While our main Black Starliner blog post highlights the incredible vision of Zak Ové and the cultural significance of his towering sculpture at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, this article focuses on the technical lighting control system behind the scenes — the infrastructure we built to support such a bold, dynamic lighting display.
Designing the Control System
For this project, envisio designed and supplied a custom-built control cabinet tailored specifically to the unique needs of the Black Starliner installation. Housed within this cabinet were the following core components:
- 2 × Advatek E4S Mk3 pixel controllers
- 1 × DigiDot C4 Extended 8 lighting controller
- 2 × Showtec Net-8/5 Art-Net/DMX nodes
- 3 × Meanwell NDR-480 power supplies
- 2 × HLG-320 power supplies
Central Scheduling with DigiDot C4 Extended
At the heart of the system was the DigiDot C4 Extended 8, responsible for show scheduling and DMX playback. This controller ran a continuous 18-minute recorded show, divided into approximately 16 unique scenes. The show file was stored locally and output via sACN to the rest of the control system.
The DigiDot also served as the central trigger hub, sending Art-Net commands to both Advatek E4S units to ensure perfectly timed coordination across different parts of the installation.
Distributed Pixel Control with Advatek E4S
Each Advatek E4S unit was configured to handle specific fixtures:
Unit 1 – Custom Focus Lens Neon
This controller managed the custom focus lens neon, located at the top of the sculpture, forming the iconic halos. Due to the extended cable runs, we also engineered and installed SPI boosters inline to maintain signal integrity from the control cabinet to the fixtures.
Unit 2 – Stained Glass Skirt
The second Advatek E4S controlled the IP67-rated pixel tape that backlights the stained glass skirt surrounding the sculpture’s base. This pixel tape is a bespoke product originally developed for Zeal Live and first used at the Longleat Festival of Light. If you’ve ever seen Zeal’s spectacular “LED fireworks” in action, you’ve seen this tape in its element.
Multi-Protocol Integration
The installation integrates several lighting control protocols, including:
- sACN – for high-universe, networked DMX distribution
- Art-Net – for triggering and networked show control
- DMX512 – for reliable signal delivery to traditional fixtures
- SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) – for direct pixel-level control of LED elements
This hybrid system allowed for precise, synchronised control across all elements of the artwork — from the halos to the glowing stained-glass skirt.
Power Distribution
Power for the entire system was delivered via two 16A RCBO-protected circuits, ensuring safe and reliable operation even in demanding conditions.
The Result
By combining advanced lighting control technologies with bespoke hardware and thoughtful engineering, we were able to help realise Zak Ové’s vision and deliver a visually arresting installation worthy of its iconic setting.
Want to Know More?
If you’re looking for help with your next lighting project — whether it involves digital pixel control, complex protocol integration, or simply building a rock-solid control backbone — get in touch with us. We’d love to help bring your creative ideas to life.
