[sdiy] Out of context or maybe not.. Seeking special USB to DMX lighthing controler box.. ?

Tue Dec 24 17:00:39 CET 2024

Hi Jean-Pierre,

I'm interested in learning about your STM32 box creation.  I've never delved into DMX5112 before, but on a cursory glance, it seems also to be 8-bit UART (like MIDI) riding on RS485, but with a time-constrained packet start condition. I imagine this requires the use of a timer and disabling the UART briefly?

As far as the DMXIS box is concerned, it's seems to be just USB-serial between the host and the box, so it shouldn't be too hard to reverse engineer. With some web searching I did find this:

> dmesg

[13995.091232] usb 1-1.3: new full-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[13995.235722] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=0403, idProduct=6001, bcdDevice= 6.00
[13995.235753] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[13995.235773] usb 1-1.3: Product: DMXIS
[13995.235792] usb 1-1.3: Manufacturer: ENTTEC
[13995.235809] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: ENVVVCOF
[13995.240163] ftdi_sio 1-1.3:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[13995.240324] usb 1-1.3: Detected FT232RL
[13995.254635] usb 1-1.3: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0

I'm not sure how this FTDI VID/PID pair come to say DMXIS, but I'm guessing you can supply your own USB strings somehow.

Quite likely someone with Wireshark or an Ellisys box has already done this. You can get used hardware USB protocol sniffers quite cheaply on eBay (such as the Ellisys).

GB

------ Original Message ------

From "ackolonges fds via Synth-diy" <synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org>>
To "synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org>" <synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org>>; "Jean-Pierre Desrochers" <jpdesroc at oricom.ca<mailto:jpdesroc at oricom.ca>>
Date 12/23/2024 1:33:55 PM
Subject Re: [sdiy] Out of context or maybe not.. Seeking special USB to DMX lighthing controler box.. ?

Hi Jean-Pierre,

I dove down a similar rabbit hole about a year ago to also be stifled by all of the overpriced proprietary boxes locked into specific software. My solution was to create my own STM32-based box which takes in MIDI on one side and spits out DMX control on the other. Of course, it will work with any DAW, but the most transparently user-friendly way to interface with it was to make Max4Live plugins for each of my specific lighting fixtures, that output MIDI in a way suitable for my homemade box.

You may have limited luck with purchasing this specific proprietary box here on the SDIY forum, but if you need to be pointed in the right direction for building one yourself, I'm more than happy to provide some advice.

________________________________
From: Synth-diy <synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org>> on behalf of Jean-Pierre Desrochers via Synth-diy <synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org>>
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2024 6:14 AM
To: synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org> <synth-diy at synth-diy.org<mailto:synth-diy at synth-diy.org>>
Subject: [sdiy] Out of context or maybe not.. Seeking special USB to DMX lighthing controler box.. ?

Maybe out of Synth DIY topics.. or not.. ?

Last weeks I dove in the DMX lighthing control world for fun..
I just learned the DMX control protocol.. Continuous serial stream of 512 bytes
to control LED spot lights behaviours (colors, rotation angle, dimming, etc..)

In fact controlling lights with my DAW and a sequencer could be funny.

Anyway to do so I need some kind of DMX control software and an associated USB to DMX box..

Many available stuff on the web.. But the one that captured my attention was this duo :
ENTTEC DMXIS software/hardware :

[cid:image001.png at 01DB5469.C4CBEE40]

This free software can be used standalone or as a plugin in a sequencer.

BUT.. The big problem is it’s discontinued by ENTTEC.

And they don’t sell their DMXIS boxes anymore.
They offer other softwares that do about the same thing but
you must have to pay for them and use other USB/DMX boxes (Open DMX USB, or DMX USB PRO)
But I do prefer the DMXIS original software shown on the picture..

So.. I already downloaded the DMXIS sofware but this soft
needs the original DMXIS box to work (USB exchanges between software/hardware for serial number, etc..)

And I’ve been on the web seeking this type of box for 5 days so far to buy a used one.

No luck..

In fact I found around 5 of these on Facebook Marketplace but
all the sellers would’nt reply any messages.. (old sold ads ??)

Two of the sellers did reply but were reluctant about selling/shipping to Canada where I live. (sad..)

Anyway I just post this to you in case you could know someone
who would have this DMXIS box for sale..

Again, this is the only type of box I’m looking to buy. No other products.

Thank You for your time !

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