I have eariler used DMXcontrol software ( http://www.dmxcontrol.de/)
and kristofnys parallel port to DMX-512 adapter
( http://www.epanorama.net/dmx512pp/index.html )
running on Windows 98 and Windows 2000 PCs.
this has worked as expected.

Now when the old PC running that Windows 2000 has been replaced with a
new PC that runs Windows Vista and does not have a parallel port, the
question is what is the best software and hardware
combination to get it to control DMX-512 equipment. Prefereably
free/cheap designs.

I have tried a variation of Enttec Open USB to DMX-512 adapter and
several software but without too much success. It seems that
DMXcontrol software runs on Vista when you run it with Admin rights
but was unable to communicate to my DMX-512 hardware. Freestyler
failed to work on my Vista system, although some messages have
mentioned that it works for them on Vista.
And several other simpler control programs supporting that USB
interface fail to find the adapter hardware (question is the problem
Vista drivers or some bug on my hardware).

--
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at
http://www.epanorama.net/

"Tomi Holger Engdahl" <t...@sahrami.niksula.hut.fi> wrote in message
news:lajtzh7kbve.fsf@sahrami.niksula.hut.fi...

Let me preface this by saying that I have no actual experience with
running shows on a PC, but I am very interested in trying it as soon
as I get an opportunity where it would make sense to spend the money.
We have an ETC 48/96 so there is no pressing need.

I have downloaded the demos for several PC based lighting desk
and haven't been able to relate to any of them except PCstage
http://www.lowernab.co.uk/

It is a little different in that it works on a concept of building presets
and then you build cues and submasters that reference these presets.
You can have multiple desk and trigger a cue in any desk from any
other desk. In fact moving lights are interfaced from their own desk.

It has a lot of little features that I really like. You can make each fader
any color you like and they can have names right on the fader. You can
also have a picture of your venue and place little mini-faders on the
picture allowing you to go directly to a light and fade it without having to
locate the fader.  it can use or pass through an external DMX input.
It can trigger audio, video, MIDI, any RS-232 device, or just about
anything else you can think of.  I don't have time to be exhaustive but
there is a lot more to like in this software.

Back to the top, I have never actually used it in a show, but I play with
it a lot and have left it happily running a sequence for days while using
the computer for other task and it has behaved very well as far as I can
tell.
Of course it is often advised that you let the computer that is running your
lights be just for that purpose and avoid running or even loading other
applications on that machine. I have not played with it in Vista, but I did
install it on a vista machine a few minutes ago just for you and it seemed
like it was going to work fine.

The current wisdom is to stay away from Vista in favor of XP or 2000.
My first experiences with Vista were not very pleasant, but it did run
streets and trips just fine so I used it for that. Later I put the latest
version
of Lightwave on it (a 3D modeling and rendering program) and it ran
pretty well. I now use Aftereffects on it with very little problem since I
let
Microsoft put on a pile of patches. The worst part is when you try to
install or download anything, it is constantly asking for your permission.
Once you are actually using applications it seems to be OK. I've heard
that there are a lot of problems using old software so you just have to see
what works and upgrade what doesn't.

I don't know what the current price for the software is but I've heard
$500-$800 US.
It used the DMX device as a hardware key. So no it is way short of free.

I hope this helps.

David

You will truly struggle to find ANY DMS software/dongle with Vista
support. Vista's driver model is totally different to 2k and XP,
requiring almost a total rewrite of some drivers to get them to work
reliably with Vista.

Add to that the general instability of Vista in use and it is not
something I would want to be using in any kind of critical application
at all.

Load a copy of XP onto the machine and pop out to the local PC shop
where you should be able to pick up a parallel port card for not much
money. They are easy to install (shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes)
and you should then be able to use your existing hardware/software on
the new machine.

Jim.

--

news:mr0Vj.808$DZ6.543@text.news.virginmedia.com...

Good point.
It is questionable that he would have Vista drivers for the interface.
I just briefly tried the software and it looked like that part would work.

I wonder how easy it is to get XP drivers
for a new machine that was designed with Vista.
It would be about as much fun as building a computer from scratch.
I use to build all of my own computers and upgrade them as time went by.
After building a couple dozen computer I found it to be a real pain in the
ass.
Now I pretty much buy stock machines with a recover disk that will
return the machine to "like new". It works for me
because I don't really want to be a computer expert.

There are still a few XP machines out there
Microcenter has been advertizing son refurbished machine
as have Geeks.
Here are a couple examples.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=VM460-UD4500P-DT&cat=SYS

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=02...

David

Generally it is fairly easy. Almost all hardware supported under Vista
is also supported (and very often better supported!) on XP. Just about
any 'brand name' PC will be downgradeable to XP with little effort as
most of them are still XP spec machines with some extra RAM in the box.

  Now I pretty much buy stock machines with a recover disk that will

There is little gain in building a PC these days unless it's for a very
specific task. I have an background in professional IT and I buy
commodity hardware for the vast majority of tasks simply because it's
cheaper, quicker and you know it's already been tested and works.

You can get them, and there are still major suppliers offering XP as an
option (Dell and HP come to mind but you need to ask for it). I don't
expect XP will totally disappear anytime soon.

Jim.

--

Tomi Holger Engdahl <t...@sahrami.niksula.hut.fi> writes:

I got something to work well on Vista.
My adapter works well on Vista with FTDI D2XX Direct Drivers
and Open DMX Theater software from http://dmxtheater.plekkie.net/
This is enough for initial testing.

--
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at
http://www.epanorama.net/