Steve Constantino Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 I know when the new version of S2 comes out the iDMX will be able to use all 512 channels in a DMX universe. BUT how many of the will be "Smart channels"? I hope more than 64. I want to use more RGB lights fixtures and with only 64 smart channels that limits me to only 21 fixtures. I want to use 100 or more fixtures.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zman Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Steve,LOR has stated they will eventually support only 64 smart channels.Smart channels are not "allocated". LOR today, supports 256 of the 512 that he DMX standard has. Smart channels are use and release. If you have to do a ramp/fade/twinkle/shimmer, while the effect is in operation, the "smart channel" is used, then once it is done, it is released. Any of the 256/512 can be smart at any time.So the above tells you that you could have any multiple of 64 doing something at any one time. That is a lot. You could have 64 lights ramping or when we get a fading twinkle (with the new firmware release), this means that you could have 32 doing that effect (I believe if I understood that correctly). Again, a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Constantino Posted September 2, 2008 Author Share Posted September 2, 2008 I need to Ramp and fade one more than 64 channels at the same time. If I have 100 RGB fixtures and each one uses 3 DMX channels thats 300 DMX channels to control. If I want them to all fade from one color to an other I can't, Unless they share addresses. Then I won't have individual control of each one.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zman Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Wow, 100 fixtures all for Christmas? Anyway. Are any or all of these slaved devices? Help me to understand, mainly now for my benefit. If you fade a fixture from red to blue, you are going to get purple in between. Unless you use 2 separate fixtures. in which case, yeah, you are using only 2 smart channels. One per device during the fade/ramp.Even so, if you have a 50 / 50 slaved mix, you still will require a 100 smart channels to pull off what you describe. This is assuming you are using all 100 fixtures and attempting to only do this between 2 colors.You do bring up a good point. I don't know what the requirement is for a vendor to support DMX smart channels. Brand A lighting company who also supports DMX only supports 32 channels max today, at least on my research back in April/May. Eventually LOR will support the 64 they advertise which gives them a leg up, but they are on par today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Constantino Posted September 2, 2008 Author Share Posted September 2, 2008 ZmanYes all for Christmas. I came across a lot of used Color Kinetics RGB lights. I am going to use them all as there own fixture and not slaved. I will do the color mixing in each fixture and then point it at what ever I am washing. Depending on the color of each fixture 1, 2 or 3 channels will be used at different intensities.I Know it would be easy to make the iDMX have 512 smart channels. I have a USB to DMX node I use at work and all 512 channels are dimable. It cost less than the iDMX. But it won't work with LOR. Hopefully Dan mite have a new DMX up grade in the works.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightORamaDan Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 The iDMX1000 has 64 intelligent channels. It is not going to handle 300 simultaneous fades.Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Constantino Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 Thanks Dan, I Know it's only 64 smart channels. I was just hopping for a future up grade.Thanks,Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Belcher Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Steve,I am using (5) iDMX-1000's this year and each one will give me 64 ichan's. Four of them will power about 1800 channels of LED tube lights, Martin Mac 550's HES Studio Colors, Colorado 3's, fog, snow, ETC dimmers, etc. Some will be shared and some individually circuited.I am using the fifth iDMX-1000 along with a Martin Maxedia to control a LED tube grid which alone is 1800 additional channels. This will be pixel mapped and controlled with 25 channels.All total I will have around 3500 channels of control at my house.Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Constantino Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share Posted September 5, 2008 Charles,Cool... Right now I and using 3 iDMX units. I think this year I am going to use a Grand MA lighting console to control my LEDs for all the color mixing. Then I will use I iDMX to recall scene's in the Grand MA. If I end up getting more LED fixtures I will do something with pixel mapping. The Grand MA has a pixel mapping engine. I was thinking of using some High end DL3's and a video server but with a new baby this year, it will have to wait till next year.This is the show I work on every day at work. "LAKE OF DREAMS" We have 8 different shows. The whole show uses over 34 DMX universe. Over 4000 RGB led lights under the water. 12 Medea servers, 400 mac 2000's, 7 12000 lumen projectors, and lots more.Enjoy,Or search, lake of dreams on you tube.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zman Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Wow Steve, that is awesome. Well I see that both you and Charles are definitely in the upper tier of DMX knowledge and application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Hamilton Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I couldn't help but notice 448 channels.... geez, I hope you live near a power plant ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Constantino Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share Posted September 5, 2008 That number is a little off. With all the controls it's more like 1000 channels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Hamilton Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 You're a sick man Steve Have you considered attending "LOR Annonymous" ?(the electronics hobby equivalent to Alcoholics Annonymous)I could start a club and make you the charter member, ha!Have a good Christmas season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-klb- Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Some fixtures add a 4th channel that is an overall dimmer. While at first glance, this looks like something you won't use, as it is easy to set up all two or three fades in parallel in the sequence, it does have a use. Set all three channels to the correct relative intensity for the full length of the fade, then fade only the dimmer channel. Now you are only using one smart channel, instead of two or three..It doesn't help if you are trying to fade from one color to another, but at least it gives you more ability to fade in and out large numbers of constant colors..It does not appear to apply to the fixtures in question here, but food for thought.. - Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Jones Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Steve Constantino wrote: Charles,Cool... Right now I and using 3 iDMX units. I think this year I am going to use a Grand MA lighting console to control my LEDs for all the color mixing. Then I will use I iDMX to recall scene's in the Grand MA. If I end up getting more LED fixtures I will do something with pixel mapping. The Grand MA has a pixel mapping engine. I was thinking of using some High end DL3's and a video server but with a new baby this year, it will have to wait till next year.This is the show I work on every day at work. "LAKE OF DREAMS" We have 8 different shows. The whole show uses over 34 DMX universe. Over 4000 RGB led lights under the water. 12 Medea servers, 400 mac 2000's, 7 12000 lumen projectors, and lots more.Enjoy,Or search, lake of dreams on you tube.SteveLove the aero tube - especially with 16 -25HP blowers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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