USB DMX VCP?

[mostly_a_soundbot]

Hello

Seeking clarification on a point of USB DMX devices.

I understand from a couple of forum posts that the DMXking ultraDMX Micro has been successfully used with SCS.

DMXking ultraDMX Micro has apparently been replaced by the ultraDMX MAX.

In the ultraDMX MAX manual I quote:
"Software packages for USB DMX use either a Virtual COM Port (VCP) driver or FTDI specific D2XX driver. DMXking MAX series uses VCP which is more universal than FTDI D2XX" ...

Questions:
1. Does SCS support a Virtual COM Port (VCP) driver for devices like ultraDMX MAX?
2. If not is it in on the roadmap to include support?

Apol's if I have gotten some terms confused, LX is not my natural habitat.

Use case: for a 3 month unattended install and using LightFactory, I had to abandon the Enttec DMX Pro for the DMXking ultraDMX MAX because the Enttec would randomly disconnect from the computer. DMXking was 100% solid in comparision.

Thanks
Simon

[dee99]

SCS talks to the FTDI ftd2xX64.dll The FTDI D2XX API (ftd2xx.dll) is a direct driver interface provided by FTDI for interacting with their USB-to-serial devices without the need for a virtual COM port (VCP). Using the D2XX API allows you to bypass the virtual COM port and directly control the FTDI device at a lower level for better performance and additional functionality.

We would probably need to talk directly to the DMX king device via the com port. I know my older DMXKing max device just works in place of an Enttec pro device using the FTDI2xx method. We would need to obtain a DMXKing device for testing.

[mostly_a_soundbot]

Thanks for your reply Dee.

Just to add my confusion, I looked back on correspondence with the developer of Lightfactory. When I switched over to the ultraDMX MAX from the Enttec he said "don't uninstall the FTDI drivers, they are needed".

The simple answer is of course, to just try the ultraDMX MAX with the SCS demo. Which I will do... I'm just waiting for the silly season to be over so that I can make the most of the month of 60 mins demo.

[Mike Daniell]

Just a comment about the reliability of the ENTTEC DMX USB PRO: I have found ENTTEC interfaces to be rock solid but the USB connection can be an issue. My DMX USB PRO is many years old and I find the USB socket appears to have worn and I sometimes have to fiddle with the cable to establish a firm connection. I also have a DMX USB PRO MK2 (no longer sold by ENTTEC) which has a micro USB cable, and I found that this was unreliable until I swapped the cable with an equivalent cable that came with my phone. I recently loaned some equipment to a local theatre group and so I loaned them the MK2 and they had no problems with that (or with anything else!).

So my suspicion is that the problems you had with the ENTTEC device were due to the USB connection, not the interface itself.

[mostly_a_soundbot]

Hi Mike

Thanks for your input. I'm not piling on the Enttec (I know they work for thousands), it's just I was out of time and needed an instant solution, and replacing the interface did it. It was a new Enttec unit, new cable, newish PC. Wasn't a physical issue for sure. But I didn't have time to debug the software side of it. My hunch is there was a sensitivity to minor power fluctuations happening. Or perhaps it was faulty.

Simon

[mostly_a_soundbot]

Apol's corrected my name typo!