DMX Universe Questions

[Mangrove]

So the time has come when I’ve outgrown a single universe. Planning for 2012, it looks like I’ll have 21 controllers and 600 channels (I know, I have the CLAP real bad!) Based upon my knowledge about DMX I’ll need two universes. I’m fine with that however I have a couple basic questions.

1. In Vixen, do I simply select two Enttec DMX USB Pro plug-ins and define the first universe as channels 1 -512 and the second universe as channels 513 – 1025?

2. If the answer to question 1 is yes, then I assume Vixen will know universe 1 is channels 1 – 512 and universe 2 is 513 – 1025? How will it know which dongle to use?

As you can see, I’m a little confused how I go about adding a second universe so any help will be greatly appreciated!

[budude]

There is no "universe" when using single universe dongles such as an Enttec (or clone). You would configure two separate Enttec plug-ins and assign the Vixen channels to which dongle going by the COM port that the interface comes up with. You only need to worry about universe lingo when dealing with E1.31 where you have multiple universe per output.

[Mangrove]

Great, that’s very helpful budude. Just so I’m sure I understand, here is the process (I’m using a Lynx dongle by the way):
Plug in the first dongle and windows magically assigns com 7 to it. In Vixen I’ll select Enttec DMX USB Pro plug-in and assign channels 1 – 512 to the dongle on com 7.

Next I’ll plug in the second dongle and windows magically assigns com 8 for it. In Vixen I’ll select another Enttec DMX USB Pro plug-in and assign channels 513 – 1025. Then everything should work; correct?

So I have to ask, is my concept about outgrowing my universe because I have 600 channels correct? I ask because of your comment about no universe when using Ennetc. Heck if I can get away with one dongle, great. I’ve got two so the second isn’t an issue and it’s probably safer to use two but I figured I’d ask.

[budude]

Great, that’s very helpful budude. Just so I’m sure I understand, here is the process (I’m using a Lynx dongle by the way):
Plug in the first dongle and windows magically assigns com 7 to it. In Vixen I’ll select Enttec DMX USB Pro plug-in and assign channels 1 – 512 to the dongle on com 7.

Next I’ll plug in the second dongle and windows magically assigns com 8 for it. In Vixen I’ll select another Enttec DMX USB Pro plug-in and assign channels 513 – 1025. Then everything should work; correct?

So I have to ask, is my concept about outgrowing my universe because I have 600 channels correct? I ask because of your comment about no universe when using Ennetc. Heck if I can get away with one dongle, great. I’ve got two so the second isn’t an issue and it’s probably safer to use two but I figured I’d ask.

It would 513-1024 - but yeah - you've got it. Note that you don't have to define all 512 channels in your sequence - you could have 600 channels only and define 1-300 for plug-in #1 and 301-600 for plug-in #2 (or wherever the break is within the 600). But yes - 600 would be more than a single dongle (or single universe) could handle. My reference to universe is from the Vixen side of things - it is just simply two separate DMX dongles and not really universe #1 and universe #2 in a strict sense since the two universe don't know of each other. In an E1.31 environment you could have tens (or hundreds) of universe of 512 channels on the same ethernet line so that's where it is important to segregate them.

[Mangrove]

Great thanks for the explanation! Now that I have the universe thing under control, it’s off to the hard part, sequencing all those channels... oh yah, and creating the preview (that'll probably take a month or so just for the silly preview!)