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2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 15:04
by Wizard
HI is there any chance to make allowances for a second universe with a second USB device. All I am doing is RGB led control fr home lighting. but allt of led pixals.
or if you know of any other other software that can do programable chases. I have trouble with the freestyler because it has 16 scenes. I have 300 + RGB leds Ultra bright. around my house. any suggestions ?

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 16:32
by remco_k
Wizard wrote:HI is there any chance to make allowances for a second universe with a second USB device. All I am doing is RGB led control fr home lighting. but allt of led pixals.
or if you know of any other other software that can do programable chases. I have trouble with the freestyler because it has 16 scenes. I have 300 + RGB leds Ultra bright. around my house. any suggestions ?
As far as I know, multiple universes are not planned. Its not asked very often also.
Its a big change in this software (if not implemented this way from scratch), so my guess is that the market for such a change is too small.

I don't understand your "16 scenes" problem? By default a sequence in FreeStyler can have max 15 steps, but is configurable in the FreeStyler .ini to lets say 99.
Or is this not what you mean?

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 16:39
by Wizard
Because i am using 300 RGB leds 15 steps is not enough. and 300 leds = 900 dmx channels make sense ? The leds go around my yard each fence post has a RGB at the top. 28 posts. the driveway has 5 leds on either side. so 10 in total . railing has 24 leds so 72 channels, etc etc any suggestions for inexpensive control of each led via software. the DMX decoders and LED drivers were very inexpensive about 140.00 per 96 channel decoder and 92 channel 350 ma driver

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 16:47
by matt
Now you got me interested..

Can you please take some pictures of this and upload them here?

Day and Night would be awsome!

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 16:51
by Wizard
Sure will but i will only show the fence / driveway and deck supports. the rest of the leds wilnot be turned on until xmas ( i dont want all the neighbors to see it yet :D

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 17:08
by dmxlighting
2 universe Freestyler ? How about using 2 PC's and 2 usb / dmx dongles. Hey Presto! 2 universes!!!!!!!

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 17:10
by Wizard
Well that would be Lame. Nothing would sync up

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 17:15
by dmxlighting
Fair point! Then you may need to buy a proper hardware desk or some expensive software.

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 17:26
by Wizard
I defiantly would if it was for public or commercial application hardly worth it for home use. I have to keep digging. BTW for 512 channels freestyler is awesome. I am firm believer if you use the software you should either pay or Donate. If not write software it yourself :fs:

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Nov 2009, 17:40
by dmxlighting
Wizard wrote:I am firm believer if you use the software you should either pay or Donate. If not write software it yourself :fs:

Well said!

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 23 Nov 2009, 08:47
by remco_k
Wizard wrote:Because i am using 300 RGB leds 15 steps is not enough. and 300 leds = 900 dmx channels make sense ?
I get how you come to 900 DMX channels, I don't get the 15 steps part.
Steps have nothing to do with the number of DMX channels. Thats were my question was about. 15 steps per sequence is a limit that can be changed in the FreeStyler.ini.

Can't you set groups of 2 led's to the same DMX channel? In that case you'll be needing (150*3) 450 DMX channels. You'll even have some 'spare' channels to connect some single LED's where you want.

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 24 Nov 2009, 05:01
by matt
He has 300 Sets of Led's. Are they 15 Channels Each? or 3 channels each?

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 24 Nov 2009, 08:02
by Wizard
matt wrote:He has 300 Sets of Led's. Are they 15 Channels Each? or 3 channels each?

RGB each led is 3 channels

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 24 Nov 2009, 09:43
by lj_raph
Hi All

Currently there is no intention to add a second DMX universe, BUT last week I got a request from an important FS user.
He needs to control over 4 universes with Freestyler. (scans, movingheads, leds and matrix)

We are planning a test setup with Freestyler enabled as a server, so we get 4 FS servers and one TCP/IP client wich will send the commands to these servers. This way he can control these 4 servers from one screen.

Raph

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 24 Nov 2009, 19:48
by dmxlighting
lj_raph wrote:Hi All

Currently there is no intention to add a second DMX universe, BUT last week I got a request from an important FS user.
He needs to control over 4 universes with Freestyler. (scans, movingheads, leds and matrix)

We are planning a test setup with Freestyler enabled as a server, so we get 4 FS servers and one TCP/IP client wich will send the commands to these servers. This way he can control these 4 servers from one screen.

Raph

Sound like an interesting project, will you let us know what happens ?

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 01 Dec 2009, 16:21
by bckeeping
Hi Wizard,

That sounds like a pretty cool project. I have been looking at doing some DMX driven LED work in my house but have been having difficulty finding LED drivers and DMX decoders for it. The only ones I have found only have 3 channels and are pretty expense.

Can I ask where you got yours from and what they are? Do you have any details?

B. :D

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 01 Dec 2009, 22:27
by Wizard
bckeeping wrote:Hi Wizard,

That sounds like a pretty cool project. I have been looking at doing some DMX driven LED work in my house but have been having difficulty finding LED drivers and DMX decoders for it. The only ones I have found only have 3 channels and are pretty expense.

Can I ask where you got yours from and what they are? Do you have any details?

B. :D
Sure I will check to make sure that they will sell over the counter. But if not I have no problem to buying for you. I get them all out of Hong kong. 96 channel 300ma drivers with 96 channel decoder I will double check costs but i know they are very reasonably priced

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 04 Dec 2009, 18:29
by dmxlighting
I use Ledion drivers and LED's by Abstract for commercial installation. These are fairly expensive but they are built to run 24/7
I also use a cheaper fixture called X-chip. These are 100m rgb strips which clip together. Great for putting behind bars in clubs or in celling coffers. Each 100m strip is about £7 plus power supply and controller.

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 22 Dec 2009, 06:11
by lightingdoc
Hello I think Freestyler is great. However for my holiday display , 85 RGB Led pixels, 5 Vari*lites a laser and smoke I use Vixen. It is time based, can support miltiple universes etc. That being said Aweful, no impossible for live shows. It is also free and works on the same platforms as freestyler. It is a great compliment in your tool box.

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 10 Dec 2010, 04:39
by usLEDsupply
bckeeping wrote:That sounds like a pretty cool project. I have been looking at doing some DMX driven LED work in my house but have been having difficulty finding LED drivers and DMX decoders for it. The only ones I have found only have 3 channels and are pretty expense.

Can I ask where you got yours from and what they are? Do you have any details?
the prices of DMX Decoders for LED strips have come down a lot in the past year
here are some of the latest prices in USA
3 Channel (RGB) Decoder 4A/Ch $48
4 Channel (RGBW/A) Decoder 4A/Ch $53
24 Channel (8x RGB) 3A/Ch $250

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 11 Dec 2010, 01:06
by typeface01
more universes are handy for more features

for example im using freestyler for many things and shows. but i have to take a pearl or a ma-lighting micro if i wat to exceed 512 channels if you can make the program compattible for at least 1024 channels (2 universes)

that wil be grate for me and a lot of other persons that want to use freestyler in big shows.

the software on the marked today exept the great ones like ma-lighting have 512 channels max. so you can make a difference by upgrading the program to 1024 or more

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 11 Dec 2010, 14:11
by remco_k
Currently there is an 1024 channel (=2 universe) version of FS running in beta.
So opting for a 2nd universe is not needed anymore. Users just have to wait for it to become available.
And when it does, not all DMX interfaces can be used for the second universe. Among others it depends on their drivers.

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 14 Dec 2010, 21:50
by madgadget
That sounds awesome!!

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 16 Feb 2011, 11:37
by TazziBu
Hi everyone!

First of all, this is my first posting, and congratulations to all the FS-developers !!! :fs: :fs: :fs:

I'm really interrested in testing this beta version.
The latest beta availabe for download is 3.3.7 - and it seems that it's not the right one (or I'm blinded by my lights ;) )
We are using two FS installations (because of two operators sitting together) each with one DMX interface and I'm trying to find a way to visualize both in one Magic sessions for offline programming. This should work using ArtNet with two universes.
Is it possible to get a beta-pre-release? (or - how to configure 3.3.7 for two universes?)

We're a little bit in a hurry... Thanks for your quick responses.

Regards
TazziBu

Re: 2 DMX universe

Posted: 25 Jun 2011, 02:07
by Doktordeathray
Any progress on the second universe yet?

Thanks.