Lighting and control
ENTTEC S-PLAY SP1-1
Prepare booth scenes and simple staff controls. Check programming, storage, and outputs on the S-PLAY before handing over the system.
Model and connections
| Model and connections | ENTTEC S-PLAY SP1-1 |
|---|---|
| Model | SP1-1, SKU 70092; distinct from MINI, NANO and LITE |
| Outputs | 2 physical DMX universes, 5-pin XLR; up to 32 over Art-Net/sACN |
| Storage | 8 GB internal; expandable USB/microSD storage |
| Documentation | January 2026 manual; October 2026 V3.3.1 release notes |
Show scenario
An exhibit booth needs opening, demonstration and closing scenes without a continuously operated console. We propose a playlist for each use and clearly labeled controls, with an agreed stop state.
We can assess supply or rental, scene capture or creation, triggers, staff interface and training. For spontaneous show changes, we can compare a staffed console. Start with use, date and venue.
Hand over between playback and a live console
Proposed scenario: a booth runs an ambient playlist during opening, then a console takes over for a demonstration. One possible architecture sends the same sACN universe from S-PLAY and the console to a compatible receiver or node, which outputs DMX to the fixtures. That receiver makes the selection; never combine two physical DMX outputs with a Y cable.
A playlist’s internal priority orders content within S-PLAY; sACN priority orders network sources. Changing one does not configure the other. Playback at 100 and console at 150 is a planning example only if the selected receiver supports and honors that scheme. Document every source’s priority and test its behavior.
Console blackout values do not mean transmission has stopped. An active higher-priority console may still control the output. Rehearse release or cessation of that source and the receiver’s detection time before returning to playback. Record that time when planning handover; a shared network or power failure can affect both sources.
- Back up and record S-PLAY, console and node versions, network and patch. Agree on allowed scenes, the main controller and the return state.
- Match universe and channel map in both sources, with distinct sACN priorities according to the design. Confirm that the chosen receiver implements the required handover.
- Check playback alone; enable the console and verify takeover without readdressing fixtures. Use safe values and one fixture before expanding the test.
- Test console blackout, transmission stop, network disconnection and restart separately. Record result and return time; those events are not equivalent.
- Repeat with schedules and staff buttons; verify the playlist still running when control returns. Hand over priority map, backup and recovery steps. A backup scene is not emergency lighting.
We can assess a suitable controller, node or merger, program scenes and handover, configure networking and train staff. For continuous changes, assess a staffed console; a fixed look may need a simpler solution. Start with date, venue and approximate requirements.
Prepare the system
- Record SKU, firmware, patch and network; back up existing shows before editing.
- Capture a static look or dynamic sequence from a verified source; map external capture universes to internal universes.
- Assign each universe’s actual output and prepare playlists, triggers and a limited staff interface.
- Rehearse playback without the recording source, startup, stop, schedules and recovery; keep a backup and separate network records.
Questions and solutions
Is S-PLAY just software that outputs DMX?
No. This page covers the physical SP1-1 controller. Editing and capture prepare its playback content; network output to additional physical DMX lines requires compatible nodes and configuration.
Must the recording console stay connected?
Not for playback of saved recordings. Power, output connections and selected triggers are still required. Test the complete scene without the capture source before handing over the booth.
Why do the lights stay off although the recording looks correct?
Check external/internal universes, captured channels, output assignment, address and fixture profile. While recording, avoid other sources sending to the same universes, including S-PLAY itself, to prevent feedback.
How can staff use it without lighting programming skills?
We can design a small set of named scenes with editing access restricted, or integrate a supported trigger. Test repeated button presses and stopping; provide operating instructions and an agreed support contact.
Why does a scheduled scene start at the wrong time?
Check date, clock, timezone, location and scheduler state. Rehearse a known schedule outside operating hours. Agree on priorities between scheduled scenes and staff-triggered scenes.
Should we update for unexpected Stop or port 2 behavior?
October 2026 V3.3.1 notes document blackout and port-assignment fixes. Match the exact symptom and installed version; back up and schedule the update and regression checks outside the event. Consult ENTTEC before migrating from v1: the listed update is one-way.
Can S-PLAY act as a transparent node between a console and fixtures?
Do not assume so from its capture inputs and DMX outputs. The specific support article recommends external nodes or appropriate merging hardware for console handover or mixing. Verify model, firmware and function: recording a stream is not the same as forwarding it live.
Why doesn’t playback return when the console goes to blackout?
A higher-priority source may still be transmitting zero values, so the receiver still considers it active. Rehearse how the console releases the universe and how the receiver detects its absence; do not change priorities at random. Also confirm the intended playlist is playing.
Precautions
- IP20, dry indoor use; follow documented power, input and relay ratings. A relay is not permission to switch any load.
- Restoring a backup erases the current show. The documented backup excludes the IP address: record network settings separately.
Sources and documentation
- ENTTEC S-PLAY SP1-1 — SKU 70092
- S-PLAY user manual — January 2026
- S-PLAY release notes
- ENTTEC automation overview
- ENTTEC — sACN priority and live-console handover
- ENTTEC — external node and merging limitations
Match the January 2026 manual and V3.3.1 notes to the installed firmware. Before planning handover, confirm the selected controller and receiver functions, and retain the backup and network records.
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