CAST Software FAQ

A BlackTrax Beacon is a hardware device that transmits its 3D location in X, Y, and Z coordinates to the BlackTrax Server. A BlackTrax Beacon can be any of the following devices, and any combination of them can work together in the same BlackTrax System simultaneously: Classic Beacon, Mini-Beacon, Mini-Beacon Wave, or Beacon 2.0. BlackTrax Beacons can be used to track a wide variety of things, such as performers, props, scenics, vehicles, animals, or drones, to name a few.

A BlackTrax Stringer is a cable that connects an infrared LED to a BlackTrax Classic Beacon, Beacon 2.0, or Mini-Beacon Wave. When placed on a performer, the Stringer's LED should be routed to a location such as a collar, lapel, shoulder, hat, or wig. It can also be run alongside a mic headset for a seamless, integrated placement.

Yes, the Classic Beacon, Beacon 2.0, or Mini-Beacon Wave can be placed discreetly in a pocket within a performer's costume. Only the infrared LED at the tip of the BlackTrax Stringer needs to be visible, and even that can be placed under thin fabric to disguise it further. The Mini-Beacon's face needs to be visible, but it too can be hidden under a fabric layer.

None. BlackTrax beacons operate silently; they can only be seen in infrared, not heard.

BlackTrax tracks at 100 frames per second, with a low latency of 7.5ms, delivering real-time, precise coordinates streamed continuously to downstream technologies.

BlackTrax achieves approximately 1/4-inch (7 mm) accuracy at a 50-foot distance thanks to it's active infrared optical tracking. BlackTrax provides a precise, fixed measurement of tracking data, not a plus-or-minus centimeter-scale tolerance that can lead to inconsistencies in performances featuring tracking.

BlackTrax is a fully scalable tracking solution, capable of covering everything from small theatrical stages to an entire stadium. Larger tracking areas are achieved through higher-resolution BlackTrax Sensors, additional Sensors, or specialty lenses. Upgraded packages can extend the tracking range up to 982 feet (300 meters) or beyond.

BlackTrax can track up to 255 active infrared LEDs simultaneously; in any combination, whether that's up to 85 Classic Beacons or Beacon 2.0s (3 LEDs each), or up to 255 Mini-Beacons or Mini-Beacon Waves (1 LED each). Adding more LEDs doesn't increase the latency of your BlackTrax System.

BlackTrax uses the open protocol RTTrPL to communicate with a merge node. The merge node then listens to the lighting console via Art-Net or sACN.

RTTrPL is currently supported by select merge nodes from Luminex, ProPlex, or Sundrax. The protocol is also published on GitHub for third-party developers, so non-compatible lighting merge nodes can be updated to support BlackTrax.

BlackTrax controls the pan, tilt, focus, zoom, and iris of moving lights. For conventional (static) fixtures, BlackTrax can still control beam size (zoom/iris), even though pan and tilt don't apply. Intensity, colour, and gobo remain in control of the lighting console.

No. You may use any fixtures from your rig at any time and return them to your console's control whenever needed. The console retains overall authority over all fixtures

Yes. Currently through partnership with Pangolin Beyond you can control lasers.

"BlackTrax can define virtual zones within the tracked space and fire events when a trackable enters or exits those zones. Example uses include turning lights on or off as a performer walks through a boundary, stopping a robotic camera pan as a performer exits the stage, muting wireless microphones until a performer returns, and triggering projected video effects tied to performer position.

Calibration time varies based on the size of your tracking area. Calibrating small spaces with BlackTrax such as small theatrical stage can take 5-10 minutes, whereas much larger spaces such as full-scale arenas can take 15-20 minutes.