FLIP PAR: How To Set Up Smartphone App

Introduction

This guide explains how to control your Rockville Flip Par lights using the Par Control mobile app on iOS or Android. It follows the process shown in the video and is broken into simple, clear steps, even if you have no lighting or technical experience.

You’ll learn how to:

• Download and open the Par Control app
• Link your Flip Par lights together (Master/Slave)
• Connect your phone to the lights over Wi-Fi
• Assign lights to app groups
• Use the app’s Color, Auto, Sound, and Settings menus
• Control multiple groups of lights independently or together

Requirements

• Rockville Flip Par lights with wireless capability
• iOS or Android phone
• Par Control app installed
• At least one light set as “Master” and one or more lights as “Slave”

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Install and Open the Par Control App

1. On your phone:
   • Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
   • Search for: par control (shown in the video as “par dash control”).
2. Download and install the app.
3. Open the Par Control app.
   • The home screen shows four group buttons labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4.
   • These represent App Groups 1–4 you can control.

2. Link Your Flip Pars Together (Master/Slave via Wireless Group ID)

Before connecting your phone, you first link the lights to each other using the built-in wireless master/slave feature.

1. On each light:
   • Press the Menu button repeatedly until you reach the Wireless Group ID menu.
   • The display shows a number and its color (for example, 4 for Blue).
2. Use the Up/Down buttons to choose the same group for all lights.
   • Example from the video: set both lights to Group 4 (Blue).
3. Choose a Master light:
   • On your chosen Master light, press Menu until you find Master Mode.
   • Use Up/Down to set Master Mode = ON.
4. On every other light (Slave lights):
   • Go to Master Mode.
   • Set Master Mode = OFF.
5. If the lights do not sync immediately:
   • Turn all lights off, then turn them back on.
6. Confirm sync:
   • On Slave lights, the group ID icon flashes.
   • On the Master light, the group ID icon is solid.

At this point, your lights are linked together wirelessly.

3. Put Lights in App Mode and Connect Your Phone via Wi-Fi

Now you’ll connect your phone directly to the Master light’s Wi-Fi.

1. On both lights (Master and Slaves):
   • Press Menu until you reach the App Mode menu.
2. On the Master light only:
   • While on App Mode, press Enter.
   • The display shows a Wi-Fi code (for example, F3C).
3. On your phone:
   • Open your Wi-Fi settings.
   • Look for a network name that matches your light’s code, such as:
     • Rockville F3C (where F3C matches the code on the display).
   • Tap that network to connect.
4. You do not need to repeat the Wi-Fi step for the Slave lights; you only connect to the Master.

Once connected, your phone is now linked to the Master light over Wi-Fi.

4. Assign Lights to an App Group

Each light needs to be assigned to one of the four App Groups (1–4). The app uses these groups to decide which lights to control.

1. On each light:
   • In the App menu, go to the App Group setting (shown as App 1, App 2, App 3, App 4).
   • Use Up/Down to choose a group number.
2. For a simple setup:
   • Set all lights to App Group 1.
3. After selecting a group:
   • On Slave lights:
     • Press Menu until you reach DMX Address Mode.
     • Set the same address on all Slave lights (example from the video: 001).
   • On the Master light:
     • Leave it on App Group Mode (do not change it back to DMX at this stage).

In the app:

1. Open the Par Control app.
2. Tap Group 1 (because your lights are on App Group 1).
3. Pick any color from the Color menu.
   • You should see all lights follow that color.

Your lights are now fully controlled by the app via App Group 1.

5. Using the App Menus

Once your lights are connected, you can control them from four main menus: Color, Auto, Sound, and Settings.

5.1 Color Menu

Use this to set static colors and create color presets.

In the app, with an app group selected (for example, Group 1):

1. Open the Color menu:
   • Choose from standard colors like red, green, blue, and more.
   • Or use the color wheel at the top to pick any custom color.
2. To save a custom color preset:
   • Set a color using the wheel.
   • Tap one of the blank preset squares below.
   • That color is now stored as a preset.
3. To remove a preset:
   • Press and hold a preset square until it clears.
   • That square is now free for another preset.

5.2 Auto Mode Menu

Use this for automated color programs, fades, and pulses.

1. Open the Auto menu.
2. Tap any mode (for example, Green Pulse).
   • The lights will immediately run that auto program.
3. Adjust:
   • Speed of the effect using the speed control slider.
   • Brightness using the brightness control slider.

5.3 Sound Mode Menu

Use this to have the lights react to sound via the built-in microphone on the lights.

1. Open the Sound menu.
2. Choose one of the four sound modes (Sound 1–4).
   • Example: choose Sound 3 to see the lights react to the sound of your voice or music.
3. Adjust microphone sensitivity:
   • Increase sensitivity so lights react to quieter sounds.
   • Decrease sensitivity so lights only respond to loud sounds (for example, strong beats).

5.4 Settings Menu

The Settings menu lets you manage how groups behave and how many groups you control at once. The video’s example mainly shows:

• Working with one app group (Group 1), then
• Adding a second app group (Group 2), and
• Controlling multiple groups together.

6. Creating and Using a Second App Group

You can divide your lights into different groups (for example, lights on the stage vs. lights on the walls) and control them separately from the app.

6.1 Move a Light to App Group 2

1. Choose which light(s) you want in App Group 2.
2. On that light:
   • Press Menu until you reach the App Group menu.
   • Change from App Group 1 to App Group 2.
   • Then press Menu to switch to DMX Address Mode again.
   • Keep the same DMX address (example: 001).
3. Leave the Master light:
   • Still set to App Group Mode (typically App Group 1 in the example).

6.2 Control App Group 2 from the App

1. In the Par Control app:
   • Deselect Group 1.
   • Select Group 2.
2. Choose a color or mode in the Color, Auto, or Sound menus.
   • Only App Group 2 lights will respond.
3. To control both groups together:
   • Select Group 1 and Group 2 at the same time in the app.
   • Any color or mode you choose will apply to both groups.

You can repeat this approach for App Groups 3 and 4 if you add more zones of lighting.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

1. The app is not controlling my lights at all

• Make sure your phone is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network:
  • The name should match the code shown on the Master light when you press Enter in App Mode (for example, Rockville F3C).
• Confirm the Master light:
  • Is set to Master Mode = ON.
  • Is in the App Group Mode, not DMX Address mode.
• Confirm Slave lights:
  • Have Master Mode = OFF.
  • Are in DMX Address Mode.
  • All share the same DMX address (for example, 001).

2. Only some lights respond to the app

• Check App Group assignment:
  • All lights you want to control must be set to the same App Group number (1–4).
  • In the app, make sure you have that same group selected.
• Check wireless group IDs:
  • All lights should share the same Wireless Group ID (for example, 4 for Blue).
• Power cycle:
  • Turn all affected lights off, then turn them on again to re-sync.

3. Lights are not syncing between Master and Slaves

• Verify Wireless Group ID:
  • Same ID and color on all lights.
• Verify Master/Slave settings:
  • Only one light should have Master Mode = ON.
  • All others should have Master Mode = OFF.
• Check indicators:
  • Slave lights show flashing group icon.
  • Master light shows a solid group icon.

4. There is a delay or the app feels unresponsive

• Make sure you are close enough to the lights for a good Wi-Fi connection.
• Ensure there are no other phones connected to the same Rockville Wi-Fi network causing conflicts.
• Close and reopen the Par Control app, then reconnect.

5. I want to control two zones of lights differently (e.g., Stage and Walls)

• Assign your Stage lights to App Group 1.
• Assign your Wall lights to App Group 2.
• In the app:
  • Select Group 1 to control just Stage lights.
  • Select Group 2 to control just Wall lights.
  • Select both to change them together.

Conclusion

Using the Par Control app with your Rockville Flip Pars lets you:

• Wirelessly link your lights via Master/Slave
• Control them from your phone over Wi-Fi
• Organize lights into up to four independent app groups
• Quickly change colors, run auto shows, and react to music