can freestyler make exact scanner placement?

[nemix]

I used to have martin mx1s which i posted about. They wouldn't line up barely ever and I think the motor was going out. I picked up martin scx500s which do a lot better.

Everything on my scx500s work but i notice that every cycle through my steps leads the scanner to be 4-6" from where they first were placed. Then a few cycles later it's normal again. I'd just like it to line up perfectly everytime....is that possible?

I'm using the enttec pro dongle with actual dmx cables and it's terminated. Both of the scx500s i's using do this...

[remco_k]

Sounds also like a problem in your scanners 'motors' or their electronics, not FreeStyler.

You can do several checks to verify this, the simplest one is this:
-Set your scanners to the first step of your sequence.
-You can view the actual DMX output in FS. See menu Edit->Show output.
-Find the channels for your scanners, write down the DMX values for Pan, Tilt, Fine Pan and Fine tilt. (The Fine Pan and Tilt might not exist).
-Run your sequence and stop on the first step. Check for scanner misplacement, if not, rerun your sequence until they are misplaced. Make sure you stop on the first step in your sequence.
-Check the DMX output in FS to the scanners and compare those values with the ones earlier written. If they are the same, then the problem is not in FS.

It's almost impossible that the problem relies in the DMX cabling, because your scanners then would do completely nothing or completely different things the whole time, everytime. You did terminate the line, so having problems on this small DMX universe is really virtually impossible.

Knowing FS a little bit, I guess you are seeing the same DMX values in the last verificationstep, leaving the only option that the problem is in your scanners motors or electronics.

To give it another shot: try some other DMX controller software, program about the same sequences and run it. You would see the same problems if I have it correct.

[nemix]

I'll try that out, had this problem with some old MX1's and sold em because it was really bad, my scx500's are brand new and they both do it, thats why I was thinking it was freestyler (possibly my enttec pro? also brand new)

Let me give that a try tho, thanks

edit: last thing im thinking it could be is also the auto/macros in my scx500's, when they change between those and something i program I'm thinking something could be getting messed up...

[nemix]

My theory on the auto programs wasn't right, didn't help and freestyler was showing the exact placement of where the lights should be.

What other program do you recommend I try? I tryed magicq pc but that things a mess...I don't even know how to add a fixture....

[nemix]

update, when I mix the autoshapes (circles, twist, etc...) is when it throws my program off for some reason. I did a quick 30 step program with only some quick movements by me and it his my mirror ball in the exact same spot EVERY time. Maybe this is a bug no one else noticed? Or maybe i'm the only one with this problem?

[remco_k]

update, when I mix the autoshapes (circles, twist, etc...) is when it throws my program off for some reason. I did a quick 30 step program with only some quick movements by me and it his my mirror ball in the exact same spot EVERY time. Maybe this is a bug no one else noticed? Or maybe i'm the only one with this problem?

But what do you see in the dmx output form in freestyler when it goes wrong? (see the steps in my previous post)
You can't call it a bug when you don't know what is going wrong.

[nemix]

When I did your test it was showing the channels that were supposed to be shown (first say is 255 tilt 61 pan on the mirror ball, it showed this) but with the autoshapes in my show this would throw my scanners off for some reason. They still showed the same values though.

All shapegenerators off and the values continue to be the same but my scenes are never off anymore

[remco_k]

...They still showed the same values though.

That indicates a problem with your scanners or Enttec DMX or DMX cabling. Definitely not FreeStyler.
Like I said earlier, chances that the problem relies in your Enttec DMX or DMX cabling is very small regarding the way the DMX512 protocol works, so it seems to me that you need to search for the problem in the scanners electronics or motors.

[nemix]

Must be the dongle if it's not freestyler then. Scanners are brand new and work with a hardware controller. It's just weird that it is only with the shape generator, all other movements/scenes made without it are rock solid.

[remco_k]

I think I just now understand what you meant earlier.
Are you telling that the scanners only go 'wrong' when you are using the shape generator?
Any other movement functions within FreeStyler are always going correct, just like all movements with any hardware controller?

Then I am curious for the results of this test:
-Create a 1 step sequence with a fixed position for both your scanners. Mark that position on the floor/wall/ground/whatever. If you activate that sequence, your scanners should always go to that exact position. No matter what had happened before.
-Go to the shape generator and fuck op your scanners position like you do all the time. It might be handy to document the exact steps to reproduce the problem.
-When your scanners go wrong, stop the shape generator moves and start the above created sequence to move your scanners to the fixed position.

Now, if your scanners get back to the exact same position that you marked earlier, then there is nothing wrong with your scanners and then the problem can either be your Enttec DMX dongle or indeed could be in FreeStyler.
If they don't, then there is something wrong with your scanners.

If the problem is in FreeStyler, then someone/everyone else should have the same problems when they do the same shape generator settings.
I don't have any fixtures here to test this, so maybe someone else can test that with an Enttec DMX dongle and with some other USB DMX interface and 2 scanners.

Just to be sure: you have the latest drivers for your Enttec USB dongle?

[nemix]

Did what you said before basically. Had a scene with the shape generator doing 8's and put it on a scnece pointing to my mirror ball (step that just points to the mirror ball) and it was thrown off. I can't believe it's the motors in the scanners though. I'll call martin and see if there's a firmware upgrade I can possibly get. If the problem is with the scanners I can see it possibly being from too many values being thrown at it with the shape generator (maybe firmware can fix this?). When I set up fast movements with it the values change like crazy. My knowledge on lighting is somewhat limited but I'll try anything to get this 100% solved.



edit: might buy a small chauvet intimidator 1.0 to test this out to see if it's my scanners, return them when I'm done lol

[Partyman]

I have the exact same problem, it also does this after running sound to light

Rusty