Hippy's
DMX-USB Pro Resources
DMX-USB
Pro By Enttec.Com
News
04/02/06
- ArtNode PRO Launched
05/09/05 - Update your PRO Firmware on Linux using
opendmx_firmware.
05/09/05 - ProToolKit Upgrade, Art-Net + Fixes.
25/08/05 - Published a VB6 Class for controlling multiple pro widget(s).
25/08/05 - Firmware 1.41, BIOS 1.2, Security (use as a sw dongle), Get Serial
No#, + fixes.
03/06/05 - Firmware 1.2 Released, "send
on change" Feature added.
12/05/05 - Max & Pure Data External Released.
10/05/05 - JS-DMX is the first controller for the new widget.
09/05/05 - Hippy's Pro ToolKit Released.
04/05/05 - LightFactory Support announced.
29/04/05 - Pro Widget's 0th Birthday.
Pro
Essentials
Drivers
"Virtual COM port (VCP) drivers cause the Widget
to appear as an additional COM port available to the PC"
You will need this driver installed before you will be able to use the widget.
Download the VCP
Drivers from the FTDI to suit your operating system.
Once the windows driver is installed you can change the settings in the:
Control Pannels-System-Hardware-Ports-USB Port X-Settings-Advanced.
That will allow you to change the com port, and latency time (i suggest
16ms) if you wish.
Some software does not use the VCP drivers, rather the ftd2xx.dll drivers (the
same as the open widget)
and some software can use both/either. Allways check your application readme's
when troublehooting problems.
Note:
you may have to install the drivers again if you connect it to a
different USB port, windows installs a driver per usb-port.
Commercial
Software
Tools
Vocus - Voice operated focus system
Enttec Vocus is an amazing new way to focus your
lights. By using any microphone (wireless or wired) plugged into your pc you
can set channel levels remotely. Great for quick focusing of lights, this inexpensive
tool will quickly become invaluable after the first few uses.
Find Out
More...
Capture
Visualiser
http://www.capturesweden.com/
DLight for Windows & OSX
http://www.nicole-banana.com/DLight/index.html
Controllers
LightFactory
- A
very comprehensive lighting console with hundreds of features, Including
a full-blown Matrix Sequencer! This is rock-solid very stable software, open
dmx usb in/out and latest version supports the pro widget.
ArKaos
VJ - A
Media Server which can be controlled by dmx recieved by the Pro or Open Widgets
Open
Source Software
Controllers
(none?)
Tools
Hippy's
Pro ToolKit - searches for Pro widgets on your comports
and allows their setting to be viewed and modified, firmware updates
and now sends / recieves Art-Net using your widget as an Art-Net Node,
Get firmware binarys from enttec.com.
Version 1.42.00 05/07/05 - .msi Installer
(includes source.zip) by hippy 2005
(Source code is free for personal use, but do not distribute or share,
also derivitaves & applications must credit the author)
ArtNode - A Art-Net Node
Implementation, using multiple PRO devices
with with many features. Linux and Windows binaries, and source. Hippy 2006
Freeware / Shareware
Controllers
Freestyler - Freeware
Moving Light Controller
JS-DMX
- A
complete BASIC 2 Scene 512 channel DMX console, in software,
designed for the Enttec USB PRO. Soon it will feature a Cue list system.
Tools
Max
& Pure Data
-
The
dmxusbpro external for Max and Pure Data gives
access to the Enttec DMX USB Pro interface and allows to send or receive DMX
512 data.
Non-Commercial License costs EURO $10
opendmx_firmware
A tool for writing firmware to Enttec OpenDMX Pro under Linux.
There is ready program for firmware writing in test folder.
It can be compiled by running:
make -f Makefile.opendmxfirmware
in test -folder.
It is known to work and compile in Fedora Core 3 & 4 environment. Other
Linux versions are untested.
Program
takes firmware binary filename as argument, so
writing firmware enttec.bin
to widget would be:
./opendmx_firmware enttec.bin
Other
usage of the library should be pretty easy to find out
directly from source
and headers :)
Link: http://www.kivamedia.fi/source/ (Samuli Valo, member of the Mailing List)
Source
Hippy's
VB6 class for the Enttec DMX USB PRO (FTD2xx.dll)
Iimplements
firmware version 1.3
Note:
This software does not use the VCP drivers,
rather the ftd2xx.dll drivers
(the same as the open widget)
' Version 1.35 (C) By Hippy (rowanmac#optusnet.com.au) 07 July 2005
* no need for VCP drivers, uses FTD2xx.DLL & drivers,
* multi-widget safe
(but untested)
* automatically set's the FTDI device latency to 1ms for high
speed access
* send or recieve dmx
* autodetect if a widget is on the port
* uses inbuilt hi-res timer (ccrpTimer
from the common controls replacement project)
to poll for data (for dmx input) at high speed
* automatically compare your
dmx from your app with buffered dmx,
so packets are sent ONLY when an update
is needed,
* can set/get the widget parameters like FPS, MAB and BREAK times
* can access and update the user_config_area of the widget
* attempts to read
every frame from the device, frames should not be lost :)
* implements the
ftdi readtimeout to detect errors
* the actually important parts run very
fast
* fairly easy to use ;)
* firmware/bios uploading
Pease send me any improvments.. i love to hear ideas ;)
Download the source and example app... ProVB6Class1-35.zip
(Source
code is free for personal use, but do not distribute or share,
also
derivitaves & applications must credit the author)
Programming
A little
background... The pro widget unlike it's little brother contains a microprocessor
(ATMEGA88) responsible for transmitting or recieving dmx. Also it's USB interface
is a FTDI FT245BM, VCP drivers make programming easy as openng a serial port
and sending/recieving! it has 1500v dmx line isolation, A green LED which indicates
RX or TX activity, and gold plated neutrix XLR's (1xmale, 1xfemale
wired in parallel)
Open
API V1.41 - The protocol specifications for talking to the device.
DMXUSB Pro Example V1.0 - A C Example
/ Testing Program
Python based Factory Test
- A Python Script to test/update the widget
The
Mailing
List is your gateway finding people who could tell you anything you want
to know about the widget,
it offers an excellent opertunity to network with the designers of the hardware,
and creative minds of the
open dmx usb community. Try searching the Mailing
List Archives, or check the Discussion
Forum
Enttec currently has a Sponsorship program, open source developers can apply to get some free hardware!
Firmware
You will probably need Hippy's PRO Toolkit or the factory python script to update
the firmware :)
(Linux users might try : http://www.kivamedia.fi/source/)
If the upload stops, just try again and it will probably work. if it does not,
make sure the drivers are
installed, and the correct port is selected in the upload application.
ProToolKit Method:
1. Install ProToolKit.
(found on this page)
2. Run ProToolkit,
Click the port you want, Click 'UPD', select a firmware.bin file
Python Method:
1. Install Python2.4
or something, and the pywin32 and pyserial..
2. Copy the firmware.bin file to the directory where your dmx_usb_pro_factory_test.py
script is.
3. X:\PYTHON24> python dmx_usb_pro_factory_test.py X (x = com port number)
-Fixed Full Frame
bottle neck (will now receive up to 44fps)
-Fixed Led Blinking problems
-New Serial Number API function to get serial number of Widget
-New Security API (only available to approved companies)
Firmware v1.2 - New Features
- Fixed framing bug when connecting an Open DMX USB to DMX USB Pro,
- Fixed flicker bug in TX mode,
- Added send on change mode for DMX RX (See Also Open API V1.2)
Firmware V1.0 - Initial Release
BIOS Updates
# WARNING
#
This procedure is dangerous, and should only be attempted
if you have a good reason to upgrade the BIOS.
If the DMX USB Pro looses power during the upgrade
the DMX USB Pro will become inoperable and will require
a return to base not covered under warranty.
#
WARNING #
You do not need to do this if you have bought a
new device and it's firmware version is already ver 1.42
To upgrade the
BIOS (Boot) to 1.2 you need to load a special
firmware called reburn_boot.bin into the usb pro. This can be done using any
of the tools normaly used for a firmware upgrade.
Once loaded, The led will flash slowly at 1/2 Hz rate for 10 seconds,
then the widget will reboot, at which time user can load the normal software.
http://www.enttec.com/dmx_usb/reburn_boot.zip
(none?)
(Page
Author: Rowan Maclachlan, Australia. All dates are dd/mm/yr)
[back
to hippy's place]