Blulite
not sure if this is the correct section but i think it is....
im currently building up my lighting collection and have just aquired 2 ADJ revo 1 DMX lights. being that ive never used dmx before, can soeone give me some info on what i have to do to control the with dmx??
i know i need cables and a controler, but thats as far as my knowledge stretches. i also know that the lights need to be daisy chained.
so tose are the easy bits... how do the lights work to the music? do i plug into the controler from my mixer or something??? and what re the dmx > usb gizmos all about??
as my lighting rig expands i would like to add more dmx so need to get some info... preferably without reading 1200 websites
thanks, john.
im currently building up my lighting collection and have just aquired 2 ADJ revo 1 DMX lights. being that ive never used dmx before, can soeone give me some info on what i have to do to control the with dmx??
i know i need cables and a controler, but thats as far as my knowledge stretches. i also know that the lights need to be daisy chained.
so tose are the easy bits... how do the lights work to the music? do i plug into the controler from my mixer or something??? and what re the dmx > usb gizmos all about??
as my lighting rig expands i would like to add more dmx so need to get some info... preferably without reading 1200 websites
thanks, john.
Posted Wed 28 Mar 12 @ 3:44 am
groovindj
The best way to find out is to......read websites!
Also there are lots of videos about DMX on YouTube.
As for sound response, that will depend on the particular light and /or the controller you're using.
Some lights can still react to sound whilst in DMX mode - some can't. Some controllers have an audio input or onboard mic that will allow the DMX sequence to 'step' to the beat.
USB-DMX dongles will allow you to control DMX lights from computer software rather than a controller with faders. Some people prefer using a computer - but it does usually require the user to create 'fixture files' for each light, and some people can't get to grips with that.
Also there are lots of videos about DMX on YouTube.
As for sound response, that will depend on the particular light and /or the controller you're using.
Some lights can still react to sound whilst in DMX mode - some can't. Some controllers have an audio input or onboard mic that will allow the DMX sequence to 'step' to the beat.
USB-DMX dongles will allow you to control DMX lights from computer software rather than a controller with faders. Some people prefer using a computer - but it does usually require the user to create 'fixture files' for each light, and some people can't get to grips with that.
Posted Wed 28 Mar 12 @ 5:30 am
synthet1c
this is my understanding from a year ago
http://virtualdj.com/forums/145951/Mix_lessons/How_do_DMX_controllers_work_.html
http://virtualdj.com/forums/145951/Mix_lessons/How_do_DMX_controllers_work_.html
Posted Wed 28 Mar 12 @ 5:42 am
Blulite
thnks guys =, but i hte reading... so iwent a head and found a schematic of a dmx lighting rig and worked things out for myself. now im ready to find some info on how to make things work with a usb dongle...
whats the score with running both dmx and none dmx lights together in the same rig?
oh btw ive decided to buy a usb dongle instead of a controller as its much easier and less bulk to jus add a second laptop to the rig. or a second screen.
one thing i do want to know though and i know i should do ome reading but its just eaier and less time consuming to ask those who know....
if i have les say 5 dmx lights. 2 identical, the rest all random... do they still have to get daisy chained together as one circut??
whats the score with running both dmx and none dmx lights together in the same rig?
oh btw ive decided to buy a usb dongle instead of a controller as its much easier and less bulk to jus add a second laptop to the rig. or a second screen.
one thing i do want to know though and i know i should do ome reading but its just eaier and less time consuming to ask those who know....
if i have les say 5 dmx lights. 2 identical, the rest all random... do they still have to get daisy chained together as one circut??
Posted Thu 29 Mar 12 @ 3:31 am
Blulite
ooh here we are, this is the sort of basic info i wanted, just incase anyone else is wondering the same things as me.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2324298_set-up-intelligent-lighting.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2324298_set-up-intelligent-lighting.html
Posted Thu 29 Mar 12 @ 3:55 am
groovindj
Yes, if you want to control it from your DMX controller or software, you'll need to put it in the DMX cable chain somewhere.
If it's not connected, it won't get the signal!
I'm not sure if you'll be able to get on with DMX software, because quite often you'll need to get your hands dirty creating your own 'fixture files' (which allow the software to recognise the functions of your lights) because there are just so many lights out there, that the chances of another user (of whichever software you've chosen) having exactly the same lights as you - and making his flxture files available - are minimal.
I see a large number of DMX software users online, forever asking "has anyone got a fixture file for X?" either because they're too lazy to do it themselves or they can't figure it out.
Oh, and you can control non DMX lights (on-off) by adding a box which has DMX in and mains out, and just acts as a DMX controllable switch.
If it's not connected, it won't get the signal!
I'm not sure if you'll be able to get on with DMX software, because quite often you'll need to get your hands dirty creating your own 'fixture files' (which allow the software to recognise the functions of your lights) because there are just so many lights out there, that the chances of another user (of whichever software you've chosen) having exactly the same lights as you - and making his flxture files available - are minimal.
I see a large number of DMX software users online, forever asking "has anyone got a fixture file for X?" either because they're too lazy to do it themselves or they can't figure it out.
Oh, and you can control non DMX lights (on-off) by adding a box which has DMX in and mains out, and just acts as a DMX controllable switch.
Posted Thu 29 Mar 12 @ 1:06 pm
cesarcastillo
Blulite wrote :
if i have les say 5 dmx lights. 2 identical, the rest all random... do they still have to get daisy chained together as one circut??
It depends on what types of lights you want to use? there are hundreds of lights available and to be specific (like PAR Lights, Moving Heads, Effects & Gobos Lights, Scanner, Lazer Lights, Blinder Lights, Strobe Lights & etc.)
If you are trying to control your lighting on PC be sure to look at the best software that supports most of the lighting profiles available in the market i mean some software has a complete fixture library, when you do your programing just go to new add fixture you will have a huge library that contains all the lightings fixtures needed either by BRANDS or by TYPES. Also careful in buying your lights and not all DMX lights are easily reconized by the software those chinese generic brands are hardly recognized by the softwares and fixture hardly found in the library. The cheapest of these DMX Dongles get the PC to constantly generate the DMX signal but some of the best DMX Dongles are actually buffer and create the DMX themselves. Usually software like Daslights, Chromateq, Freestyler, Luminaire & Showexpress are common softwares and the top end of DMX PC lighting software some the lighting control manufacturers such as Cham Sys, Flying Pig (High End), ETC, Light Jockey from Martin etc. They all produce PC versions of their own lighting desk and have different bits of kit for outputting the DMX from your laptop while the PC software gives you the lighting control interface.
Posted Thu 29 Mar 12 @ 3:20 pm
Martin FourS
You actually can daisy-chain everything, as long as you stay within the limit of 512 DMX-channels. Some dongles and software-packages are able to control more than 512 channels, but the chance you will exceed that are small (unless you will controll the >>Eurovision Songcontest<<.... ;)
I control 4 scanners, 2 4-bars, a fogger and a 4-channel switchpack with 96 channels, all with 1 cable from my USB-dongle. You just have to be sure how to address every single fixture.
I control 4 scanners, 2 4-bars, a fogger and a 4-channel switchpack with 96 channels, all with 1 cable from my USB-dongle. You just have to be sure how to address every single fixture.
Posted Thu 29 Mar 12 @ 3:34 pm
Blulite
thanks guys the lights ive got my eye on are martin American Dj and some oter leading brand. so i think they should be covered in the software.
Posted Fri 30 Mar 12 @ 12:17 pm