Ianmundo Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 Hi, I am a final year Interactive Media Design student at Dundee University. I'm currently building a lighting installation for my Degree show project with a colleague of mine. The cornerstone of the installation is a touchscreen VJ mixer built using Flash and Quartz (the software that generates Apple screensavers and iTunes visualizers). In addition, we also have an Alesis air synth that has been hacked to manipulate RGB values and video speed. The main output of this system is via 3 projectors that project onto a 3-dimensional translucent screen. All of these fixtures and the touchscreen mixer could be used by a VJ or lighting technician within a nightclub environment. We want the control desk to have the same amount of functionality as an existing setup and we want the installation to be an immersive experience so we bought some lighting effects: 2 x American DJ Tri-Phase. We envision that aside our touchscreen mixer, we should demonstrate at least some traditional lighting controls so we expect to pick up an Acme ignitor strobe controller and a basic DMX controller for the Tri-Phases which will be in a master-slave configuration. I have a very specific list of requirements for this DMX controller: - It must control the four DMX channels that the Tri-phases use, which are - Dimmer (0-100%) - Colour (RGB spectrum) - Rotation speed (which includes direction of rotation) - Strobe function (zero-very fast strobing) - These four channels should be controlled via 4-sliders - Any extra features will in all likelihood be redundant (we have only these 2 fixtures and some strobes on a separate loop) so there's no need for 192 channel controllers etc.- A flat, removable faceplate like that on the Acme Ignitor would be good, but not essential.- Controller has to cost less than £100, we're students and on a tight budget. As I am a DMX and lighting control novice I could do with some help, perhaps you know of a cheap, basic DMX controller that can manage 4 dedicated sliders?
Bråthe Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 If you just want 4 faders that can controll 4 channels how about someting like this http://www.cls.no/catalog/product_info.php.../products_id/40 Sadly the price of it is around 200£ and you would have to ship it from Norway, but its a quality build and you can get it as just the faceplate. On the cheap side, doing a search on Thomann I found this 6 channel for 32£ , I have never used or seen this product so can`t say anting about it other than that it got 6 channels and are cheap. http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_ddc6_dmx_controller.htm
musht Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 DD6 from Thomann is fine, 6 channels plus master, non addressable so it is just channels 1 thru 6.Nice solid metal box, plently of silicone on the faders so they drag nicely when new.Can run of internal pp3 battery and misbehaves if battery runs down, have to unscrew back to change battery.Comes with wall wart mains adaptor.Terralec do a version with little toolless battery door. Sounds ideal for OP`s purpose, can we ask that he remembers to post some pics or a youtube video of the completed installation, sounds fascinating.
Ianmundo Posted February 24, 2009 Author Posted February 24, 2009 Thanks guys, that 6-channel controller isn't one I've seen before. Sadly it looks like once I hook up the tri-phases to the DMX controller, there is no option to toggle on it's built-in intelligent sound-activated function. Which means that either we leave them as stand-alone fixtures, and don't have controls on the desk (not really an option for people designing a lighting-control desk!) or hook them up to a DMX controller and have no decent sound-to light function. Highly frustrating!
david.elsbury Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 Or disconnect the DMX out from the desk when you want to run them sound to light???
Ianmundo Posted March 3, 2009 Author Posted March 3, 2009 Or disconnect the DMX out from the desk when you want to run them sound to light??? 'DMX' or 'Sound-Activated' control is selected via a basic menu displayed on four 7-segment displays. You have to scroll through the menu and select which control you want, even if the DMX connection is broken, the light needs to be designated to 'Sound Activated' via the back panel menu.
muzz26 Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 what about a zero88 diablo? Again I think this may be pricey - failing that chauvet do some cheap DMX controllers which have sound to light also
Davethsparky Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 Theres a zero 88 level 6 on usedlighting.co.uk going for £95+vat at the moment if this is any use?
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