DMX Values for Moving Heads

[bundymat]

Hello All,
Is there an easier way to be able to find what Moving Head DMX channel values that sequence vendors use. I know that different brands of moving heads have different channel values.

I have a few sequences from different vendors, and I know that I have to change the DMX channels from the sequence to the DMX channels of my moving heads

Any help would be great

TIA

 

[Skymaster]

As you state, all different models have different values. You have to map them to your appropriate heads. You would need the sequence vendor to give you the data sheet on the particular head that they use. Then you can make up some form of spreadsheet which maps their values onto yours.

This is where the "new style" of programming helps, as it deals with 'logical' constructs - such as position, colour, etc; and the model translates it to the raw DMX values that get sent to the head.
Whereas the old style (using DMX effect) just sends raw values and is at the mercy of the channel differences.

 

[bundymat]

As you state, all different models have different values. You have to map them to your appropriate heads. You would need the sequence vendor to give you the data sheet on the particular head that they use. Then you can make up some form of spreadsheet which maps their values onto yours.

This is where the "new style" of programming helps, as it deals with 'logical' constructs - such as position, colour, etc; and the model translates it to the raw DMX values that get sent to the head.
Whereas the old style (using DMX effect) just sends raw values and is at the mercy of the channel differences.

Thanks for the reply, I will ask the vendors which sequences have the old and the new style of programming

 

[Skymaster]

The new style was only released maybe 12 months go; so many sequences will definitely be on the older method.
You can tell the differnece based on whether they are using the new Moving Head effect, or if they are using the DMX effect in the sequence.

 

[Cranzy]

easiest way would be to open the vendors layout and cllick on the moving head and look at the string setup.
If the file you got from the vendor is an zxsq file you can double click it and it will open xlights with their layout, if it is a zip file you can either rename it to zxsq and double click, or extract it and temporarily switch to that folder in xlights.

 

[Cranzy]

You can also generate xdmxmap files to help you with remapping your channels https://baelinc.github.io/Xlights-MH-Mapping/

 

[SmartAlecLights]

There is a new way. External models, eg like the coro stuff, now you can select a certain moving head to import.
I love it when Xlights follows up on my winging suggestions to make there product even better.

 

[Cranzy]

There is a new way. External models, eg like the coro stuff, now you can select a certain moving head to import.
I love it when Xlights follows up on my winging suggestions to make there product even better.

View attachment 29007

Good for adding heads to your layout, but the mapping from vendor layout with their dmx head, to your layout with different one still requires the remapping to be redone if using dmx effects at group or model level. Potentially in future if model was known it could automatically do that for you.