Ion DMX input

Unfortunately Eos Family consoles (Eos, Ion and Element) do not support any form of DMX input at the present time.
- This is why you can't find it in the manual or spec sheets.

Could you explain what you are trying to achieve by DMX input? There may be a better way.

DMX input via Streaming ACN (part of Net3/ACN) is being considered for the future, but it won't be this year.

- Also, it's worth remembering that ArtNet is a proprietary protocol owned by Artistic Licence, while "Net3/ACN" is ETC's implementation of a combination of international standards for theatrical control, particularly ACN and Streaming ACN.
They aren't related - they just happen to use the same cables.

Sorry in advance for the hijack...

Richard said:

... - Also, it's worth remembering that ArtNet is a proprietary protocol owned by Artistic Licence, while "Net3/ACN" is ETC's implementation of a combination of international standards for theatrical control, particularly ACN and Streaming ACN.
They aren't related - they just happen to use the same cables.

While the above may be technically accurate, to me It seems a blatant mis-characterization to refer to an open-source, public domain, royalty-free, protocol as "proprietary, owned by...", and to the other as "implementation of a combination of international standards..."  Which one is brand-neutral?  Which has been implemented longer?  Which is used more?

Knowing the specific application that you are looking for a solution to would be helpful so we can try to get you a solution for what you need. As Richard commented, Ion doesn't support a DMX Input currently, but there may be a solution to help you get the end functions that you were looking for. What are you trying to do with a DMX input to the desk?

I'll put the ArtNet/ NET3/ ACN discussion aside since it's not exactly relevant to solving your immediate concern.

Sorry to threadjack... but this is a feature that would be of enormous help to our space. We used DMX IN (Insight 3) with some of the touring groups who bring in thier own console and insist on using thier desk for programming/time reasons. This allowed us to keep our board in-line and still be able to use our remotes for focus which helped a ton.

Andrew Tudge
Arden Theatre

andrewt said:

Sorry to threadjack... but this is a feature that would be of enormous help to our space. We used DMX IN (Insight 3) with some of the touring groups who bring in thier own console and insist on using thier desk for programming/time reasons. This allowed us to keep our board in-line and still be able to use our remotes for focus which helped a ton.

A better work around is a 2 port node operating as a merge box, with the visiting console sending to input 1, Ion on input 2 (assuming the Ion is direct DMX to the system), with both sending to the same universe. In the event you accidentally leave something on on the Ion, the Port 1 input always has priority (at least the way Net2 nodes usually function).

You gain the added node function of Advanced Input Patch as well, with the ability to filter the DMX addresses the visiting console can send to, in the event you don't want them to be sending DMX to house lights, work lights etc...

Steve B.

Building on Steve's concept, you could actually have the ION on a NET3 network and use the gateways for DMX input of the second desk. This would still allow a priority to be assigned to each source so that you can have whatever is plugged into the Gateway, assert control priority over the house console. Just another option if you are using a Networked system.

Thanks for the replies. When purchasing the system we approached DMX in using the gateways with a DMX in module.  A previous poster mentioned that DMX in was not available on the whole EOS line which prompted my post. Good to hear that how we thought it would work is how it works.

In addition to this discussion, I would like to know whether DMX input for Ion is possible in any way.

I want to use my Ion to takeover shows programmed on Compulite consoles. I need the extra programming features for moving lights from Ion, but I also need the base lighting cues from the Compulite console. Compulite consoles output DMX, no Artnet or ACN.

How can I import these lighting cues in any way into an Ion?

Thanks for your help.

Mike Evers (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Hi Mike,

I'm not very knowledgeable about Compulite consoles, do they support ASCII exports? That would be the best way to import basic cue data into Ion...

Graham

If the Compulite desk has MIDI you could even control both desks from 1 console.

Hi Graham,

There seems to be something like a "Compulite 4D to ASCII show file conversion util".

You advice this is the way to go? Ion natively supports ASCII show file imports?

Thanks for helping out!

Greetings from Mike

Mike, yes.  When you go to the browser, under File, you will see a selection called "Import."  There is an option to import an ASCII file there.  Please keep in mind that this may not be seamless.  Conventional fixtures should come across well, but we generally have a write significant code to understand multiple parameter devices - and this is specific to each manufacturers control desk - as the ASCII standard was not written to support this information very well.

Look forward to hearing how you get on though.    

Hope this helps.

a