Enttec Open DMX USB and MAX

Damon Seeley wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am interested in getting an Enttec Open DMX USB interface working with MAX. I know that there is an object out there for the Enttec DMX USB "PRO" but it seems that objects that support the "Open" version are scarce. At one point it appears that Olaf Matthes published such an external... does anyone have a copy they can send me?
>
> Best,
> d_s

Hi Damon,

there really exists an object for the Open interface (Windows Version
only!), but since the interface does not do what Enttec is saying (i.e.
you can't receive DMX data with it in a reliable way) I don't make it
available on my website any longer and only give it out after having
issued the above warning. So if you still want it and are on Windows,
let me know. In general I would advice against buying the Open interface
since it's performance pretty much relies on the computer and especially
in Max you need CPU power for other things than generating DMX data, I
guess.

Olaf

Hi Olaf,
I'm about to buy an enttec as tester before i go ahead and buy something bigger like a lanbox. I'm not so interested in receiving dmx data as much as sending it out at this stage. Would you be able to send me this open interface object (i'm running windows)
best
adam

Hi Adam,

I don't send out the external for the Open interface anymore. The whole interface suffers the serious problem that the 250kbaud DMX signal is generated by the host machine and sent out through USB. This (usually) works if it's the only thing a machine has to do. Running it inside Max results in choppy DMX signal whenever you do other heavy processing. To make matters worse, some DMX devices can still live with such a DMX signal, other's can't. That makes debugging a really painful process. Also, it probably won't work with Max5 if I believe the hearsay.

Olaf

Are there some cheap alternatives that work well with max ?
The Enttec Dmx USB pro looks nice but the objects for max are commercial and according to the website they are not sold anymore and not compatible with max5. The udmx looks nice but seems expensive at 180€.
thanks.

I never used the udmx, but it has an internal processor and thus sends out the DMX all on it's own, not depending on the speed of the signal sent by the host machine. Apart from the size it seems to be similar to the Enttec DMX USB Pro (which is way cheaper). I have used the Enttec (Pro) without problem, but as you say, the external is commercial which is really a bad thing.

Olaf

I might go with the DMX USB pro and in the worst case scenario, I will use py/pyext from Max and talk to the interface via python ( they provide a small python api on their site)
Thanks !

I've had great success using the entec dmx usb pro, the externals work fine in max 5.

@davydka: it seems impossible to buy them on the website now
Were they expensive ?

I think that that lanbox is expensive but very nice. I've seen one in action and they are great. there are many options such as midi, osc and also some models have straight analog ins. http://www.lanbox.com/