Hi everyone,
just wanted to share an interesting article I've found.
Anyone with a minimum soldering skills can build it.
http://stevenbreuls.com/2013/05/diy-usb ... -under-10/
If anyone succeed in having it working with QLC+, please let us know here !
DIY USB DMX interface for under $10
-
Matthew Marks
I posted [the same thing](https://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/qlc/ ... ?f=3&t=303) two years ago - using the RJ45 version and a patch lead with one end cut off and an XLR plug attached. £10 rather than $10. 
Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend them though - the dreaded flicker due to inadequate buffer size.
Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend them though - the dreaded flicker due to inadequate buffer size.-
Massimo Callegari
Hi Matthew, didn't see that post on the QLC forum !
It's true, unbuffered DMX interfaces are a very basic and cheap solution for DMX lighting.
However I believe that newbies entering the "digital" world of lighting can move their first steps with these kind of devices and then eventually upgrade to more expensive and serious ones.
If they give up, they'll have a minimum waste of money.
I like to think the more options one has, the better. So I thought to share it.
I have myself an unbuffered USB-DMX cable bought on eBay for around 30€ and I have to say it does its job perfectly for tests/experiments or even small productions !
It's true, unbuffered DMX interfaces are a very basic and cheap solution for DMX lighting.
However I believe that newbies entering the "digital" world of lighting can move their first steps with these kind of devices and then eventually upgrade to more expensive and serious ones.
If they give up, they'll have a minimum waste of money.
I like to think the more options one has, the better. So I thought to share it.
I have myself an unbuffered USB-DMX cable bought on eBay for around 30€ and I have to say it does its job perfectly for tests/experiments or even small productions !
-
Massimo Callegari
Hi Matthew, didn't see that post on the QLC forum !
It's true, unbuffered DMX interfaces are a very basic and cheap solution for DMX lighting.
However I believe that newbies entering the "digital" world of lighting can move their first steps with these kind of devices and then eventually upgrade to more expensive and serious ones.
If they give up, they'll have a minimum waste of money.
I like to think the more options one has, the better. So I thought to share it.
I have myself an unbuffered USB-DMX cable bought on eBay for around 30€ and I have to say it does its job perfectly for tests/experiments or even small productions !
It's true, unbuffered DMX interfaces are a very basic and cheap solution for DMX lighting.
However I believe that newbies entering the "digital" world of lighting can move their first steps with these kind of devices and then eventually upgrade to more expensive and serious ones.
If they give up, they'll have a minimum waste of money.
I like to think the more options one has, the better. So I thought to share it.
I have myself an unbuffered USB-DMX cable bought on eBay for around 30€ and I have to say it does its job perfectly for tests/experiments or even small productions !
-
Matthew Marks
No worries - and I agree it's a good way to get started. Someone came up with a good idea to reduce the possibility of flickering: only transmit a DMX frame large enough to accommodate the range of addresses used.
Having got my fingers burnt with FTDI, I recommend a slightly more expensive alternative: [Anyma](https://sourceforge.net/p/qlcplus/discu ... /0fa9fb2b/). This works flawlessly for me.
Having got my fingers burnt with FTDI, I recommend a slightly more expensive alternative: [Anyma](https://sourceforge.net/p/qlcplus/discu ... /0fa9fb2b/). This works flawlessly for me.
-
Sascha Büttner
Just ordered the parts. I am as curious as you are. Delivery from China surely takes ages but I promise to report back as soon as the device is plugged in.
Update 2014-06-23: The DMX Connector arrived today, still waiting for the FTDI board.
Update 2014-06-23: The DMX Connector arrived today, still waiting for the FTDI board.
-
Sascha Büttner
Well, the board arrived today and I did some assembly.
Let's say, I had no lucky hand choosing my components as I had to jump through all the loopholes described in the linked post.
After soldering the XLR Outlet to the board I had to reprogram, ground lift the pins 2 and 3 from the board and at last connect them to pin 5.
But what to say, it works flawless and the first test showed no ugly flickering. But I have to test that with my USB Midi Controller, the USB Audio Interface and more than a single Par64 LED connected.
I'll report back!
Let's say, I had no lucky hand choosing my components as I had to jump through all the loopholes described in the linked post.
After soldering the XLR Outlet to the board I had to reprogram, ground lift the pins 2 and 3 from the board and at last connect them to pin 5.
But what to say, it works flawless and the first test showed no ugly flickering. But I have to test that with my USB Midi Controller, the USB Audio Interface and more than a single Par64 LED connected.
I'll report back!
- Attachments
-
- IMG_9171.jpeg (191.44 KiB) Viewed 4111 times
-
Sascha Büttner
Well, after some evenings with my little baby (whack still has no housing 
) I can report a lot of positive things.
It works like a charm. No flickering, no detection problems. My DMX Universe currently operates 92 addresses with 9 fixtures. Even very slow fades (which actually sometimes flicker using my purchased interface) run pretty smooth and fine with the unit shown above.
I even dug out my old Vestax VCI-100 and a USB Audio Interface to get some more action through the USB ports. I even tried hooking these three together on a USB Hub.
All smooth and pretty. I like that thing. And as soon as it has a housing it will replace my de-lighting-adapter as primary device, degrading the original one to sit in the spares box.
Thanks to the Original Poster for the lookup and the linked blogger for the instructions!
) I can report a lot of positive things. It works like a charm. No flickering, no detection problems. My DMX Universe currently operates 92 addresses with 9 fixtures. Even very slow fades (which actually sometimes flicker using my purchased interface) run pretty smooth and fine with the unit shown above.
I even dug out my old Vestax VCI-100 and a USB Audio Interface to get some more action through the USB ports. I even tried hooking these three together on a USB Hub.
All smooth and pretty. I like that thing. And as soon as it has a housing it will replace my de-lighting-adapter as primary device, degrading the original one to sit in the spares box.
Thanks to the Original Poster for the lookup and the linked blogger for the instructions!
-
Massimo Callegari
Sascha, thank you very much for sharing this information with the community !
I am glad you are satisfied after this experiment
I believe it is important to have pioneers like you that might help "less brave" users to make the right decision about which adapter to use with QLC+
I am glad you are satisfied after this experiment
I believe it is important to have pioneers like you that might help "less brave" users to make the right decision about which adapter to use with QLC+
-
Steve_B
Hi,
I am more of a sound person than lights, but needed a cheap method to control ten LED par lights. I purchased one of the usb to RS485 units off ebay for £3.42 and after watching a few tutorials on youtube, downloaded QLC+.
Although QLC+ reports that the system time accuracy is bad, the device works fine. Windows 7 loaded the drivers automatically and the software also recognised it with no problems. The only soldering involved was wiring up the xlr socket.
I have so far set up several scenes which I switch between using the virtual console. The only flickering I get is when I have no scenes selected. I am not sure whether this is a problem with my cheap LED lights, the usb > 485 converter, the computer or something inherent with dmx. I got round it by creating a black scene. A button which toggles the blackout also works.
Thank you Massimo for the great software and tutorials.
I am more of a sound person than lights, but needed a cheap method to control ten LED par lights. I purchased one of the usb to RS485 units off ebay for £3.42 and after watching a few tutorials on youtube, downloaded QLC+.
Although QLC+ reports that the system time accuracy is bad, the device works fine. Windows 7 loaded the drivers automatically and the software also recognised it with no problems. The only soldering involved was wiring up the xlr socket.
I have so far set up several scenes which I switch between using the virtual console. The only flickering I get is when I have no scenes selected. I am not sure whether this is a problem with my cheap LED lights, the usb > 485 converter, the computer or something inherent with dmx. I got round it by creating a black scene. A button which toggles the blackout also works.
Thank you Massimo for the great software and tutorials.
-
Jrd
I made one of these OpenDMX devices last night from parts on hand(FT232 board, RS485 chip, 100 Ohm resistor, RJ45 jack) because my Enttec Pro Compatible dongle would not work with QLC+, It is the unit on the top left of [**this page**.](http://www.diylightanimation.com/wiki/i ... MX_Devices) Can you confirm whether QLC+ uses the FTDI VCP drivers or the d2xx drivers to comunicate to "Pro" dongles?