Help? Input..?

So. We have one sensor rack (has ethernet plug on front, DMX cable /input isn't accessable at all) We have a ETC Express 24/48 connected to it (has universe 2 still free along with free ethernet plugin) the board is in the booth... far away from the rack fyi). For a upcoming show we would like to put a moving gobo, & gel scrollers (color changers whatever you want to call them) In this show. How can we put the moving gobo and gel scrollers "in the system" so that our board is connected to the rack & the moving gobo and gel scrollers..

Added info... We have computers and also could have two board operators..( one in booth controlling rack and one near the moving gobo and color scrollers.....We cannot : run another DMX cord from booth to moving gobos/ color scrollers. 

Could we... ? Make the board wireless? Cut out the express and run it all by laptop/computer? can we take the DMX that connects the moving gobos and color scrollers and make that USB or Ethernet? and if we did could we hook the ethernet up to the board...

Any ideas what so ever??? 

:P

Also we were looking for some moving gobos, (we already have color changers) also we were looking for some DMX-USB or DMX-Ethernet, and also some computer programs that can run lighting ... that is if we can get the DMX-USB or DMX-Ethernet... 

Thanks

**Reposted to go under more acceptable forum topic

  •  

    Hello John

    So you have a bit to address

    The short answer is that the ideal way to do this is by using the 2nd DMX output from the board. First question: If you cannot do this for whatever reason; do you have another DMX input panel anywhere else in the space? This might allow you to ‘grab’ DMX and route it to where you need it. {There are a number of caveats in doing this}. If the DMX only runs from the booth to the rack then you are in a bit of a pickle. You could hire an authorized ETC tech to come in and install a jump from the rack to a DMX output panel in the dimmer room. You would then need to run cable from there to the gobos/scrollers. (You should also use some sort of Opto-Isolator in-between)  

    About the Sensor rack:

    The DMX would be ‘hard wired’ on the inside of the rack. (Your first port of DMX goes from the board to the wall and then through the wall to the rack. The RJ45 connector you see on the front is not Ethernet. It is in place for technician programming of the rack via SLTA (Serial LongTalk Adapter).

    Could we:

    Make the board wireless?

    Yes…you can buy external equipment to do this but it would be quite odd in your situation as you would still need to go from the wireless DMX to a hard line in the booth (for rack control

    Cut out the express and run it all by laptop/computer:

    Yes… (If you by a control program that allows for DMX output from a computer to DMX. ETC Off-Line does not allow this and you will still need to run DMX cable. Also note the before mentioned info that the port on the front of the rack is not Ethernet.  

    Can we take the DMX that connects the moving gobos and color scrollers and make that USB or Ethernet? and if we did could we hook the Ethernet up to the board...

    Yes…You will need to buy ETC Net2 Nodes and an Ethernet switch. {Ethernet from the switch to the board, Input Node (1), and Output Nodes (# as needed)} You would still need to get cable from the board to the Output node location and if you could do this then you would be better off running a DMX cable from the 2nd DMX port to your units.

    Let me know if you still have questions…Or, as you seem to have an ETC installed system, you can call ETC and have them look at your job prints to see if there is something in place that you are note seeing.

    Sincerely,

    Mike

     

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