Im looking to move to software based light controllers for my church. Our old controller and 2 of our 4 dimmer packs died during a power fluctuation last week. My plan is to purchase 2 of the KingDMX eDMX1 controllers, http://dmxking.com/artnetsacn/edmx1 try out QLC+ and while we are at it, upgrade some of our old par lights to Elation ePar-QA Quad Color LED cans (RGBA) . I am aware this will create 2 seperate universes, but it will make wiring much simpler.
I have 3 questions before I recommend it to the elders at my church.
1. Can I control lights on both universes at the same time, having a master that spans 2 universes and on the virtual console have a fixture from universe 1 and universe 2 side by side?
2. How much lag is there between multiple universes if i can control them at the same time, and is there any lag if I have to switch between the two manually?
3. Can there be multiple types of devices, led, regular old lights, spots, all on one universe?
From the research I have done, I'm pretty sure the answers to 1 and 3 are yes, but I want to confirm that. Also, I really have no idea to the answer to question 2.
Thank you.
control multiple universes simultaneously?
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OddSocks
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:33 am
- Real Name: Tim Cullingworth
The quick answers to these questions are:
Yes,
Negligible,
Yes
For our Christmas carol service I run 8 RGB leds, 2 BGBW leds and 4 fader channels with flood lights and spot. These are spread over 2 universes one indoors and one outside. All the controls are on one screen on the V.C. and operated by our AV guy.
Yes,
Negligible,
Yes
For our Christmas carol service I run 8 RGB leds, 2 BGBW leds and 4 fader channels with flood lights and spot. These are spread over 2 universes one indoors and one outside. All the controls are on one screen on the V.C. and operated by our AV guy.
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mgweber
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:39 pm
- Real Name: Matt Weber
I frequently do shows with two universes. The biggest problem with coordination is the fact that the first universe is traditional dimmed fixtures and the second is LED's. The obviously have different dimming curves. I recently ran a show with three universes and noticed no lag problems. The lights were coordinated battle sequences with strobes, flashing LED's and shifts in the level of the traditional fixtures.
I will caveat this with the fact that the performance also depends on the interface you are using. The cheap(er) interfaces have a greater delay in the updates to the DMX values. I am using a Enttec Pro Mk2 which works well. Some cheapo interfaces from Amazon do not have the same response. I've used them but I would not choose to run a show with them because of jumpy fade behavior.
I will caveat this with the fact that the performance also depends on the interface you are using. The cheap(er) interfaces have a greater delay in the updates to the DMX values. I am using a Enttec Pro Mk2 which works well. Some cheapo interfaces from Amazon do not have the same response. I've used them but I would not choose to run a show with them because of jumpy fade behavior.
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janosvitok
- Posts: 1331
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 7:05 am
- Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
- Real Name: Jano Svitok
- Contact:
If you buy eDMX4 it's just little more than 2 pcs eDMX1, or eDMX4-DIN is even less than eDMX1 - but you must provide your case and connectors.
The drawback is that the conversion from artnet to DMX happens in one place - so you have to run DMX cabling from there, compared to cat5 with 2 eDMX1's.
If all the lights fit in one universe, you set both eDMX1's to listen to the same universe, and patch fixtures to the more convenient (nearer) DMX line.
There should be no difference in ethernet traffic. DMX traffic will be higher on both lines obviously.
The drawback is that the conversion from artnet to DMX happens in one place - so you have to run DMX cabling from there, compared to cat5 with 2 eDMX1's.
If all the lights fit in one universe, you set both eDMX1's to listen to the same universe, and patch fixtures to the more convenient (nearer) DMX line.
There should be no difference in ethernet traffic. DMX traffic will be higher on both lines obviously.
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dj fonic
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:41 am
- Real Name: Alex Bowler
I can recommend the eDMX DIN. It's has the same features as the eDMX 4 ( 4 universes out or as I use it 3 out and 1 dmx input ) much less money.
I have the hardwired version as it's easy to wire compared to the cat5 version.
I use mine on a mobile setup so have mounted it in a box with xlr conections for outputs and inputs added a 12v cctv power supply from eBay . It's just as good as the eDMX4 now !
There is also leds that light up on the cat5 input socket (can't see them on the product pictures) to show received packet data.
It works with out lag outputting 3 universes and receiving 1 universe dmx input from my standard DMX desk, on a hardwired network using Qlc 4.9.1 OSX mac 2.2ghz with 4g ram ( white 2007 unibody model MacBook laptop)
Works well on a WiFi network but don't recommend this over hardwired network.
Setting up the eDMX DIN or eDMX4 is quite easy but you need a windows pc as at the present the setup software is windows only. (due soon for mac)
As for lighting types you can mix any number of dimming pack, DMX lighting types or makes together on the same universe 512 channels per universe ( led panels span more than one universe normally ), all you need to do is check each light is wired with the + and - signal the correct way round on the XLR plugs in and between lights of different makes. Most new light now are standard configuration but may be on 5pin or 3pin XLRs but the wiring is the same on both plug types.
Qlc is laid out in a different way to most other software but it does have its good points. You can design a custom console with the virtual console even replicate your old desk if you wish. The forum is very good too.
I have the hardwired version as it's easy to wire compared to the cat5 version.
I use mine on a mobile setup so have mounted it in a box with xlr conections for outputs and inputs added a 12v cctv power supply from eBay . It's just as good as the eDMX4 now !
There is also leds that light up on the cat5 input socket (can't see them on the product pictures) to show received packet data.
It works with out lag outputting 3 universes and receiving 1 universe dmx input from my standard DMX desk, on a hardwired network using Qlc 4.9.1 OSX mac 2.2ghz with 4g ram ( white 2007 unibody model MacBook laptop)
Works well on a WiFi network but don't recommend this over hardwired network.
Setting up the eDMX DIN or eDMX4 is quite easy but you need a windows pc as at the present the setup software is windows only. (due soon for mac)
As for lighting types you can mix any number of dimming pack, DMX lighting types or makes together on the same universe 512 channels per universe ( led panels span more than one universe normally ), all you need to do is check each light is wired with the + and - signal the correct way round on the XLR plugs in and between lights of different makes. Most new light now are standard configuration but may be on 5pin or 3pin XLRs but the wiring is the same on both plug types.
Qlc is laid out in a different way to most other software but it does have its good points. You can design a custom console with the virtual console even replicate your old desk if you wish. The forum is very good too.
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nedmech
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 12:39 am
- Real Name: Nathan Durnan
I'm loving the all the DMXKing products I'm using. Definitely a good buy. And like was suggested by others, you may want to consider the eDMX4 over the eDMX1 if you're needing multiple DMX trunks. Although it's potentially safer to stay away from the eDMX4 DIN unless you're really confident in the electrical integrity of your system. The eDMX4 TX/RDM models have electrical isolation between all ports that the DIN model doesn't. In short (pun?), this means that if something fails catastrophically and high voltage gets sent down a DMX line, the eDMX4 TX/RDM will protect the other branches that are connected to it, limiting the potential damage. The DIN model does not have this kind of protection built in and a single point of failure could take out everything connected to it. I went ahead and spent the extra money just for the extra level of protection.
Attached is my current setup if anyone's interested in options for implementing multiple DMX universes in an infrastructure type setup like a church. I'm actually taking advantage of the sACN/E1.31 Priority settings to allow for a DMX wall panel to control the house lights during the week, but then have the computer take full control of the house and stage lights during services. Both the team here at QLC+ and at DMXKing have been a big help in getting it working, although we're still working on a couple kinks on the DMXKing end to finish out the installation.
Attached is my current setup if anyone's interested in options for implementing multiple DMX universes in an infrastructure type setup like a church. I'm actually taking advantage of the sACN/E1.31 Priority settings to allow for a DMX wall panel to control the house lights during the week, but then have the computer take full control of the house and stage lights during services. Both the team here at QLC+ and at DMXKing have been a big help in getting it working, although we're still working on a couple kinks on the DMXKing end to finish out the installation.
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