Integrating DMX Commands into watchout timeline

[orfischer]

Hi,

 

I was wondering if it's possible to integrate lighting DMX controller such as myDMX 2.0 into watchout (it has a usb connection). We always used 2 separate machines to control the video and the lighting.

 

Can someone explain the basics of DMX control with watchout (beyond what is written in the manual)? 

 

Is it effective and efficient to do it through watchout, or the feature is not ready for complicated commands yet?

 

Thank you,

[Jonas Dannert]

You'll need an ArtNet -> DMX-interface like Enttec ODE, KissBOX DMX or Sandsys Sandbox DMX.

USB -> DMX is not supported

 

More complicated lighting programming is better done at a lighting desk/console, or similar,

and then record the result into WATCHOUT using the DMX recording feature available from 5.2 onwards.

 

Please see the Release Notes here: http://www.dataton.com/downloads/watchout/support/Release_Notes_5.5.1.html

 

/jonas

 

New Media Type: DMX512 Recording

 

Often, WATCHOUT is used together with lighting systems based on the DMX512 standard. WATCHOUT allows you to control individual DMX512 channels directly. However, when using numerous channels, or moving lights, a dedicated lighting console is generally called for. Once the lighting has been programmed into the console, it's often merely a matter of playing it back in the same way every time. By recording the DMX512 data coming from the console into WATCHOUT, you can simplify such installations by removing the console altogether. WATCHOUT will then play back the lighting cues from this recording in sync with your show.

 

Assuming that you have a lighting console connected to your network using the ArtNet protocol (may require a DMX512-to-ArtNet adapter), you can record its programming into WATCHOUT as follows:

 

Choose "Add DMX512 Recording" on the Media menu.

Specify a file for storing the recorded DMX512 data. Save this file in/under the folder containing the current show file.

In the Save dialog box, also specify the ArtNet Universe number used by the lighting console. Only data sent on this universe will be recorded. Click Save.

Drag this new item from the Media window onto a timeline. Notice that the symbol on the cue is displayed in yellow, indicating that it is ready to be recorded. Place this cue where you want the recording to start, and extend it to cover the duration of the recording.

Run the timeline along with the lighting console. You may simply start WATCHOUT and cue the console manually. Alternatively, use timecode to synchronize them.

As the timeline reaches the cue, recording commences, as indicated by the lamp symbol on the cue turning red. Allow the timeline to run for the entire duration of the cue.

Once recording is complete, the lamp symbol on the cue becomes gray.

Disconnect the lighting console from the network, or switch it off.

Play the WATCHOUT timeline again. The recorded DMX512 data will now be played back by the cue. An ArtNet-to-DMX512 adapter is required unless your fixtures/dimmers receive ArtNet directly.

You can use the Fade tween track of the cue to modulate the intensity of all recorded channels.

NOTE: Do not use this feature if any recorded channels use 16 bit precision.

 

If you make a mistake during the recording, or simply want to do another take, you can revert the DMX512 recording to its initial, unrecorded state by double-clicking it in the Media window and selecting the "Re-record DMX512 File" checkbox. This dialog box also allows you to play the recording back using a different ArtNet universe than the one used during the initial recording.