[sdiy] Seeking special USB to DMX lighthing controler box.. ? Cloning the DMXIS soft to work with many other hardware interface ?? A solution.. ?

[brianw]

I designed my own DMX-512 device, and almost bought an ENTTEC interface to control my device. I never bought one because it's a proprietary design, and I did not want to get locked in to that.

In my mind, since there is a standard for lighting control over MIDI, I would prefer a standard USB-MIDI interface that translates from the typical lighting control messages into a DMX-512 packet. Such a device would look like a standard MIDI interface, but the output port would be the 5-pin DMX-512 jack instead of MIDI. This would allow any MIDI lighting control software to control a set of DMX-512 devices via translation. A few custom SysEx messages would allow the interface to be configured for specific DMX-512 setups.

Sure, a couple of MIDI channels are needed to control 512 lights, but a single USB-MIDI connection could control eight DMX-512 universes, or more if the USB-MIDI Device presents more than one MIDI port.

An alternative would be to design a USB Class for DMX-512 and get the USB organization to accept that, but then you'd need drivers for that new class of USB Devices. The USB-MIDI translation hardware suggested above would work with all standard operating systems and MIDI software.

Brian Willoughby


On Dec 24, 2024, at 6:20 AM, Jean-Pierre Desrochers wrote:
> On thing that would be cool is to ‘clone’ this discontinued sofware
> and make it usable with lots of USB to DMX boxes now available !!!
> The ENTTEC company keeps on telling everybody that are looking for an available DMXIS box
> ‘Just leave DMXIS soft and go with the new generation sofware called SHOW BUDDY or EMU’.
> But these softs are not free at all.. DMXIS software is a very nice looking soft that can be downloaded for FREE !
> But its hardware companion is hard to find and buy.. 
> That’s why cloning this soft would permit users to get the nice looking feel of it
> and stop seeking an hard to find hardware interface needed to make it work.
> Voilà !
>  
> In the meanwhile I’ll keep on looking on the web for any DMXIS box to show for sale.
>  
> De : Synth-diy <synth-diy-bounces at synth-diy.org> De la part de Jean-Pierre Desrochers via Synth-diy
> Envoyé : 22 décembre 2024 12:14
> À : synth-diy at synth-diy.org
> Objet : [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 :
> <image001.png>
>  
> 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 !