to Video 1, but you CANNOT have the microphone on unless it is set to “MULTI IN”
6. Hold down the power button on the headset controller until it lights up (found in the 5/3 bank money bag)
7. If it has fewer, change the batteries right away. Even 2 bars won’t last through a full show
8. Make sure the battery indicator on the headset screen has 3 bars
9. Probably something in the -10 to -4 dB range will be good, I like -8 (Wayne likes -5)
10. Test mic by saying something. You need to be able to hear your own voice.
11. Adjust the volume using the large VOLUME knob on the receiver
12. Adjust the microphone until you can hear your own voice clearly. Adjust the mic or volume to get the sound right. Do not coil the wires on the microphone, just gently place the microphone over the microphone box.

Cove lights

1. The slider panel on the podium adjusts the color and brightness of the dome’s lights
2. There are RGB sliders for color and the slider on the right is brightness
3. If you are doing a show pick your favorite color or ask an audience member for theirs rather than just using white
4. Slide the brightness down to slowly dim lights at the beginning of the show, and up at the end
5. Play with it however you want, just make sure it’s on when people are finding their seats and off when you’re giving a show
6. At the end of the show, it is suggested to start with red as it will not hurt people’s eyes as much and slowly bring the other colors or side lights up

Running a Live Scripted Show

1. “The Sky Tonight” and “Voyage Through the Solar System” can both be found in the “OSU Shows” tab of the “Showlets window”
2. Click on the one you want to start it
3. Hit spacebar to advance through each cue until the end of the show

HVAC

If it is too hot or too cold in the room (remember the projectors and people will add heat but sometimes it is chilly), you can use the thermostat on the far side of the room from the podium to adjust the temperature. If it is really hot or cold outside, usually make it cooler or warmer than normal but tend to keep it at 72-73 for much of the year

Shutdown Procedures

The full shutdown procedure takes about 20 minutes. The bare minimum is to turn the projectors off.

In Case of Emergency: Your life is far more important than anything in the room. 

Projectors

1. MAKE SURE TO TURN PROJECTORS OFF BEFORE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM
2. Click on the “Main” tab in the “Showlets” window
3. Click “Proj Off” and wait until the script completes

Computer System (LEAVE THESE ON)

1. Close out of Starry Night. When it asks if you want to quit renderbox, click “Quit Renderbox” and wait 10 seconds so the command is sure to have gone through.
2. Close ATM-4. Do not close "Showlets" or "Playback Controls"
3. Double-click on “Shutdown all” on the desktop
4. You will see both computers turn off within about 30 seconds
5. IF the computers do not shut down completely leave the key on and email Wayne, Rick, and the Planetarium TA letting them know of a failure
6. WAIT FOR 15 MINUTES before turning the key to OFF
7. This is to give time for the projector fans to run to let them cool. Skipping this step can DAMAGE THE PROJECTORS! If you must leave immediately, email Wayne and Rick letting them know but leave the key in the ON position with the computers turned off.

Audio System

1. Turn off headset controller pack by holding down the power button until it turns off
2. Make sure you leave the system on MULTI IN
3. Turn key on right rack to OFF
4. You’ll hear a loud “boom” that can be quite startling, so wait until all audience members are gone to do this

Cove lights

1. Make sure lights are off
2. Turn down brightness slider all the way
3. Using the “ALL OFF” button sometimes works but often one of the sliders will activate at a later time, so PLEASE make sure sliders are all down

Before leaving

1. Check under seats for lost items or garbage
2. Make sure closet light is off and the door is shut. We are doing a trial of leaving the door unlocked.
3. Make sure to lock and latch ALL FOUR doors and leave house lights ON (they turn off automatically) before you leave!
4. Make sure you marked in the notebook the time you left.
5. If anything odd happened please email Wayne and Rick to let them know that something happened or something needs fixing.