DMX512 to ArtNet/ACN bridges/nodes

lanternfish

Hi all

I wasn't sure what forum to put this in so if one of the mod's wants to move it, please do.

Over the last few weeks I have been looking at various DMX - ArtNet or DMX - sACN options and the price of some of them is gobsmacking. I have found some Arduino type implementations but searching the Parallax forums has not been entirely fruitful apart from:

1. Mag748's entry in the 2012 Hack the Halls contest and:
2. A couple of comments in this thread by Timothy D. Swieter and DynamoBen.

I have to admit, the internals of networking, DHCP, etc. is not something I have spent a lot of time with, though I have recently been ploughing through the ArtNet and sACN Protocol spec's.

So my question : Is anyone interested in developing suitable DMX - ArtNet/DMX - sACN and back bridges/nodes using, say, the Spinneret if possible, and WiFi?

OR

Explaining Mag748's implementation to me???

Regarding WiFi, I have been following this recent thread: WiFi & IOT for home controllers/monitors using WR703N $20 routers and xx-WRT. I have also taken a look at the Adafruit CC3000 and a couple of other WiFi adapters as an option.

I have a need to wirelessly control LED's in set pieces and in props being manipulated by actors, and as such I am willing to partially fund development. All software to be open source.

Thanks
Lindsay G

Adam Wiesler

I have done a fair bit of research into this mostly for theater related purposes. If you are looking for a pre-done solution (I am assuming you aren't however) take a look at http://dmxking.com/. His nodes are reasonably priced and reliable, which can be important, especially for your use case.

A second thing to take a look at is http://www.sandevices.com/. He actually has a few prop based boards (I have 2 and they work great) that will do exactly what you are looking for, especially if the LED's are of the "pixel" variety. You can get them as kits or pre assembled for a reasonable price. His boards also will output DMX, however a an interface of some sort is required to get it up to the proper DMX spec (isolated RS485 converter) I have an untested design for an interface board I might be able to dig up. At one point there was/is code floating around on one of the christmas light forums for his first board (early code version, only supported sACN/E1.31). This could be a start for an ACN receiver, DMX driving code would have to be implemented however.

I personally wouldn't rely on wifi as the wireless protocol, I have not had good luck with it, especially without being able to test without all of the crowd's wifi devices trying to search for an access point. YMMV however. If the funds are available I would look into a more robust case specific wireless protocol such as W-DMX. This stuff is tested in nasty RF environments and is specific for lighting.

All this said however, I would be very interested in following/testing a DMX node, especially if it could fit into a price point below the DMX King devices (shouldn't be too hard to do with a prop!). I currently do not have the free time I wish I did to work on a project like this

Adam

Also- take a look at OLA. It can be run from a Raspberry Pi, and is relatively easy to get running. It may be simpler to design a system that is a Propeller connected over USB/uart to the pi that generates the DMX stream, and use the Pi as the piece that connects to ACN and artnet (both are supported). A solution like this could look like Ethernet(or Wifi if needed)--->Raspberry pi--->USB--->Propboard with an RS485 driver.

Mag748

Hey lanternfish,

Let me know what I can explain for you. My implementation is certainly not the best, nor fastest, since most of my code was written in Spin, including the webserver for the online configuration option. But it was fun and it does work fairly well, except a few issues here and there. It uses the WixNet wired ethernet controller so you'd have to add a WLAN adapter for use with a WiFi network. Probably would not want to use it as is for a show critical environment. Fine for home decoration use though.

Thanks,
Marcus

lanternfish

Adam Wiesler wrote: »

I have done a fair bit of research into this mostly for theater related purposes. If you are looking for a pre-done solution (I am assuming you aren't however) take a look at http://dmxking.com/. His nodes are reasonably priced and reliable, which can be important, especially for your use case.

A second thing to take a look at is http://www.sandevices.com/. He actually has a few prop based boards (I have 2 and they work great) that will do exactly what you are looking for, especially if the LED's are of the "pixel" variety. You can get them as kits or pre assembled for a reasonable price. His boards also will output DMX, however a an interface of some sort is required to get it up to the proper DMX spec (isolated RS485 converter) I have an untested design for an interface board I might be able to dig up. At one point there was/is code floating around on one of the christmas light forums for his first board (early code version, only supported sACN/E1.31). This could be a start for an ACN receiver, DMX driving code would have to be implemented however.

I personally wouldn't rely on wifi as the wireless protocol, I have not had good luck with it, especially without being able to test without all of the crowd's wifi devices trying to search for an access point. YMMV however. If the funds are available I would look into a more robust case specific wireless protocol such as W-DMX. This stuff is tested in nasty RF environments and is specific for lighting.

All this said however, I would be very interested in following/testing a DMX node, especially if it could fit into a price point below the DMX King devices (shouldn't be too hard to do with a prop!). I currently do not have the free time I wish I did to work on a project like this

Adam

Also- take a look at OLA. It can be run from a Raspberry Pi, and is relatively easy to get running. It may be simpler to design a system that is a Propeller connected over USB/uart to the pi that generates the DMX stream, and use the Pi as the piece that connects to ACN and artnet (both are supported). A solution like this could look like Ethernet(or Wifi if needed)--->Raspberry pi--->USB--->Propboard with an RS485 driver.

Hi Adam

I will have a look at the gear you suggested and see if the price point is good.

I know what you mean about crowd interference. It interferred with a Wifi set up on a recent production. They were streaming audio via VLC/Wifi to each of the actors who had a smartphone to listen to via an earpiece. All good during rehearsal but once the audience was in ... In the end I persuaded them to use my FM transmitter and some relatively cheap miniature receivers. No problems encountered with analogue.

I am finding more and more directors wanting/demanding LED 'tricks' because they saw it in a production elsewhere. Our theatre is not well resourced financialy and so I often have to make various tech bits work in ways not originally contemplated. At least that bit is fun. And the good old Prop/OBEX/Forums make development so much quicker and easier especially where DMX and dimming/switching is concerned.

I don't need to generate the DMX stream itself but conversion and over the air transmission to isolated props and actors is becoming more and more of a requirement. A recent one was a set of stairs where the risers were illuminated from inside. And the stairs were totally mobile and moved around the stage. In the end we had to settle for a switch and a little bit of Picaxe action to fade the LED's up and down. All SLA powered. A bit clunky as the lx op had no control and relied on the actor(s) to get it right.

Cheers
LindsayG

UPDATE: DMXKing. I have looked at their products before. Prices are good and they are a New Zealand company. And I like the look and pricing of the Sandevices gear.

lanternfish

Mag748 wrote: »

Hey lanternfish,

Let me know what I can explain for you. My implementation is certainly not the best, nor fastest, since most of my code was written in Spin, including the webserver for the online configuration option. But it was fun and it does work fairly well, except a few issues here and there. It uses the WixNet wired ethernet controller so you'd have to add a WLAN adapter for use with a WiFi network. Probably would not want to use it as is for a show critical environment. Fine for home decoration use though.

Thanks,
Marcus

Hi Marcus

I have printed out your code and am slowly piecing it together. Maybe I could email you questions and then post the question(s) and your answer(s) here as a sort of blog for others to follow if they wish? My email is myforumname@ihug.co.nz.

Cheers
LindsayG