I have an ENTTEC DMX USB Pro attached to the Mac running the Indigo server. The DMX is controlling various LED fixtures.

I would like to create actions within Indigo that would issue DMX lighting instructions via the ENTTEC box over the DMX cables. (Obviously, this is completely separate from Insteon.)

I want to coordinate the Insteon and other DMX lighting effects.

Has anyone had success doing this from Indigo using AppleScript or Shellscript or python-based approac for DMX512 (with the appropriate 3rd party software. )?

Thanks

Rick

Thought I'd bump this as I too am very interested in controlling my LED lights this way.

Carl

Hi,

I run all of my lights on dmx, i am using a cls lanbox to control the dmx signal.
I cue the lanbox from indigo just with a simple apple script

Many thanks for the lead.

Do you mean CLS Creative Lighting Systems?
http://www.cls-led.com/

I don't find any mention of the LANBOX ? Can you provide a link?

Also can you give an example of the Applescript you would use to drive the Lanbox.

Thanks,

What software are you using to send the dmx control to the ENTTEC USB?

Are you on lion?

I've just purchased an ENTTEC PRO, and am hoping to control it through this http://www.chromakinetics.com/DMX/DMXweb.html using curl calls via apple script.

Will let you know how i get on when my parts arrive.

Mat

I can confirm that I now have dmx control from Indio using the above method.

You need to install the vcom driver from enttecs website to get the above software working, and can use curl calls to change the value of the dmx channels.

Note sure if fade etc are going to work, they may take some scripting, but colour change is a start.

Let me know if you want assistance setting it up.

Regards

Mat

i am using www.lanbox.com

this is a smart dmx controller that can handle apple scripts, midi etc. etc.

Interesting - plugin opportunity for some enterprising 3rd party developer??

Sounds like I'm going to have to learn python at some point.

edited post below as completed some reading!

If I'm calling an http server using curl at the moment, presumably the back end (server) is sending a string or constant stream of variables (one for the channel (1-215) and one for the data (1-255)) to the serial port or just sending a revised data set when changed. Presumably all I have to do is look at the data being send from the server and send the same data from python to the serial port? Including opening/closing and setting baud rates?

I presume the server is just changing a value and writing a data set to the com port when data is received from the curl call.

Using curl at the moment means I can send data changes about every half a second, whereas I know the device will accept changes much faster - something like 850 per second.

I suspect the delay is caused by the speed of the http call, rather than the server itself, whereas if python is writing directly to the com port, the data output would be as fast as the script or indigo can change the variables (up to the theoretical max 850 per second).

Project is way beyond me I think, but is this the general process Jay? I might have a couple of days just to have a look at what's going on!

In essence. In python, - Open com port, send data set, close com port.

Sorry ramblings of a man who knows only a little, which is dangerous!

Revised above post.

Roughly, yes.

I know nothing about DMX - what kind of lights are used?

The lights used are specific dmx lights. Anything from simple dmx lamp, to full blown concert and theater lighting, plus other objects like fog machines, lazers etc etc.

The dmx protocol is basically, as I understand it, a repeated stream of data sent from an external controller to series of fixtures, dasychained via dmx cables from one fixture to the next, with a terminating resistor as the termination node.

Data sent from the controller follows the format:

Channel 001, value (0-255);
Channel 002, value;
...
...

Channel 256, value;

The controller then starts from the beginning repeating the transmission over and again. Mine repeats the transmission 850 times per second.

A fixture receives the data on one or more pre-set channels with the data value affecting its settings. The fixture ignors the rest of the channels/data. How the lamp reacts to that data is of no concern, as that is pre-programmed.

Ie, I have 2, 5m strips of rgb led mood lights plugged into a lighting controller. Data sent from a USB controller on channels 1, 2, and 3 set the levels of the red, green and blue LEDs, allowing a range of colours to be produced. A 4th channel controls the intensity.

So if I send a theoretical

001, 255 - red full on
002, 000 - green off
003, 255 - blue full on
004, 255 - intensity full brightness

I get a pink/purple colour light

At present I send http requests to a dmx server for each of the channels when I want to change the colour or dim the lights, via curl.

Along the lines of curl ...Localhost.DMX/dmx?cmd=1%4050&keyEnter=Enter

The above sets channel 1 to 50%. Multiple commands are separated by ";".

The server must translate this and send a message to the USB connected controller, which updates it's data stream, which is finally read by the lamp, which the adjusts it's red channel to 128 (50% of 256).

So to integrate dmx into indigo directly, one would need python to read 256 variables on start up and send that data via USB to the controller. It would then have to monitor the variables and update the USB controller with a channel number and value when a variable is changed.

With dmx it's only the data stream that's important, the lights read the channels they are set too (via dip switch or digital setting) and act accordingly dependant on the data value for that channel - which can only be 001 - 256.

That's my understanding - I only have the two dmx light so im no expert. Up until yesterday the colour was changed via a controller with a dial on the front.


A plug in for the controller would be great, elimination another 3rd party control. I just wouldn't know where to start on USB communication, or working out what needs to actually be sent etc.

I'll look into it.

Regards

Mat

ENTTEC would have some open source usb DMX devices.... that might work. i am using ARTNET (dmx over IP) and the lanbox to convert the signal in normal DMX.

I've got the enttec USB pro linked to indigo via Dmxweb. It's slow and I think python could do it direct better.....