Enttec DMX USB Pro

[Mike Post]

HI all,

Has anyone gotten V4 to work with an Enttec DMX USB PRO? I saw it was an option in Network settings, but I never seem to have mine connect. Drivers are installed - just no go on connecting. I actually think it’s something to do with my laptop not liking the dongle, but thought I’d see if anyone has some insights.

Thanks!

Mike Post
mdp...@mac.com
http://mdpostdesign.com
(601) 307-8657

[Richard Cooper]

The Enttec DMX USB Pro is a usb to DMX box so AFAIK not supported in QLab you need an ArtNET node. Having said that, there was a reference in an earlier thread to Open Lighting Architecture software being able to act as a converter, but I've never tried that so can't recommend.

Richard

[Chris Ashworth]

Hi Mike,

Richard is correct; you’d need an Art-Net device for it to work with QLab.  

(We’re curious about exploring other options too, but for now it’s just Art-Net.)

Best,

C

[Bruno Carneiro]

Hi! If you're really interested in hooking up QLab to your USB DMX interface here's the solution that I've been using. There's this software called OLA which is compatible with several different USB interfaces. The install can be a little tricky, the quickest easiest way I've found is installing homebrew (http://brew.sh) and going from there. OLA with LXConsole performed just fine on my shows, without any flickering or issues. But you should definitely test it out on your own.

http://pastebin.com/AsUYWJ8z

It should get you running in no time. Let me know the outcome if you decide to test it!

Bruno

[Mike Post]

Thanks all.  I saw the only supported option was ArtNET and figured my DMX USB PRO was not an option but when it popped up in the list of devices I wondered if something in the drivers made it happen.  I did eventually get it working through Enttec’s ProManager but it’s laggy.  I’ll probably take a look at Bruno’s solution but ultimately when I set up a production system, I’ll opt for a native ArtNET node.  From my brief research, it looks like the price-point isn’t too different anyway and I’m always happier with fewer layers of interpretation.

I think QLab’s DMX engine is pretty dang cool, and has a place in replacing older systems which are only still around for lack of money.  I already have one I need to get rid of and with one stroke I can upgrade that theatre from the 1970s to 2017 - an awesome possibility at a 1/5 of the cost I was looking at.  I do have a few questions about future features:

Personalities (called Definitions in QLab 4) - is there a way to export these to share among people?  There’s libraries of personalities for different lighting consoles for pretty much everything under the sun and being able to share them speeds up preprogramming.

Presets - This was asked about before.  You will sometimes hear them called Palettes.  The strength of presets on lighting consoles is not a quick recall of defined settings, but the ability to reference a preset in a cue.  They are invaluable, for instance, when there’s a change in blocking - just change the preset and it is automatically recalled in each cue that references that preset rather than having to rebuild all of them.  Extremely handy when you are working with moving lights and the director re-blocks a bunch of scenes to the other side of the stage.  Or when a show moves to another space and the set and lighting positions are just not the same - they never are…

Effects - For stepped based effects (basic chases et. al.) I think QLab is there.  Building a loop of steps is already just as easy in QLab as it is in most of the lighting boards I work with and easier than some.  I think it may even solve the problem I always run into; being able to smoothly fade up/out the intensity of an effect over time - have to play with that some more.  The next step is a more mathematical approach to effects; applying curves like circles, figure 8s et al to parameters of a fixture.  I don’t use them that much personally, but I know they’re very popular with many designers for quick ballyhoos of movers and interesting color shifts et. al.

Exporting/importing Lighting Data - As simple as it is to set up a QLab system, when a show gets moved to another theatre or picked up for a life elsewhere, it will often become necessary to move it to another console.  USITT has an ASCII standard they developed that is used by several consoles.  Any thoughts for this being added?

Side note - ask me sometime about having to move Act II of Les Mis to a different console because the main board died halfway through Act I in a performance.  Very intense 45 minutes of programming cleanup but it I got Act II working...

That’s my first poke.  About to tech a tough show so more as I get time.  Thanks again!

Fantastic work as always Team F53!  Congratulations!

Mike Post

mdp...@mac.com

http://mdpostdesign.com

(601) 307-8657

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[Sam Kusnetz]

Hello Mike

Thanks for your kind words!

Personalities (called Definitions in QLab 4) - is there a way to export these to share among people?

When you open a workspace, the definitions used in that workspace get added to the computer’s master list of definitions. So in that way, sharing workspaces equates to sharing definitions.

Presets/palettes, non-step-based effects, and ASCII import/export are all on our list, to be sure.

We’re really excited to see the kinds of things people make with QLab 4.

Best

Sam

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Sam Kusnetz | Figure 53

s...@figure53.com

[Sam Kusnetz]

On November 18, 2016 at 11:44:16 AM, Mike Post (mdpost...@gmail.com) wrote:

Personalities (called Definitions in QLab 4) - is there a way to export these to share among people?  There’s libraries of personalities for different lighting consoles for pretty much everything under the sun and being able to share them speeds up preprogramming.

Oh no, oh no! I misspoke.

To add a definition from a workspace to the global library, do this:

1. Open Workspace Settings

2. Navigate to Light > Definitions tab

3. Select the definition you want to add to the global library

4. Click “Save to library”

[Sam Kusnetz]

Personalities (called Definitions in QLab 4) - is there a way to export these to share among people?

Oh dear, I was SO wrong in my reply. To add a light definition from a workspace into the global library:

1. Open Workspace Settings and choose “Light”

2. Selet the Definitions tab

3. Select the definition you want to import to the global library.

4. Click “Save to library”

Sorry for the confusion!

[Steph O'Hara]

Thanks Bruno. Works a treat. 

[Bruno Carneiro]

=) Good to know! 

[zestie]

Maybe slightly off-topic but can anyone confirm whether this hardware works for Art-net to DMX lighting control with Qlab 4:

eDMX1 Pro:

http://dmxking.com/artnetsacn/edmx1-pro

Enttec DMX ODE:

https://www.enttec.com/?main_menu=Products&pn=70305

Please, bear with me, I am a relative newbie when it comes to lighting. 

Hordur

[Sam Kusnetz]

Hello Hordur

I can confirm that both interfaces work with QLab 4.

Best

Sam

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Sam Kusnetz | Figure 53

s...@figure53.com

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[zestie]

Fantastic, Sam. Thanks a lot. 

Hordur