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Taking a dive into the DMX world


caniac

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first off what kind of DMX set-up are you using? ie: holidaycoro,LOR, need more info please. Does it use cat5e or standard xlr plugs?

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You will need a crossover cable (I don't recommend), or a dongle (Enttec, Holiday Coro, Seasonal Entertainment etc), a power unit.  Hard to say more without what dmx item(s).

For new getting your feet wet on RGB I highly recommend the RGB starter kit from Holiday Coro (or Seasonal Entertainment).  A great way to get started without a big investment in the wrong equipment.

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First off do you have LOR Advanced? You will need that.

You will also need a DMX dongle as mentioned before. This will have to sit next to your regular LOR network unless you opt to get an iDMX from LOR (or someone selling theirs). For one DMX Universe, you could get away with another USB485 device. Otherwise I would recommend either an Enttec Open or DMG King micro dongle. I know vendors here sell "Enttec" compatible, but I have had numerous private conversations with individuals who had eventual issues with the "knock offs". No offense meant to any regular vendor who peddles them. DMX King is the only other secondary recommendation I can make based on my usage. I have had good input on the Holiday Technologies, DMX Fusion Pro as well.

If you are using XLR, that means you are using traditional DMX fixtures. So depending on which dongle route you go, you may need to convert from RJ45 to XLR. LOR sells these and other places Google helps for these.

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I went the light show pro route instead, no futzing to get pixels going. What some of you guys go through to get a bunch of ccr's going is nuts.

 

I'm not sure what futzing needs to happen, especially with CCRs.  Getting those to run requires the same kinds of setups that our AC 16 channel controllers do:  Set up the Unit ID, then add device to sequence.  If you need a second network, that is easily added with another USB adapter and a quick configuration in the Network Config.  CCR/CCB/CCP connect to the LOR network just like any of our other controllers Cat 5 in, Cat 5 out.

 

In many respects setting up CCR/CCP/CCB is easier on an LOR network than on DMX.  For example, the LOR protocol running at 500K can comfortably run 3,800+ channels on a single network.  Due to it's design, DMX pixels would require at least 8 Universes -- and some tricky record keeping to to keep all channels set up correctly, or more.

 

If you are speaking about other's hardware dongles, we have a complete list of supported DMX adapters in our documentation.  If you are worried about compatibility, you can always purchase one of our USB adapters and use it for your DMX network.  Since we don't control other mfgs, we can't control their quality or ensure their compatibility.  Help for supported devices is always just a ticket away.

 

We do use different cabling than standard DMX.  Twisted Pair is cheaper than alternatives (like XLR) and does allow us some additional magic - like supplying accessory power to some devices.  Converting from one to the other does require an adapter (that we sell), OR you can wire one up yourself with the document we provide here:  http://www1.lightorama.com/documentation/ (DMX Information).

 

The iDMX1000 allows for easy usage of DMX devices on an existing LOR network.  Rather than run a second network, the user can simply set the address of the iDMX1000 and then connect their DMX devices to it.  To the Sequence Editor, iDMX1000 connected devices look exactly like LOR devices.  The iDMX1000 is great for 'normal' DMX gear like moving heads, gobos, etc.  It is not recommended for pixels.

 

If you are speaking in respect to E131, again there is nothing really to futz with.  Simply assign the IP address to the universe in the Network Preferences, use the E131 bridge of your choice and it is good to go.  Most issues with E131 setup are not with our software but with the bridge the user chose to use and/or their limited knowledge of IP.

 

Caniac -- the jump into DMX can be just as easy as adding another 16 channel controller, or as complex as wiring the Space Shuttle when it comes to thousands of DMX pixels/channels.  If you open a trouble ticket with additional explicit information -- like what DMX devices you want to add, if you want to add a new DMX network or keep an existing LOR network, etc., we can help.

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I'm not sure what futzing needs to happen, especially with CCRs.  Getting those to run requires the same kinds of setups that our AC 16 channel controllers do:  Set up the Unit ID, then add device to sequence.  If you need a second network, that is easily added with another USB adapter and a quick configuration in the Network Config.  CCR/CCB/CCP connect to the LOR network just like any of our other controllers Cat 5 in, Cat 5 out.

 

In many respects setting up CCR/CCP/CCB is easier on an LOR network than on DMX.  For example, the LOR protocol running at 500K can comfortably run 3,800+ channels on a single network.  Due to it's design, DMX pixels would require at least 8 Universes -- and some tricky record keeping to to keep all channels set up correctly, or more.

 

If you are speaking about other's hardware dongles, we have a complete list of supported DMX adapters in our documentation.  If you are worried about compatibility, you can always purchase one of our USB adapters and use it for your DMX network.  Since we don't control other mfgs, we can't control their quality or ensure their compatibility.  Help for supported devices is always just a ticket away.

 

We do use different cabling than standard DMX.  Twisted Pair is cheaper than alternatives (like XLR) and does allow us some additional magic - like supplying accessory power to some devices.  Converting from one to the other does require an adapter (that we sell), OR you can wire one up yourself with the document we provide here:  http://www1.lightorama.com/documentation/ (DMX Information).

 

The iDMX1000 allows for easy usage of DMX devices on an existing LOR network.  Rather than run a second network, the user can simply set the address of the iDMX1000 and then connect their DMX devices to it.  To the Sequence Editor, iDMX1000 connected devices look exactly like LOR devices.  The iDMX1000 is great for 'normal' DMX gear like moving heads, gobos, etc.  It is not recommended for pixels.

 

If you are speaking in respect to E131, again there is nothing really to futz with.  Simply assign the IP address to the universe in the Network Preferences, use the E131 bridge of your choice and it is good to go.  Most issues with E131 setup are not with our software but with the bridge the user chose to use and/or their limited knowledge of IP.

 

Caniac -- the jump into DMX can be just as easy as adding another 16 channel controller, or as complex as wiring the Space Shuttle when it comes to thousands of DMX pixels/channels.  If you open a trouble ticket with additional explicit information -- like what DMX devices you want to add, if you want to add a new DMX network or keep an existing LOR network, etc., we can help.

I have looked at the iDMX1000 and noticed two connectors on it, does that mean it is limited to two DMX devices?  Currently I will have two "stage lights" that have 177 LED's each (I am assuming dumb RGB's because of the price).  In looking at the manual it seems to have color fade modes, modes for individual colors, and  . . . . . . . . .  Strobe!!

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No.  the iDMX outputs DMX just like any other DMX outputter.  DMX (like LOR controllers) is daisy chained, so you hop from one DMX device to another, each with a unique address.  

 

The iDMX can output all 512 DMX channels.  It's one limitation is that it can only output 128 'Smart' commands at any one time.  The iDMX can emulate LOR hardware features like shimmer onto the DMX device.  Only 128 'smart' commands can be active at any one time.  Any more smart commands than the 128 are treated as 'normal' DMX on/off commands.  Most people will never hit that limit.

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Dev Mike, emulating the shimmer and twinkle is one of the benefits of the iDMX for sure, but I think most will hit the 128 channel smart channel limit at some. I started using a lot of the 3 channel DMX controllers and ate up a lot of the 128 doing ramps and fades. This then almost forces the migration to E1.31.

Caniac, As DevMike said it is a daisy chain connection, without going back and looking at the beginning of the thread, be sure you put a Terminator at the end of the line. You can make one easy enough or buy one cheaply. It prevents bounce back from the DMX signal causing false DMX signals. Most will say you don't need it, and that is arguable, the DMX spec says to do it, but if you start having problems, that is the first thing you would do to troubleshoot anyway.

Edited by zman
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I'm in the same boat this year. We've added a megatree and 32 CCR Arches. Unfortunaltely, the size of the display area (between 1/4 and 1/3 mile radius from the command center). prevents us from all hardwired connections for these two areas in particular. The LOR network last year worked well for us using ELL's but this year not so much. In preliminary testing, the megatree is really jumpy. We have 24 CCR's on it but the front and back are mirrored images by using the same unit ID numbers at 180 degree ribbons. The globe uses 2 cosmic color bulbs with 2 strings of 50 for a total of 200 bulbs on top. The arches are planning to be daisy chained up the side of a road about 750 feet long. Thought about doubling them up like we did for the tree to ease sequencing. I have more than one issue now, but the most pressing is adding the ccr's to the channel confuguration. I'm using superstar to program the megatree and arches. I can't seem to find the link to upload a pdf of the network layout.

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but is it truly "plug and play" as you suggest?  do i just plug it into my lor network?  where do i setup the devices and how?  for now i plan to use the iDMX1000 and daisy chain two stage lights (177 LED "dumb" units I think).  I plan on using these as wall washers and am hoping to be able to use the strobe mode.

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The iDMX is just another LOR controller. It will sit inline with all your other controllers, and the DMX Universe branches from there. On the iDMX is an output XLR plug that you will connect to your first wall washer. Be sure you identify the iDMX with something other than a 0 (zero) as the last number/character. So DO NOT make it ID 10,20,30 etc.... That would keep it in the old 256 channel mode.

At that point, it is just like a controller in your sequences, only it will have 512 channels you can map your DMX lights into.

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Zman will prob respond better but you just add the channels to the devices you add. I wouldn't add all 512 channels. And the iDMX is setup just like an AC controller....but with 512 channels.

So you have the 2 lights. You will set each light up to some dmx address. Most of the time it is set by dipswitches but your dmx device manual should tell you how to set the dmcpx address. That will be your starting channel inside the iDMX.

Now, the device has several channels that do things. Like RGB colors will be 3 channels. Rotate will be a channel. Strobes. All these channels that the device has....and look in the manual to make that determination...will be the starting channel plus the number of the device.

Example...you set the device to channel 1. This will be the iDMX unit number channel 1. Let's say you set your iDMX up as device 25. You would then look in the manual of the dmx device and it probably says that channels 1,2,3 are RGB with 4 being white. Strobes on 5 and rotate control on 10. I don't know what it says but suppose it said that.

Now you would set up channel 1,2,3 of unit 25 in the seq editor as an RGB channel. Unit 25 channel 4 as a white channel. Channel 5 as strobes and then channel 10 as position. I personally would make that a group.

To program, RGB is easy enough using the color fade tool. White...easy enough. Strobes probably on and off. The rotate is a little different.

To control the rotate you will use the fade tool. Hopefully your manual for the dmx device spells it out otherwise it will be trial and error. But 0-255 will be the full range. Typically 0 is full one direction and 255 is the other. And the values in between is, well between the directions. 127 being center. Again, hopefully the dmx manual spells it out. But you will have to use the fade tool to put these values in the sequence box to control the rotate. If you want the light to be center put a fade value of 127 in the seq editor and the light should turn there. Then program colors etc as normal.

Hopefully that makes some sense. And zman prob answer better soon. But maybe this gets you moving in the right direction.

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