giraffe86
Hi!
Are there any preferences in VDJ to control the lights(sharps, strobos, etc.), or everything is fully automatic? How does it work?
Are there any preferences in VDJ to control the lights(sharps, strobos, etc.), or everything is fully automatic? How does it work?
Inviato Fri 03 Mar 06 @ 9:47 pm
DjGazUK
How can I connect my DMX ligts to Virtual DJ? I've heard I need a USB Dongle. Where can I get one? How much are they? Do they work with all DMX lights? I have Abstract Twister 4's.
I found this post here:
http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/46767/Hardware_Technical_Support/Lighting_Selections.html?highlight=dmx%20control
but all it says is that "You Need a DMX box to connect on usb or parallel port"
I found this post here:
http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/46767/Hardware_Technical_Support/Lighting_Selections.html?highlight=dmx%20control
but all it says is that "You Need a DMX box to connect on usb or parallel port"
Inviato Sat 04 Mar 06 @ 8:29 pm
acw_dj
Here is an example of these control boxes for DMX:
http://www.nicolaudie.com/home.php
http://www.nicolaudie.com/view.php?id_art=106&id_page=1
and YES you can control DMX Light with them and VDJ.
http://www.nicolaudie.com/home.php
http://www.nicolaudie.com/view.php?id_art=106&id_page=1
and YES you can control DMX Light with them and VDJ.
Inviato Wed 08 Mar 06 @ 5:39 pm
DJTroy
This company is highly respected for it's products. I ave used their line for Pro Live Stage applications. Also, this line repersents curent "pro live' standard. They have a great product line that will also allow you to use your PC as a lighting controller for (concerts, theatre, film/television...). This is a way for your system to earn income during otherwise 'dead' times.
http://www.highend.com/products/controllers/usbdmxwidget.asp
http://www.highend.com/products/controllers/usbdmxwidget.asp
Inviato Sat 18 Mar 06 @ 1:22 pm
DJTroy
DMX is an industry standard control protocol. Any fixture that is DMX compatable is DMX compatable.
DMX512 represents 512 channels of control per DMX universe. Some larger (pro-touring) consoles have many universes (e.g: 4 universes = 2048 channels of control).
In the end these are all just different types of DMX engines... (Virtual DJ or Pro console)
DMX sends 512 channels of control via a single cable (3 wire XLR standard -similar to a microphone cable). In a traditional anaylog system, 512 channels of control would require a control cable that had 1024 wires (2 wires per switch...) This cable would be expensive (to build and transport), and physically HUGE. Therefore not practicle.
Each lighting fixture requires a certain number of control channels (e.g.: #1: Colour, #2:Gobo, #3 X-Coordinate, #4 Y-Coordinate). Therefore 10 of these fixtures would require 40 chanels of control. (This information is specific to each brand and type of fixture.)
Network protocol is beginning to replace DMX as video signals are sent to moving head video projectors (e.g.: Cataylist Projector Systems http://www.highend.com/products/digital_lighting/ ).
DMX512 represents 512 channels of control per DMX universe. Some larger (pro-touring) consoles have many universes (e.g: 4 universes = 2048 channels of control).
In the end these are all just different types of DMX engines... (Virtual DJ or Pro console)
DMX sends 512 channels of control via a single cable (3 wire XLR standard -similar to a microphone cable). In a traditional anaylog system, 512 channels of control would require a control cable that had 1024 wires (2 wires per switch...) This cable would be expensive (to build and transport), and physically HUGE. Therefore not practicle.
Each lighting fixture requires a certain number of control channels (e.g.: #1: Colour, #2:Gobo, #3 X-Coordinate, #4 Y-Coordinate). Therefore 10 of these fixtures would require 40 chanels of control. (This information is specific to each brand and type of fixture.)
Network protocol is beginning to replace DMX as video signals are sent to moving head video projectors (e.g.: Cataylist Projector Systems http://www.highend.com/products/digital_lighting/ ).
Inviato Sat 18 Mar 06 @ 2:02 pm
DJTroy
So, Lets do some Addressing...
Each fixture recieves 512 commands per DMX 'cycle'. The fixture needs to know which commands to respond to. This process is called 'addrsssing the fixtures'.
Based on the previous example the addresses would be something like this. (I am only going to use 3 fixtures...)
Fixture #1, Address #1
Channel #1 = Colour
Channel #2 = Gobo
Channel #3 = X Co-ordinate
Channel #4 = Y Co-ordinate
Fixture #2, Address #5
Channel #5 = Colour
Channel #6 = Gobo
Channel #7 = X Co-ordinate
Channel #8 = Y Co-ordinate
Fixture #3, Address #9
Channel #9 = Colour
Channel #10 = Gobo
Channel #11= X Co-ordinate
Channel #12= Y Co-ordinate
Set the addresses based on the manufacturer's instrctions.
Each fixture recieves 512 commands per DMX 'cycle'. The fixture needs to know which commands to respond to. This process is called 'addrsssing the fixtures'.
Based on the previous example the addresses would be something like this. (I am only going to use 3 fixtures...)
Fixture #1, Address #1
Channel #1 = Colour
Channel #2 = Gobo
Channel #3 = X Co-ordinate
Channel #4 = Y Co-ordinate
Fixture #2, Address #5
Channel #5 = Colour
Channel #6 = Gobo
Channel #7 = X Co-ordinate
Channel #8 = Y Co-ordinate
Fixture #3, Address #9
Channel #9 = Colour
Channel #10 = Gobo
Channel #11= X Co-ordinate
Channel #12= Y Co-ordinate
Set the addresses based on the manufacturer's instrctions.
Inviato Sat 18 Mar 06 @ 2:21 pm
DJTroy
As I do not have the equipment in front of me to test it, I will not yet try to explain the actual programing process for Virtual DJ. I will wright more as I gain some experience with the Virtual DJ DMX engine.
In programming your lights, let me leave you with this artistic input:
(1) Less is More
(2) It is not what you light that matters. It is what you do not light that counts.
(3) KISS
Have Fun!
PS - I have not tested the Hog III DMX Widget that I recommended earlier.
In programming your lights, let me leave you with this artistic input:
(1) Less is More
(2) It is not what you light that matters. It is what you do not light that counts.
(3) KISS
Have Fun!
PS - I have not tested the Hog III DMX Widget that I recommended earlier.
Inviato Sat 18 Mar 06 @ 2:30 pm
acw_dj
DJTroy,
Great , thanks for the information it's very helpful!
:-)
Great , thanks for the information it's very helpful!
:-)
Inviato Sun 19 Mar 06 @ 6:15 pm
low-fat-al
Nobody really answered the question...
Can Virtual DJ actually be used to program DMX lights.
If I buy a USB DMX box can I use the software that came with it at the same time as Virtual DJ and it not conflict with it?
I found a site that has a one fairly cheap but I don't think it comes with software.
http://www.enttec.com/opendmxusb.php
Can Virtual DJ actually be used to program DMX lights.
If I buy a USB DMX box can I use the software that came with it at the same time as Virtual DJ and it not conflict with it?
I found a site that has a one fairly cheap but I don't think it comes with software.
http://www.enttec.com/opendmxusb.php
Inviato Tue 28 Mar 06 @ 12:24 pm
dami2550
I'd like to use DMX control in VDJ too. I have 2 strobes and 2 scanners which are DMX and I use Elation DMX controller.
It's all good, but main issue I'd like to be able to "beatsync" strobes and/or scanners to music - right now scanners are going on their own pattern (random) and strobes are controller manually via controller (frequency wise), because built-in mics are either not sensitive or too sensitive (either flashes too much, almost blinder effect, or too few).
Would VDJ be able to do that?
It's all good, but main issue I'd like to be able to "beatsync" strobes and/or scanners to music - right now scanners are going on their own pattern (random) and strobes are controller manually via controller (frequency wise), because built-in mics are either not sensitive or too sensitive (either flashes too much, almost blinder effect, or too few).
Would VDJ be able to do that?
Inviato Wed 29 Mar 06 @ 9:07 pm
pvdopro
I am test the 3.4 version of Virtual DJ and can not seem to get the DMX controller to work.
I have a USB/DMX interface that does work with the computer but I cannot configure the DMX portion of the VDJ program to do any thing. Is it not active in the Demo mode?
Thanks, Ron P.
I have a USB/DMX interface that does work with the computer but I cannot configure the DMX portion of the VDJ program to do any thing. Is it not active in the Demo mode?
Thanks, Ron P.
Inviato Sat 08 Jul 06 @ 4:04 am
djsherz
DMX control is one of vdj's great mysteries. I don't know anybody on here that uses it, or even knows for sure how it works, or which usb dongles it's compatible with - there's no real mention of it in the instruction manual, maybe it's something the vdj team are developing for version 4...
Inviato Sat 08 Jul 06 @ 6:14 am
RonPDJ
Will version 4 be able to access the velleman USB/DMX controller?
Inviato Sun 16 Jul 06 @ 11:23 pm