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Showtech LED Pixel Track / DMX USB Pro


scrow

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One of the options in your Max/MSP plugin is how many DMX channels to send.

 

This should be set to greater than 24 channels, and must be at least as large as the last DMX channel anything on the line is listening for.

 

It's also quite possible that you've misunderstood something about the use of the plugin - unfortunately it's almost impossible to debug a DMX application without a known good DMX receiver.

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But I when I adress Channel 2 I can only turn it on (like 50%) or off and not dimm it e.g.

that sucks

You keep using the word 'address', and this is confusing everyone.

 

Are you saying that when you increase the level for channel 2, nothing happens until you get to 50% and then it lights up red?

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I've used these fixtures on a show (well, the Alkalite Trakpod, but it's the same product) and they definitely do dim the RGB channels.

 

You need to make sure that the Rainbow channel (channel 1) is set to zero to control RGB.

 

I think the strobe channel also needs to be set to full in order to get light output.

 

It sounds like the issue is with the controller. Are you able to get rainbow colours by just using channel 1? Changing the level of channel 1 (only) should give you different colours. If not, then I suspect some settings on the controller need to be changed.

 

HTH

Barney

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thanks people, the thing is, that I don't really know whats going on between the Max/MSP patch and the LED-Fixture. In the documentation it says, that the syntax for sending values to channels is <channel><value><channel><value> etc.

So I send e.g. 1 0 2 255 3 255 4 128 5 0 6 0, which should turn off rainbow and strobe and only display RGB. But it doesn't.

 

In the documentaion it also says if I enter 0 as a channels it sends the following value to all channels. if I do so, it works and all channels get the value I am sending, thats why I assume that the communication between Software / Enttec and LED-Fixture works. I just don't get why I can't tell the single Channels which value they should have.

 

One thing I am not sure about, is the cable: I am using a 3-pin microphone XLR-cable with a 5 to 3 pin adapter at the enttec. At the Showtech again there is a 3-pin input.

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mhhh, I got something very strange now:

when I am sending 0 255 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 255 , I am leaving out the red channel, put G and B to 0 and trigger the overall value I can dimm the red, even though there is some green and blue (like 5%) still there. But that way I can't really trigger RGB paralle, meaning to really mix colors

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I checked the D4 personality and, according to that, the control channel (6) should be set to zero. 255 is sound-light. Unfortunately it does not detail any ranges on the strobe or rainbow channels but locate values do suggest they should also be set to zero for normal operation.

 

And, as I said before, if you are getting any sort of output and control then the interface and cable are fine. It will either work or it won't. Beyond that it's all to do with values, channels and how you control them.

 

According to the manual, the syntax for sending multiple pairs of channel/value show the use of square brackets:

 

<channel> <value> [<channel> <value> [<channel> <value>]]

 

Maybe I'm reading it too literally, but have you tried this?

 

For example:

 

1 0 [2 255 [3 255 [4 255 [5 0 [6 0]]]]]

 

I'd hope that this is wrong, otherwise it will be the most awkward lighting control I've ever seen!

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Yes, I tried 1 0 [2 255 [3 255 [4 255 [5 0 [6 0]]]]] it gives an error, syntax not allowed

 

The wiered thing is, that when I am sending nothing the fixture shows 10& blue and green light.

 

Then, when I send 0 255 all the colors (probably rainbow) light up. But sending something on 2,3,4 just doesn't work. Nothing changes...?

 

I am attaching the images:

 

1. if all sliders are on 0

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/81n1-3.jpg

 

2. Red is up (stll some blue/green left):

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/81n1-4.jpg

 

3. Green is up

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/81n1-5.jpg

 

But it is impossible to mix the colors. or just be aware of triggering them.

 

Could this be especially because of this LED-Fixture?

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

And now, when using thi sapplication http://www.jgelectronics.nl/USBDMX.html

I can perfectly trigger RGB from Channel 1,2,3 ?

What is going on here

 

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/81n1-6.jpg

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Now I have no idea how Max/MSP works - but from intuition, it looks like you're changing the channel 0 on each of the sliders ("0 $1"). Would it not be better to have each slider as say, "1 $1" and "2 $1" and so on, but make sure you have 4 sliders, so you can make sure rainbow is in the right place.
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Yes I tried that as well.

 

I guess the problem is somewhere there, that when I am sending 0 255, the value 255 is sent to all channels. But when sending e.g. 1 255 the value somehow not arrives at the correct channel. Or alll the time a value has to be send to all channels, meaning they all have to be updated if there is any change?

 

Because when running the USB DMX Software, the changes in RGB seem to be made at a certain framerate all the time?

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To get the Pixeltrack to locate (ie on in white) you need to send it the following DMX information:

 

Ch1 (Rainbow) - 000

Ch2 (Red) - 255

Ch3 (Green) - 255

Ch4 (Blue) - 255

Ch5 (Strobe) - 000

Ch6 (Mode) - 000

 

0 on channel six sets the fixture into RGB mode, you then go through preset chases, with 255 being sound to light mode.

 

This block of channels is then repeated 2, 4 or 8 times depending on the mode of the fixture. Mode 8 will set it as a single pixel so you only need six channels to control it. One thing to watch out for is that it's also possible to set the Pixeltrack into 3 channel mode, where Ch1, 2, and 3 are red, green and blue respectively. I can't remember where in the menu this is hidden but make sure you are actually running it in six channel mode. Where you say that it responds to channels 1, 2 and 3 in another piece of software, this would point to this setting as a problem, although not necessarily the only one.

 

If all of these are OK then it looks like a problem with the DMX you are sending it from the software. I've never used Max/MSP, but I'm sure their tech support would be happy to help if nobody else has any ideas! Details are on their website at http://www.cycling74.com/contact

 

Matt

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thanks matt, that does not work, so I figuered that the problem is in Max/MSP.

Now I am using vvvv.org, which works perfectly fine.

 

Thanks to everybody in this thread, you have been a HUGE HELP for a Newbie like me and I hope to return something as soon as I learn more!

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  • 1 year later...

Hi!

I have bought the DMX USB PRo and I would love to send data out with this device.

I have send emails to O Matthes to ask him for his MAXpatch to control the DMXUSBPro.

He didnt reply and I have read that he has stopped with selling this patch.

 

Is there someone who wants to mail me this patch?

I would be very thankfull!

thanx!

yoyohuba@gmail.com

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