DMX assigning question

[Skinah]

I've just ordered some new dmx lights and got this quick question on the way you route/patch the starting channels.

I'll use a dimmer rack from 1-12 but as I've only got a small desk I'd like to then assign the moving head joke to 9-17... This means the two units overlap 4 channels, I dont plan to ever use those channels in the dmx dimmer but I'd like the moving head to function without any problems. Will this work or will I need a bigger desk or have to use scenes on the desk to save different patching combinations ?


Thanks for your help.

[Rimmer]

Originally posted by Skinah
I've just ordered some new dmx lights and got this quick question on the way you route/patch the starting channels.

I'll use a dimmer rack from 1-12 but as I've only got a small desk I'd like to then assign the moving head joke to 9-17... This means the two units overlap 4 channels, I dont plan to ever use those channels in the dmx dimmer but I'd like the moving head to function without any problems. Will this work or will I need a bigger desk or have to use scenes on the desk to save different patching combinations ?


Thanks for your help.

DMX channels can overlap with no effect to the other units at the same address. If you use channels 9-17 on the moving head, the dimmer channels 9-12 will respond (make sure you have no lights on those channels) but that wont affect the running of the moving head.

How many channels does your desk have, make? Some older desks run at 8 bit which isn't great for sensitive moving heads if your trying to be subtle with them. Be prepared.

Rimmer

p.s. lf your new moving heads, a tip. You might have binary dip switch settings for the DMX start address. If you haven't set these before, you will need to dip numbers 1 & 4 to ON to get the start address to channel 9

[Skinah]

Thanks for the reply, I suspected that was the case but wasn't sure. I'll most likely patch the desk in that fashion and set those channels on the dimmer rack to stay running at 100% that way I can use them to power the moving heads.. The dimmer can set a scene for using as a auto preheat function so I'll just set those end channels to stay at 100% for powering fixtures when the 3 phase is on.

The desk I have is a maxium S by lsc and has 12 dual scenes. Its the latest model only a few months old and the software is still being written :)

http://www.lsclighting.com.au/maXim.htm

Good desk thats made locally, most of the hire companies here use them which is a good sign for quality. The dimmer rack is the Epac by lsc which is also very good for what I know about dmx stuff.


Thanks again for your help as I've got 1 moving head and about 18 colour changes comming in the post as we speak cant wait to get them :)

[Rimmer]

I read the spec's on the Maxim S and it claims to command 512 channels of DMX.. I thought you were using something like an XL 24way or older. I don't see why you're so limited with DMX channels. Does the desk have any moving light controlling areas of shape generators and the like?

Rimmer

[Skinah]

Does the desk have any moving light controlling areas of shape generators and the like?

I'm not sure what that is SOZ.

The desk only has 24 faders so I was looking for a way to fit 18 clour changers and a moving head plus some par cans all on the faders at the same time. I know I can patch multiple dmx channels to the one fader which I will group the CC that way and then use half the channels of the dimmer rack for some more.

1-6 dimmer
7-15 moving head ( prism,gobos,rotating gobo,colour,focus,zoom,fader)
16-24 CC which use 2 channels each, I'll group them in left, centre and right stage. left CYC and right CYC that sort of thing. That way when I'm creating stacks, chases and scenes to store in memory I can flick over to a different mode in the desk with different patching.


Can you get add on DMX joysticks for controlling moving heads that will connect in series to the desk ?

[vltechmatt]

Although your desk might well output DMX512 if you only have 24 channels you will find that address 25 will patch into #1 fader etc etc. This might be of some use if all your colour changers are going to be in the same colour because you can patch them all to the same fader. have fun

[Rimmer]

Originally posted by Skinah
Does the desk have any moving light controlling areas of shape generators and the like?

I'm not sure what that is SOZ.

The desk only has 24 faders so I was looking for a way to fit 18 clour changers and a moving head plus some par cans all on the faders at the same time. I know I can patch multiple dmx channels to the one fader which I will group the CC that way and then use half the channels of the dimmer rack for some more.

1-6 dimmer
7-15 moving head ( prism,gobos,rotating gobo,colour,focus,zoom,fader)
16-24 CC which use 2 channels each, I'll group them in left, centre and right stage. left CYC and right CYC that sort of thing. That way when I'm creating stacks, chases and scenes to store in memory I can flick over to a different mode in the desk with different patching.


Can you get add on DMX joysticks for controlling moving heads that will connect in series to the desk ?

Whether you can add a joystick or roller ball to the desk depends on the desk itself to some extent. There might be a DMX rollerball or joystick but I doubt it will help you a lot. I prefer the Avolites two wheel approach myself although I am still used to programming with faders if need be.

I assume those faders will accept a programmed chase or scene rather than just one DMX channel. If the desk handles 512 DMX channels then you can run a load more than one moving light and one 6 or 12 way dimmer. It's a matter of programming chases and scenes and then assigning them to one of the faders generally.. Most desks with a small amount of faders and a load of DMX channels generally expect you to assign scenes and chasers to those faders rather than individual DMX channels. It would be a waste of the desk.

When you get all the colour changers and moving light, assign them all over the 512 DMX channels (as many as it takes) and then do some programming. You could assign all the colour changers colours to a few faders. One fader per colour or just assign the colour scrolling channel for all the colour changers (even on different DMX channels, it doesn't matter) to a fader. You could do some chases with the moving light and then assign that to one fader (assign fader) so when you bring that up, the moving light starts to move and do it's thing. You wouldn't want to sit there during a gig trying to remember what channel did what to your moving light anyway. Get some decent programs in there and assign them to the faders.

You might find that the faders have 'pages' as well. Something like an Avolites Azure might only have 10 faders to play with but it has many pages you can change to which give you fresh programmable spaces to program to. Changing pages through a show is nothing new..

Rimmer

[Skinah]

I understand all of that and the desk does facilitate stack,chases and scenes on the one fader and it also has banks of memory for up to about 150 different stacks with 250 steps/scenes or chases in each stack ! More than I'll use :)

The reason I wanted to patch the lights in the above fashion is because it will be a LOT easier to create the scenes and chases if all the dmx channels are accessable all at the same time instead of have to create scenes and then create scenes from multiple scenes :) its all about saving time and in a live sitation time is often not on your side.

Thanks heaps for your help, I'll be sure to post some pics of the setup once its all installed and looking good in about 6 weeks time.