USB - DMX Interface

[Sam]

'Ello all!

Long time.. no post.

Anyway i'm looking into usb - dmx interfaces at the mo.. any recomendations?

I'm not really fixed to any budget so all suggestions are welcome!

(p.s looked at the maplin one.. only 60 quid.. makes me wonder how good it is?!?!)

Sam

[Tom]

if im right the maplin one you have to make. it comes with all the parts and you have to solder it. its a kit. i had one. i hade my dad make it and it has never worked.

i would say look at the £100 mark minimum

[Jiggles]

Some people have had some sucess with the Maplin kits.

[DMX Will]

If I were you...I'd look at the software, then when you've found some software you like, buy a device that is compatiable with it. I bought one of these Maplin jobbies for school, with a, if it doesn't work...we haven't lost anything attitude.

It works OK, but the software is naff, you can either use the rubbish VB script version, or the other one that people use here....can't for the life of me remember it's name...

[Danno13]

I use one of these -

http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&prod=70303&show=description&name=opendmxusb

[Tom]

I use one of these -

http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&prod=70303&show=description&name=opendmxusb

seems alright. i might get one?

[Sam]

ta all.
Yeh had a look at some programs a while ago.. have to open them back up :-)

Danno.. what program do you use this with?

Sam


I use one of these -

http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&prod=70303&show=description&name=opendmxusb

[funkymike]

I got one of them maplin dmx box, works, but freestlyer program is poo

seen on called visusl dmx but there are 500quid

[DMX Will]

[quote=funkymike;147512]I got one of them maplin dmx box, works, but freestlyer program is poo/quote]

That's the one! :cool:

[Paul James Promotions]

Can't fault Martin LightJockey. You can get the dongle for about £600 from Thomann. Probrably the best thing i've ever purchased, been using it for about 6 years for both disco and live band work.

[Vectis]

I use the maplin one with Freestyler. Works a treat.

[discomobiledj]

does the maplin one come with the software?

[Vectis]

It comes with some poxy basic software but freestyler can be downloaded free from the web. Go google.

[Arnold_disco]

I have used freestyler and daslight. Das light is great as it has a 3d view.

[Danno13]

Danno.. what program do you use this with?

I'm also freestyler user. It has a 3D visualiser too.

[Dillmiester]

So do you all use a separate computer for this or risk using the same thats playing the tunes?

[jamesh]

I got one of them maplin dmx box, works, but freestlyer program is poo

seen on called visusl dmx but there are 500quid

I disagree... Freestyler is great if you know how to use it... And it's FREE... i Run some great lighting shows from freestyler and still do..


Can't fault Martin LightJockey. You can get the dongle for about £600 from Thomann. Probrably the best thing i've ever purchased, been using it for about 6 years for both disco and live band work.

Yeah true martin lightjockey is a fab software and i love using it... but slightly over kill for disco use... I may go over to it fully one day but at the moment i don't see the point in spending £600 on the dongle when i can have the same results by using freestyler and my £50 dmx box...


I use one of these -

http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&prod=70303&show=description&name=opendmxusb

Yep i've got something similar... Got it off ebay a year or 2 ago for smoething like £50... It's perfect and runs with freestyler without issues.


I have used freestyler and daslight. Das light is great as it has a 3d view.

So has freestyler... and it will also work and patch into martin light jockeys free visualiser if you don't like the one freestyler comes with.


So do you all use a separate computer for this or risk using the same thats playing the tunes?

My lighting is run off the back up computer - so freestyler is running as well as having Virtual DJ open but not playing any tracks that way if the main machine stops working audio wise i can just click on virtual dj on the back up system and start playing music once again as well as continue running the lighting.

[Vectis]

My lighting is run off the back up computer

Ditto. Worst case scenario is ditch DMX and run everything sound-to-light. I also have a DMX desk that I can call into service but prefer the computer-based one.

[Jiggles]

heres the Maplin one but £10 chepaer and free p&p http://www.rapidonline.com/productinfo.aspx?mode=ep&tier1=Electrical+%26+Power&tier2=PA+%26+Audio+%2f+Video&tier3=PA+%26+Audio+Kits&tier4=USB+Controlled+DMX+interface&moduleno=78453 there a good company i have used them before!

[DMX Will]

heres the Maplin one but £10 chepaer and free p&p http://www.rapidonline.com/productinfo.aspx?mode=ep&tier1=Electrical+%26+Power&tier2=PA+%26+Audio+%2f+Video&tier3=PA+%26+Audio+Kits&tier4=USB+Controlled+DMX+interface&moduleno=78453 there a good company i have used them before!

Rapid prices exclude VAT....

So that brings it to the £58.75 mark.

Although I can also vouch for Rapid's excellent service. I use them both as a school, and for my business.

[DMX Will]

Although with these Maplin/Rapid USB boxes....you have to build them yourself. You get a bag of parts....and a PCB to solder together. Very easy, but not ideal for all.

[Sam]

who has experience of using DASLIGHT then? :-)

[flatliners]

anyone know if this one is any good

http://www.dj-online.co.uk/acatalog/Afterglow_Aurora-2.html

[Sam]

hello mate.
i think it depends what you want from it!

Certainly for stuff where you don't want a controller inputting into the pc it would be fine...
personally i want to have it set up like:
Controller -> PC -> lights.

So i can push a couple of faders and it will easily do what i want.. so one fader can bring up all the pinks.. without fiddeling around with the pc.
If you get me :-)

[Vectis]

No problem doing it the other way round ie computer -> desk -> lighting

[Sam]

hmm.. i would go with controller -> pc

[flatliners]

i just like the idea of a pic of my rig on screen and seeing the lights on screen
and what they are doing

[Sam]

unless im wrong.. you can't leave them on sound to music mode but still visualising on the pc.

Although if you can.. just make sure the software will do what you want.. and then your fine :-)

[jamesh]

what's wrong with freestyler as mentioned back towards the top of the topic?

[Sam]

The kit he wants can be used with:


DMXControl (supplied on the CD)
Freestyler
MagicQ
Lights Up
The Masterpiece Project
Open DMX Theatre
Shmithz Simple DMX
Shmithz P-polites
Shmithz Abuelites
ChromaKinetics DMX Stage Lighting Software

Just I added in Daslight to the equation.. as I expect i will get that instead.. with the IN/OUT interface

[jamesh]

oh right the kit as in the dmx dongle or the kit as in his lights? If it's the first i can understand it... although you can pick up entec dongles pretty cheap that will work as mentioned above... but if it's the second it doesn't take too long to create freestyler fixtures... all you need it the lighting instruction books.

[Sam]

the kit as in the dmx dongle :-)

[DJWilson]

hi go on www.daslight.com great software (all the big concerts use it etc...)



and you can download free trial (only thing you cant do record what youve done)


then after u can buy the inferface.


All the best!