luke2k9 Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 hey and happy christmas everyone I want to get a usb to DMX interface to controll some of my DMX lighting appliences, I have seen the jms usb2dmx interface, but I do not want to order from ebay, so I have also seen this usb to XLR cable from maplin, so my question is could I use this cable and find some drivers to alow me to use it for DMX controlling, iff anyone has ever done something like this could they please contact me thankyou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 That maplin cable is an audio interface, and has nothing to do with DMX. have a search around the forum - we've discussed most PC DMX interfaces.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gherriott Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Ok, first of all welcome to the blueroom! Next I will say straight away that the cable you have found at Maplins will NOT work as a USB to DMX device. USB to DMX devices have been discussed quite a lot on this forum previously. I suggest that you do a quick search using the search box located at the upper right hand corner of this window to find out more. After that should there be any more specific questions then don't hesitate to ask. Regards, Greg Edit: Beat me to it Bruce! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimWebber Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I would say no, you cannot... That lead is purely to convert analogue audio into some form of magical digital audio stuff.... (Lampie speak here) You would need a dedicated USB to DMX converter... There are reams and reams of threads on that thorny subject loafing around the Blue Room somewhere.... HTH Jim EDIT - Must type faster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 And whatever you do - dont buy a DMX dongle without first having chosen the software you want to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkness Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I'm in a similar position and am looking for a usb to DMX interface. I found this Enttec Open DMX USB Interface its the cheapest ive seen it, I assume this will work if the software supports it. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 The Enttec Open interfaces, while they will work, rely on the computer to generate the timing for the DMX signal. So if you have a slow PC, or it is bogged down with other stuff, it may not be as reliable as the DMX Pro, which does everything independantly from the computer. But I second David's comment above, choose the software first, then the interface. No good having a useless interface that you can't use with your favourite software. PS, to the OP... I'm a little curious as to how you think that USB XLR cable from Maplins (incidently, which has a description on their site of USB Microphone Cable) could possibly work for DMX control, especially with no mention of DMX anywhere in the specs... o.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyro_gearloose Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 You'd be better off with a Velleman USB DMX interface. It generates its own timings, holds DMX if your software crashes, and is quite cheap. Maplin sell them. I'm surprised you didn't find them when you looked at the cable. For the software I would recommend MagicQ. I've been using it for over a month to control some Macs for our panto, and its been extremely reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke2k9 Posted December 31, 2008 Author Share Posted December 31, 2008 ok I will thanks for all your info I will look at the vellemen, where it says kit deos it mean u have 2 assemble it first thanx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wol Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 For the software I would recommend MagicQ. I've been using it for over a month to control some Macs for our panto, and its been extremely reliable. And is free to download and use. download link. The DMX interface from maplin if you search for 'DMX' will most likely come up with this which is actually one of these. As far as I know, the MagicQ (link above) will work with this. (edit: http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=31911 - seems that it does) The other fairly popular option it seems is the enttec open DMX USB interface, which Darkness mentioned. However as david.elsbury has also said, it doesn't have any form of processing in it, and is just acting as a USB to serial converter. The fact that DMX comes out of the other end is due to some interesting munging of the serial packets, and if the computer stutters at all in the timing, then the outputs can jump. The velleman interface as linked above actually does processing on the data and (should) give a proper DMX output even if the computer stops sending data, unlike the enttec interface which will just stop! I'm intrigued by that 'jms usb2dmx' cable which has a 3-Pole DMX jack, so no adapter required!. No adapter required for what? To not work with DMX spec compliant fixtures which have a 5 pin XLR? :-S *confused* P.S. When creating topics, it's often helpful to put some form of description of what you are asking. Something like 'someone help please' is generally what most topics on here are about! If you create a more specific description, you're more likely to get people responding after seeing the topic in the Lighting section, rather than just skimming over it. Anyway, Welcome to the Blue Room! P.P.S - Why are there no really cheap artnet > DMX interfaces out there? :-s A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on. * hopes IPB auto merges posts * (edit: yay it did!) where it says kit deos it mean u have 2 assemble it first There are kits from velleman which you do have to solder together yourself. However with this one, you don't have to. Think there's too many gubbins in there for someone to have to solder first and manage to get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkness Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Are you sure you dont have to build the Velleman kit from maplins, ive just had a quick look at the english manual on the valleman site and its all about building it and says you need a soldering iron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Are you sure you dont have to build the Velleman kit from maplinsIt's a kit, like pretty much all the Velleman stuff Maplin sell.So yes, you do have to build it - or pay someone else to build it for you. Velleman offer a 'pre-built' option, but I'm not sure if you can get that from Maplin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulDF Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 As the one in the link is the K8062 it comes in kit form, easy enough to do if you can handle a soldering iron. I built one last year and have been using it with Abuelites, seems to work OK. I installed a 5pin XLR to make it more compatable with our system without adaptors. The device is also available as the VM116 which is pre-built (3 pin XLR.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnhuson Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 P.P.S - Why are there no really cheap artnet > DMX interfaces out there? :-s Depends on your definition of 'really cheap' but in terms of Artnet to DMX the Enttec ODE is pretty cheap, though not as attractive at the moment with the appalling Euro/Pound exchange rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 P.P.S - Why are there no really cheap artnet > DMX interfaces out there? :-sTwo reasons:1) Artnet is a horrible protocol, with a very high reception processing overhead. (You've got to read every incoming packet before you know if you want it)Artnet II is even worse - it can be nicer to the network, but only at the expense of massively increasing processing overhead for both ends. 2) Ethernet hardware isn't cheap. You could however build a fairly cheap Streaming ACN unit - the processing load is minute compared to Artnet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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