Have I defined this fixture correctly?

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Victor Le

Hi guys,

New to qlc+ and lighting in general. I have read through the documentation but must admit it was like trying to decipher a foreign language. I'm hoping you fine folk could please help me check to see if I have defined my fixture correctly?

All I really want to do is play around with the laser setting at home. I'm using an Enttec Open DMX USB adapter and a Mac running OSX 10.9.4 and want to use QLC+ to adjust the DMX values live via the simple desk.

The device is a Blizzard Lighting Kaptivator RGB Laser ()

Again sorry I wasn't able to follow along with the instructions. It must be really straight forward for you all but I've been stuck on this for days now!

Here is my fixture definition:
Attachments
Blizzard-Lighting-Kaptivator.qxf
(3.9 KiB) Downloaded 75 times
Joep Admiraal

Hi Victor,

Are you experiencing problems with this fixture definition?
There are multiple threads on this forum about issues with the Enttec DMX adapters and OS X Mavericks with a solution. Is is also mentioned in the faq if I remember correctly.
Massimo Callegari

Hi Victor

1) moved to correct thread
2) please do not paste long texts. There are attachments for that (I edited your post)
3) it would help imrpving things if you tell us what you didn't understand about fixture definition editing
4) what Joep says is right. DMX USB adatpers on Mavericks might need some extra tweaking. Please check the documentation (DMX USB plugin and Questions & Answers) or search 'Mavericks' in this forum
Victor Le

Hi Joep & Massimo, thanks for replying and editing my post.

I'm not quite sure what the issue is so I'll describe my process.

1) I have my Blizzard Kaptivator set to address 1 as it is the only fixture I have.
2) I have a DMX 3 pin to 5 pin adapter plugging into the Enttec Open DMX USB adapter and that is plugged into my laptop
3) Open up QLC+ and add my 1 fixture (using the aforementioned fixture definition)
4) I go to the input/Outputs page and select the checkbox for output against DMX USB. (Now at this stage I don't believe it is the USB adapter that is causing any trouble as it is detected and states that the device is operating correctly.)
5) I go to the Simple Desk and hit the big green play button to switch to Operate Mode
6) Move the slider on Channel 1 (or any slider for that matter) I can see that the correct DMX values are being sent when I check the Monitor in QLC+ which is why I ruled out the adapter being the issue and thought it was my fixture definition.
7) Nothing happens. This is normally where I start fiddling around in hopes that the laser will magically do something.

I know that the laser is operating normally as I can put it into "Auto" mode and it will produce a demo laser show.
david garyga

From the laser manual:
Channel 3: Color Change: values 0-1 ->Laser Off
Try to touch the 3rd channel :)
And don't burn you eyes !

PS-

You don't HAVE to create a fixture definition at this stage (the stage where you just want to output light with your laser because you're not sure how things work), you can just play with the channels in the Simple Desk. This means that the fixture defition is not the root cause of your issue.

PPS-

Also check the mac osx issues, as mentionned by joep
Victor Le

David, You are correct! It works now!

For some reason when I don't load any fixtures and just go straight to the simple desk it works. I will just keep a reference to the control settings nearby.

Thank you all for your help!

Huge thanks to the developers too. Great software.

Now, time for some laser action. pew pew!
david garyga

I did not understand how you made it work.
It doesn't work when you load the fixture ?
Or did you lit your laser up with the 3rd channel ?
Victor Le

No, it does not work when I load the fixture definition. Only if I go straight into the Simple Desk

I don't understand why it works now but I assume it is an error in my fixture definition.
Chris Laurie

If I look at the spec pdf then it seems that this fixture cannot run on channel 1. The dipswitch chart suggests that dmx channel 1 is in fact slave mode. Have you tried starting at a different channel?
Victor Le

Chris, Just tried it on address 2. It works now!

Very keen eye. Thanks for pointing this out!
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