VU/RTA Question

I have been searching for a piece of software just like DMX Control to control large bargraph meters using sections of PAR64 double hung truss (on end). I am still checking out the software to be sure its will do the job and have not purchased a USB-DMX interface yet.

My question:
The Winamp plugin is is a spectrum analyzer but I also see a radio button that says VU. Overall I am a bit confused at what the analyzer window controls do.

What I am hoping to output through dmx would be 10-20 channels of DMX control 1 channel for each level of the bargraph meter.

For example DMX1= -30dBU, DMX2= -20, DMX3= -10.... etc.

Do I have any hope of doing this using DMX Control or should I keep looking for other software?

Hey Christopher_Law: I'm not exactly sure of what your attempting, are u trying to set up a lighting display to look like the bargraphs of a spectrum analyzer displaying the range & peak values of each frequency? If so, very interesting display project, if not then please give a little more info on what exactly your trying to do.

Thats partly what I want to do but my application does not require the speration in to many frequency bands simply 1 full range (if possible) analized signal with different amplitude levels.

For example if my meter is 6 segments(fixtures) and I have a song that is 2/3 of maximum audio level at a particular time then lights 1-4 would light looking like this:

O Off or... DMX6 Off
O Off or... DMX5 Off
X On or... DMX4 On
X On or... DMX3 On
X On or... DMX2 On
X On or... DMX1 On

It looks like each band would be assigned to a light as the program is now but what I would require would be to have each level range (selected by that box type thing in the winamp plugin) control a light/DMX Ch.

Any chance I could get the program changed to do that?

Wazzup Chris!
Man I see we haven't gotten too many responses here. I hope that will change. Anyway I've been running all over the place very busy thats why I haven't had too much time to post. Anyway back to your project, any luck?.. The only thing I can figure is if you use the audio trigger input level (to activate the sound-to-light)and pre-set the look of your lights to different specific levels and save those settings as a cue. Obviously the problem with this is that you wont be able to affect changes on individual lights while adjusting the volume levels, in other words once you set the values of the lights to your liking and save as a cue when you raise the level of the sound all the lights will react, but atleast they do so with the same settings! I'm still not sure if this might help you as I would love to see such a project affecting different frequecies and somehow patching those frequencies to different DMX channels! ANYONE WILLING TO HELP??? I myself am no software programmer I'm more of a visionary..lol Anyway keep in touch & let us know how its going. Good luck

worshipwarrior

I have an idea that might work for this.

I will have a try and post back the results.

Richard

Only issue with doing a sound to light audio cue is that audio has an RMS or average value which a mixed signal has. This means that some of the lower level lights of the"meter" would nearly always be lit except for a quiet passage or end of the program souce. And to trigger off even just the kick or snare console channels would render the meter only active every few ms.

An RTA physical fixture would be pretty cool to see except for the cost thing with 10+ frequency bands x 5-10 levels for each band so a total of 50-100+ channels of dimming to make it look like the real deal!

To get back to the topic though below is a my MS paint rendering of what the VU tool could look like and might help to better explain what I'm trying to get out of my head!

One thing I didnt include in the drawing is a release time for the dimmer so once it has hit the trigger level for a DMX Ch it might take 5-50ms to turn off the dimmer this would help tame some of the constant on/off cycles with peaks in the music. This release time being editable would be nice but I don't want to get to picky.

Thanks for the help friends, it would be so amazing if we can figure this out. My other option is to trigger relays off of a LED meter kit and I really don't want to go that route!

Chris

[Blocked Image: http://www.dmxcontrol.de/yabb/YaBBAttach/DMX_Control_VU_Meter.JPG]

I have had a try with a few things and I don't think that it is possible with the current DMXControl software.

I think that it is a good idea so I will try to write a DMXControl plugin to do it.

One thing to remember is that you will probably need a DMX interface that you can configure the number of output channels, as outputting a full universe will probably make the chanel updates too slow to link the visual reactions to the audio.

Richard

Man, a plugin for this idea would be pretty darn cool. The fact that the display arrangement could be used as a theme-like set up alongside a lighting show done right would seem pretty cool to see. again it would have to be set-up just right (design wise.) Glad to know your on-board DJ-Dicky! Sorry I can't be too much more of help on this as far as the programming & stuff but if there is anything else that I may be of help just let me know. I'll continue to monitor. thanks for all your input guys! Lets keep Doing It!

worshipwarrior

Thanks worshipwarrior

If you want to help, the English Wiki is in desperate need of more work from as many people as we can get involved.

Thanks for you support of DMXControl

DJ Dicky

I know that this is not DMX

But have a look at https://forum.dmxcontrol-projects.org/www.web-ee.com…_vu/index.shtml

I new I had some info about this somewhere although it took a bit to find.

I think that it will do exactly what you want and will be quicker than waiting for me to make a plug-in

Dicky

DJ-Dicky,

At this point the resources at my disposal and my understanding of electronic design is no up to par with an undertaking of that sort. Control over DMX would be so much more versatile aspecially when sending out systems running off DMX Control and not a physical controller. I am looking to implement this meter effect for 3 months of daily events starting in December, that being said I am willing to wait a few weeks for a plugin if you would be willing to program one that is.

Thanks for the continued help guys!

Chris

Hey, I wanted to check to see if you were able to work on the audio VU plugin at all or if it will even be a possability?

Thanks!