DMX Tutorial

Whispers in the Park · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 05:41 AM

It seems there are a lot of threads dealing with different parts of DMX control but nothing consise. I (like many others) want to use DMX for my props. I have bought everything recommended by other members in earlier posts but am having trouble getting everything set up. I have the Enntec Open DMX USB, DMX cables, 5 pin to 3 pin converter, Chauvet Splash JR lights, the VSA program, etc....Just can't seem to get it all to work. I have used VSA before for a 3-axis skull...really just want to add the lights to the scene this years. Any step by step suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

Whispers

Terra · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 06:55 AM

I agree that DMX info is all over the place. I've kind of learned DMX through asking many questions on many threads. Later, as I got better, I answered many questions in many threads. heh

After Halloween (when I have time) I think I will put a step-by-step tutorial of how to do DMX. In the meantime, here's a collection of threads that discusses DMX in one form or another:

Lots of DMX answers here: DMX Vampire in Coffin (MIB)

Link to a basic DMX video: DMX Boogedy!

Guitarist's DMX Control Center: dmx haunt control system.

DMX Video: DMX+Video Possible?

Some DMX light answers: vsa and dmx led lighting

DMX Servo and DMXorcist answers: DMX Servo Contollers and such: DMX Control

DMX and VSA Triggering: DMX Motion Trigger

DMX Discussion: In Need of Some INFO!!!

Continued.....

Terra · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:04 AM

DMX Prop Interface: New DMX-controlled prop interface

Overview of DMXorcist controlling many props: Sneak Peek: Castle of Terra '09

DMX and VSA programming problems: DMX/ VSA programing problems

DMX Fogger control: Chauvet DMX-3F DMX Converter/timer

DMX Coffin: Coffin MIB with DMX Control

More DMX light and VSA answers: vsa light control

If I've missed any, please add them to this thread. It is nice to have all these conversations on DMX in one place

Terra · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:07 AM

Oh, and here's the first thread where I started asking a ton of questions about DMX. I still feel bad about how I hijacked it. So sorry again "Scare Seeker." Monster In a Box "AKA" Kerature Krate

Whispers in the Park · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:36 AM

Terra,

Thank you for all the information. Guess I know what I will be doing tonight...lots of reading. As a side note to anyone else, the first problem I had was the Enttec Driver did not install correctly and I had to re-install it manually. Now that is working and I have a Chauvet Splash Jr. working with DMX and VSA. Now I just need to figure out the rest of the routine.

Thanks

iamgettingbored · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 07:54 AM

Question. How many DMX outputs does it have? Just one? So you can only run one chain at once? Im confused. And if you can only run one chain at a time wouldnt that trigger everything on that one chain or can you trigger independently? say you have 5 things on one chain could it go 5-3-2-4-1 or will all of the devices fire at once? Confused.....

Whispers in the Park · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:18 AM

I may be speaking beyond what I know, but there are 512 channels with DMX. Different props or lights or relays or whatever have there own ID or address and can be triggered or turned on and off in whatever order or sequence you want. Terra and the others know much more about this than me though.

iamgettingbored · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whispers in the Park

I may be speaking beyond what I know, but there are 512 channels with DMX. Different props or lights or relays or whatever have there own ID or address and can be triggered or turned on and off in whatever order or sequence you want. Terra and the others know much more about this than me though.

So you can hook up 512 devices on one chain? And controll anyway you want as long as you dont exceed the amperage?

Whispers in the Park · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamgettingbored

So you can hook up 512 devices on one chain? And controll anyway you want as long as you dont exceed the amperage?

No not exactly....and again there are better people to ask about this, but as an example I am using some Chauvet Splash Jr. LED lights. They have 4 channels each to run the dimmer/strobe functions and the RGB led's. So each ligh uses 4 of the available 512 channels. Each light also has its own power supply so no amperage problems. Hope that makes sense. You use a separate software program to run the system...most on here use Brookshire's VSA program.

iamgettingbored · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:38 AM

Makes perfect sense now. Thank you