DMX DMX Hardware Thread

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
Yes... any time any fixture has the same address as any other fixture, either by plan or mistake, those channels within the fixture will respond to the input. In order to avoid that, they MUST have different addresses and scanner buttons.
My lessons on "CHEATING" should better explain what I'm trying to convey.

Understood .. my only thought there was if they are all set to the same address, then slider 1 would only be sending data on channel 1 and not the others (17, 33 and 49) - correct?
 
Understood .. my only thought there was if they are all set to the same address, then slider 1 would only be sending data on channel 1 and not the others (17, 33 and 49) - correct?
When you activate any of the scanner buttons, you are sending out signals on EACH of those channels. Any time one of the 12 scanner buttons is turned on, moving any of the sliders sends out the same signal to each of those fixtures attached.

So, if you had the same style fixture attached to every scanner button at each of the default values (1...17...33...49...etc), and each of the 12 buttons is turned on, and you moved slider one, that same function would occur on each of the fixtures.

If you had all of the fixtures addressed on the same channel, you could not operate them individually.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
I'm hoping this next lesson should bring things together...
"CHEATING"


The reason I use the term "cheating", is that this particular controller claims it controls 12 fixtures, with 16 channels on each fixture. Well, if you're using only 4 channel (for example) fixtures, you are leaving 12 usable channels open on the scanner button. So, in the event you have MORE than 12 fixtures, what are you going to do? Cheat!

Assuming the previous pages got you to understand addressing and assigning fixtures to scanner buttons, I'm going to explain "Cheating
(my term). First, here's what assigning fixtures to a scanner button looks like. Notice the "un-used" channels on each scanner button? Cheating raises the question: "why not use those wasted channels" on each scanner button?
 

Attachments

  • Page 21.jpg
    Page 21.jpg
    86.6 KB · Views: 6
  • Page 22.jpg
    Page 22.jpg
    84.9 KB · Views: 6
  • Page 23.jpg
    Page 23.jpg
    96.6 KB · Views: 6
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
So, in Cheating mode, if you want to move the "X" axis mirror on each fixture, you have to move slider #1; #5; then, turn the page for #9; & #13, to make them all do the same thing. Yes, it takes a little extra time, but you have remarkably increased the number of fixtures you can now individually control. Instead of 12 4 channel scanners... you can now control 48 of them. As I've said... if you have 12 or less fixtures, don't cheat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Tyrone .... Maybe it would be best to create a separate thread for each section you cover? Then, as people stop in on the conversations, the thread is somewhat contained.
Thats not a bad idea, I know I could ask a lot of questions
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
That might work... I'm more than half way finished, and I think too many forums might get out of control... Once I'm done, it might be easier to answer questions that would benefit all readers of just one forum, rather than 6 or 8 forums. This is working for me right now. I envision someone interested, will just have to read all the pages... doesn't seem too difficult.

It appears that only a handful are reading this forum anyhow. Anyone... have any thoughts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
That might work... I'm more than half way finished, and I think too many forums might get out of control... Once I'm done, it might be easier to answer questions that would benefit all readers of just one forum, rather than 6 or 8 forums. This is working for me right now. I envision someone interested, will just have to read all the pages... doesn't seem too difficult.

It appears that only a handful are reading this forum anyhow. Anyone... have any thoughts.

Not additional forums. Different threads on the different sections of your book. Do we need to write you a book? ;) lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Not additional forums. Different threads on the different sections of your book. Do we need to write you a book? ;) lol
I knew what you meant... I used the term "forum" when I should have used your term... sorry. If there were hundreds of folks who were reading this, then, I'd agree with you. If only 3 people are asking questions, then, I feel this is adequate. If that changes, then, we can change it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
This picture is the result of arranging your fixtures to fill up one scanner button. Obviously, if your fixture has more channels, you need to plan accordingly. Got it? Bueller? Buller??
 

Attachments

  • Page 24.jpg
    Page 24.jpg
    102.1 KB · Views: 5
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
PROGRAMMING - finally!

This next comment is VERY important to remember.
Very few fixtures "share" parameters on the same channels. As discussed in an earlier thread, some fixtures have pan and tilt on channels one and two. Our next example actually uses channels three and four for pan and tilt. It all depends!

The first picture (page 26) illustrates a 4 channel scanner, and the following picture (page 27) shows a 5 channel scanner. The difference is the gobo and color wheels are on the same channel in the first image, but on separate channels (page 27). The five channel scanner is a Chauvet 1.2. It depends on how the manufacturer built the fixture. More functions, equals more channels. I don't personally like several features on the same channel... but it makes it easier to program.

The problem is that maybe you wanted a blue colored star, but you can only get a yellow star and a green cloverleaf. I like separate color and gobo wheels so that I can make any gobo any color I want. That requires an additional wheel and extra channels. Some fixtures have some of the following channels (for example): fine pan, fine tilt, strobe, focus, frost, pulse, shutter, iris, prism, rotation... etc etc. With more functions, you need more channels and a more expensive fixture.

Having said that, think about using this controller with fixtures that don't have very many channels. A few 16 channel fixtures are going to eat up your total available channels pretty fast.

Got it?
 

Attachments

  • Page 26.jpg
    Page 26.jpg
    94.9 KB · Views: 5
  • Page 27.jpg
    Page 27.jpg
    82 KB · Views: 5
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
PROGRAMMING DETAILS

What's actually happening inside your fixture, when you move a slider? As we mentioned earlier, there are 256 positions on your slider, that show in the small window in the upper right of the controller. Once you move the slider, and leave it, the value switches back to channel and bank values after a second or two.

With this particular fixture, you need to activate "scanner button #1" and move slider one to see the mirror move. Let's say that you have four of the same scanners hooked up, and are using scanner buttons 1, 2, 3, & 4, after setting the addresses of 1, 17, 33, & 49 in the respective scanners. Activate only scanner button one, and only the first mirror will move when you move slider #1. If you activate scanner button two in addition, then two mirrors will move... activate button #3, and three mirrors will move... and so on. So, if you wanted red and green spots on the same location on your dance floor, you would activate the buttons for the scanners you wanted a red star. Move slider #1 and obtain a red star... then, deactivate one button and position the image where you wanted it on the dance floor. Deactivate that, and re-activate the first button to position that red star. Now, activate the other two buttons and get a green cloverleaf, and repeat the above steps for those two channels. I'll show a picture in the next thread.
 

Attachments

  • Page 28.jpg
    Page 28.jpg
    105.8 KB · Views: 4
  • Page 29.jpg
    Page 29.jpg
    90.4 KB · Views: 5
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
It's important to note... if you have various different brands of fixtures... not all of them have the same colors or gobos. If you want a red star from all of your fixtures, you better make sure it comes with that fixture, or has "changeable" gobos where you can order the gobo of your choice, and install it in the fixture. Many fixtures don't offer this option, however.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
PROGRAMMING GROUPS OR INDIVIDUAL FIXTURES

I'm not going to put any commentary on this thread... I think the pictures are self explanatory.

Got it???
 

Attachments

  • Page 30.jpg
    Page 30.jpg
    104.1 KB · Views: 5
  • Page 31.jpg
    Page 31.jpg
    92.4 KB · Views: 5
  • Page 32.jpg
    Page 32.jpg
    93.8 KB · Views: 5
  • Page 33.jpg
    Page 33.jpg
    85.1 KB · Views: 5
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
...AND FINALLY

Appears the thread has fizzled already...
 

Attachments

  • Page 34.jpg
    Page 34.jpg
    69.7 KB · Views: 3
  • Page 36.jpg
    Page 36.jpg
    98.2 KB · Views: 3
  • Page 37.jpg
    Page 37.jpg
    103.6 KB · Views: 3
  • Page 38.jpg
    Page 38.jpg
    116.2 KB · Views: 3
  • Page 39.jpg
    Page 39.jpg
    116.2 KB · Views: 3
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
I'm trackin. Sorry for the delay. I understand thus far. I also understand the 'cheating'.

As I see it, if you have (4) four channel fixtures of the same type on a controller that has 16 channels per 'fixture button', you could:

1: Address them all the same - say 001. In this case, all 4 would respond the same exact way to commands on channels 1-4.
2: Address them 001, 005, 009 and 013. In this case, all 4 would respond differently on 001: 001-004, 005: 005-008, 009: 009-012 and 013: 013-016