[ANSWERED] Wireless DMX and Isadora interface?

[bonemap]

Hi All,

I want to interface wireless dmx with Isadora - is anyone doing that already? If so, what is the interface, and what is the setup? I would love to hear about some experiences working with wireless DMX, particularly for outdoor events.

Best Wishes,

Russell

[Woland]

@bonemap

As far as I remember, working with wireless DMX is essentially identical to working with wired DMX when it comes to Isadora because the wireless bit is downstream of Isadora (i.e. the transmitters/receivers for the wireless DMX aren't talking directly to Isadora, they're being controlled by whatever DMX control device you are using, e.g. an ETC Ion, and Isadora is just talking to your DMX control device). I could be wrong though, it has been a little while.

Edit: Some wireless DMX systems are, in and of themselves, DMX interfaces, but even in that case, you should be able to control and connect to them as with any other DMX interface.

[bonemap]

@woland

Thanks for your response. So if U wanted to by-pass a lighting desk and associated software to have a more direct interaction with DMX - I am thinking here of how Isadora interacts with the LanBox device - is there any device that replaces a LanBox in terms of direct control from Isadora? I wonder if a LanBox is still viable with current computer systems?

Best wishes

Russell

[DusX]

@bonemap said:

is there any device

 Wouldn't you just connect the wireless transmitter to the output of an enttecc compatible device, or an artnet to DMX node? I am assuming the DMX wireless device just accepts DMX and sends it wireless to a receiver.

[DillTheKraut]

@bonemap

I'm not 100% sure what you need to know, but I guess you are looking for the most simple and direct wireles DMX solution, out of isadora. Focusing on the hardware.
As far as I know, there are no direct ethernet/Artnet to WDMX (the proprietary standard for wireless DMX) devices available. At least, I could not find any. They are all XLR port based, which usualy makes it necessary to convert ethernet based ArtNet/sACN to good old, plane DMX, before sending it through air. Or, do it the other way around...

It's kind of a work around (which I haven't tried myself yet). You can send ArtNet over clasic Wifi with a standard wifi router. The ArtNet to DMX device, like the LanBox you mention or others like the Chauvet DJ DMX AN2, will then be connected to the routers ethernet ports.
If the Lighting devices support ArtNet/sACN on ethernet, you woudn't even need the 'translator' devices and go directly via ethernet.
The wrap up: Isadora PC to wifi -> wifi router -> LanBox -> DMX Light network.

Still, if the lights to control, are themself wireless DMX devices, there isn't any device I know, which would go the direct way from ethernet to wdmx. Then the way to go would be Isadora PC -> LanBox -> WDMX Device -> WDMX Light. But as far as I know, there is only a few, and very expensive compared to the classic DMX Lights.

It's an odd thing, actually.

Edit: I found a WDMX device, which can be connected to ethernet or wifi, by adding extra modules.
Basic WDMX device blackbox-f (in this case F1 G6, there is a G5 variant as well as a F2 G6)
Wifi Upgrade (for G6. There is one for G5 as well)
Ethernet Modul for G5 (not the G6, which is linked above!)

[bonemap]

@dillthekraut

Thanks for the great information. I am looking for a solution to operate a series of WDMX parcans from an Isadora patch. The only DMX hardware I have at the moment is a LanBox - which I haven't used for a number of years now - so just getting my head around what is needed for WDMX through Isadora.

Best Wishes

Russell

[Woland]

@bonemap

If you are looking for a new DMX interface I'd highly suggest getting an ETC Nomad and Gadget II. Since you're affiliated with an educational institution, you could also get the education discount: https://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Consoles/Eos-Consoles/ETCnomad/Education-Package.aspx?LangType=1033

It's a bit overkill in comparison to just getting a DMX King or ENTTEC USB-DMX interface, but it's much more powerful in many ways so it will be useful in many more situations. Not only can you just set it up as a 1-to-1 patch you can control via Isadora via OSC, the Nomad + Gadget II can turn any computer into an industry-standard lighting desk (and the files can also be transferred to an actual ETC lighting desk like an Ion or Element via USB flash drive). So you can use it for interactive control with individual control of specific lighting instruments (just like a Lanbox, DMX King, or ENTTEC) as well as using it to build complex lighting cues, effects, and groups of lights in software specifically designed for lighting design and cueing (because it's a fully-featured lighting control desk), then trigger those cues/effects or control those groups via OSC from Isadora. While you can build your own cue list and effects for lighting within Isadora, it's a huge time-saver to use dedicated software to do all that instead of having to build all the features you want from scratch in Isadora (like labeling specific lighting instruments, building cue stacks, labeling/inserting/copying/deleting cues, adjusting fade up/down times, effects, groups, submasters, etc.). It can also be controlled via MIDI Show Control or send MIDI Show Control or OSC to trigger Isadora (which can be great for productions where you want the lighting cues to control Isadora), so everything is bi-directional as well.

Best wishes,

L Wilson-Spiro

[DusX]

@bonemap

The transmitters/receivers I have thinking about are like this (many examples exist): https://www.amazon.com/CHINLY-...
Since they just plug into XLR, any Isadora-compatible DMX box should work (DMXking, Enttec etc..)

[bonemap]

@woland, @dusx

Thanks for the valuable information and leads. It has set a good path for more research and discovery!

Best wishes

Russell

[Juriaan]

+1 for the ETC Nomad setup and a ETC Gadget II. From there on out I would avoid WDMX as the plague, try to use cable as much as possible, if that is not possible then use this product since it is the most solid for this type of environment. 

https://wirelessdmx.com/produc...

Avoid the products from Chauvet DJ / etc.

[CitizenJoe]

@juriaan said:

From there on out I would avoid WDMX as the plague, try to use cable as much as possible, if that is not possible then use this product since it is the most solid for this type of environment.

Don't disagree completely and I would definitely avoid all of the rip-off brands, but this one is solid. It's what's built into the newest ETC lighting fixtures:

Multiverse® Wireless DMX/RDM (citytheatrical.com)

Cheers,

Hugh