Completely New To This!!

[tkodarkside321]

Hello all!!!

I'm very new to all of this and I am learning as I go. I attend a small church and we are currently running a combination of Stage Ape l.e.d. lights (16 total) and par64 can lights (about 22 total I believe). All the lights are currently being ran by 2 different light boards, the cans are on their own board and the l.e.d.'s on a separate board.

My pastor has made the decision to have me change the lighting to be controlled by pc (windows 7 pc) and the freestyler software. Today we purchased a new pc and installed the enttec dmx USB pro converter and the freestyler software.

We currently just want to try running the l.e.d.'s off of the computer. My question's are this:

1. Does the enttec dmx USB pro converter output need to be hooked up to the l.e.d. light control box?

2. Does Freestyler support stage Ape l.e.d. lights? I didn't see those lights in the manufacturer list when trying to set up the lights, but I just assume that you can create a new profile for the lights.

I haven't successfully done much besides install the freestyler software, so any input is much appreciated!!!

[Spirit]

Hallo,

First of all Read this Page it will give you the Basic's and some more About DMX512 Protocal.
http://www.freestylersupport.com/wiki/d ... dmx_basics

1. the Enttec Pro Converts FS to DMX12 Protocal. So if the Fixtures Uses DMX512 Then there will be no Problem.
2.There are 2 Ledlights From StageAPE in the list, if this ist the Correct on you can indeed create your own Fixture file for these fixture.
http://www.freestylersupport.com/wiki/fixture_creator

if you still have quastions just ask.

/Spirit

[tkodarkside321]

I've had a little more luck with it today. I'm actually getting all the l.e.d. lights to turn on and change color. However there are all doing different things and not going to the colors I select. I wonder if the fixture profile I created is incorrect?

Also, I did verify that all my lights are the DMX512 standard. However, do I need to set the dipswitch for the lead light as master and the rest of the lights to slave? I was also thinking this may be causing the issues with the lights not reacting they way I am wanting.

Again, thank for the help!!!

[Spirit]

I've had a little more luck with it today. I'm actually getting all the l.e.d. lights to turn on and change color. However there are all doing different things and not going to the colors I select. I wonder if the fixture profile I created is incorrect?

If you can Upload the Fixture file (EXPORT AS .PFF)
And the Pdf or manual from you Fixture i will take a look at it.

Also, I did verify that all my lights are the DMX512 standard. However, do I need to set the dipswitch for the lead light as master and the rest of the lights to slave? I was also thinking this may be causing the issues with the lights not reacting they way I am wanting.

Please read the DMX512 link i gave you realy carefull.
There is a Link that says How to Address Your Fixture , And you Dont need any MASTER or SLAVE function to Controll the Lights With a Lighting desk. you need to address them and Patch them the same on the Lightingdesk/Freestyler.

/Spirit

[tkodarkside321]

Here are the fixtures I tried creating. None of them really work correctly. The 3CH fixture is the only one that I was able to get life out of. The other 2 fixtures don't respond at all.

[tkodarkside321]

Here are the remaining 2 pages of the manual for the led par cans.

[tkodarkside321]

Sorry, the pictures of the manual uploaded in the wrong order, but I'm sure you can figure it out

Thank you so much for your input!!! I'm hoping once I can get the basics down, I will start to figure out the more advanced aspects of this software.

[Spirit]

Hi.

Oke it should be the 7ch Channel fixture.
I can give you 3 Tips.
1)Be sure that all the fixtures are Patch correct.
2) If you use Colormarco then the RGB channels will not React.
3)Pull the DImmer to 255 Otherwise the RGB will not work.

/spirit

[Jan_K]

Hej Spirit

Found this one on stageape.com led stud.

stud.pdf

http://www.stageape.com/pages/stud.html

It looks like dip switch 10 has to be on in addition to the address

@tkodarkside321
FreeStyler will give you all the adresses when you add them but that you have prob. seen.
Fixture addresses in Freestyler and on the Led fixtures has to correspond.


/Jan

[tkodarkside321]

Okay, just added the 7ch fixture back into it and noticed that I had my dimmer slider all the way off and that was why it wasn't coming on. Gonna play with it for a bit.....

Another question, like I had said earlier, I currently have 12 led lights (all stage ape stud). I notice that when I add only 3 fixtures from the fixture list and I select those lights to turn on.......every single light in my chain turns on and does whatever I tell the 3 fixtures to do.

Will I not be able to control these lights individually or am I patching them incorrectly??

[Spirit]

Hi , again.

Thanks jan_k o forgot the DIP 10 on indeed

Another question, like I had said earlier, I currently have 12 led lights (all stage ape stud). I notice that when I add only 3 fixtures from the fixture list and I select those lights to turn on.......every single light in my chain turns on and does whatever I tell the 3 fixtures to do.

This is the Nice thing about DMX512 you can Pacth everything how you What to patch it.
So now you Just Use channel:
1 to 7 For Fixture Group1
8 to 14 for Fixture group2
15 to 21 For fixture group3

If you like to Control each Fixtures Seperate you just need to Count further the same as i did.
And set Each Fixture on his Own channel numbers.

/spirit

[Jan_K]

Hej tkodarkside321

!!!!!!!!!! Ups! Was writing a post in Word before sending it so You came in between Spirit )) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This sounds like your Lamps (Fixtures) has a wrong address setting.
You have to look on the rear of them and check them. (don’t hope they are mounted under the ceiling.)
You have to set fixture 1 to address1 and fixture 2 to address 8 and so on.
Additional it looks like switch 10 are to be set on.

1:1
2: 8
3: 15
4: 22
5: 29
6: 36
7: 43
8: 50
9: 57
10: 64
11: 71
12: 78

If you are not familiar with the binary numbers then read the link Spirit send to you specially how to set the addresses.

Take eventually a snapshot of the address on one of the fixtures so we can guide you.



/Jan

[tkodarkside321]

Awesome!!! Thank you both for your help!!

This week I am hoping to find some time to play with the lights a little more. I will continue to keep reading the wiki's you have suggested. I will update when I have made some more progress!!

[tkodarkside321]

Finally had a little time this weekend to try setting up some basic scenes and color changes with our led par's. This Sunday will be the first time we implement the freestyler software into our worship service. Wish me luck!!!!

I watched a few other tutorials on YouTube about patching lights. One guy had mentioned that he only adds 1 led par can to his list (he actually had 2 of the same led par cans) because of the type of light and dip switch settings, they all act as one light. I'm wondering if maybe this may be the case with the type of lights I am using and why I don't have individual control over each led par can. All of my lights have to have the dip switches set exactly the same at each light so that they are in dmx512 mode. If this is true, I don't see it being a huge problem. There were really only 4 of the lights that I wanted to have running a different mode because they are lighting up backdrops on the stage.

My next task will be adding in all our par 68 cans. We have 18 total running on 5 dimmer packs (lightronics as-40).

I have one question: The dimmer pack dmx cable coming back to the sound/light booth is a 5 pin. I currently have the dmx cable for the led's running into the enttec pro USB which has a 5 to 3 pin dongle on it (because the dmx cable from the led's use a 3 pin). Will all I need to do is pick up a dual 5 pin to a single 5 pin converter to have everything running into the enttec pro USB converter? I apologize if I'm not explaining that very well, lol

Thank you all for the help as always!!

[tkodarkside321]

Sorry, they are par 64 cans

[Spirit]

I watched a few other tutorials on YouTube about patching lights. One guy had mentioned that he only adds 1 led par can to his list (he actually had 2 of the same led par cans) because of the type of light and dip switch settings, they all act as one light. I'm wondering if maybe this may be the case with the type of lights I am using and why I don't have individual control over each led par can. All of my lights have to have the dip switches set exactly the same at each light so that they are in dmx512 mode. If this is true, I don't see it being a huge problem. There were really only 4 of the lights that I wanted to have running a different mode because they are lighting up backdrops on the stage.

as i sad Before you can Patch everything how you Like that the nice Thing about DMX.
And YES if you Led fixture are the same then you can Also set them all on the Same Adress.
Dip setting = DMX adress
DMX ON /Off is in the Most casses if you use Ledpar DIP10 on or off.

SO DIP 1to9 = DMX adress 1 to 511 and DIP10 is DMX on or off.

i have one question: The dimmer pack dmx cable coming back to the sound/light booth is a 5 pin. I currently have the dmx cable for the led's running into the enttec pro USB which has a 5 to 3 pin dongle on it (because the dmx cable from the led's use a 3 pin). Will all I need to do is pick up a dual 5 pin to a single 5 pin converter to have everything running into the enttec pro USB converter? I apologize if I'm not explaining that very well, lol

Oke you can use a DMX marger. So you can Split up a DMX line (NEVER Use a "Y" Cabel.)
Or you can Create/Buy a from 5Pin to 3pin Converter.

Its realy easy With DMX, pin1=Commen, Pin2=Cold, Pin3=Hot.
And Pin 4 and 5 Are not used. allthough there are devices that send Info back on Pin4 and 5 But never seen that.
This is what you need, viewtopic.php?f=75&t=4155

/spirit

[tkodarkside321]

Awesome! Thank you for the help spirit!

[tkodarkside321]

as i sad Before you can Patch everything how you Like that the nice Thing about DMX.
And YES if you Led fixture are the same then you can Also set them all on the Same Adress.
Dip setting = DMX adress
DMX ON /Off is in the Most casses if you use Ledpar DIP10 on or off.

SO DIP 1to9 = DMX adress 1 to 511 and DIP10 is DMX on or off.

Okay, I pretty much understand that. I notice that when patching in each fixture, it has a little picture that shows different dip switch settings for each fixture that is patched. Whenever patching in that fixture, do I need to go to each light and set that dip switch settings for each fixture in order to get individual control for each fixture??

[tkodarkside321]

Nevermind, just answered my own question. Changing the dip switch settings on the fixtures to what Freestyler says worked!!!!