Thread: DMXorcist

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Hey guys...I posted earlier this year about switching to a DMX run haunt. I've started buying some equipment already (colorsplash lights, abyss led, enttec, etc.). I wanted to get a DMXorcist to run everything but Phoenix's website said out of stock. I tried emailing and messaging him for information on availability but there has been no response. Now I also see his site Phoenix Animation is now offline. Does anyone know what's going on?

I'm really at a loss now on how to control everything. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas on what I can do? I really want to get started as this is going to be a huge project for me. Thanks!!!

Jaime

Not sure if this is what you want, but..FrightProps - Halloween Decorations, Halloween Props, Pneumatic Props, Animated Props, Halloween Accessories

I know they have the audio controllers, but am pretty sure they also have the lighting controllers.

Here is an actual DMX lighting controller though..DMX-IT 12 - DMX Controller -* DMX 512 Lighting Controller - DMXit

Hmmm... the booBox stuff might work. Looks like the BooBox 8 is what I would have to go with since it can control 512 DMX devices just like the DMXorcist did. Now the only think I wonder about is programming. Looks like you have to use the ScareMaster to program the BooBox stuff. I was originally thinking about using VSA which DMXorcist uses. I currently have have 1 3-axis skull and 4 animated pumpkins which have 1 servo in each of them. So I'm running 8 servos using VSA.

This year I will have a second 3-axis skull as well as possibly some more skulls that just have jaw movement. I also will be switching my lighting DMX. I think probably around 6 lights. I was thinking about running my skulls using the Medusa DMX board.

The more I think about it I think I'm going to need some reall good tehcnical help on figuring out how everything will work together. I'm a techie guy so once I get a bit of guidance I should be able to run with it :P

Jaime

Jaime,

The main thing to decide is whether to do standalone, or computer driven. I think most of the DMX users here are using the computer-driven solution. This requires a computer running VSA, a DMX converter (USB-to-DMX), and a number of DMX-controlled devices (for example: strobes, smoke machines, Medusa DMX). This setup will let you run a routine by clicking a mouse, or will let you loop the same routine over and over.

Some people who go down the computer-driven DMX path also want the routines to be able to be triggered by the TOTs moving through the haunt (beam break sensor, mat switch, etc). That's where a DMXorcist or the Helmsman come in. These devices/software let you do just that. You can set up a trigger event (mat switch), and associate a given routine (skull talking smack to visitors) with that trigger. The DMXorcist takes it one step further, and lets you use the same computer and DMX lines for multiple scenes, so you can have two different rooms, each with their own triggers and associated routines, playing independently of one another (asynchronously, in techno-speak).

Hope this sends you in the right direction.
- Hook

Hook,

Thank you for the break down. Now I'm understanding it a lot more. I think what I was getting confused on was the triggers part. I actually have a lot of pieces already with the exception of your board and the DMXorcist. I have VSA, Enttec, some of the DMX devices and I actually did use Helmsman & Trackskull last year from MonkeyBasic.

Do you know of anything else out there that will run scenes asynchronously like the DMXorcist can?

I'm really trying to think of all the scenarios I'm going to have and I'm not 100% sure if I will need this ability. More than likely what will be happening is my some of my props may be doing some kind slight movement or sounds when another prop is in active mode. I'm not sure if this would be considered to be two routines running at once. I will post some more details of what my haunt will consist of tonight.

BTW, do you still have boards available now? And how much do they run again?

Thanks!!

As far as I know, there isn't anything out there, other than the DMXorcist, that will let you merge routines realtime over one set of DMX lines. And yes, any movement whatsoever on the 'inactive' props would be part of a separate active routine (Asuming they're on the same DMX lines) It's a software thing, as I understand it. VSA will let you play any show, one at a time. DMXorcist merges the data stream from multiple routines, realtime, and sends all the updates down the same DMX lines.

If you're planning on running multiple scenes, the DMXorcist route would save you on hardware (just one computer, one USB-to-DMX converter, etc. instead of multiple). On the other hand, if you only want one routine, you can hack an old mouse or keyboard, and wire the switch over to your trigger device.

Regarding the Medusa DMX, I only have 4 left. They're $90 + $5 shipping. PM me if you're interested.

- Hook

I got a hold of Phoenix the beginning of February and got a link to download an upgrade from Exorcist to DMXorcist and a user key. I got the impression that they are not making the Exorcist box any more. Also, it sounded like Phoenix is not going to be doing much with Halloween stuff in the future.

Ok so here is a rough layout of what I'm planning for this year. I really don't know if I'm going to be able to convert my haunt over to a Pirate theme this year or not. I figure if it gets close and I'm just no where near where I want to be I can still switch over to my Haunted House theme I have used the past three years.

Legend:

1 - Drinking Pirate (Static prop with a water pump circulating the rum)
2 - Jail Scene ( 2 - 3 "1-axis" pirates)
3 - Deserted Pirate (1 3-axis Pirate)
4 - Cannon w/ Pirate (1 - axis Pirate)
5 - Row Boat (since I really don't have a place to store an entire ship I think I'm going to build a small row boat - Example
6 - Singing Pumpkins / Graveyard (4 pumpkins each with 1 servo)
7 - Pneumatic Barrel Pop-Up ( Skeleton Torso out of wooden wine barrel)



Jaime

Are you looping the routines for each of the props or are you using mats and such to trigger the routines?

I sent a message to Phoenix. Hopefuly he replies soon. I'm also wondering the same thing. I've been talking up DMXorcist a lot and so it would be sad if it's no longer available.