DMX specialist please

[rimist]

I've been reading about the issues with the current software, as well as feature requests, and I have an idea forming. I don't have the time to do all the research needed so I'd like to pick the brain of anyone that knows a lot about Dmx. Questions to follow in additional posts.

-Rimist

[chrisatpsu]

go ahead and ask questions, just remember that the forums aren't supposed to be too technical

Rule #7 (from the wiki) 7.I ask that anyone developing in our little world please try to keep non-technical members in mind. We all want to make blinky and if we make the project too hard to build or understand for them then they will shy away from giving DIY a try.

if it gets technical, it's best to go offline, PM's, phone calls, chats, etc.

[rimist]

I understand that Dmx is multicast and the entire universe CAN be broadcast at once.
Questions: does the entire universe HAVE TO be broadcast each time?

Can the broadcast be only partial segments, (channels 1-100, 301-316) or must it be 1 thru the max channel being updated, or  must it be 1 thru the max channel in use?
The answer is 1 thru max channel being updated

How often do the broadcasts have to occur?

-Rimist

[rimist]

Given that we have an excellent scheduler, I have no intention of duplicating xlights capabilities.
What would be the ideal format for xlights to read data?

-Rimist

[rrowan]

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[rimist]

If I can create an engine that will take parameters and do the tedious work for transitions, effects, etc, and provide an xml output in an expedient manner, is there anyone capable and willing to put an interface out to make use of it?

-Rimist

[rimist]

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thanks!

-Rimist

[rimist]

Given that we have an excellent scheduler, I have no intention of duplicating xlights capabilities.
What would be the ideal format for xlights to read data?

-Rimist

Bumping this post in hopes of an answer or a point in the right direction

-Rimist

[rimist]

REPOST (hoping for a response in the daytime since night was a bust)

If I can create an engine that will take parameters and do the tedious work for transitions, effects, etc, and provide an xml output in an expedient manner, is there anyone capable and willing to put an interface out to make use of it?

-Rimist

[rrowan]

Why not take a look at Vixen 3.0 unless you really want to reinvent the wheel so to speak. You can just create modules that you want to add to it. The rest is built or being built.

Also there might be a confusion on some terms in your first post.

Multicast is related to Ethernet and for Lynx hardware the pixelnet or dmx is the data inside the tcp/ip packets (yeah I know going too far on tech info)

You only send data to the dongle when you are updating some event/channel. The smart dongles (Lynx USB or EtherDongle) take care of the timing and repeating of the data stream.

just my 2 cents

Rick R.

[rimist]

Thanks Rick, I'll take a look. I certainly don't want to reinvent the wheel.

-Rimist