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

[brianw]

Oops. I clicked send too quickly before checking my math...

Four MIDI channels are needed to control 512 lights, and a single USB-MIDI port can control four DMX-512 universes. Still it's true that more can be handled by increasing the number of MIDI ports on the USB-MIDI Device.

Brian

On Jan 11, 2025, at 3:15 PM, brian wrote:
> 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 !