Enttec

[CLD Kevin]

JBullard wrote:

Cracker wrote:

In S3, does the number of intelligent channels apply like in S2? 128?

Perhaps you were thinking of the iDMX1000 processor , it had an intelligent channel limit of 128 in use at any given time.

With the release of S3, direct DMX is supported.

You don't even need to spend $ 60 for the Entec open, the regular LOR $ 29 USB-RS485 dongle does the same thing.

I haven’t upgraded nor even looked into the S3 software until yesterday.

Yeah...I was thinking it may have been like the iDMX and only partial support until a later release. Good to know all 512 chs will supported to fade/twinkle/ect.

Also good to know that I don’t need an Enttec open…just an LOR USB-RS485 dongle will work. I’m guessing I just tell the software that dongle is for DMX output? Why would one need an Enttec open if the LOR dongle works?

[JBullard]

Cracker wrote:

JBullard wrote:

Cracker wrote:

In S3, does the number of intelligent channels apply like in S2? 128?

Perhaps you were thinking of the iDMX1000 processor , it had an intelligent channel limit of 128 in use at any given time.

With the release of S3, direct DMX is supported.

You don't even need to spend $ 60 for the Entec open, the regular LOR $ 29 USB-RS485 dongle does the same thing.

I haven’t upgraded nor even looked into the S3 software until yesterday.

Yeah...I was thinking it may have been like the iDMX and only partial support until a later release. Good to know all 512 chs will supported to fade/twinkle/ect.

Also good to know that I don’t need an Enttec open…just an LOR USB-RS485 dongle will work. I’m guessing I just tell the software that dongle is for DMX output? Why would one need an Enttec open if the LOR dongle works?

Yes, you specify DMX in the channel config.

You don't need an Enttec open dongle. During Beta testing of the software, many of us already had DMX dongles that we used with Lynx, Renard or other controller boards. Therefore a list was complied of DMX dongles that were tested and worked with LOR S3.

http://forums.lightorama.com/forum75/28546.html

[Tracy West]

Ok.. I am trying to learn all this DMX stuff! Wow!

I already have a LOR USB-RS485 and I have upgraded to S3. Now... what do I connect to it to get my DMX devices to work?

Does anybody have any tutorials, videos, pictures of how all of this is hook up etc..

I want to make the jump to DMX controlled. I have 13 to 14 lights and stobes that are DMX ready and I really would love to make them work to their full potential.

I am grasshopper... somebody become my teacher!

[jeffl]

We need Bob to make a video of how to do this.

1). Start the LOR control panel. (this will start the LORCommListener for DMX)

2). Setup the adapter as a DMX universe's adapter in the Sequence Editor's Network Preferences screen, and set its protocol to "Raw DMX".

3). shutdown / Startup the Sequence editor.

This in a nut shell is all you need on the software side.

After this you will need to make sure your cat5 cable pins coming from the LOR USB485B are the same going to your DMX device.

This link has a number of diagrams for examples.

http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=General_Information_on_Dongle_Connections

[Tracy West]

(You don't even need to spend $ 60 for the Entec open, the regular LOR $ 29 USB-RS485 dongle does the same thing.)

Does anybody have pictures of the LOR hooked up to a DMX with just the LOR USB RS485 dongle. There has to be a dmx plug attachment somewhere in all of this talk but I am not hearing it. :shock:

I would really love to see a connection, programming tutorial, if anybody has done one.

[harrison0550]

+1 on what Tracy said. I just can't picture the hookups in my head. I'm curious for not just one rgb device but for say 20 or 30 rgb strips. I think I need some hands on with this before I try and understand all the terms associated with it. Luckily we have a whole year to learn it all.

I'll cut you a deal John I will help you take down your mega tree this year if you can help me wrap my head around all this rgb dmx stuff. Oh and me and the wife came and saw your lights the other night. We loved the mega tree. Hopefully you will see this post.

[JBullard]

harrison0550 wrote:

+1 on what Tracy said. I just can't picture the hookups in my head. I'm curious for not just one rgb device but for say 20 or 30 rgb strips. I think I need some hands on with this before I try and understand all the terms associated with it. Luckily we have a whole year to learn it all.

I'll cut you a deal John I will help you take down your mega tree this year if you can help me wrap my head around all this rgb dmx stuff. Oh and me and the wife came and saw your lights the other night. We loved the mega tree. Hopefully you will see this post.

You have a deal Andy. !

[friskybri]

Ok, let me see if I got this down. I dont need a enttec under s3. I can use a USB RS485 or USB rs485 booster. I cant use a rs485 booster and use both cat outputs one for LOR and one for DMX. So I would need a second usb rs485 for the DMX. I can make my own cable using this( http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=General_Information_on_Dongle_Connections )
Does it make a difference for DMX using the booster or regular RS485?
The enttec pro has a chip so it can process the info so it wont slow down the pc. Don't think that will matter with 16gb mem, 3.1gz quad core pc.
If the rs485 does do this then why would I need a enttec?
Also why would I need a Smart DMX interface from LOR for 260?
Isn't that what a rs485 and making a usb to XLR cable.

[heystew]

Correct,
You do not need an Enttec to do DMX with S3. You have the option of using any of those mentioned:
- LOR RS485 adapter with RJ45 to XLR adapter cable
- Enttec Pro
- Enttec Open
- the others that are currently or will be supported

As you said, you can only use one protocol per adapter, so you cannot do LOR and DMX out of the same USB RS485 (although you can run LOR hardware in DMX mode, so you could potentially support it that way.. note i have never done this, so someone else could better tell you.)

You do not need the iDMX from LOR. They add the ability to host a stand alone show as well as give an easy entrance into DMX. Their main limitation is the 128 intelligent channels which is why it is so great that the Enttec's are now supported.

As for processing power, I am using all Enttec Pro's in my setup as my display is large enough that I was worried about processing power. My guess is you will be just fine. Try it with your RS485 that you have to see how well it works for you. My guess is you'll be very happy.

[JBullard]

friskybri wrote:

Ok, let me see if I got this down. I dont need a enttec under s3. I can use a USB RS485 or USB rs485 booster. I cant use a rs485 booster and use both cat outputs one for LOR and one for DMX. So I would need a second usb rs485 for the DMX. I can make my own cable using this( http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/index.php?title=General_Information_on_Dongle_Connections )
Does it make a difference for DMX using the booster or regular RS485?
The enttec pro has a chip so it can process the info so it wont slow down the pc. Don't think that will matter with 16gb mem, 3.1gz quad core pc.
If the rs485 does do this then why would I need a enttec?
Also why would I need a Smart DMX interface from LOR for 260?
Isn't that what a rs485 and making a usb to XLR cable.

Brian,

Most of the questions you asked were answered above.

The iDMX interface was the only way to do DMX with LOR prior to the Oct release of the S3 software.

It is still needed in order to run DMX from one of the MP3 director units, or if someone just had simple DMX needs and didn't want to get into all the DMX Universe setups and fooling with the LOR Comm Listener. So for some, it could still be a relevant piece of hardware.

[Tracy West]

I have read a ton of the DMX information that has been shared, and I partly understand it, but there is a lot of confusion with what works with what and what does not.

Does anybody have a tutorial out there with pictures or how to do videos and explainations of what is what?

I want to see how the basic iDMX works and how to DYI with all the above stuff that works with S3.

I really want to make the jump to DMX for next year but I am so confused about it! :shock:

[harrison0550]

Tracy I will be diving into this head first after the holidays with help from JBullard I hope. So once I get it figured out I will take some pics/video and post them in this thread for ya. But to satisfy maybe a basic understanding I found a great video explaining a basic rgb/LOR setup and it even shows you how to set it up in the LOR sequencer................

and

Again I am brand spanking new to this as well so I'm trying not to comment on something I currently know very little about but as I learn I will do my best to share. When it comes to DMX I'm quickly learning there is more than one way to skin a cat so to speak but hopefully those videos will help with a basic setup explanation. If they do then make sure you thank the maker of them "which is not me".

Like mama always said "best things come to those who wait" or on second thought that may have been a Katchup commercial hmmmmmmm. Either way if you can wait a few weeks I will get it all figured out and post back. Don't worry about it and have a Merry Christmas!

[harrison0550]

more info here.....
http://vimeo.com/19587484
and here.....
http://vimeo.com/19367640
and here......
http://vimeo.com/19200105.....
and here......
http://vimeo.com/19152886
and here.......
http://vimeo.com/18940486
and here is a good PDF read with helpful links......
http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/view_online.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhttp://www.sandevices.com%2Fdocuments%2FAn%252520Introduction%252520to%252520RGB%252520Pixels.pdf]http://www.sandevices.com%2Fdocuments%2FAn%252520Introduction%252520to%252520RGB%252520Pixels.pdf]http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/view_online.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhttp://www.sandevices.com%2Fdocuments%2FAn%252520Introduction%252520to%252520RGB%252520Pixels.pdf
and here is a website with more pictures, step by step instructions, and another video
http://www.lightuplawrence.net/Home/how-to-1/rgb-dmx-wiring

Like I said above please thank any and all makers of videos/pictures/websites above that may help you out. I am not the creator of anything above and couldn't tell you from experience if one way works better than the other. My only contribution is knowing how to use google. Like I tell my boss "I don't have all the answers but I can find them"

The above should at least fulfill some questions to get you started. Good Luck and when I learn more I will post more. All the videos/guides above were all created within the last 12 months but that isn't to say one or another isn't out dated already. Just from my week or so of research I've learned this technology changes faster than my facebook status so IMHO find something above that you understand and works for you and run with it!

Good Luck!

[Tracy West]

Wow! Great job on the research! Thanks a lot! That gives me a lot to look at an ponder!

[friskybri]

After reading this and the manual I decided to make a Cat5 cable to 3 pin XLR. Then I hooked up the RS485 to it. Did everythnig you guys said. That was really cool to use LOR S3 and my DJ equipment. Thinking down the road I could use some of this on certain nights. Took only 2 hours to put it all together. Thanks for the INFO. This video is not perfect but it was a start playing with the dmx values. I just ordered another rs485 adapter.

[JMEvans]

I purchased an Enttec DMX USB open (the one that came without the plastic casing - see attachment:) arround 6 years ago (before I bought my first LOR), I am trying to get it to work with S3, but without success.

I hook up the Enttec and load the current free DMX control software from the links on the Enttec site and It works great, but when I go into network preferances and after setting Light-O-Rama networks - regular to none and closing the editor then launching the editor again under the DMX universe I show only A30005re which is my LOR USB-RS48b, even though both units are pluged in.

any suggestions on getting my old Enttec USB to work?

Thanks
J. Mark


Attached files

[JonB256]

Take a look in the Device Manager when the ENTTEC Open is plugged in. What COM Port is it being given?

If it is a high number (greater than 10), manually reassign it to a lower, unused COM port. The Advanced tab for the COM Port will get you there. It may tell you that the COM Port is already in use, but if you know for sure it isn't, change it to something like 4 or 5 or 6.

Then it should show up in your list. Mine does.

I went through ALL my DMX / USB devices and marked them with permanent marker with the "name" that LOR shows plus the COM Port. If I move it to another computer that gives it a different COM port, I change it to match.

[bdeditch]

harrison0550 wrote:

Tracy I will be diving into this head first after the holidays with help from JBullard I hope. So once I get it figured out I will take some pics/video and post them in this thread for ya. But to satisfy maybe a basic understanding I found a great video explaining a basic rgb/LOR setup and it even shows you how to set it up in the LOR sequencer................





and






Again I am brand spanking new to this as well so I'm trying not to comment on something I currently know very little about but as I learn I will do my best to share. When it comes to DMX I'm quickly learning there is more than one way to skin a cat so to speak but hopefully those videos will help with a basic setup explanation. If they do then make sure you thank the maker of them "which is not me".

Like mama always said "best things come to those who wait" or on second thought that may have been a Katchup commercial hmmmmmmm. Either way if you can wait a few weeks I will get it all figured out and post back. Don't worry about it and have a Merry Christmas!

What I do not understand and wait to, is how is it daisy chained. It the second video it show him hooking up to the next DMX Module with Cat 5E. now does he have 2 (Two) cat 5E connected to the DMX and Power side to be able to daisy chain from one to the next.

[harrison0550]

From what it looks like in the video he is just splicing into the data wires in the cat5 at each split basically daisy chaining the signal. The power is being injected into the cat5 as well but is only moving forward past the power supply placement so that power is not moving back on the cat5 to the dmx dongle "LOR adapter or enttec. Now you would need to inject power to different elements at different locations to ensure each rbg element had enough power to operate correctly. This info is generally found in the suppliers description of the lights wether it be 5v or 12v. It's my understanding you can connect up to 36 dmx controllers on a single cat5 and run data to them. However in this video David has over 40 daisy chained together with power injected at different locations so I don't know what the limit is.http://vimeo.com/14627977
I assume it works somewhat like a normal controller as in if you had 5 dmx controllers in a row all hooked to the same cat5 line and they were assigned #1,#2,#3,#4,and #5 by dip switches are a programmer then the data would come out of the dmx dongle and proceed down the line and controller #1 would read what it needs to do it's job and ignore the rest of the data coming through. This takes place all the way to the end of the cat5 line and someone please correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe it even matters what order you put the controllers in connected to the cat5 because they are only going to read what data is assigned to them and ignore the rest anyway but I could be wrong about that. Now there are Also dmx controllers with an input and an output. I've seen these mainly in the more expensive pixel based controllers that control rgb of every bulb. Most of these have some type of dmx amplifier on the output side as well. The moral here is there is more than one way to daisy chain dmx but thats how it works in my head (and I could be wrong). So to sum up a long winded post he is in a nut shell putting 2 cat5 plugs on the input wire of the cheap dmx controller. One for the dmx signal from the dongle and another to carry the signal on to the next controller creating a daisy chain.

[geronc]

This document sums it up pretty nicely how to use cat5 and daisy chain all of your DMX modules. Cracker gets props for showing me this guide.

http://www.holidaycoro.com/docs/RGB%20MegaBall%20Assembly%20Instructions.pdf

On a side note, if you have 5 RGB DMX modules, you would number them 1,4,7,10,13. Each module uses 3 channels. If you assigned them 1,2,3,4,5, you would have overlapping control of your RGB channels. So when you turned on channel 2, G in the first string would turn on and R in the second string would turn on. You get the picture. Not what you want to do.

Another side note. The cheap DMX modules like the one in the link, DO have an amplified out on them. They just aren't used. It also doesn't matter in what order you put the modules in the line. They just pull their info off and ignore the rest.