FLIP PAR: How To Set Up Master Slave

Introduction

This guide explains how to use the Master/Slave function on your Rockville Flip Par lights to control multiple lights at once without a DMX controller. It follows the process shown in the video and is written in simple, step-by-step language, even if you have no lighting or DMX experience.

You’ll learn how to:

• Link multiple Flip Pars with DMX cables in Master/Slave mode
• Set up wireless Master/Slave using the built-in wireless DMX
• Use the IR remote with a Master/Slave setup without knocking the lights out of sync

What You Need

• Two or more Rockville Flip Par lights
• Optional: DMX cables (3-pin XLR) for wired Master/Slave setup
• Optional: IR remote (included with your Flip Par)

Part 1: Master/Slave Setup Using DMX Cables

In this method, one light acts as the “Master” and the others follow it as “Slaves.” You will control only the Master; all Slave lights will copy its color and mode.

Step 1: Choose Your Master Light

1. Power on all your Flip Par lights.
2. Decide which light will be the Master (the one you will control).
3. On the Master light:
   • Press the Menu button until you reach Master mode (the display will show the Master setting).
   • Use the Up/Down buttons to set Master = ON.
4. On all other lights (the Slaves):
   • Press Menu until you reach Master mode.
   • Use Up/Down to set Master = OFF.

This prevents confusion between multiple lights trying to act as Masters.

Step 2: Daisy-Chain the Lights with DMX Cables

1. Take a DMX cable.
2. On the Master light:
   • Plug the male end of the cable into the DMX OUT jack.
3. On the first Slave light:
   • Plug the female end of the same cable into the DMX IN jack.
4. To add more Slave lights:
   • Take another DMX cable.
   • Plug its male end into the DMX OUT of the previous Slave light.
   • Plug the female end into the DMX IN of the next light.
   • Repeat for all remaining lights.

This creates a chain:

Controller (none in this case) → Master → Slave 1 → Slave 2 → …

Step 3: Set the DMX Address on Slave Lights

1. On each Slave light:
   • Press Menu until you reach DMX Address mode.
   • Use the Up/Down buttons to set them all to the same DMX address (for example, 001).
2. The video uses 001 (0 0 1) for all Slave lights.

Note: The Master light only needs to be in Master mode; the DMX address setting is most important on the Slave lights.

Step 4: Control the System from the Master Light

• On the Master light, choose any:
  • Color mode (static color)
  • Auto/jump/fade mode
  • Sound mode
  • Custom color
• Whatever you set on the Master will be copied by all Slave lights in the chain.

Part 2: Wireless Master/Slave Setup (No Cables)

This method uses the built-in wireless DMX in the Flip Pars. You still have one Master and the rest Slaves, but there are no physical DMX cables between lights.

Step 1: Choose Your Master and Slaves

1. Power on all your Flip Pars.
2. Decide which light will be the Master.
3. On the Master light:
   • Press Menu until you reach Master mode.
   • Set Master = ON.
4. On all other lights (Slaves):
   • Press Menu until you reach Master mode.
   • Set Master = OFF.

Step 2: Set All Lights to the Same Wireless Group ID

The wireless group IDs are color-coded and numbered:

• 1 = Red
• 2 = Green
• 3 = Yellow
• 4 = Blue
• 5 = Purple
• 6 = Cyan
• 7 = White

1. On each light (Master and all Slaves):
   • Press Menu until you see the Wireless Group ID menu.
   • Use Up/Down to select a group number.
2. The video example uses Group 4 (Blue):
   • Set all lights to 4 (Blue).

You can also raise the wireless antenna on the side of each light to improve wireless communication.

Step 3: Set the DMX Address on Slave Lights

1. On each Slave light:
   • Press Menu until you reach DMX Address mode.
   • Use Up/Down to set the same DMX address on all Slaves (for example, 001).
2. The Master can remain in Master mode and does not need cables to the Slaves.

Step 4: Power-Cycle if the Lights Don’t Sync

If the lights do not sync immediately:

1. Turn all lights off.
2. Turn them all back on.

You’ll know they are synced when:

• On the Slave lights: the wireless group icon flashes.
• On the Master light: the wireless group icon is solid.

Step 5: Control the System from the Master Light (Wirelessly)

• On the Master light, pick any:
  • Static color
  • Auto mode (jump/fade, etc.)
  • Sound mode
  • Custom color

The Slave lights will automatically follow each change made on the Master.

Part 3: Using the IR Remote with Master/Slave

You can still use the included IR remote to control your Master/Slave setup. To keep everything in sync, you only want the Master responding to the remote.

Step 1: Set IR Mode on Master and Slave Lights

1. On the Master light:
   • Press Menu until you reach IR (remote) mode.
   • Set IR = ON.
2. On each Slave light:
   • Press Menu until you reach IR mode.
   • Set IR = OFF.

If IR is enabled on the Slaves, they might respond directly to the remote and fall out of sync with the Master. Turning IR off on Slaves prevents this.

Step 2: Return Slave Lights to DMX Address Mode

1. On each Slave light:
   • Press Menu until you reach DMX Address mode (they should still all share the same DMX address, such as 001).

The Master remains in Master mode (and, for wireless, in the same wireless group) and with IR = ON.

Step 3: Control the Setup with the IR Remote

• Point the remote at the Master light.
• Use the remote to change:
  • Colors
  • Brightness
  • Auto modes
  • Strobe, etc.

All Slave lights will follow whatever the Master does.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: My Slave lights are not following the Master. What should I check?

• Make sure Master = ON on the correct light, and Master = OFF on all others.
• Confirm all Slaves are on the same DMX address (for example, 001).
• For wireless setups:
  • Confirm all lights are on the same wireless group ID.
  • Make sure the Master’s wireless group icon is solid and the Slave icons are flashing.
  • Try power cycling all lights (turn off, then on).

Q: Can I mix wired and wireless Master/Slave at the same time?

• It is possible for the lights to be chained in different ways, but for simple, reliable setups, use either:
  • All wired Master/Slave (DMX cables), or
  • All wireless Master/Slave (wireless group ID).

Q: The remote is changing some lights but not all. Why?

• Check IR mode:
  • IR should be ON only on the Master light.
  • IR should be OFF on all Slave lights.
• Make sure the Slaves are in DMX Address mode and properly set up as Slaves (Master = OFF, correct DMX address).

Q: Do the DMX addresses on the Master and Slaves have to match?

• For Master/Slave operation as shown:
  • Slaves must share the same DMX address.
  • The Master is mainly defined by Master mode = ON. Keeping addresses consistent is recommended, but the critical part is that the Slaves match each other.

Conclusion

Using Master/Slave mode with your Rockville Flip Pars lets you control many lights at once without a separate DMX controller. You can:

• Set up a simple DMX cable chain and let one Master drive all Slaves
• Use the built-in wireless system to sync lights without any cables
• Control the entire setup from the Master using the IR remote