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Hi. I am new to the computerized DMX systems and wish to buy a cheap DMX interface to learn from before moving on the expensive models. Does anyone here know of any cheap and good USB to DMX Interface compatible with FreeStyler that I can start with? Thanks for the help.

Enttec Open is one of the best to start with!

(Click on banner at top of page and order from enttec store! Tell them FreeStyler Sent you!)

I am considering that too, but how many devices does it control in total? I live in Singapore though, so do they do overseas shipping?

the enttec open can support upto (**512 Channels (by matt)) 12dmx channels. So it deppends on how many channels you fixtures each use.
Iv used the enttec for a long time, the pro is also worth it just for its isolation alone It will protect your pc from any electrical fault that may happen on your DMX line.

Mattotone wrote:the enttec open can support upto 12dmx channels. So it deppends on how many channels you fixtures each use.

Uhm, did I miss something somewhere, or did you, or am I misunderstanding your post?
As far as my knowledge goes, the Enttec open dmx supports the maximum number of channels possible on one DMX chain; 512.
(And the pro is'nt opto isolated)

cccy wrote:I am considering that too, but how many devices does it control in total?

Please start reading the basics about DMX - its easy to understand if you're willing to.
You might be starting here for example: http://www.thedmxwiki.com/definitions/dmx512

I'll answer this question for you. One DMX chain controls at maximum 512 DMX channels. If you need more, add a second chain (so a second DMx interface is needed). Need more than 1024? Add a third chain, and so on.
Anyway, you start with one DMX chain, so you'll be able to control 512 channels. That does'nt mean you can control 512 fixtures. The number of fixtures possible on that chain depends actually on the fixtures itself.
Fixtures can respond from 1 DMX channel (just a simple dimmer) to more than 32 channels per fixture (multidimmers, pixeltracks, special effect stuff).
If you buy, lets say, a RGB fixture, it most likely responds to 3 or 4 channels (3: R, G and B. Or 4: R, G, B and master intensity). Lets assume your fixtures use 4 channels, with 512 channels available = 512/4 = 128 fixtures possible on one DMX chain.

Before asking more, please read that wiki page and other pages.

Short addition: If you want to use some fixtures always synched, meaning they are doing olways the same (for exmaple all red par cans) you can set them up to the same channel, wich increases the number of fixtures in the chain.

remco_k wrote:

Mattotone wrote:the enttec open can support upto 12dmx channels. So it deppends on how many channels you fixtures each use.

Uhm, did I miss something somewhere, or did you, or am I misunderstanding your post?
As far as my knowledge goes, the Enttec open dmx supports the maximum number of channels possible on one DMX chain; 512.
(And the pro is'nt opto isolated)

mistype i ment 512 not just 12 lol.

as far as im aware the pro is isolated.
from the enttec website:
1500 V full isolation (data & power lines to protect your computer from surges)

Mattotone wrote: mistype i ment 512 not just 12 lol.

as far as im aware the pro is isolated.
from the enttec website:
1500 V full isolation (data & power lines to protect your computer from surges)

Guessing they mean opto isolated. Can't find what it really is anywhere. (could be optical, capacitive or transformer).
Without an external power source there's (almost) never a 100% isolation, unless they used a transformer.
They say "1500 V full isolation" so we have to assume it is. I'll open my Enttec USB DMX Pro up one day and have a look how its done.

Thanks everyone for the help. I am sorry that I am pretty new in this, and don't know even some of the basics. I thank everyone for the information and suggestions, and not getting angry at some of my obviously stupid questions.

I made a LPR2DMX piece - it works perfectly a year already in my bar in every weekend plus "special days. There is a small delay, but for dancemusic ist's not so iportant.