Controling DMX light show with Max 5
Hi all,
I'd like to control DMX light show lasers with Max5.
I've download LCEdit+ and there's max patches in but those ones are provided for max 4.
Is there anybody who use/test this patches ?
thanx,
I figure you want to use an LanBox for that, since youy're talking about LCEdit. Do you already own one? If not, you might be interested to check this:
Anyway, any patches created in Max 4 should work in 5.
I've used dmxsubpro, although it looks like the max externals are no longer available. You may be able to find them from someone else. (i have some, and they work fine in max5)
I recently discovered this dmx vst plugin and hardware, also by enetcc:
http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&pn=70570&show=description
I would recommend the LanBox hardware, although I haven't tested it with Max 5. I used one for a three month outdoor installation (the LanBox and computer were indoors, the lights outdoors) and it worked faultlessly for the whole time. The tech just kept running until it had to be switched off at the end. (Of course your Max patch needs to be bullet-proof too ).
You can access it in Max using the LC+ object, available here: http://www.lanbox.com/downloads/downloads.html. Try loading the object into Max 5, if there are no errors in the Max window then it could be a winner. The LCEdit+ software is for controlling a LanBox without Max, so shouldn't be required.
Thaks to all for your reaction,
with lcEdit + ,the .mxo prints:
lclbuf: unknown external object type
So, It doesn't work with Max5. but It doesn't matter to me because my hardware seems like a udmx cable.
I notify that the lanbox is the professional choise, i will perhaps buy one if the uDMX system doesn't work
From my experience, the udmx works very well. All you need is the udmx external. You can download it from anyma's website.
with uDMX and Max5, I obtain :
uDMX: unable to load object bundle executable
2009-06-01 18:11:47.561 MaxMSP[1735:20b] Error loading /Applications/Max5/Cycling '74/3ere partie/uDMX_1.2_UB/uDMX.mxo/Contents/MacOS/uDMX: dlopen(/Applications/Max5/Cycling '74/3ere partie/uDMX_1.2_UB/uDMX.mxo/Contents/MacOS/uDMX, 262): Library not load
ed: /usr/local/lib/libusb-0.1.4.dylib
Referenced from: /Applications/Max5/Cycling '74/3ere partie/uDMX_1.2_UB/uDMX.mxo/Contents/MacOS/uDMX
Reason: image not found
I think I must find "libusb-0.1.4.dylib", no ?
LanBox and udmx are not the same... One (udmx, and enntec) is just an interface between your computer and DMX, translating max parameters to dmx, lanbox is a computer by himself, you can use it to translate like other ones, but also to store complete cues with effect, times etc. and only send simple order from max (or PD, Isadora etc.). If you work only with some simple light changes, udmx is perfect, but if you need compicated cues or a standalone installation, lanbox is superior.
Jacques Hoepffner
I' ve download libusb package (the ID is in help file) and uDMX.mxo object work ! thanx !
Now I have to look at the hardware...
Actually it's an open dmx cable. I've found some softs for controlling the lasers but no max externals
i would like to try out the dmx usb pro with max but the external, which by all acounts works well, is no longer available from olaf at nullmodem, i tried mailing him but no reply yet, its frustrating as i have the dmx usb pro sitting here ready to go. my fault, i should have researched more before going down this route, if anyone can help me out with the umxusbpro external id appreciate it.
HI, i'm about to order a UDMX device.
I won't use it as in a professional environment.
I just wondered the risks involved when using such a "non isolated" device.
Is there any probability to destroy anything in my computer?
thanks
@Small Lotus:
I don't know if you have Max For Live but if you do you might want to have a look at my project:
It allows you to control DMX devices using Max and Ableton. I haven't made any device profiles for Lasers yet but it's fairly easy to do so, just a matter of connecting UI objects about.
Failing that, you could look at the OLAOutput Max object that I've just been helping to develop. It allows you to send DMX to loads of different kinds of devices (DMX USB Pro included). OS X only though, and you need to install OLA first, which is a program allowing hardware interfacing for multiple universes of DMX.
@marc:
The risk of using a non-isolated device is the possibility that a high voltage line could accidentally become connected to the DMX cabling, which is in turn connected to your computer via USB. This could fry your computers circuitry.
A common case of this happening could be for example, when using 3-pin DMX connecters. This would allow an easy confusion between a DMX lead and a mic/audio lead. If one of these got accidentally connected into the DMX line, the audio signal wouldn't hurt anything, but if the line had 48V phantom power on, it possibly could.
@prodavid
happy to see an alternative solution to olaf's Enttec external!
thanks
@piet
Enttec Pro I think is the best USB device going, as it has it's own microchip for DMX processing and doesn't rely on the host for this, meaning the DMX signal doesn't stop being sent if the computer goes down.
I'm just glad that people can use it with DMaX again, now we finally have a way of connecting to it besides Olaf Matthes external.
but... Windows?? :)
If anyone on here has info about how to format the values to [serial] to control either the DMXUSBPro or OpenDMX, that would be great to hear. I sent a detailed email to Enttec asking the same question, but no reply for over a week...
The other deal is Art-Net, if anyone has tips for formatting those messages for UDP that would also be good to know.
I'd like to do all this with standard Max objects and no Java. Should be possible, no?
This document from enttec gives the specification for how to communicate with the DMX USB Pro via serial commands. I messed around with it for a while but I couldn't produce anything, theoretically it must be possible though.
This is the Art-Net specification. I know people have previously produced Art-Net Max patches, but I couldn't find any shared ones.
If you manage to do achieve either native support of the DMX USB Pro or Art-Net I'd love to hear about it as it would be a welcome addition to DMaX.
yep, already read through those docs quite a bit, but am still stuck, it's frustrating. Anyone with some really good [serial] or [udpsend] skills might be able to decipher the formatting... anyone?...
Just looking for super-simple sending, really want to get SOMETHING to happen. Once we get the basic setup for that, the other commands can be added as needed, and should be pretty easy to figure out. I just hate when you keep trying combinations and NOTHING happens, and there's really no way to know even what you're doing wrong... :/
Would be a really great "Examples" or "Extras" patch to include in a future update of Max.
Just a small question.
For you david, the best way to sync dmx light with beat detection is to deal with live API?
For syncing lighting with music, I use Live in arrangement mode, and place my music on an audio track, set the clip to be the master tempo control. Now the bar and beat divisions in arrangement view should correspond with the beats of the music. I can then use DMaX to program my lights using automation view, which of course, can snap to the beginning of the bar, giving exact sync.
Thanks for your answer, but I would need to detect beats in a live show in session mode. Any advice?
Thanks again.