USB DMX with buffer

[claudegu]

Hello from France !

First I apologize about my english.
I actually use an USB DMX cable from my computer with freestyler to the lights system. Once I have made a sequence and plays it, I would like to remove the computer and that the lights still go on the sequence. What kind of DMX item can do this?
Many thanks

Claude

[remco_k]

http://www.botex-germany.de/index.php?o ... 50&lang=en
http://www.thomann.de/gb/botex_sd10.htm
http://www.s2store.be/store_shop/detail ... _recorder/

... and many more.
Simply found by using google with the words: dmx recorder

[claudegu]

Hello remco-k

Many thanks for the links, I will try to find an user notice to undertand well how they work and how to use it with freestyler.

May be some more questions for the next days.

Claude

[remco_k]

Here is how I think it would work.

Compare it with a mobile digital wave/mp3/voice/whatever recorder with a audio line-in and a line-out.
When newly purchased, there's nothing there to play.
But you can connect it to your mixer or radio to record your favorite 3 songs into 3 different tracks. When thats done, you can disconnect it, plug in your headphone and go on the road listening to your 3 tracks you've created. You can even play them randomly (or fixed order, or repeat 1).

Now for the DMX recorder, is pretty much the same I think:
It has a DMX input and a DMX output.
Once you've created your favorite sequences with FreeStyler and they work okay, you connect your DMX recorder in between somewhere in your DMX chain. (typically at the beginning, right after your USB to DMX interface and reconnect the rest of the chain behind it).
Just before you start your sequence in FreeStyler, you press the record button on the DMX recorder, and then you start the sequence from FreeStyler.
After the sequence is completed, you press stop on the recorder and this way you record your favorite 3 sequences (or more ofcourse).
When thats done, you can disconnect your DMX source, throw FreeStyler in the trash , because you now can use your DMX recorder to play the recorded sequences.

I guess that it pretty much is this.

[claudegu]

I agree with your explanations and thank you. I have a question in my mind. If I set different durations for each step of the scene, does the recorder take this in memory or just the steps . So after does it read all the steps at the same speed or at the same speed than in freestyler?

Claude

[claudegu]

Hello Onge,

OK, great, thanks for the answer.

Claude

[claudegu]

Hello,

I have found some items but quite expensive and with a lot of functions I don't need.
Is there DIY items to record an playback a DMX sequence?

Claude

[remco_k]

Hello,

I have found some items but quite expensive and with a lot of functions I don't need.
Is there DIY items to record an playback a DMX sequence?

Claude

http://www.thomann.de/gb/botex_sd10.htm
Costs €61,- (GBP 56,14 , $90.96)
You can't DIY for under that price, for €61,- you'll get half way if you are lucky.

Maybe you can find something like this second hand?

[claudegu]

Hello remco-k,

Yes I saw this one and you are right it is impossible to DIY for less, but I was unable to find the user notice to know the possibilities of storage. If someone have the user notice i would be happy to read it.

Claude

[claudegu]

Hello Onge,

Many thanks for the specs.
So if I use freestyler, make a scene and test it with an usb/dmx (enttec open compatible) and if it works with my lights, I just have to put the Botex on the line, play once the sequence. And after I may remove the computer and ask the Botex to play the sequence ? Does it may loop the scene endless, What happend if the main is shut down and put on again, will it start without any manipulation?

Claude

[claudegu]

Hello Onge,

Ok, many thanks for the help. I will buy one.

Claude

[dmxlighting]

It would be exactly as you record it, so all durations, fade times etc.

This is not right!

A DMX recoreder like the Botex Smart Director (which I use at work as a very cheap way of running LED on back bars in nightclubs)
will ONLY record the dmx channel / level. It will not and cannot record durations or fade times. The unit itself has a control for step and fade times which is user adjustable.
On a Martin 2510 replay unit (which FS will talk to) there is a different problem. This unit will not play back and fades and would rely totally on the fixture profile having a speed control for each atribute, ie a way to control (via dmx channel / level) the speed that a color wheel spins etc. However if you where to program it with Martin LJ then it will record all fades etc as they were ment to be.
Pulsar make a desk called 'MasterPiece' (something I use alot for work) which is still current and very expensive for what it is.
The replay they make is in fact a condenced version of the desk without the faders and other input control. It is only programmable by the masterpeice desk and nothing else. This also applies to Light Processors Q Commandor and its replay unit.

I don't know if a unit exists that will record dmx output (as remco put it) in way like recording an audio file but I doubt it.
A good pro replay unit is normally quite expensive and desk / protocal specific.

[claudegu]

Hello Onge,

I agree with you because recording DMX need to record 512 values 44 times by seconds if you want to record the full stream as Freestyler send it. I saw some expensive items wich claims 10minutes shows recording, and I believe these one record all the stream.

So, is it possible to record and replay the USB stream between the PC and the DMX interface? I should be much less bytes to record.

Claude

[dmxlighting]

Although the info I wrote is correct, I may have jumped in without looking first.

There are some units which will record a dmx stream.
The most noticeable one I found was this ...
http://www.elationlighting.com/ProductD ... &Category=

It does look like its badged by a few different companys but the price is not too bad if you shop about.

My apploogies to Onge and Remco

[remco_k]

There are some units which will record a dmx stream.

Actually I thought all cheaper units would do that. Why? Because the unit does not have to know anything about connected fixtures and stuff.
It just needs to replicate the DMX signal and loop it.
Now it sounds hard to record a DMX stream, but in 2009 there is plenty of hardware fast enough and plenty of memory big enough to accomplish that.
However, it was just a guess of mine.

My apploogies to Onge and Remco

There's no need to apologize, I can take it. But the next time .....

[dmxlighting]

Actually I thought all cheaper units would do that. Why? Because the unit does not have to know anything about connected fixtures and stuff.

I dont think any replay unit, cheap or expensive, needs to know anything about the connected fixture. By nature it will, no matter how the sequence is recorded, play back DMX control signals. The fixture its self will determine what to do with that signal.

[claudegu]

Hello dmxlighting,

Sorry about the late reply, I was not at home this week. Many thanks for the link.

Claude