Cheap DMX

[rth_discos]

Hi

So I thought I'd dabble with DMX using Freestyler software and a cheap USB to DMX cable off eBay. In total, I've spent £15, and I'm blown away by what I've managed to achieve. I've got Sound 2 Light setup direct through Virtual DJ, including setting markers in songs to change the sequence to match that piece of music. I've also set up my mixer's cue point buttons to activate different sequences.

So I've managed to set up an amazing light show for the total price of £15.

Now, to me, this seems too good to be true. What are the risks of me going down this route? For what reason might I need to eventually "upgrade" to something more expensive? Or is what I've got going to be perfect for me?

[DazzyD]

Hi

So I thought I'd dabble with DMX using Freestyler software and a cheap USB to DMX cable off eBay. In total, I've spent £15, and I'm blown away by what I've managed to achieve. I've got Sound 2 Light setup direct through Virtual DJ, including setting markers in songs to change the sequence to match that piece of music. I've also set up my mixer's cue point buttons to activate different sequences.

So I've managed to set up an amazing light show for the total price of £15.

Now, to me, this seems too good to be true. What are the risks of me going down this route? For what reason might I need to eventually "upgrade" to something more expensive? Or is what I've got going to be perfect for me?

You'll need to upgrade when what you've got is no longer adequate for where you want to go with your light show!

Whilst your system is doing what you want it to do, why even think about upgrading?

[Shaun]

Seems like a good way to dabble with DMX without the cost of the more expensive options.

Out of interest, which USB/DMX dongle did you buy?

[rth_discos]

You'll need to upgrade when what you've got is no longer adequate for where you want to go with your light show!

Whilst your system is doing what you want it to do, why even think about upgrading?

I think I probably worded the question wrong - I'm not thinking about upgrading, just trying to understand what I'm missing out on (if anything) - as I haven't found anything that I can't do yet!

I guess I'm trying to understand what the makers of DMX software and hardware would be saying to me to sell me the upgrade (not that I'm looking for it).

[rth_discos]

Seems like a good way to dabble with DMX without the cost of the more expensive options.

Out of interest, which USB/DMX dongle did you buy?

I bought this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281621489277?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I initially thought it'd just be dabbling - and I'd soon hit limitations, but I'm not - and have been able to create some very precise and impressive light shows, that I have been able to exact control over, that work amazingly with Virtual DJ.

[Andy P]

I have one of those and cant get it to work - what version of windows you using and what software/drivers

[Nakatomi]

As far as I know you might only run into trouble when one DMX universe isn't enough - that is, when you run out of DMX addresses. I'm pretty sure most mobile discos should be safe with only one universe unless you're doing something fancy with LED pixels :D

[Chris1984]

You might want to upgrade to a dongle that has some form of electrical protection/isolation.

This protects you computer form anything bad coming down the DMX line - it happens.

[rth_discos]

I have one of those and cant get it to work - what version of windows you using and what software/drivers

Windows 7 - and it just installed itself!

- - - Updated - - -


You might want to upgrade to a dongle that has some form of electrical protection/isolation.

This protects you computer form anything bad coming down the DMX line - it happens.

Excellent - it's these sorts of things that are useful to know :)

[rth_discos]

As far as I know you might only run into trouble when one DMX universe isn't enough - that is, when you run out of DMX addresses. I'm pretty sure most mobile discos should be safe with only one universe unless you're doing something fancy with LED pixels :D

Yes, 512 is ample for my requirements :)

[Chris1984]

Excellent - it's these sorts of things that are useful to know :)

No worries - happy to help


As far as I know you might only run into trouble when one DMX universe isn't enough - that is, when you run out of DMX addresses. I'm pretty sure most mobile discos should be safe with only one universe unless you're doing something fancy with LED pixels :D

Its always worth bearing in mind that sometimes that using other universes may be helpful from a cable management point of view.
Not always applicable to mobile work but for example having 2 universes can save having a dmx splitter and extra cable.

On larger shows when you have 30/40 universes or more they may no always be full just to manage the system a lot easier and neater! (not that that applies here - just saying!)

[ukpartydj]

Its always worth bearing in mind that sometimes that using other universes may be helpful from a cable management point of view.
Not always applicable to mobile work but for example having 2 universes can save having a dmx splitter and extra cable.

On larger shows when you have 30/40 universes or more they may no always be full just to manage the system a lot easier and neater! (not that that applies here - just saying!)

I did wonder if they still used DMX for large shows or if it was something different, this does explain it!
Do you know if you can plug in 2 USB - DMX dongles in to create 2 universe's in freestyler?

[DazzyD]

I bought this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281621489277?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I initially thought it'd just be dabbling - and I'd soon hit limitations, but I'm not - and have been able to create some very precise and impressive light shows, that I have been able to exact control over, that work amazingly with Virtual DJ.

Having looked at that it states that it works with MagicQ. I was under the impression (as it's what Chamsys says!) that only the Chamsys dongles/systems work with MagicQ :confused: Or I might have it back to front and that it's the dongle that will only work with MagicQ.

[Chris1984]

I did wonder if they still used DMX for large shows or if it was something different, this does explain it!
Do you know if you can plug in 2 USB - DMX dongles in to create 2 universe's in freestyler?

WE do indeed still use good old DMX but its normally distributed via artnet, or similar via fiber, network and wirelessly to nodes where it then becomes 5pin dmx as you know it.
Normally all that goes form FOH at a large show is a fiber line or cat 5 line - same for audio to.


Having looked at that it states that it works with MagicQ. I was under the impression (as it's what Chamsys says!) that only the Chamsys dongles/systems work with MagicQ :confused: Or I might have it back to front and that it's the dongle that will only work with MagicQ.

I think you can use some but they are restricted to universe one and dont unlock the full software

[Nakatomi]

Googling around tonight I found this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/FTDI-USB-Adapter-Based-DMX-Transmitter-With-Isolat/ .. a nice little afternoon project

[DJ Jules]

Do you know if you can plug in 2 USB - DMX dongles in to create 2 universe's in freestyler?

Multiple universe support has only just come into the latest versions of Freestyler. I'm using a DMX King USB adaptor which supports 2 universes, and 2 outputs per universe (e.g. I can run cables in 4 different directions from it) and Freestyler now recognises this and allows me to specify which universe each fixture is in. Admittedly I haven't used this feature yet as I'm running from the dongle to a single wireless adaptor anyway :D I believe you can specify multiple adaptors and assign each one to a universe - might be time to RTM :D

Julian