I have a Milford instruments 8 ch relay DMX board the problem is I cant get the relay board to respond to the Daslight usb - DMX box. (yes I have tried reversing the dmx signal) not yet tried a terminator.
The relay board responds ok to a normal DMX operator 1612 but not to the usb dmx box.
I have had problems before with Abstract Madscans not interpereting the DMX from a Daslight box properly resulting in a lot of flickering of various motors, due to the refresh rate of the dmx signal, as again when connected to a conventional controller, works fine.
Can the rate of DMX be altered with Daslight as it can with some other software controlled DMX controllers. Is this possibly causing my problem.
I also think this dmx signal is causing flicker on a pair of 4 ch soundlab dimmers I am using, so any advice greatly appreciated
regards Richard
Flavour of DMX (refresh rate problems)
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Richard CSL
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- Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:30 am
- Location: Orlando. Florida
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Flavour of DMX (refresh rate problems)
Music sets the mood Lighting sets the ambience
Hi Richard,
I do not know of away the refresh rate can be changed on the Daslight interfaces or software.
It could well be the problem as I have (not personally) seen this with quite a few fixtures as they get a signal quicker than they want it.
"Tweaking" of the refresh rate to slow down the signal being sent can help sometimes, but that also can cause problems because some fixtures expect the signal at the normal rate and get confused when they don't get it.
Also slowing it down can cause problems with scenes not running as they should because of delays.
It's one of those "between a rock and a hard place" scenarios.
I do not know of away the refresh rate can be changed on the Daslight interfaces or software.
It could well be the problem as I have (not personally) seen this with quite a few fixtures as they get a signal quicker than they want it.
"Tweaking" of the refresh rate to slow down the signal being sent can help sometimes, but that also can cause problems because some fixtures expect the signal at the normal rate and get confused when they don't get it.
Also slowing it down can cause problems with scenes not running as they should because of delays.
It's one of those "between a rock and a hard place" scenarios.
Andre
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wee_jimmy_mehrts
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2009 5:47 am
- Location: New Zealand
Just doing an "Idiot Check",
The length of your dmx link isn't excessively long is it? That can have a huge performance factor to dmx quality.
I know from experience.
Other than that, I would say it could possibly be something to do with your scanners that could be giving you grief.
Every DMX labelled fixture should co-here with the dmx transmission standard. That eliminates any troubles each different fixture by each manufacturer could impose.
Failing that, it could just as well be a bad dmx signal from the daslight interface.
The length of your dmx link isn't excessively long is it? That can have a huge performance factor to dmx quality.
I know from experience.
Other than that, I would say it could possibly be something to do with your scanners that could be giving you grief.
Every DMX labelled fixture should co-here with the dmx transmission standard. That eliminates any troubles each different fixture by each manufacturer could impose.
Failing that, it could just as well be a bad dmx signal from the daslight interface.
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Richard CSL
- Posts: 463
- Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:30 am
- Location: Orlando. Florida
- Contact:
No finally found the cause, I had removed the 5 pin dmx sockets from the Milford board and replaced them with 3 pin, from an old martin light, didnt check male and female differences because the pins matched perfectly.
So when using the operator controller the signal was so strong (because it was next to the light) that it actually worked, bet the DMX feed from the DVC was 30 feet away and dare I say it split with a Y splitter, hence no control. So eventually swopped the sockets and put a fly lead on the circuit board, now it all works perfectly.
The Soundlab dimmers have been removed from the patch (as we needed manual control over the house lights without switching on a computer) and this has solved the flicker problem, still not sure what was causing it though, (could be the multiple Y splitters on the line cause the Spanish wired the DMX feeds and do not understand daisy chaining) and the fact as yet no terminator plugs fitted.
Just for reference Vianney replied to the refresh rate question and NO it cant be altered, built into the Nicolaudie boxes.
So when using the operator controller the signal was so strong (because it was next to the light) that it actually worked, bet the DMX feed from the DVC was 30 feet away and dare I say it split with a Y splitter, hence no control. So eventually swopped the sockets and put a fly lead on the circuit board, now it all works perfectly.
The Soundlab dimmers have been removed from the patch (as we needed manual control over the house lights without switching on a computer) and this has solved the flicker problem, still not sure what was causing it though, (could be the multiple Y splitters on the line cause the Spanish wired the DMX feeds and do not understand daisy chaining) and the fact as yet no terminator plugs fitted.
Just for reference Vianney replied to the refresh rate question and NO it cant be altered, built into the Nicolaudie boxes.
Music sets the mood Lighting sets the ambience
Hi Richard,
Glad you found out the problem.
You should not really use Y splitters but should use a proper DMX spiltter unit. as Y splitters degrade the signal. it's like doubling the cable length and I don't mean because of the "extra" cable you are running, using a proper DMX splitter willl also boost the signal down the extra lines.
I use DMX splitters all the time because of the arrangement of lights from where the console is, also helps beating that theoretical 32 fixture limit per single dmx cable run. Another advantage is that they are opto-isolated as well so no "stray" signals get back to my interface and destroy that.
Glad you found out the problem.
You should not really use Y splitters but should use a proper DMX spiltter unit. as Y splitters degrade the signal. it's like doubling the cable length and I don't mean because of the "extra" cable you are running, using a proper DMX splitter willl also boost the signal down the extra lines.
I use DMX splitters all the time because of the arrangement of lights from where the console is, also helps beating that theoretical 32 fixture limit per single dmx cable run. Another advantage is that they are opto-isolated as well so no "stray" signals get back to my interface and destroy that.
Andre