Thread: Integrated Haunt Control using DMX/VSA

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Terra, Thank you for posting this (and everyone else for adding to it). I am computer savvy but have always been afraid to make the jump because I couldn't find all the information I needed in one place and hate having to figure out too many things as I go along just to make something work.

Well, here it is! All in one place! At last!

Thanks again!

This should be made into a Sticky. And/or posted on MonsterList and HauntProject.

Originally Posted by joepolicy

A superb tutorial as always - what a lot of work!

One thing I do for my sound is to use Audacity for my multi-track sound. If you use the advanced mixing options:

"The Advanced Mixing Options dialog appears if you have chosen "Use Custom Mix" in the Import/Export tab of Preferences"

when you export to a file, Audacity will popup with a mixing popup (see attachment). In my case, I record 5 different sound tracks in one file (you do not have to use all the tracks). When you export, the mixer box will open up and I can assign my tracks as needed. On my 5.1 system (this also works for 7.1), the map works out as follows:

Channel 1 - Front Left Speaker
Channel 2 - Center Speaker
Channel 3 - Front Right Speaker
Channel 4 - Rear Left Speaker
Channel 5 - Rear Right Speaker

You basically connect the lines from your tracks on the left to the channels on the right and when you export, you have one file with each speaker presenting different sounds. This manual page from Audacity explains it a bit more:

http://manual.audacityteam.org/index...Mixing_Options

I have not tried the Phoenix program myself, but that also looks like a good way to have different tracks going to different speakers. It really saves on not having to have a bunch of sounds cards hooked up to a computer!

Anyeay, just another option. Thanks again for taking the time to put this together - it really answers a lot of nagging questions!

Joe

Thank you. I've always wondered if Audacity had this ability! For those that don't know what Audacity is... It's just the most awesome free program out there next to Google Sketch-up. You can convert, record, edit, cut and mix audio files. Use it all the time. That slammer prop yelling "Brains, Brains!" is my voice that I mixed in Audacity.

Originally Posted by joepolicy

Personally, I use the Board of Chuckee from Skulltronix:

http://www.skulltronix.com/boc.html

It works great with VSA and it is not too expensive - about $90.00. It has a configuration program which makes it easy to setup and use. I can control up to 16 servos and it even has a pair DMX addressable RGB connections for controlling LED's.

Joe

Always been curious about this. So, what is the settings used in VSA - DMX Dimmer? If so, then is the routine stored in the Board of Chuckie? Just trying to wrap my head around it. Sounds like a cool feature to understand.

Originally Posted by Si-cotik

thanks for all the details!!! really helpful! maybe when the dough starts coming in i can build up to this someday!!

Your welcome Hope you get some dough to come your way soon.

Originally Posted by Screaming Demons

Terra, Thank you for posting this (and everyone else for adding to it). I am computer savvy but have always been afraid to make the jump because I couldn't find all the information I needed in one place and hate having to figure out too many things as I go along just to make something work.

Well, here it is! All in one place! At last!

Thanks again!

This should be made into a Sticky. And/or posted on MonsterList and HauntProject.

Thank you so much and I was right with you. The information is all over the place and kind of like it was under lock and key. With knowledge....FREEDOM

Originally Posted by Terra

Always been curious about this. So, what is the settings used in VSA - DMX Dimmer? If so, then is the routine stored in the Board of Chuckie? Just trying to wrap my head around it. Sounds like a cool feature to understand.

Terra,

The BOC is just a controller, it has no memory and it does not store any routines. It is merely an interface between VSA and the servos/led's you are controlling. There are three VSA device types you would use for this board:

DMX Relay - to power on/off the board
BOC Servo - to control up to 16 servos
DMX Dimmer - to control the LED's (strobe and RGB)

Once I configured my board using the BOC Config program, it was ready to go. I use it with the Enttec Open, I have not tested it on my Pro. When you define a BOC Servo, you need to set the high, low and default limit in VSA. This is different depending on the servos you are using. Essentially, you are setting the rotation limits for fully clockwise, fully counter-clockwise and center. I use Hitec HS-485HB's and I find that High = 1250, Low = 250 and Default = 650 works for that servo. If you do not need the full range of motion, you would adjust the limits accordingly. I believe you can also use CR servos, but I personally have not used them.

For the Power, use 1 for on and 0 for off. For the LED's, 0 is LED off and 255 is LED full bright. A fully deployed BOC would take up 45 DMX addresses - 1 for power, 32 for Servos, 4 for LED's and you cannot use the first 8 addresses. In 16 bit mode, the board needs two addresses per servo. I use linear bars in VSA for everything.

Although I do not own a Skulltronix, you can see from their site what you can do controlling servos and LED's using VSA and the BOC. It was the last piece of my DMX puzzle, so now I control everything with VSA. Still hoping Phoenix will provide Windows 7 support some day (hint hint).

I hope that makes some sense, I definitely do not have your talent for explanations and tutorials!

Joe

Originally Posted by joepolicy

Terra,

The BOC is just a controller, it has no memory and it does not store any routines. It is merely an interface between VSA and the servos/led's you are controlling. There are three VSA device types you would use for this board:

DMX Relay - to power on/off the board
BOC Servo - to control up to 16 servos
DMX Dimmer - to control the LED's (strobe and RGB)

Once I configured my board using the BOC Config program, it was ready to go. I use it with the Enttec Open, I have not tested it on my Pro. When you define a BOC Servo, you need to set the high, low and default limit in VSA. This is different depending on the servos you are using. Essentially, you are setting the rotation limits for fully clockwise, fully counter-clockwise and center. I use Hitec HS-485HB's and I find that High = 1250, Low = 250 and Default = 650 works for that servo. If you do not need the full range of motion, you would adjust the limits accordingly. I believe you can also use CR servos, but I personally have not used them.

For the Power, use 1 for on and 0 for off. For the LED's, 0 is LED off and 255 is LED full bright. A fully deployed BOC would take up 45 DMX addresses - 1 for power, 32 for Servos, 4 for LED's and you cannot use the first 8 addresses. In 16 bit mode, the board needs two addresses per servo. I use linear bars in VSA for everything.

Although I do not own a Skulltronix, you can see from their site what you can do controlling servos and LED's using VSA and the BOC. It was the last piece of my DMX puzzle, so now I control everything with VSA. Still hoping Phoenix will provide Windows 7 support some day (hint hint).

I hope that makes some sense, I definitely do not have your talent for explanations and tutorials!

Joe

That was very, very helpful. Thank you I didn't know there was a BOC servo 'type' in the settings tab in VSA. Very cool! The servos/DMX situation always confused me.

We have been using standalone animation for couple of years now and looking at going in to a central "hub" controller style for some features. This is exactly what I was looking for and your explanation of the process is fantastic.

Thank You!

how much does a setup to run two or three props cost? im sure its like anything else, skys the limit. but im talking entry level stuff. im really interested in air hydrolic operation after seeing boogedy!

Originally Posted by Marcharius

We have been using standalone animation for couple of years now and looking at going in to a central "hub" controller style for some features. This is exactly what I was looking for and your explanation of the process is fantastic.

Thank You!

So glad this could help

Originally Posted by bootoyou

how much does a setup to run two or three props cost? I'm sure its like anything else, skys the limit. but im talking entry level stuff. im really interested in air hydrolic operation after seeing boogedy!

The cost is up front so as you add more props you already have the basic controlling system. Total cost not including the props you'll be running: about $620ish This is flexible because I don't know how many cables, DMX lights and DMX relays you'll need. Here's the breakdown:

$60 - VSA program
$120 - DMXorcist with hardware
$20 - Remote
$20 - Powered USB
$100 - Sound card
$70 - Enttec Open USB DMX
$55 - 3-pin DMX cables
$3 - 3 pin female to 5 pin male adapter
$10 - DMX terminator
$100 - DMX relay
$60 - Chauvet Color Splash Jr. RGB LED DMX lights


The sound card price is a guess. Seems they don't make 7.1 sound cards with processors anymore??? I had never gotten one but did get a 7.1 without the processor. On the desktop, the computer is handling it fine so that could save you some money (it was $40). The drag is you have to get an expensive cable ($50) to get the 7.1 sound out from the three ports that the card had. It was a Creative Audacity sound card: http://us.store.creative.com/Creativ...B000LP0R3E.htm

Still haven't used all 7.1 channels so a 5.1 card could still be good enough for you.

The DMX relay and DMX light is also a guess. For last year's haunt, used two DMX relays and 2 DMX lights. You may need more, different or less.

Too cool, thanks so much for the info, we're going to the wets coast haunters convention in may and they are going to have a booth with dmx hardware, so at least I got the sticker shock out of the way! Haha

Here is a link to a video that shows VSA sending DMX signals through an Enttec USB device over DMX cables that controls a video projector on pumpkins, it controls DMX lights that change color and brightness, and through a DMX servo controller it controls the skeleton movement.

The control devices used in the video are:

$60 VSA
$70 Enttec Open USB
$90 Medusa DMX servo controller
$55 DMX Cables

In this video, a relay circuit on the Medusa board is what triggers the projector to play. If you were using a pneumatic prop like Terra's Mr. Boogedy the relay circuit could trigger a solenoid that activates your pneumatic prop.

That is some cool stuff, thank you.