RE: RE: DMX

["Keith Doxey" <ukha@xxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

Havent done a great deal with DMX but did do a Pulsar Masterpiece
Programming course for the one venue I looked afer that had DMX kit at the
time.

The real beauty of DMX is that everything is addressable. If you want 200
lights on one channel you just set the addresses of the dimmer packs to the
same address. Then you decide it wasnt such a good idea after all and can
change the whole setup by flicking a few switches or pressing a few
buttons=
.
Just like X10 modules really except that it is hardwired and works very
reliably ...oh yes.... and VERY FAST :-)

It is dead easy to install. Just a daisy chained RS485 cable connecting the
units. There are all manner of splitters available so you can have multiple
daisy chains avoiding the single point of failure and there are hundreds of
commercially available controllers from around =A350 upwards.=20

These range from a panel with half a dozen slide faders on them to full
blown theatrical lighting desks capable of controlling hundreds of
channels=
.

Artistic Licence http://www.artisticlicence.com
have a range of chips and
dongles available for homebrew stuff as well as complete ready to go
products.

Chauvet http://www.chauvet.co.uk
sell a range of controllers, dimmer packs
and intelligent lighing fixtures priced for the low end of the market.

Obviously if you want to look at the coolest new LED fixtures then you
want....
a. to win the lottery
b. zip off to Pulsar http://www.pulsarlight.com/=20

Another low end manufacturer of DMX kit is NJD Electronics in Nottingham.
http://www.njd.co.uk/ although the
website does seem to be suffering from
problems with the framesets!

The Professional trade show PLASA is coming up next month 7th-11th
Septembe=
r
at Earls Court http://www.plasashow.com for details.
You will find
everything you need for for Lighting, Audio and Video. The only thing you
wont like will be some of the prices.=20

Taking NJD as an example, a few years ago I looked at their light show with
the landlord of one of the pubs I looked after. The show was very
impressiv=
e
but it got me wondering.... at the time, their most expensive product was
=A3600 rrp but there was a lot of kit on the rig, I asked the MD what it
wo=
uld
cost me to buy everything on the stand excluding the rigging and
installation costs. The answer ..... =A385,000 TRADE !!!!=20

I didnt dare think what the value of the kit was on the Martin stand but I
guess it was probably a couple of million quid!!!=20

Last time I went was the day the World Trade Centre was destroyed,
ironically that year unlike the previous year, there was a distinct lack of
video products being displayed and due to event taking place in New York
th=
e
show fell silent with subdued lighting. Most people were huddling around a
couple of stands that had Plasma screens showing very snowy pictures of
Channel 4 news. It was very difficult to find out anything as the cellphone
network was totally busy. The previous year there had been a Stadium sized
LED Video screen hung across the corner of Earls Court One.

I probably wont be going to PLASA this year as the only day I could
possibl=
y
attend would be the Sunday and that is the worst day to attend. For anyone
thinking of going, Monday or Tuesday is usually the best option.=20


Keith

www.diyha.co.uk
www.kat5.tv


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rob Mouser [mailto:rmouser@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 21 August 2003 11:44
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [ukha_d] RE: DMX
>=20
> I was thinking that the color wheel could be put in series=20
> with another controller. each would have its own DMX address.=20
> Perhaps Keith could enlighten us on the DMX scenario as I=20
> know it's an areas he has knowledge in.=20
> Software control is even better still but your way ahead on me there!
> ColorKinetics make a hardware USB to DMX interface, have you=20
> looked at that one?
> http://paintwithlights.safeshopper.com/79/197.htm?11
>=20
> Keep me posted on your developments.
>=20
> P.S. Kevin, are you listening. DMX control on your new board=20
> please? :-)
>=20
> Many thanks
>=20
> Rob Mouser=20
>=20
>=20


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