New Lighting Board

[tomo2607]

Firstly I would like to start by saying I am by no means a lampy. Im sound trained and now work as the general Media and performing arts technician. I know my way around various lighting boards and can program and operate efficiantly and profesionally, as well as having a basic understanding of how DMX works. But that is it.

 

The school I work for is looking to replace the existing lighting board with a new one. For some reason they are insistant on purchasing a Jester zero 88 24/48 board. They currently have an old "pulsar dipless crossfade desk" that sends its outputs to the dimmers via DIN outputs to a "pulsar translator" the dimmers them selvers are a combination of Pulsar and (ithink) Transco. each with 6 paired outputs.

 

My question is how would I set up the Jester zero 88 without any DMX inputs to the dimmers? On the pulsar you have a DIN output for each dimmer pack. Is there a converter or unit that does this or would the school benefit from replacing the dimmers to more upto date units?

 

 

Im sorry if I come accross a little niave but, as mentioned, im no lampy and dont pretend to be one.

[Smiffy]

you would probably benefit from new dimmers that are able to understand DMX, however it is not a necessity.

 

To get the Jester (or any other DMX Console) to talk to Analogue dimmers you need a Demux (de-multiplexer). Zero88 themselves used to do a pretty good one, and I should imagine they still do. The only worry is getting the right connectors on the output of your Demux to ensure that the old analogue dimmers are getting the right data.

 

Cheers

 

Smiffy

 

Edit: PS: I should add, that I am not familiar with the 'Pulsar Translator' that you mention. I know that for a while Pulsar experimented with their own control protocol that was but wasnt DMX, so hopefully someone with a little more knowledge than I have on the unit could chip in. It may be that the Translator is already 'muxing' for you by taking analogue from the console and making it into DMX that the dimmers already understand.... You may get lucky

[rossmck]

You'll need a demux (de-multiplexer) to convert the old analogue signal to DMX - search for demux and you'll find a few threads on the topic.

 

I'm not that familiar with the Pulsar system but I seem to remember that their control system was different than that of Zero88 / Strand etc, if the dimmers are 0-10v analogue then any demux should do - model numbers of the dimmers and details of the connectors (are they standard 8 pin DIN?) should help people advise you better.

 

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

 

Ah, smiffy beat me to it .. I too wondered what the translator was although it could be that the dimmers are PMX - in which case you're going to end up going from DMX (Desk) => Analogue (Demux) => PMX (Dimmer) at which case I'd definitely agree you'd benefit from new dimmers ;)

[tomo2607]

Thanks for the quick replies. Very much appreciated. I think I may have a solution. I have come accross a De-multiplexer for sale at a nearby college. Going for the right sort of money, just need to check the dimmer output levels to ensure it will work. Its a strand S72. supplied with 8pin din connectors. Hoping it will do the job

[Ynot]

You'll need a demux (de-multiplexer) to convert the old analogue signal to DMX - search for demux and you'll find a few threads on the topic.

pedant

To convert from analogue to DMX (uncommon) you need a multiplexer.

To convert from DMX to analogue you use a de-multiplexer.

Maybe just an error in phrasing, but an important one to note.

/pedant

[tomo2607]

so just to clarify, if im going from a lighting board that uses DMX I need a De multiplexer to control analogue dimmers?

[MarkPAman]

Yes

[Ynot]

I have come accross a De-multiplexer for sale at a nearby college. Going for the right sort of money, just need to check the dimmer output levels to ensure it will work. Its a strand S72. supplied with 8pin din connectors. Hoping it will do the job

Be very careful - Strand (almost exclusively) used -10v for analogue dimmer control rather than the more common +10v (we've covered this here MANY times). So a Strand demux will therefore be outputting a -10v signal which your dimmers may well not be able to use.

 

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

 

so just to clarify, if im going from a lighting board that uses DMX I need a De multiplexer to control analogue dimmers?

I was about to modify my post to indicate that, but Mark beat me to it!!

;)

[tomo2607]

Ive already looked into that, I have been informed that the de multiplexer has a polarity switch and out put options or 10V 12V and 15V. Its starting to look very promising.

[Tom Baldwin]

Strand S72 is a rebadged Botex Multichanger.

 

Pulsar made a translator which went from +10 to -10 (or vice versa, really can't remember)

[rossmck]

You'll need a demux (de-multiplexer) to convert the old analogue signal to DMX - search for demux and you'll find a few threads on the topic.

pedant

To convert from analogue to DMX (uncommon) you need a multiplexer.

To convert from DMX to analogue you use a de-multiplexer.

Maybe just an error in phrasing, but an important one to note.

/pedant

 

Completely an error, and yes I'm usually as pedantic... I'm also not a morning person

[LXbydesign]

At the first school I worked at, we had the common old Pulsar 6 x 10amp dimmers on analogue controlled by a Sirius 24.

 

I then upgraded to a Sirius 250 and bought Pulsars de-mux as well which if I recall had 8 DIN outs on the back of it and DMX IN and OUT on the front!

 

Ah!! yes , my brain just went 'ding' They called it a universal interface and it was a 2U high rackable de-mux.

 

I didnt have to make any adjustments to the dimmers etc. I plugged it all up and it worked first time.

[themadhippy]

They called it a universal interface and it was a 2U high rackable de-mux.

still using one regullary,the nice thing is they take there power from the dimmers low voltage output,the bad thing is there only 36 channel

[LXbydesign]

Ahhh yes, those were the days! I remember it having 6 or 8 dins on the back. 36 channel. Yeah.

 

We only had 24 ways of dimming but I used the extra 2 dins for 2 minipacks - usually one down on the floor and one up near control.

 

On a side note - I loved the Sirius 250. It completly made sense to upgrade to it as the main area of the desk was just like the '24 , which was good for the students in terms of knowing it and then I had the extra moving light stuff for our 4 new Roboscan 812's! Whoo-hooo. (Hey, this was about 11 years ago!!)

 

But going back to the OP, if you only have 24 channels, I highly recommend the universal interface. - thats if pulsar still make them ?

[tomo2607]

Thanks again every one for your help and input. I have confirmed that the S72 will do the job I need it to.YOuve all been very helpful and informative.