Jacob wrote: > DMX512 is just a serial protocol, where a vector of 512 8-bit values is > send periodically over the wire (this 512 block is AKA universe). At the > sender side you'll need a PC interface (an old ISA card would probably > be the cheapest ;) and at the receiver side you'll need your light > source (dimmer pack or scanner or ...). I've seen some 100 ? DMX controller on the parallel port (IMG Stageline DMX-60). > The 400 EUR limit seems to be a problem. Either you are really lucky and > get a used set of lamps, dimmer packs, cables, ... or you'll have to do > some not-so-simple hardware/programming stuff on your own. > An important influence on the money you have to spent has the power > consumption of the light sources: e.g. if you want 16 PAR64 with 1kW > each you'll spent much more than if you used PAR56/300W. Power consumption is not included in this price. I want to play in some Parisian clubs: electric power is their problem, not mine. > The DMX approach is IMO the more professional way, you can extend your > equipment easily, you can rent or borrow some special equipment for an > event. You can connect your computer to any professional light > installation and you have less worries about the audience's security. > If I had a project like yours and able to get all of the above for > 600 EUR, if would definitely take it. Audience security... I forgot that one. Okay, DMX is the way to go. Renting is ok for me. But say that I simply use the lighting installation of the club I play in : would I just bring my laptop and DMX controller ? If the club's lighting installation isn't "DMX compatible", would a set of dimmers do the trick ? Can I expect to find such "DMX compatible" lighting installations (like dimmers I just plug my controller into) in most of clubs/discos/concert halls ? (I suppose that I should just ask places I know...) I'm very new to lighting, sorry if some of these are silly questions. > On the other hand, if you really want to spent a lot of time with > soldering, hacking and (kernel) programming, you might use the following > approach for the electronics (no, I don't have schematics). This is > probably more fun but you won't be able to connect any light device to > it that ist more 'intelligent' than a simple light bulb. AFAICT this is > the cheapest approach if you look at the bill of material only: > <snip> > > The blinkenlight guys had done something like that for the arcade > project in Paris some years ago and it worked: > http://www.blinkenlights.de/arcade/backstage.en.html Wow.. Amazing. But well, these guys are real hackers I can't compare with. As I said DIY is ok for me, but to a certain extent only. This is too complex, and would take too long to build, not to mention audience security. Thanks a lot ! -- og
