STATE Dmx Testers are back in stock, in black. If you want one in silver that is also ok, but the black looks cool.
I am calling these units R3. They are the same as the ones that are currently out there except for the black finish. Perhaps more interestingly, they have the ability to record DMX Snapshots. So if you plug it into you console you can save a look (or 200 looks) and then play them back at a later date. This might be useful as a backup for example, or for a situation where you need to flash in the setup of a load of standalone fixtures. You could even use it (or loads of them) as little lighting systems for an event. If you were feeling keen, a number of snap shots could be recorded as a test setup for moving lights. The states are saved in non volatile memory, so will be retained if you turn the unit off, or run it completely out of batteries.

Once you have loaded back a memory the levels recorded can be adjusted live. There is currently no fancy fade times etc between memories, it simply records all DMX channels incoming and saves them in a memory marked 0 to 200. There is a bit of space for more memories but I am saving that for future software revisions.

Buy one here

I have sold the last of the current batch of STATE DMX Testers, a fresh batch is now in preparation.

If you have already got one and can think of a new feature or something you would like it to do better, do drop me an email. Software updates are always possible.

I have just sent for fabrication some prototype PCBs for a new CurrentBun system. The idea is to report via RDM:
• Current RMS across three phases
• Voltage RMS across three phases
• Frequency, P.F.
• Local temperature to the unit

This first spin of the board has an 2500V isolated DMX port for RDM communication, a local display and interface for settings and readings and a real time clock / SD card socket so that readings can be logged locally.

The idea behind this unit is that you could use it to report current draw on a system remotely i.e. at your dimmers/distro from your desk, using the standard DMX infrastructure that you already have in place.

Lots of software to write!

This month I have working on a number of different devices that send simple MIDI messages from simple inputs. Wireless buttons to midi notes, simple switch to configurable MSC message etc. Why MIDI ?, it seems to still be the easiest way to get new human input into an existing product, or the control product of choice. Sound, video and lighting people can all agree on it. Perfect.

The next batch of ‘STATE’ DMX testers is nearly ready… this is the finished product

Exhibit has a wide ranging remit, essentially inspired by a need for an easy way to interface lighting, sound video etc in a museum or gallery, or interactive performance. This project was inspired by the 5sq XGO I used for the War Horse Exhibition, and also incorporates the features of the MIDI to DMX bridge. I have designed Exhibit to be as flexible as possible:

• 84 contact closure inputs (expandable) for switches etc.
• MIDI out – programmable Notes, Controllers, SysEx, MSC etc
• DMX 512 in and out – control lights, trigger consoles, media servers.
• Analogue sensor cards can be fitted to allow environmental sensing etc.
• LCD display shows status of inputs and outputs.
• Internal logic – The unit can be programmed to do useful things eg lockout inputs until an event, AND, OR, NOT sort of operations of inputs can simplify programming of installation.

• Inputs are via RJ45 connectors, allowing use of cheap network cable for large installations
• ExhibitTerminal is a RJ45 to terminal block PCB – for easy connection of switches to network cable.
• Internal PSU for easy and secure installation.

For those of us who are occasionally ridiculed for referring back to the desk that we once knew and loved, I have bodged this Strand Designers keypad to work with the ETC EOS. Kindly donated by a friend this original designers remote has 71 actual Cherry keys, with the familiar click of a Strand 500 console, not a nasty membrane keypad in sight. The device was originally used with a 510i backup unit or a designers PC so you didn’t have to remember the shortcut keys. These shortcuts are embedded in the hardware, with a single PS/2 connection to the device you wanted to control.

I have removed the original PS/2 cable and implanted a Teensy2.0 USB microcontroller, allowing me to remap the Strand keys to EOS functions, and use a normal USB connection to a EOS PC or console. Wait becomes Follow. Preview becomes Blind. You get the idea. Its just for fun… but you could use it for a bit of offline programming. Or just to remember what nice keys felt and sounded like.

Steel enclosures for the 4×2 button interface have arrived from HOLT Broadcast. This project might now appear on a production desk near you.

Production boards have arrived for the STATE dmx tester, the next step is to move onto a small batch enclosure.

The final product can be found here

Practical projected – Alarm clock on stage with switch, wirelessly controls bell unit. Both units have a button that can start and stop the alarm ringing. The remote bell unit also has an auxiliary contract closure input to allow cabled control. Actor can stop ringing bell, started by Stage Management, or vice versa.

New version of 3 channel radio dimmers have arrived. Similar to the original model, 3 channels of remote controlled PWM dimming suitable for LED tape etc but this time improved with a double sided PCB, an addressing button and greater dimming capacity.

The boards construction will mean that the interface between the terminals and the PCB is much stronger, so failures due to over tightening should be lessened.

The first version of these boards controlled the LED Orbs you can find in another entry.

A simple device for setting off small pyro smoke cartridges. A safety switch and a fire switch. Used in ‘Macbeth’ at the Trafalgar Studios.

Latest project is 8 good quality programable buttons. Plug into your computer or console via USB. It can press keyboard keys (to suit any lighting online/offline software package) or MIDI via USB, to interact with Qlab etc. The original idea came from a need to give a Lighting designer a remote to navigate his channel display screens. Just needs a box…..anyone with CNC facilities, please call!

This project has been on the table in various prototypes for about two years now. It started as a need for a way to measure current usage in a venue were we were on the edge of what was available. It has been through a number of different hardware iterations and here is the latest one. It is able to measure current and voltage across three phases, log and display the results through an internal webserver. The eventual aim is to allow Midi Show Control input so that the current consumption per cue can be evaluated.

Current sensing input is via three 300A capacity current clamps. It needs a live feed from each phase, that could be 3 16A supplies. It has a LCD display so that it can work as standalone, or you can plug into a standard network and investigate the results via a web interface – graphs etc.

Still lots of work to do on the, but for the moment this is a working prototype that hopefully I can start some experimental logs with on a show soon.

Prototype shown at the Green Lighting Social 15th Jan:

This application takes five universes of ArtNet and turns them in to RGB values for squares. You can choose the square size from 1 to 100 pixels, and how many squares are on each row. For turning a console output into something you can use for VersaTUBE.

A software project for the new year. This a is a screen shot of something I have been working on to test moving lights with. Currently computer bound, outputting ArtNet or DMX via an usb pro dongle from Enttec . Future plans might include an Android tablet.

This project has been on the table for a very long time, and probably will continue to be developed as it still has incomplete features.

The idea was to create a better DMX tester. There are five modes,
DMX State – Where each channel level is retained and a state can be created.
Chan Check – Channel @ Level Rem Dim.
Autofade – A sine wave is applied to the chosen channel.
Autofade range – A sine wave is applied to a number of channels in sequence.
DMX in – Displays 8 channels per page.

The unit has a tiny OLED screen, and a LiPo battery charged by a mini usb socket on the side.

As it hold the state, it could be used to replace a lighting desk in one of those “we just need to turn the LEDs on” sort of situations.

Developments to include:

Storing of more than one state.
DMX in socket.
Better housing.

NEW, board, enclosure, and in production for sale! – see here…

MIDI to DMX – Why??
Because sound people want to control things too! Developed for Tom Hackley @HAVE this unit takes MIDI Control Changes and converts their values into DMX levels. As MIDI is only half the resolution of DMX, the MIDI data is doubled.

 

I have been working on some software to do keyboard emulation for iPad. You can use it to emulate the facepanel on your console for use with your offline editor.

Previously I have done this with hardware (see other TouchEmulate projects). This time I did it entirely in software, so you just run a little app underneath your software. Here are some pics of it working with the ETC EOS and my iPad. I am using the TouchOSC software from Hexler on the iPad to talk to my mac application.

Email me if you want to try it.

Instructions here