What is the correct pc program

Hi Jeff,

I'll try and answer your questions:

There are 2 Nomad products, Nomad and Nomad Puck. Nomad is a dongle which you can buy (and which can be upgraded) which allows a Mac or PC to act as a primary or a backup. Nomad Puck is a little PC in a box with the dongle built in already. Both of these products can either be Eos or Cobalt, you can chose which software to run whenever you launch them.

Nomad dongles and Nomad Pucks start at 256 outputs and can be upgraded in increments up to 2048 outputs. If your show can't fit within the outputs you have then it can't act and a primary or backup and will need to be upgraded.

As a bonus, all existing client dongles become 256 output Nomad dongles but they can't be upgraded further. All Nomad and Nomad Puck devices can also connect as a client, regardless of how many outputs they are enabled for.

I hope that helps.

Dan

 

to control from your own hardware (pc or mac), download "Eos Family Nomad Software v2.2.0 for PC" or "Eos Family Nomad Software v2.2.0 for Mac" from here: http://www.etcconnect.com/product.downloads.aspx?ID=22179

as an alternative you can buy a mini-PC called Nomad Puck, which runs the same software but in dedicated hardware and with a locked down OS.

so you have Nomad installed, now you need two more things: the dongle and an output interface.

the dongle is the size of a USB-plug and it provides the license. the smallest license is 256 output addresses, the biggest one 2048. this is only the license, this does not provide hardware to output.

as output interface you have different choices: output through USB by a product called ETC Gadget. this provides one universe of output (if you have a license of at least 512 addresses), only one gadget can be connected to a PC or a Mac. or you output through network with either sACN or ArtNet as protocols. in this case you can use ETC Net3 DMX Gateways (1, 2 or 4 ports) or products by another manufacturer.

you can use Nomad also to backup an exisiting Primary console or as client. when using it as a backup, you need to be aware that the output capacity of your whole system will be determined by the lower license of backup and primary.

Replying to all actually.

I do want to add I am mobile, venue to venue, concerts and theatrical so there is no permanent install in my case, which applies to the universe section primarily. However I do have opportunities to make suggestion to venues for purchase so good to know options.

Thank you for the info. I have purchased two different programs/dongles in the past to control lighting from my laptop in order to save all the time, space and security of my ION with wings, monitors, etc, I have not successfully been able to use either of them comfortably. So, money down the drain and this is a really great thing, however looks a bit pricy.

It looks like for me since I currently have nothing I will need to get the dongle however here's one thing still confusing. ION has two 512 universes. What do we do about each universe since of course my patch is on both?

Now tied with that I do have one older stlye two port Node I seldom use because of having to power it by either my Power Injector or a 24V power supply. All it really does is eliminate one dmx run and strike. So it hasn't been worth using for the work comparison. We did install them in my church and I use them all the time because they are permanent. So if I use the Node would I have two universes at 512 each as it is currently programed through the network if I purchase the 1024 or higher dongle?

If I purchase a Gadget then I am definitely limited to one universe no matter how much output I purchase, correct?

Hi Jeff,

The output is based on what is patched, not how many ports you have. That Ion can be anything up to 3,072 outputs it just has 2 local ports. If you only use 512 addresses across both universes you only need a 512 dongle. That said, there's no point backing up an Ion with Nomad unless you have a separate node as if the Ion goes down those ports won't output.

You need to make sure the node supports sACN (Net3), eDMX (Net2) isn't supported by Nomad. If that is the case and you purchase a 1,024 Nomad it's going to allow you to output 2 full universes via that node.

At the moment you can only connect one gadget to a PC/Mac at a time, so yes one universe via the gadget but others can go out via the network.

Dan

with a gadget you are limited to one output, as long as you don't add other means of output. this can be network but not a second gadget.

about this "older style two port node": i could be wrong, but i think only Net3 nodes are allowed since EDMX is not supported...

Hey Dan, Thanks.

So I will have to check to see what that Node supports since it's slightly behind.

Now I'm not sure what my ION has. I'm a little off on what the two ports are. I think I understood universes can only handle 512 addresses each. I can patch up to 1024 addresses but 512 two times I thought. I understood if I wanted to add addresses/universes since the ION only has two ports then I would have to go the network route. Not interested in more ports, just more addresses to handle fixtures that now days have so many channels.

I understood that one port is one universe and the other port is the another. I know when I plug in fixtures to the wrong port they won't work. So in reality using my laptop I can get a 1024 dongle and Gadget and patch 1/.....512 for some and 2/.....512 for others and get the same results with only one dmx feed? Then all I would need is my ETC opto spliters to branch out as I often need to do? or do I still need the two port Node to handle the two universes individually?

I think my brain is clogged.

Jeff,

You're confusing ports with universes with outputs.

On Eos you pay for outputs. A console can have 1,024 outputs or 512 for instance. That means you can patch up to 1,024 or 512 parameters, but they could be spread across many universes. On an 1,024 output console you could send 256 address across 4 universes for instance.

The ports can only be assigned to one universe each, but could also be the same universe.

Example A

512 Output Ion (not actually available)

1/1 thru 1/256 and 3/1 thru 3/256 patched (512 total)

Port 1: Universe 1, Port 2: Universe 3

Example B

1,024 Output Ion

1/1 thru 1/512 and 4/1 thru 4/256 and 5/1 thru 5/256 patched (1,024 total)

Port 1:Universe 1, Port 2: Universe 4, Net3 Node: Universe 5

Any help?

Correct me as I understood it. I think we are talking the same but different languages.

I know they are technically different however I see a port the same as a universe in my case because I have two ports and think they must be set up as individual universes. Thus the reason the dmx must be plugged in to the correct one.

A Universe can only handle up to 512?

The console can handle 3k + but distributed in packets of up to 512 each?

Can't patch 1/....512 AND 2/.....512. Needs to be 1/1.....512 and 2/513.....1024? (or less of course. Using maximums here) So I must have 1024 since I can patch up to 512 on each.

ION has two ports. Mine is apparently set up as 1 and 2, not the same. Output up to 512 on each port because I have 1024 but the patch needs to be 1/ and 2/? If it's 3/ and higher along with 1 and 2 it needs a Network because there are only two ports on the console?

If all this is correct then back to the Nomad. If I purchase 1024 I would need at least two universes? Thus a Node? I can only run 512 addresses using the Gadget?

If all this is wrong then we might need to give up :-)

Hi Jeff,

Some of that is correct...

The two ports can only each be one universe, yes. But they could also be the same universe.

A universe is always 512 addresses, the port listens to packets with the universe it has been assigned to. Your ports can be be set to any universe, not just 1 and 2.

When you patch 1/ you are saying universe 1, not port 1. 513 is universe 2, so 2/513 doesn't mean anything. 2/1=513.

My best guess is you have a 1,024 output Ion with ports 1 and 2 configured to be universe 1 and 2.

In patch you will use 1/ for anything you want to be on universe 1 (port 1) and 2/ for anything you want to be on universe 2 (port 2).

1,024 gives you up to 2 full universe output, so if you want to control that many addresses you need a 2 port node. A gadget being only 1 universe is only 512.

I'm not sure how else I can explain this...

Dan

We have been talking the same but different languages.

The biggest point I was trying to confirm in my narrow knowledge is a universe can only handle up to 512 addresses. Then it's divided into universes. Yes my ION must be configured at 1 and 2. I know when I patch I see the numbers as either 1/, 2/ or addresses mathematically as 1-1024, thus the 513 - 1024 depending on how it's formatted. I have it formatted as 1/ and 2/ rather than full number to save on math.

I actually didn't know a patch can be same addresses in different universes (as in your second example) as long as they keep within the console purchased range. For me to avoid confusion I will just keep referring to them in numerical order so I don't have to do math and make sure I am within the ranges when I change events and patch different fixtures.

Anyway we hit the target. Now I know what to do regarding Nomad. I still need to check on the Node and see if it's Net3. I think it might be, but not sure.

Sorry for the confusion and thanks for your help. Now I'm off to work. Have a great day or possibly night in your case.

For clarification you only need a Gadget if you are trying to output DMX form your laptop via Noamd, or via the Nomad Puck.   Either will send the full complement of output sACN /Net3 over a network without a Gadget.

 

 

 

 

sorry, but the clarification re only needs a Gadget conflicts with earlier post, "so you have Nomad installed, now you need two more things: the dongle and an output interface". by ueliriegg on June 20th. Im confused......If i have nomad Installed, do i only get a gadget to out put to my lights.....or do i have to get the dongle as well?

the confusion is probably due to different manufacturers using different terminology.

for ETC, a dongle is a tiny USB thingy (think USB drive). it provides the license to output, not the place to plug your dmx cable. so that's the first thing you need. whithout it, your nomad software is the replacement for the previous Offline Editor and will stay offline.
the second thing you need is something to plug your dmx cable. this can either be an ETC Gadget, which is a small box with an USB connector on one side and a dmx female on the other side. instead of the Gadget you could also use something that converts the network protocals sACN or ArtNet to dmx. you're not bound to ETC products in case of network protocols.

better?

Hi Robin, Eos Nomad = Software you install on Laptop that opens files from any Eos Console. Nomad Dongle (USB) you must purchase in order to be able to output DMX from laptop. Comes in 256, 512, 1024 and 2048 (DMX Outputs) versions. Stick this USB Dongle into Laptop with Eos Nomad Software and your software is allowed to output DMX. Now you need a way to get the DMX Output to your light. Your laptop most likely has no standard DMX XLR Output port like it does for Ethernet or USB. You have two options: a. you connect via network to any sACN Gateway/Node like ETC's Net3 DMX Gateways and then those convert your DMX from Network sACN into DMX on XLR Outputs for your lights b. you purchase Gadget which is a box that connects via USB cable to your laptop and outputs 1x DMX Universe via its XLR Output. All clear now?

Thanks guys. Very clear now. Too bad though. $237 for a gadget which is useless without $2000 dongle/license. Avolite Titan mobile is a $200 dongle with dmx connection. Thats it. ETC is the greatet consoles and eos software great but need to re think mobility solutions.