Medialon MxMs' Help 
  
Name : Medialon DMX512
Version : 1.1.2
Available for : Manager V5 (all versions), Showmaster (ST & Pro)
Limitation In : Showmaster: commands and variables marked with * are not available
Device Mark : Medialon
Positrack Compatible : Yes
Resources type : DMX
 
Compatible hardware interfaces - available resource modules (MRC) :
 

 

> Overview | > Installation (MXM) | > Creation (Device) | > Commands (List Of) | > Variables (List Of) | > Support


Overview :

Originally, DMX-512 is a protocol for sending channel level commands from a stage lighting controller to a dimmer pack but now it is more and more used to control many DMX compatible device as: dimmers, automatic projectors, smoke machines , colour changers, gliding film projectors.

This MXM provides all the commands to control groups of DMX512 channels through several DMX512 hardware devices.

Input and/or Output are controlled. The input sensing can analyse incoming DMX stream : commands are available for live-recording, restoring of the DMX-512 signal.

This Mxm can also create and playback memories and save channels values in an external file.

This Mxm includes a graphical cue editor interface. This interface allows programmer to create, edit, and retrieve cues on selected channels. A graphical track ball allows programming of several channels for X and Y to ease control of roboscan like projectors.

It is possible to record live DMX coming from a light desk, and to edit DMX cues automatically created with a user friendly graphical interface.

Recording parameters can be set in the Mxm setup window : sampling frequency, linearity error tolerance. DMX shows are recorded in an external file. Recorded shows can be easily be edited with the graphical cue editor interface. Recorded shows can be played back from Manager. They can be synchronised to any time code i.e. : external time code, internal Manager time code, external device time code etc ....

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Installation (MXM) (Device) :

No specific installation required.

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Creation (Device) :

The device is created through this setup dialog box which is different if running under Manager or Showmaster:


Device Setup under Manager:



A DMX Device may use an output DMX line or an input DMX line or both.

The input DMX line is used for DMX data recording and or monitoring. In order to record DMX data for a device, select an input DMX line. To play the recorded data on the same device, select an output DMX Line.

First Channel
This is the index of first channel of the device. For example, if a first device with a count of ten channels on a line is created and a second device is created with a count of twenty channels on the same line, the first device will operate on channels 1 to 10 and the second device on the channel 11 to 20. This parameter can be changed manually after device creation. If the Mxm detects that one or more DMX channels are shared by several devices on the same output line, a warning is shown under the output line selection box.

Count of channels
The count of channels assigned to this device.

Output Line
The output resource line which is used by this device (refer to Manager User's Guide for resource configuration).

Input Line
The input resource line of the resource which is used by this device
(refer to Manager User's Guide for resource configuration).

Monitor variables (Setup)
This button allows to define monitoring variables for specified input channels.


Monitoring
- On : to create a Manager variable that monitor the selected channel.
- Off : to cancel the monitoring variable of this channel.
- All : to create Manager variables that monitor all the channel of the device.
- None : to cancel all the monitoring variables.

Level Range
Indicates if levels range is between 0-100% or 0-255 in real values.

Save memories path
This path is where the memories created by this device will be saved on disk.

Acquisition parameters
This parameters are used by the software during the recording.
Default values are provided but they can be changed to adapt to any system.

- Sampling frequency is the count of reading per second. With a frequency of 20 Hz, the DMX signal is read every 50 milliseconds (note : a full frame of 512 DMX channels lasts 33 milliseconds).

- Linearity error tolerance and Linearity sampling width are used when the record is analysed for producing linear moves between values sampled.

For example : if the first parameter is 5 and the second is 20, any difference between two consecutive values under 5 or lasting less than 20 samples will be smoothed. With values of 1 for each, no smoothing will be done.


Device Setup under Showmaster:



First Channel
This is the index of first channel of the device. For example, if a first device with a count of ten channels on a line is created and a second device is created with a count of twenty channels on the same line, the first device will operate on channels 1 to 10 and the second device on the channel 11 to 20. This parameter can be changed manually after device creation. If the Mxm detects that one or more DMX channels are shared by several devices on the same output line, a warning is shown under the output line selection box.

Count of channels
The count of channels assigned to this device.

Output Line
The output resource line which is used by this device (refer to Manager User's Guide for resource configuration).

Level Range
Indicates if levels range is between 0-100% or 0-255 in real values.

Save memories path
This path is where the memories created by this device will be saved on disk. Note that this path is relative to the current project user data folder.

Record Setup : (Not available in Showmaster)

The Record Setup dialog box allows to specifiy how cues are generated during the record process.

Record File
Name of the recorded file

Cue Type
- Single Cue : A file (original DDF file format with the filename specified in "Record File") is created during the recording process. A single "Restore Acquisition" (see bellow) command is inserted in the timeline when the recording is done.

- Multiple Cues : the DMX input levels of the device are analysed during the recording process and "Send Cue" commands (see bellow) are generated on the timeline. Note that the analysing process may take several seconds after the end of the recording.

- Multiple Cues from existing original DDF file : this mode is provided as a tool to convert an existing DDF file into multiple cues. Once this mode is selected, click on record start and record stop to generate "Send Cue" commands on the timeline. The name of the file to convert is specified by "Record File".

Acquisition and Analysis parameters
These are the same parameters as the ones in the Device Setup dialog box.

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Commands (List Of) :

The commands marked with * are not available in Showmaster.

Send Cue :

      Description : This command sends DMX levels as they have been programmed by insertion of a Dmx Cue in the task. For the creation of the cue, a dialog box appears :



      The values of the channels can be changed with the trackball or by introducing values in the edit controls.
      Each channel can be selected as a X axis (Pan) or a Y axis (Tilt)
      When a channel is 'IN', it means that its value will be sent when the cue is sent. When it is not, its value is not recorded in the cue. Each time a channel is moved, it becomes 'IN'. You can give out or force this property with the 'In Cue' and 'Out Cue' controls.
      Parameters
      Cue Name : [Type : String] : Label for the cue.
      Fade Duration : [Type : Time] :
      Cue duration represents the fade value, the time that the channels will take for reaching the values programmed.
      Cue Values : [Type : Private] : The cue block as it has been programmed (see picture above)
      Usage: This command can be used to create DMX lighting timelines.
      Master Level: [Type : Real] : Master level for the cue in percentage.

Set levels out :
      Description : Set a block of channels at the same level in a specified fade-time
      Parameters :
      From channel number : [Type : Integer] : first channel of the block
      To channel number : [Type : Integer] : last channel of the block
      At level (0-255) : [Type : Integer] : the level value
      Fade time : [Type : Time] : the fade time
      Usage: This command is an easy way to create simple cues.

Get output level :
      Description : Get the output value of a channel in real-time
      Parameters :
      Channel number: [Type : Integer] : channel number
      Return value [Type : Integer] : value filled by the command in return
      Usage : This command can be used for monitoring DMX out.
Get input level * :
      Description : Get the input value of a channel in real-time
      Parameters :
      Channel number: [Type : Integer] : channel number
      Return value [Type : Integer] : value filled by the command with the channel value
      Usage : This command can be used for monitoring DMX in, for conditionally start task at given values...
Set Memories Path :
      Description : Set the name of the file where the memories are read from and saved to.
      Parameters :
      Memories Path [Type : String] : Directory/Name of the file
      Usage : Management of different memory files. Note that this path is relative to the current project user data folder when running under Showmaster.

Add memory :
      Description : Create a memory with the current values of the specified block of channels
      Parameter :
      From channel number [Type : Integer] : first channel number of the block
      To channel number [Type : Integer] : last channel number of the block
      Memory name [Type : String] : Name of the memory to save (must be unique)

Send memory :
      Description : Send the specified memory
      Parameters :
      Memory name [Type : String] : Name of the memory to send.
      Fade time [Type : Time] : Fade time.

Read memory
:
      Description : Read the content of a memory into the specified return variables
      Parameter :
      Memory name [Type : String] : Name of the memory to read
      From channel on return [Type : Integer] : value filled by the command with the value of the first channel
      To channel on return [Type : Integer] :value filled by the command with the value of the last channel
      Values list on return [Type : String] : list filled by the command with the values of the channels

Delete memory :
      Description : Remove the specified memory from the current file
      Parameters :
      Memory name [Type : String] : Name of the memory to delete.
Start acquisition :*
      Description : Start acquisition on the current DMX line of the device
      Parameters :
      File name [Type : String] : Name of file for saving
      Usage : Recording of a show created with another DMX controller.
Stop acquisition :
      Description : Stop the current acquisition and save the specified file.
      Parameters : no parameters
      Usage : The extension of the saved file is .DDF. If another extension has been given, it is erase by this new extension. This file contains all the sample, without analyse.
Restore acquisition :
      Description : Send the DMX values recorded in the specified file.
      Parameters :
      File name [Type : String] : Name of file to restore, with or without extension
      Timecode reference [Type : Time] : the time variable on which the restoring will be slaved
      Timecode offset [Type : Time] : the time offset to subtract to the Timecode reference
      File type [Type : Enum] :
      Available values :
        "Editable file" : The .LDS file will be restored.
        "Original file" : The .DDF file will be restored
      Timecode Type [Type : Enum] :
      Available values:
        "External" : The time variable specified by Timecode reference is used.
        "Internal" : Internal timecode is used.
Stop restoring :
      Description : Stop the current restoring.
      Parameters : no parameters.

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Variables (List Of) :

The variables marked with * are not available in Showmaster.

Status :

      Type : Enum.
      Description : current status of the device.
      Available values :
        "Idle" : the device is not running.
        "Sending" : the card send DMX.
        "Receiving" : the card listen to DMX inputs.
        "Sending & Receiving" : the card send end listen to DMX.
        "Acquiring" : the device is currently acquiring.
        "Analysing" : the device is currently creating an editable file.
        "Restoring Editable" : the device is currently restoring an editable file.
        "Restoring Original" : the device is currently restoring an original file.
        "Error" : an error has occurred (see the "Message" variable).
Message :
      Type : String.
      Description : explicit messages of the device.
      Available values :
        "File name error"
        "Acquisition terminated"
        "Creating editable file"
        "Error reading DDF file"
        "Compatibility error with DDF format"
        "Error opening DDF file"
        "Error creating LDT file"
        "Error analysing DDF file"
        "Error writing in LDT file"
        "Error opening LDT file"
        "Error creating LDF file"
        "Error reading LDT file"
        "No DMX-512 variations"
        "Error"
        "Editable file created"
        "Error in file header"
        "Error : timecode is NULL"
        "No cues in the file"
        "Impossible to open LDS file"
        "Impossible to open DDF file"
        "DDF file is empty"


MemoryList

      Type : String.
      Description : list of all the memories in the current memory file.

RestoreTimecode

      Type : Time.
      Description : timecode during restoring and acquiring.

DMXin_1 to X* : (X : number of input channel set at creation)
      Type : Integer
      Description : Return DMX value of specified input channel

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Support (Difference with previous versions) :

V 1.0.1:

  • Added: Support for Showmaster.

V 1.0.2 :

  • Bug Fixed: device sometimes stops sending DMX data after several "Restore Acquisition" and "Stop Restoring" commands have been executed.

V 1.0.3 :

  • Added: Additional support of Showmaster.
  • Bug Fixed: incorrect fade times of "Send Cue" commands when importing a V3 project.

V 1.0.4 :

  • Fixed: current project user data path is not properly handled for memories path under Showmaster.
  • Fixed: Inconsistent DMX output levels while editing cue.
  • Fixed: fade in progress is not stopped if a following fade has a fade time less than 40 ms.
  • Fixed: "restore last values" does not work.

V 1.0.5 :

  • Fixed: no more DMX output after a positracked timeline as been paused on the first DMX cue.

V 1.0.6 :

  • Fixed: the Control Panel DMX output values are sometimes different from the real DMX output values.
  • Fixed: device record setup dialog doesn't use $CURRENTPRJ_USERDATA path macro under Showmaster.
  • Added: Support for Showmaster Pro.
  • Fixed: acquiring was not stopped if restoring was called during acquisition and vice versa.

V 1.1.0 :

  • Added: 'Master Level' parameter in SendCue command.

V 1.1.1 :

  • Modified: Internal change. DDF files are now always loaded in memory when restoring.

V 1.1.2 :

  • Fixed: trouble can happen when many DMX devices are used.

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