DMX not working???

[stageprop]

I ordered a DMX Pro from Enttec and it works with every other software except Vixen. I checked for the two extra files the FTD2xx one is in the Vixen file and the other IDMX one is in the plugins folder. however the Idmx one doesant show up with the plugins in the vixen program when selecting them is that why its not working? I know vixen sees the interface because when another program is using it it displays the error messgae "Error Initializing add-in Dmx. Error Opening FTD2XX device 0"
PLEASE HELP!!!

[DynamoBen]

There is no support for the DMX USB Pro in Vixen. Right now only the Open DMX USB by Enttec is supported.

[KC]

But that's not to say that the situation can't change. I'm speaking completely blindly here as Ben's the DMX expert and I haven't even looked at the DMX Pro, but I certainly won't write it off.

[stageprop]

can you please explain this to me then?

DMX-512

For use with the Enttec DMX USB Pro and Open DMX USB modules.
Also requires the IDMX (in the Plugins directory) and FTD2XX (in the Vixen directory) assemblies.

That was right from the Vixen website.
Is it a misprint? That would be a great dissapointment as i bought this interface primarily for use with vixen.

[DynamoBen]

"For use with the Enttec DMX USB Pro and Open DMX USB modules."

Total misprint, it should say:
"For use with the Enttec Open DMX USB modules."

The difference between the Open DMX dongle and the Pro is the Open needs Vixen to generate the DMX packet; it has no onboard intelligence. The DMX Pro on the other hand generates the DMX packet via a microcontroller from within the device. It gets serial intensity updates from host, and it does the rest.

KC the DMX Pro should be much easier to implement. All you really have to do is pass intensity serial strings to it. This means no long nights with a DMX tester trying to generate a valid DMX packet. ;) Check out the sample code and API document on their site.
http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&prod=70304&show=downloads

Stage prop, if KC does move ahead on this we will rely on you for alpha an beta testing. Are you cool with that?

[stageprop]

yes most deffinetly....ide love to help in anyway i can... do you think it will be ready by this christams or should i consider the possibility of buying the open before then? anything i can do just let me know :) Thanks for all your help.

[DynamoBen]

I will leave the ready for Christmas answer up to KC. I'm a software tester not a developer ;)

Do you have DMX equipment that you can test with? The easiest might be a dimmer pack.

[KC]

I'll get that typo fixed, oops. I downloaded the API documentation and sample code. I don't foresee Christmas being any sort of a problem. The new few months will be hairy as 2.0 goes beta, but then after that all of my effort will be toward the ancillary items, such as plugins.

[stageprop]

Ide like to thank both of you for your help. As far as helping with testing, no problem. I dont have a dimmerpack myself however vi have easy access to one or more for as much time as i need them so just let me know when you need it tested.

[DynamoBen]

Thats fine.

Once the plugin is ready we will need to verify the communications between vixen and the dongle. What I've done in the past is create a sequence with 512 channels. Set the dimmer to address 1 then dim each output to confirm they respond as expected. Then readdress the dimmer pack so the last dimmer in the pack is 512. Test all the channels again. Then I "spot" check the whole range by giving the pack a random address between 1-512, then check each output.

Finally I set all the channels (in Vixen) to output random values except for one. This lone channel is set to fade up then down at a rate of 3-4 seconds. I set my pack address so this lone channel is in the middle of the pack. The point of this test is to check "worst" case. Because every channel is being updated the "pipe" is filled with constantly changing data; the fading channel should be unphased by all these changes and should fade smoothly up and down.

[stageprop]

ok...got it...should i just keep checking back here or would you rather email me?

[DynamoBen]

PM your email address to both KC and I...that works best.

[dmx_Mac]

Hi, just wondering if any progress has been made on the plug-in for the Pro unit, as I foolishly went and bought one to go with my 12 channel dimmer and have spent a few long nights in the garage trying to figure out what I'd done wrong.

So now lights are on and I'm using the dimmer's inbuilt programmes to cycle the lights.

I would appreciate any help anyone can offer. PS happy to be a Beta tester :)

Thanks in advance,

Mac

[DynamoBen]

The pro plugin is available in the lastest Beta of Vixen. Download Beta 4, install, and you should be good to go. :D

[dmx_Mac]

Downloaded, now all I have to do is wait till I get home & have a play - thanks again! :D

[dmx_Mac]

It Works! Thanks Ben ! :D

......12 Channels of Lights, soon to be 24 then ...............

[DynamoBen]

Congrats, enjoy...happy DMXing.