How do I start the Fixture Creator?

[cadcoke5]

Sorry for such a new-bee question. I have looked over several tutorials and the Wiki, but they have all started with "start the fixture creator"... but omit the detail of how exactly to do this.

Is there an icon that I can't find?

Perhaps "fixture creator" is a separate piece of software I need to install?

-Joe

[spud1511]

It's installed with freestyler.. Usually with its own desktop icon

[cadcoke5]

Thank you, I found it. I just attempted to edit the Wiki to add an introduction that says,

"Fixture Creator is a separate program from Freestyler and is used to define and edit fixture definitions. It is automatically installed at the same time as Freestyler. You can find the icon for it in the same start menu folder."

However, when I attempted to log on, I was unsuccessful. There was no error message or statement that I was not authorized. Just no response from the Wiki web site.

-Joe

[spud1511]

Sorry I can't help with wiki site [emoji53]. But let us know how you get on with your fixtures.

[cadcoke5]

I was successful in creating a fixture. My custom fixture was a tiny, cheap LED RGBW pin spot by TSSS.

The interface for creating the fixture seems relatively straight forward, and I suspect any difficulties I am having with it are because I am not very familiar with using DMX on anything but a simple dimmer. The challenge is even harder when the instructions for the unit are extremely brief and written by someone not fluent in English.

Now something off topic for this thread, I was about to supply a link to where I purchased the fixture, but was hesitant to do something that might seem to recommend it. I suspect that the vendor is selling the 3 watt version, and labeling it as the 12 watt version. My own measurements taken by providing power using a bench-top power supply, indicate that is only draws 7.8 watts total (which includes the internal electronics and the fan). However, I can't discount the possibility that the actual power is different from what the bench-top supply says, since electronics can get a bit odd when the current draw is not even or a sin wave. This is a bit beyond my knowledge, so I am also hesitant to post the vendor and unjustly accuse him.

-Joe

[spud1511]

What was it doing when you measured it? You would need to set 100% value on all the RGBW and master channels, as it could be something like 3W white, 3W red, 3W green, and 3W blue that commonly get called a '12W' fixture - even though the reality is the total of these may be 12W, but thermal issues or protection may prevent it ever actually using all at once - especially on budget fixtures.

That said though, a small variation on bench equipment is one thing, but seeing barely half what you might expect if you were running all channels at max (if they are all definitely at max) would be extremely suspect.

[cadcoke5]

Yes, I had it on full on for each of the channels. Its brightness doesn't seem to be enough for a 12 watt unit either. The Chinese sources tend to have a reputation for selling parts that failed inspection or rejected for some reason, but are sold as though they would perform at the full specs.

This unit has an active cooling fan, so it should be able to handle the 12 watts easily. It may even be the 12 watt chip, but they deliberately turn the intensity down on the board because they had other design issues that cause the fixture to fail at full power. There probably no way to know.

I decided to take a chance with it, knowing I had the skill to measure it, and then return it if it did not live up to its description.