DMX for dummies

M

morgan_moore

Major Contributor
I think I may have been barking up a duff tree.

Somewhere I posted about using sidus app and maybe buying the sidus one which is a app->dmx dongle.

Id then be able to run my non aperture DMX lights on the sidus app.

But the sidus app is actually garbage.. yes it is gam changing because you can sit in your chair and make a light go purple.

But once you want.. blue in the chorus and red in the verse.. then Im lost.

So maybe what I need is just DMX

I attended a trade show today and they told me 'of course you can buy ipad to DMX dongles'

So does anyone use an ipad to DMX dongle with..
old school bicolour panels
amaran F21
aperture 600d pro

ipad pro

what dongle

what feedback..?
 
There are a lot of thin, inexpensive, portable solutions for control via iOS or Android devices. For studios, stages, theatres, and architectural integrations, we usually install a permanent network and DMX distribution solution, as you do not want to exceed 31 total devices at each optically split output in a given system. Any fixture you have with DMX In / Thru would be compatible with the DMX control standard.

On-fixture wireless DMX is another matter entirely, with many different platforms, from various manufacturers. The most widely accepted of the various options here include: CRMX; ShowDMX / Multiverse. We use those two on movie sets and in theme parks. They are robust, and any manufacturer can use their OEM boards in their fixtures to play on those systems. A few of the DJ brands have their own closed ecosystem wireless DMX systems, which are not generally OEM'd to other manufacturers.

You could use Luminaire with one universe or four universe options. This would connect via lighting network with WAP, gateway, and perhaps splitter.

DMXCat is a very simple wireless solution from your phone to a rechargeable wireless dongle / tester that is connected to your fixtures. DMXCat connects via Bluetooth at limited distance to your iOS device.

Lumenradio CRMX is going to be built into more and more better quality LED fixtures, and they offer an app-enabled dongle called MoonLite. MoonLite connects via Bluetooth at limited distance to your iOS device.
 
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Luminaire requires a network connection.

It could be: iPad ))) ((( WAP > Switch > Gateway / DMX Out(s) > DMX Fixtures

Companies like RatPac Controls have devices like the AKS Plus, which combines a WiFi Access Point with a CRMX Tx and DMX 3-Pin Out (1 Universe) (Mini, must be adapted to full-size 3-Pin or 5-Pin).
 
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Thank you nice. Luminare seems to be mentioned a lot.

Keep with the baby steps. The AKS plus seems to be $2000

Im thinking there is a $200 box with a din socket?

This makes no sense.. "WiFi Access Point with a CRMX Tx and DMX 3-Pin Out (1 Universe) (Mini, must be adapted"

As soon as I read wifi accewss point this might mean I have to log into the wifo of the box. My wifi might be logged into my zacam or even browsing the internet.. which is sometimes needed on jobs, especially boring ones. (joke)

My missions..

1) tie together my 6 lupo light panels to use as a massive softbox (overhead) or as a greenscreen wash. - I cant climb into the ceiling to adjust the lights.

I guess I could do with with a 5m dmx lead and a chain of 2 meter leads.

2) to add my ap 600 that would ideally be wireless or on its own lead.

3) be a able to do a fully programmed pop vid or cop chase with multiple fixtures, spread far so that wiring them in a chain might be challenging.
 
So to keep this alive. Ivwe ordered a "enttec dmx usb pro"

It seems that I can get luminaire for my ipad, use this box via a dongle and then daisy chain my lights.
I will try to control my aperture and amaran lights withing this system

Clearly wired DMX is 'dated' - Im seeing some good prices on dmx leads!

S
 
DMX isn't dated, far from it. The controls range from clever to just electronic faders. The key feature is patching - which DMX channel does which actual feature. If you have clever lights, the DMX patch is clever. You can use the dongle type of interface which has one universe of 512 possible channels with each fixture using from 1 to 20 or so, or you can use networking, with network nodes, each one maybe having 8 DMX universes. Each software package does some things easily and usually has something they can't do. I'll expand if people want to know more. here in the UK, the free MagicQ is by far my favourite system.
 
Wired dmx is what i was referring to as dated

Only a guess are there are wires in discount sections of certain shops
 
Very interested to lesrn all dmx.

My basic mission is to get 4 lupo panels dimming and my ap600 too

The panels are for green screen or in a 8.8 so are hard to physically access

I have ipad pro with usb3
 
Wired DMX is not dated, it's the most reliable. Wireless DMX can be unpredictable, and there is an infrastructure problem. You could put a wireless receive dongle in the DMX port of all your lights, or you could put one in the first unit of a chain, but a cable is the most reliable system available. Ideally you use proper DMX cable with a suitable impedance, but cabled DMX is very resilient, and mic cables can often work quite well when you run out of proper data cable. BUT - when you do get problems, it gets unreliable quickly! An RGBW fixture can suddenly strobe weird colours, or do other random, unwanted things. DMX chains need a terminating resistor in the output of the fixture at the end. Not fitting one leaves you at random chance of weirdness. The real snag of wireless networks is that it usually requires dedicated network connectivity. Your control needs to know which universe they are on, and while the plug in transmitters can be plugged into a DMX output, without a DMX splitter, your non wireless cabled connections have nowhere to plug into.

The wireless dongles often use ordinary wireless technology and so does so much other production critical devices. Sound devices often use wireless, the video folk may be using wireless for links and of course everyone has a phone. As a consequence, wireless lighting can be wiped out. Some wireless mic systems have a mode to assist performance that works great, but often messes up the other wifi users. Sometimes it means using 5GHz wireless, which works OK, but is often not as 'quiet' as you want.

In my studio, all the lights are cabled. I have to provide power, so a DMX cable is not a problem, and is 100% reliable. Wireless is mostly OK - the occasional flicker and of course, flat batteries means that because I can use a cable, I don't consider wireless. The old maxim is that the most expensive wireless DMX system is nearly as good as a $10 cable.

To make the point - at the moment we have a mirror ball hung for one small 30 second segment of a repeating event. The light that shines on it is in a difficult to reach position for a cable, power is available locally. We have a DMX radio link - we are on show 6 today, and out of 6, it has behaved perfectly for 4. I don't consider that very good. The problem is that wireless DMX, like cable DMX is single direction. You have to hope the DMX stream arrives intact. In our case it often doesn't!

If you must use wireless, this product has worked pretty well, but it is not 100% guaranteed, and much more expensive than cables.
link
 
As ever Im talking at cross purposes with folk. I agree with you enttirely.

Clearly the kids consider wired DMX to be dated meaning that various uk suppliers have some great deals on pro DMX cable right now.

For me this is ideal as I see it to be clear that for good comms a wire is the simplest and best method - also of course a method I understand :)
 
On the wired vs wireless DMX thing. We've been working wireless for a number of years on my sets. On the cautionary side, I agree with Paul that it is less reliable--near daily "freakouts" where an instrument goes rogue and has to be troubleshot (of course we are talking about a lot of units on a given setup). So, just be prepared to add that possibility to your stress pile. But yes, in general, wireless DMX is the "industry standard" for location shoots, whereas stage setups with a grid are more likely to be wired for reliability, while floor units will be wireless.

Regarding the app, most of the gaffers I work with have moved on from Luminaire to Blackout, which they tell me is much more robust. The mid-scene lighting change you referred to in an earlier post is tougher/slower to program on Luminaire, which is more for setting levels than performing sequences. However--this information may be dated, perhaps Luminaire have upped their game in recent years, I wouldn't know. I'd just suggest comparing the two.
 
Thanks for the hint. on BLackout :)

My initial motivation is using my 6 1.1 panels behind my 8by8 or on my greenscreen

So access to those fixtures as on a grid is tough and dimming them together useful.
 
Ahhh, one more thing on the wireless DMX, again building on Paul's post--I find it to be a frequency hog, for sure. My transmitters have often had their frequency absconded by the DMX, and we have to recycle them to find an available one. It's a big challenge.
 
My intention was to wire my 'grid' of panels

While a 'scratch down the corridor' might gain from wireless it seems tirivail to wire my panel rig that will need ac supply anyway.
 
Coming from a film and TV studio systems integration background, I will always advocate for wired DMX in permanent spaces (theatres; sound stages; newsrooms) and encourage only using the best wireless technologies for location and temporary installation work.

Wired DMX can be networked, then broken out of network protocols to single universe DMX runs, which can in turn be optically split out to multiple destinations, each running to up to 31 multi-attribute fixtures (devices). For permanent installs, we can use very inexpensive Cat5e or Cat6 wire for the long runs, with IDC terminated splitters and outlets. We do this for mission-critical spaces like newsrooms, live event venues, and spaces where life safety controls of DMX fixtures are required by code.

For wireless, especially for film, there is Lumenradio CRMX and there is City Theatrical's ShowDMX MultiVerse. Some manufacturers try to silo you into their own flavor of wireless DMX, and it just makes it more difficult for the end user. Every time.

There are some really good posts above around this subject, and I assure you, there is nothing obsolete about wired DMX controls!
 
If you have to run power, running DMX cables at the same time is a no brainer.

There are some events I do where the plug in receivers do have a place. An example from just before Christmas was a large gothic style church. A few random power outlets around the perimeter. Rules about no cable crossing the aisles and not sticking gaffer tape to the tiles on the floor or the white painted walls. I had one of the chinese wireless packs - one transmitter, loads of receivers, all with internal battery, and this actually worked really well and solved a problem. A couple of the lights decided to party on their own, and one of the crew just pulled the mains plugs, but it speeded setup enormously. They're just not reliable. Even worse, remember that if they're using the available wifi channels, even if they work in a rehearsal, what happens when hundreds of wifi equipped phones suddenly enter the building.
 
OK so I have it in a pile on my desk.. ipad, ented DMX box luminair trial dmx light on channel one.

Im lost as to make it work. Whn I pulug the usb box into the ipad I get a ble flash.

Any hints?

biunned art nex.. it needs another box. trying to avoid blackout ar $800.
 
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You have the Entec DMX blue box. I didn't know that worked on the Luminaire 4 software on an ipad? That entec box is pretty good remembering it's not RDM, so strictly one way communications.
 
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