[GNUz] [Linux-users] GNU/Linux support Weds 7.30pm

[Rik Tindall]

Hey Andrew

Thanks for this. You'll probably know Bryce from CLUG-of-old who 
attended with the same kind of interest in Dec.

Many of us are of the generation who had live stage activity in our 
youth, in the 1980s, that got sidelined by one thing or another. Then 
the 1990s hit and the digital revolution transformed very much, like the 
music trade and stage performance lighting... So, we're in catch-up mode 
now, if we can find the time again.

This thread topic is a back-burner kind of curiosity, to recommence a 
learning curve where many analogue devices of the past are tending 
towards redundant. Hopefully we entertainment field users are not! lol

So, we find, USB-DMX devices are almost as diverse as the kinds of 
digital-LED lighting units on the market today. At the cheaper, direct 
import end of the USB-DMX device scale, there's less onboard smarts so 
much more difficulty setting up, it appears. As usual, 'you get what you 
pay for'. So invest in a ~$70+ piece of proprietary? kit to make life 
easier, perhaps.

The manual for https://ftdichip.com/drivers/ shows that GNU/Linux does 
get good consideration by some manufacturers, which is so good to see. 
But at the ~$20 USB-DMX device level, the control software support is 
opaque or complex or absent, whatever platform, at first blush. 
Disabling the kernel driver then enabling a replacement module works 
fine, but then what? ... How to utilise the enabled ftdichip device? ...

There's no hurry though as the inexpensive DMX lights are easily 
programmed and networked in themselves, these days, making for a quite 
usable display.

Note, this is DMX-3(pin) gear rather than the true (more expensive) 
DMX-5 protocol that is being implemented / worked around. YMMV.

Will persevere, post updates, with next meeting Weds 3 March 7.30pm (as 
library is upgrading lab next month).

Stay cool everyone!

Regards

Rik

On 2021-01-27 11:10, Andrew Sands wrote:
> Hey Rik,
> 
> Sorry I couldn't get to this as work....
> 
> As a back-stage theatre nerd of old, I'd be interested in how you got
> on with this.
> I've only had a 'little' play with QLC+.
> 
> Andrew
> 
> On Wed, Dec 2, 2020, at 10:19, Rik Tindall wrote:
>> Hi CLUG & GNUz,
>> 
>> A heads up on a project we will be looking at tonight.
>> 
>> DMX stage lighting, computer-driven as alternative to a dedicated
>> lighting mixer desk.
>> 
>> Using https://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm for our imported 
>> USB-DMX
>> device (ArtNet type), testing on Ubuntu platform, how easily can we 
>> set
>> up https://www.qlcplus.org to run LED lights?
>> 
>> If you have knowledge to share or an interest in this topic, please do
>> call by. Or join us virtually, courtesy of NZOSS:
>> https://bbb.nzoss.nz/b/rik-huz-nrm-vmu
>> 
>> If we don't see you, have a very Merry Christmas!
>> 
>> Kia ora
>> 
>> Rik
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