Is this expected behaviour ? [SOLVED]

[Pidea]

Hi folks, I've got two fixtures (a KAM ParBar and a KAM Hexaflower) connected via a no-name USB interface which emulates an Enttec Open DMX interface. The interface works as do both fixtures because I can control the colours, select macros etc on either fixture.

I'm trying to create a really simple sequence but I'm running in to problems. What I'm doing is setting the colours on the ParBar in step 1, changing to the Hexaflower and changing the colours on that. Then I'm adding another step, changing the colours on the ParBar to something different and also changing the colours on the Hexaflower.

If I repeat this for, say, ten steps when I step back through the steps the patterns and colours are not what I've selected on step but are totally random across the two fixtures.

It doesn't matter if I create the sequence in Static or Transparent mode - the information related to each step just seems to get garbled. Am I doing something wrong ? I've got a terminator at the end of the series - if it makes any difference the ParBar is connected first with the Hexaflower at the end.

Thanks in advance !

[malykazio]

If you corectly address both devices... it looks like cables or "no name" device. In the past I had problems with cheap USB-DMX converter (described on this forum). My Pumas Lights goes creazy, When I bought Enntec Pro - any problems gone.

And terminators... someone could proof that it really do something? About 2 years on different calbles and devices and never seen difference with or without terminators. If I had problems - almost always this was broken cables.

[Pidea]

Thanks for the reply.

Spent a few hours trying to get to the bottom of this earlier and tried the following.

Plugged in just the KAM PArBar and created a sequence without any problems.

Plugged in just the KAM Hexaflower and created a sequence also without problems.

Plugged in both making sure that the addresses where correct (KAM ParBar started on 1 and using 15 channels), the Hexaflower starting on 16 taking 9 channels.

Changing the brightness of lens 1 of the Hexaflower (slider 1) made the KAM ParBar change mode. Changing the brightness of lens 2 on the Hexaflower (slider 2) made the KAM ParBar change brightness. Now channel 1 on the ParBar is the mode and channel 2 is the dimmer control so it's almost as if the addresses are wrong and somehow overlapping but they aren't.

Enabling the 'Show output' window confirms what is happening, that channel 2 on both fixtures are tied together which would suggest the the start address of each fixture is the same but they aren't.

Any ideas anyone ?

[Kings]

So just to confirm...

When you have the DMX output window open, If you adjust channel 2 on one the Parbar, channel 2 on the hexaflower (channel 17) shows a corresponding change in DMX value?

If so, then try reinstalling Freestyler. If you get the same result then I suspect it will be the USB to DMX dongle.

The 'overlapping' behaviour you describe is something I'v come across in some cheap chinese fixtures like strobes. They work perfectly with some lighting desks and not with others. I suspect it some sort of data output issue. Perhaps you could try adjusting the output via the interface setup window and see what happens?

[Pidea]

Hi Kings, you're right. Changing one channel effects another. I've already reinstalled FS so bit the bullet and ordered an Enttec Open USB DMX interface which should be arriving today. Annoyingly the retailer didn't sell the 5-pin to 3-pin adapter so I've had to order that from somewhere else.

UPDATE: well mid-morning both the Enttec interface and the adapter cable both arrived so I set everything up again. I re-install FS too, just in case that had an impact on things.

Unfortunately even with the branded interface I get exactly the same behaviour, in other words changing channel 1 on fixture 1 changes the corresponding channel 1 on fixture 2.

I then swapped fixture number 2 (KAM Hexaflower) with an Equinox Quadzilla and I get exactly the same behaviour which means it's either fixture 1 (KAM ParBar) causing the problem (I'll swap it out tomorrow) or the FS itself (I'll try and find an older version and install that).

This is starting to get very frustrating . . . .

[Kings]

Ok...I'll try asking again. With the show output window open, if you select channel one on the parbar and increase the dmx value (say from o to a value of 100 in the show output window), do you also see a value of 100 in channel 16 of the show output window?



If not...

Then it sounds like the dip switches on the hexaflower are screwy and its still set at channel one. Try it by itself with some other start addresses. Maybe try the hex on 1 and the parbar on 10?

If so...

Then that is unexpected behaviour.

As mentioned previously, the profile that has been created for the parbar might be incorrect. Sometimes these things have different DMX modes where they can operate on DMX using 3 channels, 8 channels, 15 channels etc. Where did you find the profile?

[Kings]

Mmm...found the parbar profile on the forum but the one that can be downloaded needs to be adjusted as per the screen shots shown here:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4174

But I dont think that is the cause of the original problem.

[Pidea]

Yes I spotted that one but then I found this one:

viewtopic.php?f=79&t=4360#p17922

which is the one that I went with.

[Pidea]

Odd, I posted a reply but it never appeared ...

'll try asking again. With the show output window open, if you select channel one on the parbar and increase the dmx value (say from o to a value of 100 in the show output window), do you also see a value of 100 in channel 16 of the show output window

Yes, that's exactly what it happening.

Then it sounds like the dip switches on the hexaflower are screwy and its still set at channel one

Nope, checked and double checked that.

I've also swapped the Hexaflower with a Equinox Quadzilla and that also does exactly the same thing and the DIP switches on that are set correctly.

What I haven't done is to take the ParBar out and then put the Hexaflower and Quadzilla in order to try and eliminate the ParBar from the equation .... I'll do that after the school run.

Thanks for your help - I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of this !

[Pidea]

Right, looks like I'm getting closer to figuring out what is wrong.

I can fully control each fixture when they are installed on their own but as soon as I put two fixtures together then adjusting channel 1 of fixture 1 affects the corresponding channel 1 of fixture 2.

It does this no matter which combination of two fixtures that I select. I've re-installed the driver for the Enttec interface in case the old one from the no-name adapter was in use and tried it with and without a terminator.

All DIP switches are set correctly ... so, it looks like some kind of bug but it's hard to believe that no-one else has had the same issue as 3.5.2 has been out for so long. So unless I'm just unlucky in my choice of fixtures ...

I'll try an older version and see if I get the same behaviour.

[Kings]

Mmm...this one is weird.

Next thing to check is the add/remove fixtures window of FS. When you normally add a fixture, FS automatically addresses it for you too the next available/free channels. I wonder if FS is adding the fixtures but addressing them all as channel one. Check the address window and make sure the values are not over lapping:

[Jan_K]

Try making a screen dump of your output window where we can see the two channels with the problem.

You can try using one of the generic 30 channel fixture.
Then you have 30 channels covered by one fixture.
You have then isolated the problem away from the two fixture files.

Have you by accident patched the two channels
http://www.freestylersupport.com/wiki/s ... references

/Jan

[Pidea]

Fixed it guys ... frustrated, I uninstalled FS again but this time I uninstalled (via control panel) the drivers for the Enttec adapter too, rebooted (twice) and then re-installed FS using the Enttec drivers. Everything works perfectly !

To double check I then uninstalled FS and the Enttec drivers, rebooted (twice) and the re-installed FS and the generic adapter and it wouldn't work so it looks like a driver issue with the generic adapater.

My guess is that, when I plugged in the Enttec adapter for the first time, it just picked up and used the already installed driver that came with the generic adapter. The pucka Enttec one works perfectly.

Thanks for all your help, I can now (finally) get around to designing the light show for my band !

[Kings]

Phew!

[Pidea]

Thanks for your help and patience, it's much appreciated !

[skenley]

I have the same problem you're having. with more than one fixture, FS moves the corresponding channel settings of other fixtures as well as the one I'm trying to control. It even does this with the interface unplugged and Virtual Output activated. I've spent days trying to figure this out. It seems to help if I install fixtures with fewer channels first, then the more complex ones, but it hasn't completely fixed the problem. When I toggle between scenes some colors just stay on. These are just simple LED lights and dimmer packs, nothing complicated. Let me know if you found an answer. Thanks