MagicQ PC Set Up

[Wolfpeach]

I tried this last night:

- Verified in Setup-DMX I/O that Universe 1 was enabled and Enttec Pro was the output device. All other universes were disabled.
- Patched 7 dimmers for each channel of the LED that is set to addresses 1-7.
- Programmed the Red and Intensity channels to 100% (channels 1 & 7). Saw this reflected in the Output window as an all-red rectangle.
- Recorded this scene in Playback1.
- Brought the Sub-Master, Grand Master, and selected Playback-1 sliders to 100%.

And still no change in the LED on stage.

The dongle was flashing, but I'm sure that was because I had been using the Pro Utility to test the LEDs with earlier and not because MQPC was interfacing with it.

I don't know, maybe I'm missing something in the set up like using the correct driver. Other than that, I am at a loss as to why this isn't working.

Barry

[daver2]

Hmmmm!

I think the MQ test channel tests a single channel only. If your LED uses 7 channels and requires more than one channel to be at 100% for it to actually produce some light then you may be out of luck. I can't run a test at the moment because we are in the middle of a practice for Sunday - but will have a go after everyone goes home just to prove this.

I use the bog standard FTDI driver that came from Microsoft I think. I use XP and went into Control Panel -> System -> Hardware tab -> Device Manager button and under Ports (COM & LPT) I can see a USB Serial Port (COM3) which I know is my Enttec Pro. Double clicking on this entry and selecting the Driver tab tells me that the driver is from Microsoft and is version 2.4.16.0 and dated 17/02/2009. I don't believe there are any other drivers as such.

If the Enttec Pro test utility works - the dongle, PC and FTDI driver should be working OK to my way of thinking and the problem lies with MagicQ.

Do you want to send me your "Show" file and I will try it on my setup?

Dave

[waynehoskins]

I'm increasingly thinking that your LED fixtures have a mode channel, an intensity channel, or both. To meaningfully use them, you'd need an appropriate fixture profile.

Have you tried controlling dumb dimmers? That would test where your problem is. If the dimmers work fine it's probably a profile problem.

[daver2]

I have just tested my system and the "Head Test" On/Off feature appears to set one (and only one) channel to 100% (On). I set my first fixture (DMX 1-001) to On (100%) and then selected a second fixture. The first DMX channel went to 0% and the second DMX channel went to 100%.

Assuming it works (this is the first time I have tried uploading a file to CMN) there should be a ZIPped show file attached which has six 'dumb' dimmers on DMX 1-001 to 1-006 and a couple of Martin Mac 250's. This is the show file I have just used at our Church practice.

It is set up as a Normal (Live) gig and I have my Enttec Pro on COM3.

Dave

[Wolfpeach]

Here's an update:

I took the dongle and one of our LEDs home and plugged them into my home PC, which uses Windows XP. After downloading the latest driver from Enttec, the light started flashing and after patching the light into MagicQ, I was able to control the LED.

Since our church PC is using Windows Vista, I'm thinking that it might be an OS issue. Enttec, however, states on their website that the driver is Vista 32-bit compatible.

Thoughts?

[waynehoskins]

I've never tried it under Vista, but I do know everything works out-of-the-box on 32-bit Win7. I think you're on the right track though, it's probably a problem related either to OS or versioning, or the particulars of that computer.