conversion from analogue to DMX

[dude]

Does anybody have the right piece of kit lying anywhere to convert +/- 10V output form a Zero88 desk to DMX512?

I've been given the desk to pass on to a small company that has no money, but it's kinda useless as analogue.

They're in Cuba, and I'm in London, so weight is an issue too, (transit costs.)

Any advice would be appreciated too.

[JimWebber]

The six million dollar question has to be, what Zero 88 desk are we talking about? If it is a Sirius, I may be able to help you out...

 

Jim

[dirkenstein]

Does anybody have the right piece of kit lying anywhere to convert +/- 10V output from a Zero88 desk to DMX512?

 

Which Zero88 desk and how many channels? Some of the older programmable Zero88 desks (Sirius 24s and 48s) can be fitted with internal DMX interface boards. The interface boards themselves haven't been avaialble from Zero88 for at least a decade and their used availbility is frankly like rocking horse poo these days. I don't believe the issue is relevant with the alcora/elara series; I am fairly certain these came with DMX as standard and the analogue outs were optional. If you're talking about simple 2-preset desks (Level 12/18/24), the later variants were avaialble in DMX only, and the earliest were analogue only.

 

I believe only the Level 6/12 plus mk1 variants can be fitted with an optional DMX output board. I have no idea if those boards are still available from Zero88 but given the age of the designs in question I would seriously doubt it.

 

External analogue to DMX converters are available, but almost never economically viable for converting a pre-DMX desk to DMX. The Doug Fleenor Designs one costs around £1000 in the 48-channel version.

 

For that sort of money, you're much better off buying a cheap secondhand DMX desk. They're really oriented to taking some much more specialized analogue control output and converting it.

 

Admittedly, you can buy a cheap noname analogue to DMX converter from usedlighting at £80 ex VAT for 24 channels, but it's really the wrong form factor to mount next to a desk neatly. If you're doing this as a giveaway project that's probably too much money in any case.

 

This is the fundamental risk of charity hand-me-downs. They may be considerably less useful than things you've actively cadged or wheedled out of somebody, yet come with a bizarre moral obligation to be made useful that the usual 'I'm chucking it away, have it if you like' or 'buy me some beers sometime' acquisitions don't.

 

BTW if you do have a Sirius 24/48 there may be something I can do for you. PM me if interested. Brave idea shipping it to Cuba, though (you do realize how much these weigh?).

[mutley]

I may be able to design a 24 channel analogue to DMX interface unit, but it would probably take at least six months to design, test and build.

 

(If anyone else is interested, please PM me so I can get some idea on demand)

 

The reason I haven't bothered looking into it before, is because you can pick up a new DMX desk for less than £150. (OK, £154 with the VAT, but they often have something like this on offer in their weekly [sometimes it feels more like daily!] flyers)

http://cpc.farnell.com/productimages/farnell/standard/42285253.jpg

[fireball40k]

Beware of the Behringer Eurolight LC2412 desk - it is a world of pain!

[JimWebber]

Yes, it is a world of pain... I've had one for five years now, but I tell you what, for only £150.00, as opposed to £300-400 for a simple twin preset desk, the pain is a lot more bearable...

 

Jim

[dude]

Thanks to everybody - very useful info from all.

Jim, Dirk, yes the desk is a Sirius 24, and any help would be gratefully received.

Of course the very cost of shipping may be a limiting factor, and I'm beginning to think the new desk route might even be the cheaper option. I didn't realize prices were as low as they are.

The Cuban company has very basic lighting requirements, (and that's not going to change in the foreseeable future I think,) so even the notorious Behringer wouldn't be stretched, - the issue would be robustness rather than versatility.

Again, thanks to all,

d.

[ramdram]

Surely the issue, apart from spending a lot of cash just posting the thing, is support?

 

We have an ancient Sirius desk, analogue obviously, which is a splendid piece of kit but it might die one day and the cost of having it looked at, let alone mended might be hard to justify except it is our get of jail free card if the digital effort packs up.

 

Why not sell the item on eBay, add the cost of shipping, convert it into a cheque(?) or credit transfer doodad? Let the Cuban folk buy something locally with local support.

 

Bound to add to the local economy and provide work for the service blokes should it go wrong. No probs with power supply issues either. Or possibly saving on import tariffs/Customs duty???

 

 

HTH

[ramdram]

Having a spare moment I googled Cuban mains supplies. Seems it varies depending where you are; some areas on 110v and some on 220v.

 

However did we get on without the internet for instantish results? Mind you tho' it helps if folk do a bit of searching now and again...

[numberwrong]

May not apply to the OPs question..

 

but can't the problem of using old standards with new be over come by using all old kit -

 

In this case just use some analog dimmers - Not ideal I know but If people are giving them hand me downs from as far away as the UK they may very well have a load of analog kit already.

[dude]

Thanks Ramdram, also a great suggestion to bear in mind as contingency. Sadly, if brief visit is anything to go by, local prices for technology are extortionate - I mean the equivalent of £280 for a bog-standard domestic cd minisystem, £1800 for a washer/drier. I dread to think. It would be a lovely thing to help local economy of course, but I don't think this would achieve that.

Numberwrong, thanks also. Nice idea too. I don't think they have any dimmers of their own yet though. Am investigating.

dude

[ramdram]

Crikey! I can see why you are trying your best to resolve the issue.

 

You would have to google it but presumably the enormous cost of the domestic appliances and media centres is because of import taxes and similar?

 

Casting the net very wide...is there any chance of contacting Anglo Cuban societies or UK consular agencies sort of thing to see if HMG could do the carrier thing and the desk and other kit is gifted to wherever.

 

I was wondering if there would be any noticeable change in operation if the supply is nominally 220V (transformer or direct?) and the voltage swings drop the supply to less that 200V say?

 

Something for Cwmbran to advise on perhaps?