Enttec open dmx + freestyler working a bit odd.

[calin]

hey!

got the enttec open dmx, got the drivers from the enttec website, gor the latest freestyler.

problem is:

when i tilt my moving head, it all goes smooth until value 128-130, point in which the head goes backward and forword as i increase the value of the channel. the same goes with pan and focus.

i tried all the freestyler versions i could find, tried the d2xx driver... same thing.
as a last hope i tried the little software called open dmx theatre which to my surprise works smooth all around.

what should i do?

i mention that i run on win7.


LE: now i realise that i might posted in the wrong place, if it bothers please move the topic where it belongs and we'll continue there. thanks!

[matt]

You could try to put a Terminator on the line.. or you may have a bad xlr cable.

[calin]

i don't see how a terminator could help, i'm using only 2 meeters of cable + changing the software resolves the problem => the problem lies within freestyler and/or windows.

[remco_k]

when i tilt my moving head, it all goes smooth until value 128-130, point in which the head goes backward and forword as i increase the value of the channel. the same goes with pan and focus.

Check the fixture file you are using with the DMX channel description of the fixture you are using.
There is a chance your fixture is (configured) for 8-bit pan/tilt and the fixture file is created for 16-bit pan/tilt mode. That would not really fit into the problems you are haveing, but just check it all.
If you can't find it, please post the fixture file here (*.pff) or just tell us wich one is used and post the fixture brand and model along with its DMX channel description and if applicable in what mode it is configured.

[calin]

the fixture is a Coemar iSpot 150.
the program allready has it in it's database.
the thing with 8/16 bit may be it, but ch6, the shutter channel, ch7, the focus channel, can't be affected by the 8/16 bit thing, but still react odd.

LE: My guess is that either the freestyler does not communicate properly with the driver/dongle, or the driver does not fit with windows.
in any case, remember that open theatre dmx works fine. so what can it be?

[matt]

try this

Remove all fixtures from freestyler
add a generic par can fixture to freestyler for every channel (8 or so)

adjust the channels manually. This will tell you if its a FreeStyler issue or a Fixture Profile issue.

[remco_k]

the fixture is a Coemar iSpot 150.
the program allready has it in it's database.
the thing with 8/16 bit may be it, but ch6, the shutter channel, ch7, the focus channel, can't be affected by the 8/16 bit thing, but still react odd.

It could still be the fixture is set into a mode that the DMX channels are completely different. See the manual for that. What I'm trying to tell you; just confirm on the fixtures that they are in normal DMX operation and not in 'REM' mode. They are probably in normal DMX mode, just check it.

LE: My guess is that either the freestyler does not communicate properly with the driver/dongle, or the driver does not fit with windows.

From what I know, I never heard of this weird behavior. Either nothing comes out of the DMX interface, or it comes out good. It does'nt mean its impossible though.

in any case, remember that open theatre dmx works fine. so what can it be?

So you can control any channel seperately there? Pan/tilt/speed/shutter/focus/gobo/colors/etc ?
Is that using the Enttec open dmx interface?

Another thing, have to ask; are you sure you have set the right adress on the fixture and in FreeStyler? Otherwise all could shift X channels causing this behaviour.
Also have a look at the show output screen in FreeStyler, it will tell you what values are sent out to the DMX interface.

[calin]

Also have a look at the show output screen in FreeStyler, it will tell you what values are sent out to the DMX interface.

that screen reports the same values as the screen that controls the channels.
BUT you gave me a A+ idea.
in the fixture's menu there is a submenu that shows what value are fed from the controller for each channel.
here it is:
from 0 to 128 they match, BUT at 131 in freestyler the fixture receives 63, at 140 - 83, 157 - 116, 162 - 63 and so on, from time to time, they match, but from a total of 127 values (from 129 to 255), i think only 20% match, the rest are as above, significantly lower.

i tryed other adresses, same thing.
i looked up the DMX/REM option, the fixture is set on DMX. adr 001...
i am sure that the fixture is on the same adress as in freestyler because it's addres 001 usualy.

So you can control any channel seperately there? Pan/tilt/speed/shutter/focus/gobo/colors/etc ?
Is that using the Enttec open dmx interface?

YES. all the tests ar made with the enttec open dmx. and YES in open dmx theatre every channel works fine.


LE: on the other hand, i did not really understand what i should do with the generic par can...

[calin]

any ideas?

[matt]

On Freestyler,

remove all of your Fixtures.

If your light is a 12 channel fixture, install 13 Par Can's.

This way you can control each channel individually and see if the light responds on each channel as it should. If it responds good, then that determines that the fixture file is not set up properly or is for an older firmware of the light.

[calin]

tryed with 3 dimmer packs, 4 channel each. the output is the same.

[LJ_krede.dk]

tryed with 3 dimmer packs, 4 channel each. the output is the same.

Weird..
Try again (both with par cans and the Coemar iSpot 150 fixture) with the output window open and check the DMX values,, are they changing as they should ?

[calin]

yes. the output data window displays normal values in every case.
i'm begining to run out of ideas.
should i reinstall the windows?

[dmxlighting]

should i reinstall the windows?

Thats a bit drastic!

I would look at the entec unit. Could be faulty ?

Things to try...

1 - set up fs and the entec on a different machine
2 - try some other fixtures, if possible use different moving heads - see if the results are the same.
3 - contact entec for advice

BTW - what windows platform are you using? & what is the pc spec ?

[calin]

the enttec seems fine to me since it works properly with other software than freestyler.
the platform is a laptop, toshiba, 1gb ram, intel pentium dual core at 1.4GHz + Win 7 profesional.

[remco_k]

Did you select the proper interface in the setup in FreeStyler?
If its available, try playing with the refresh rate (in the same setup screen) also.

[calin]

Did you select the proper interface in the setup in FreeStyler?

Yes.

If its available, try playing with the refresh rate (in the same setup screen) also.

tried but not helping.

my guess is that the data is somewhere corrupt along the way.
isn't it odd that only after the value 128 the problems start to apear?

[LJ_krede.dk]

have you changes some values in freestyler setup for correction (should be zero for all channels by default) and Pan / Tilt rezise (all four sides should be zero as default)

[calin]

have you changes some values in freestyler setup for correction (should be zero for all channels by default)

they were.

and Pan / Tilt rezise (all four sides should be zero as default)

they were at 100%, i tryed 0 but 1% is the minimum value.
still no change in behaviour.

[LJ_krede.dk]

My bad. 100 % is the default value, not 0 %.

Sent from my HTC Hero using Tapatalk

[calin]

anyway no change.
i'm running out of ideas and saturday's comming soon

[remco_k]

Running out too.
Hook the open DMX up to another computer and install FreeStyler on that, try there.

Its no solution, it just gives information.
Beginning to think its an interface problem or a problem or the hardware behind it.
(Yes, I know, it works with other software - Can't explain that)

Edit:
Test with one fixture connected and one fixture in your FreeStyler setup, on both systems.

[calin]

hey!
tryed today with some other fixtures, same outcome.
for example a Coemar Strip lite LED, basicaly a RGB led par, flickers when given values above 128...

[calin]

as a last resort i installed on my laptop win xp, it magically works fine.
any ideas why under win7 it doesnt?

[eric_zhou]

as a last resort i installed on my laptop win xp, it magically works fine.
any ideas why under win7 it doesnt?

can you tell us why?

for now I also find this problem, the channel value couldn't big than 128, if big then 128, the channel value become not right.

did anybody meet this problem? how to result it?

thanks a lot!