1 - Getting Started ST4/ST4.3/SA2.6

Overview and Architecture:

This guide walks you through connecting an eMotimo ST4, ST4.3, or Conductor SA2.6 motion control system to Bitfocus Companion for control with an Elgato Stream Deck.

The eMotimo controller communicates with Companion over your local Ethernet network. For ST4 and ST4.3 systems, an external eMotimo Network Adapter connects to the controller's I/O port and provides the Ethernet connection. The Conductor SA2.6 includes a network connection directly on the unit.

Once the eMotimo controller is connected to your network and configured with the appropriate network settings, Bitfocus Companion connects to it using the controller's IP address and port. The eMotimo module in Companion then allows Stream Deck buttons to trigger supported motion-control commands.

The basic signal flow is:

Stream Deck → Bitfocus Companion → Local Network → eMotimo Motion Controller

This article covers the initial hardware and network setup, locating the IP address and port for your eMotimo controller, and creating the connection in Bitfocus Companion. Once the connection is established, you can move on to configuring Stream Deck buttons for your workflow.

What you will need:

• An eMotimo motion controller (Spectrum Studio Firmware: ST4_RC008_26_B3_STUDIO or newer, Conductor SA2.6 Firmware: SA2_RC001_006_B3 or newer, Spectrum ST4/ST4.3 Firmware: ST4_RC008_019 or newer)
• An external network adapter (Spectrum ST4/ST4.3 Models Only)
• Elgato Streamdeck 
• Ethernet Cable

eMotimo Conductor SA2.6 Setup Steps:

1. Connect the Ethernet cable to the back of the Conductor SA2.6.  This cable should be connected to your router which can assign IP addresses on the same subnet as the computer where Bitfocus Companion resided.
2. Power on the SA2.6
3. Go to the Settings → Port Settings → Network Port:  Set to 'BF Companion'
4. Click into Net. Adapt. Config. - wait to populate - takes a few second.
5. If you are set the default DHCP, you should have an address assigned.  Record your Network Adapters IP Address and Port on your network - you will need this later in Companion.
6. Click down until you see Auto-Configure - Click in and wait until network adapter us updated - about 5 seconds.  Will show "Configured" when complete.
7. Click left 3 times until Port Setting Screen is shown again. Note, if you don't back out of this Network Configuration , the Network Adapter remains in configuration mode and won't accept connections.
8. Your SA2.6 should be ready for connection.

eMotimo Spectrum ST4/ST4.3 Setup Steps:

1. Connect your external network adapter to the I/O Port
2. Power the Network Adapter with the included 5V adapter, other adapters may break the network adapter
3. Connect the Ethernet cable to the Network Adapter
4. Power on the ST4/ST4.3
5. Go to the settings menu and set your i/o port to API/NetAdapt
6. Power Cycle your ST4/ST4.3
7. In Settings, select your Net. Adapt Config. screen
8. Record your Network Adapters IP Address and Port on your network - you will need this in the next step.

Companion Setup Steps:

1. Download the Bitfocus Companion software from their website here. You will have to make an account to download the software. We recommend downloading the latest Stable release.
2. Once downloaded install and launch the Companion App
3. Launch the GUI for the Companion App 
4.  Search the Connection list for eMotimo and Add a connection for each motion control head you are going to connect.
5. Select the connection from the list on the left side of the page to open the Connection settings. For each connection fill in the IP address of the Network Adapter that is connected to your unit and the Port. Leave the Connection protocol as TCP and select the model you are connecting.
6. Note: To find the IP Address of your network adapter connect it to the ST4/ST4.3. Power on your head and go to the settings menu and look for the Net. Adapt Config. screen. Write down your IP Address and Port and then leave that screen to release the Network Adapter and allow a device to connect to it. Spectrum Studio users, select Spectrum ST4.3 as your camera model.
7. Your eMotimo head should now connect and show a Check Mark in the Connection Status when the connection is complete
8. Now you can select the Buttons Tab in the Companion GUI to start configuring your streamdeck