DMX Moving Head, Falcon & xLights (2018)
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- Опубликовано: 16 фев 2018
- DMX moving head lights are gaining popularity in lighting displays. We can automate them in xLights and run them from a Falcon F16V3. They're also a lot of fun!
2PC 60W RGBW Mini Beam Spot Moving Head Stage Light DMX Bar Party DJ Disco Light | eBay: ebay.to/2BZOUoN
Song: Milk Box [Rewind Remix Release]
Music provided by Rewind Remix: tinyurl.com/rewindremix
Artists: Art Yey
Song: Ocean Light [Rewind Remix Release]
Music provided by Rewind Remix: tinyurl.com/rewindremix
Artists: Dkuul
Song: Outerspace [Rewind Remix Release]
Music provided by Rewind Remix
Artist: DJ Nike.M
If you are new to the channel and want to learn how to do computer-controlled lighting, check out my Beginner playlist: • Beginner RGB Pixels
I also have a very basic online course for RGB Pixel beginners (please use this referral link): bit.ly/ccudemycourse (designed to bring someone up to speed quickly - you may not need to take this course if you've seen all my videos)
Affiliate link to stuff I recommend from Amazon US: amzn.to/2PJoNY5
Affiliate link to stuff I recommend from Amazon UK: amzn.to/2TqthEz
Affiliate link to Ray Wu's store on AliExpress: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/bEJTQvP6
Affiliate link to low-cost FM transmitter on eBay: ebay.to/2L6gzY9
Hardware and software:
Falcon Pixel Controllers: bit.ly/pixelcontroller
Falcon Player Software: bit.ly/falconplayerdownload
xLights sequencing software: xlights.org
Boscoyo Studio bit.ly/BoscoyoStudio
CFOL bit.ly/crockettfantasyoflights
Christmas Lighting Forums:
auschristmaslighting.com/forums/
diychristmas.org/vb1/index.php
doityourselfchristmas.com
falconchristmas.com/forum/
nutcracker123.com/forum/
www.planetchristmas.com
Facebook Groups:
Advanced RGB Pixels and Controllers bit.ly/2zEMrgX
FPP, Falcon Player bit.ly/2yvc7v3
Official xLights Support Group bit.ly/2zBMwnv
xLights Support Group bit.ly/2GU2TyC
and finally, if you like what I'm doing here and just want to donate a little do-re-mi, I'll gladly accept at www.paypal.me/JeffLacey. Thank you!
#ccrgbpixels #canispaterchristmas 
Хобби
Covers/enclosures: Well, these look promising. They come in different sizes. amzn.to/2ByaCAG
Excellent demo -- I can appreciate the work "behind the scenes" to stage that opening with the two heads pointing at the camera after "Resistance is fuuutile". Nice! The "newb" comment is a refreshing reminder that humility is a virtue. Thanks for the very useful info - I use SuperStar, so the forums there are helpful in how to sequence DMX moving heads with SS.
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Love the intro
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Resistance is Futile but resistors are Pixels best friends! Thanks Jeff!
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Best intro yet lol
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Very cool. I was wondering how DMX worked. Can't wait to see how you incorporate them in your display!
This is a case of have lights. Now, what to do with them... lol!
CanispaterChristmas yea I here you on that one!
Fantastic video, wish I had the space to use these.
That intro was outstanding, as a treckie I fully appreciate it. How did you do the Borg voice?
Thanks! Haha! I used some effects in GarageBand to mix it up a little. Not perfect, but achieve an effect that sounded close enough. lol!
Man those are great! I haven't even started my 1st Christmas show and now you show us these!!! Oh man I've got a ton to learn. Thanks as always for sharing. Your wife back to 100%?
Thanks! You don't have to do everything your first year! lol My wife is up to short walks without the walker, but not 100% yet. Baby steps. :)
Another Excellent Video. I'd be curious to see how these perform outdoors. I've seen many reviews of these smaller lights, but they're usually in a garage or basement. I have yet to see how they look when used outside at night. From what I've read is that that's one of the drawback with the smaller lights. Sure they wont perform as well as the big boys but I'm sure they'd do alright...atleast for a beginner.
Thanks! I’m thinking mounted on eaves pointing toward the ground. Shining them up in the air is probably pointless. I was really more interested in the whole getting them working aspect. Haha
how did you program the mini beem spotlight. what settings did you use? i noticed a flashing led on the display. mine does not do that
I'm no DMX expert so I may be of little help, but mine has the ability to change the DMX channel it's listening for. As I recall, I just went with the first available option. If it's higher than that, you may have to tweak something on the xLights/Falcon side. Also, I didn't have trouble with one, but when I added the second, they both went wacky until I terminated the DMX chain. It also depends on what your DMX device has in the way of features or channels supported. You might want to check the forums or chat with Gil. I kinda just kept trying things until it worked like I wanted.
informative...waiting for the enclosure build!
Thanks! That may take me a while. I haven't figured out where they are going just yet. :)
At 4:43 it shows the start channel as “DMX01:1.” Would you mind showing what you setup in the Controller tab of xLights? It’s obviously named DMX01 but I couldn’t find in this video where you show the Controller tab - unless I’m incredibly dense and missed it. I’m not new to pixel controllers and not new to DMX fixtures, but I’m definitely new to having them talk to each other. I’m using the Kulp16A-B board and have the wiring and FPP setup but no blinky blinky. Thank you!
Well, it's been a while since I looked at this and I don't have experience with the Kulp boards, but from what I remember, I didn't have to put anything special in xLights. I just had to assign the DMX address I was planning to use in the controller.
In the production world, coupling these with a haze machine allows you to see the whole beam. I've seen a display on RUclips that uses the beams for their star wars themed display but I'm curious if you have a way of creating "atmosphere" so the beam can be seen.
Some people use fog/haze machines in their displays. It's kinda dusty where I live so not usually a problem. LOL!
Hi Jeff, do you have any info on ways to connect up to 4 moving heads to a falcon controller? Daisy Chain? Thanks!
No info, that's a DMX thing, but yes, it's just a chain and you should be able to use all four on one chain (assuming you can set the DMX channel on the moving heads). Make sure to terminate the last one.
Jeff, great video, what cable config (ie pinouts) do you use to daisy chain the moving heads?
I'm not sure it matters as long as the pins match up. I actually used a standard XLR microphone cable between heads, but not sure that's good for long runs. The main thing is to terminate the last one in the chain otherwise you get signal reflection and it goes wacky.
Canispater Christmas aka Jeff looks like I’m reading this at the right time since it’s a recent response. How exactly do you terminate it after the last connection? I’ll be running one Chauvet geyser from the F16 and then from that geysers DMX out to a 2nd geysers DMX in.
Just bought my first pixels! Just curious i know just randomly buying some of Amazon is always questionable but these lights have a strange smell to them that have lasted about 2 weeks while airing out in the garage. When ordering from raywu should I expect the same thing? Anyways thanks for the great video.
That's just the smell of gorgeous lights. lol. Not sure what you mean. Mine always smell like plastic when I open them, but it doesn't linger. Might ask that on the forums to see if anyone else has experienced that.
If you are just getting started check out the ppu website u can create a free account and have access to the Facebook group and have a lot of questions answered
Hello!! Excellent videos!! I learned a lot from you !! Quick question how do you connect 4 moving head lights together ? Can I connect all four to falcon v3 controller
Mine had an input and an output so they were daisy-chainable (meaning one connection to the pixel controller). Some of the cheaper lights may not have both ins and outs, but generally DMX devices are chainable. You do have to terminate a DMX chain at the last device or crazy things happen.
@@CanispaterChristmas
Thank you so much!
Hi - I wanted to test my moving head and followed your method here but 2 things are happening - when in xlights - I have a dmx model setup as a 14 channel head - opened a sequence and attempted to learn the channels by moving the sliders but nothing is happening on my moving head. I know it's setup correctly because I run a test from xlights and output to just that universe and it does start moving so the channels/universe is setup properly. Is there something I should be doing in order to realtime test the sliders directly from xlights?
Make sure you tick output-to-lights so it will send data. Using an F16V3? Is the controller's serial ports configured properly? Which DMX port are you using off the controller?
Is the controller listening for the universe you're sending? A lot of possibilities...
Pre-coffee, sorry. Output to lights should do it.
how did you connect the lights to your pc what cable setup did you use?? thanks
I used a pixel controller (via Ethernet) since I mostly run RGB pixels. The controller has a DMX output to connect up the moving heads.
Great Video! You are always my trusted source! On a different note at 12:42 in this video you show the side of a building with PVC pipe sections with pixels or nodes. What are you building? Do you have a video showing this in action?
Haha. That's the wall washer. I have a whole series about that. It was a huge failure! lol! I think I finally found a solution for it though. Kinda working on that now.
@@CanispaterChristmas well I was intrigued! Thanks for all your videos! You are truly my go to for practical instruction!!
Having trouble replicating this with an F48, have you done that? Can't get xlights to send output to Falcon, keep getting error message.
Take a deep breath... now, what are you trying to do? LOL! Replacing what with an F48? Have I done what? xLights can't send to Falcon - are they on the same network? What's the error message?
@@CanispaterChristmas Thanks for the reply Jeff. I'm a newbie at this, with DMX history. Thanks to your videos and your rgb Udemy course I've been able to get a Stage show up and running with 6000 + pixels. Now I wanted to add a couple of DMX fixtures to the show. In your video you weren't using a F48, and the html page is different. It is looking for a universe as well as a start address. I'm assuming the start address needs to be between 1 - 512, but the universe confuses me. I plugged into DMX port 2. When I try to upload my setup from xLights to the Falcon, it says DMX must be in range 1-4, and fails. I'm using this for the stage musical Chicago, and the director thinks I'm a genius. Thanks to you I am (kinda).
Thanks! The start address needs to be whatever your DMX model's start address is. Go to 4:15 in the DMX video. When you hover over the start channel in xLights, it will tell you the absolute start channel address (channel number from 1 to however many channels you are using) AND the universe and start channel within that universe (1-512). I believe there is a setting on the Falcon where you can either use absolute addressing or universe-based addressing, but I'm not in front of one atm. I could also be thinking of something else. :) Also, try running "check sequence" from the tools menu in xLights. That should show a report of what it's complaining about. Then, you might try posting on the forums - plenty of really smart folks over there that can get you a better answer more quickly. I'm not a DMX expert. I just got some lights working. lol! I hope you remain a genius. :)
can xlights run relays for the old stile lights?
xLights has AC light controls. You still need a controller to actually do the controlling.
How could I go about using DMX fixtures AND a smart receiver. It appears the smart receiver takes up all of the serial outputs.
It can if you use all 4 ports. If you need DMX plus additional expansion, there are expansion (differential and 16-port) cards available.
I was just wondering how do u weather proof your movable head lights
I keep them in the shed. LOL! I saw some globes on Amazon that might help, but didn't put them out last year. Also might mount them under the eaves.
Another fantastic video! I have learned a lot from them (and you) so here is a question, is there a program that is just DMX as I run the LOR that can transfer DMX to their format or can xlights do this (DMX that is)? Thanks again for the video! Awesome intro!
Thanks! Well, xLights does have an LOR output, but I'm not familiar with it. You might ask over on the xLights forum or xLights Facebook group. Now, E1.31 is DMX over ethernet and that is typically what everyone running pixels uses. I use an F16v3 controller that has DMX outputs so people running a hybrid display (pixels and LOR) can run their pixels from the controller AND output DMX to the LOR side and run everything from xLights/FPP.
Thank you, I'll look and appreciate the help!
These will work in LOR. They are sequenced the same way. I'm using lor 5.6 pro
I'm confused. The cable that you made does not seem
to jibe with the F16v3 Table 3-1: Serial Output Port Pinouts.
To me it looks like Pin 1 and Pin 3 should be swapped.
Am I seeing this wrong?
The chart is a little confusing. The PIN numbers are for the RJ-45. DMX connectors are 1 = GND, 2 = DATA- and 3 = DATA+
@@CanispaterChristmas Thank You. That clears it up.
I know this video is a couple of years old. But, do you use the moving head lights in your display?
Haha. Not yet. I haven't figured out a good mounting solution for them. They aren't weatherproof so I'm thinking under eaves or something like that shining down on the ground or some kind of contraption to keep them out of the elements. There are globes, but I haven't tried them. Do you have any?
@@CanispaterChristmas I haven't purchased any yet. I started looking for some. But, I still don't know how I would use them. Mounting them on the roof like Betgeorge and you almost need the expensive kind that can send beams. The cheap ones wouldn't look good. I'm not ready to put up that kind of cash for just a fun hobby. I'll probably get some at some point because I always want more toys to play with. But, I'm with you in how to make them weather proof.
Another great and entertaining video. Now I want some move head lights for my display :(
It's good practice to silicon sleeve or heatshrink the terminations on Cannon connectors.
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Any ideas for outdoor covering? Also how far were you from your fence?
Still researching that. I’ve seen old aquariums used as a cover but would rather use a clear globe. About 50feet.
So they had pretty good light intensity for 50 feet.
Not horrible at dusk. I may see if pointing them straight up has any affect but they’re probably better suited shining against the house or on the ground from above.
Did you have to use a terminator after your last moving head? Struggling to get my Chauvet Geysers working properly and wondering if that might be my issue?
Yes. Terminate the last device in a DMX chain or you'll get reflected signal and everything goes haywire.
Canispater Christmas aka Jeff so on my sequence I have it set up to only light the led’s red but when I play the sequence to output to lights the thing strobes and shoots fog out like it’s going crazy haha. If I purchase a DMX terminator and plug into the DMX output in that fixture it should solve that?
Probably, unless something else is going on. Mine worked without a terminator with just one moving head (and a short cable) then they both went crazy when I added the 2nd one until I terminated the chain.
Canispater Christmas aka Jeff thanks I just ordered a couple and hope that’s it. These things have been driving me crazy for a week now.
They do take a little getting use to, but once you get it, it all makes sense.
By chance do you know what it means when a turtle shows up on the lower right corner of the scheduler?
I’m not certain, but something is running slow. Might be having trouble sending data to a controller. Or it can’t push that much data for some reason. Just guessing, but something is running slow.
@@CanispaterChristmas thank you for your response. Guess I have some trouble shooting to do. It worked the same sequence fine a few months ago
You might ask Keith on Facebook or the forums to be sure. I checked last night on mine. The controllers were not connected, but I didn't get a turtle so not really sure what that is though I have seen it before. May be frame-rate related. Totally guessing here, but Keith will know.
I bought a set of 12 channel dmx moving head spot Beam and not the expensive once since our house is in the area where lots of airplane flies by. Anyhow could you help me out getting it set up? The manual is horrible.
This video is the full extent of my knowledge on the subject. If you have questions, I'd refer you to the xLights FB group and ask there. Gil is the most knowledgeable wrt DMX/xLights, but there are tons of smart folks that can help you better in there. I just added a moving-head model to my layout and animated the channels. There was some testing to figure it out, but you kinda get the hang of it after playing around with it a little. Just make sure to terminate the DMX chain at the last head, otherwise crazy things happen. 😂
@@CanispaterChristmas sounds good! I will check around. Appreciate the prompt response
FYI DMX is almost always 5 Pin XLR cable. 3 Pin is almost exclusively used by cheaper off brand fixtures since it's a cheaper and more common connector. Not that it effects what you're doing here, but hey the more you know.
Also, as someone who comes from the realm of concert and theatrical lighting and who doesn't have very much experience with controlling pixels, you do a great job at explaining everything and it's very informative!
Haha. Thanks! Yeah, I think most of the DMX we use for our displays is going to be the "cheaper off brand fixtures". :) Justifying the expense of a pro-level light is tough for most and not really needed as pixels themselves used for a residential holiday display are unique enough. There is a fair amount of experimentation in the hobby so that's why some use DMX-controlled fixtures, but it's probably very low on a percentage basis. It's cool that it's available, especially if you have access to "test" some pro lights. lol! Welcome aboard!
How are you going to waterproof these lights?
HAHA. The main reason they are still in the shed. I have seen some globes that might work, but I haven't moved on them yet. I also think mounting them up high would be better anyway since the light level isn't too high with these cheap ones and only good to shine on the ground. They won't make sky beams.
Can you do a video on how to sequence the moving heads. Getting the pan/ tilt movement to sync up with music timing is not easy.
I think with those, it's a lot of trial-and-error. I don't have any tricks for it. I'll take a look and see what I can do tho.
@@CanispaterChristmas hey I was wondering if you ever made a video on sequenceing theses if I want them to move back and fourth do I have to use just a bunch of dmx effects next to each other
@@michaeltucholski7498 I haven't done a video, but that's about it. You can use the value curves to do movement.
Awesome thank you for another epic video only another 107 days left
@@michaeltucholski7498 Yes, but only 80 days until lights on! lol!
Hello how do I get xlights program?
You can download it from xlights.org. They have a downloads page and a ton of how to videos.
I followed all these steps and my display works great. but when i use falcon player these do not work. what am i missing here. i have the exact same moving heads you have.
Sounds like FPP isn't configured properly. Did you send the inputs and outputs to it from xLights?
Or possibly proxy objects?
I don't see proxy objects. I tried adding dxm-pro / dmx-open in FPP but no luck. In the falcon controller the moving heads are set up on serial data universe 14 & 15 ch 1.
I'm specifically referring to using xLights to program FPP. Do you know how to do that? Do you have it set up like Keith explains about halfway through this video: ruclips.net/video/xtemNvNfsMw/видео.html
I wonder how long it took to make the intro.
Haha! Once I had everything hooked up, not long. Maybe 30 min for the lights. Another 30 to find the right voice effects. lol!
@@CanispaterChristmas jeez that's a lot of time lol btw I'm going through and watching all of your videos
How far from the controller can you go.
DMX standard says 1,000-1,500 feet (300-460m) assuming you mean the DMX cabling. I tested about 20-feet.
I would love to see a video of someone *cough*Canispater*cough* waterproofing one of these for outdoor use. Weather is pretty unpredictable here.
Haha. I don't have good waterproofing foo, but I have seen some interesting experiments. Fish tanks, etc. Photo quality glass is expensive from what I understand. Be nice if someone made a nice globe for them.
Hi Jeff,
I'm having heck of a time getting things to work with my F48 and my light. When I do a test it runs and move the lights but when I use Xlight it doesn't.
SETUP
Network: E131
Port: 192.168.0.98
Universe or ID: 2
Num Chan 510
xlights: channel 1-510
Active: Yes
LAYOUT
#channels: 11 (per my light)
Start Channel: #2:23
F48
E131/Artnet: #2 start channel 23
SERIAL OUTPUT
#3 serial data, type dmx, start address 23
Still not able to move the light after clicking output to light. I can see the packet count but nothing happens to the light.
Any thing would help.
Found a glitch in Xlights. You have to add the DMX to your sequence the second time otherwise it will not move the light. Weird....
I was going to say, it sounds like addressing is off somewhere, but if you found a glitch, you might post an issue in the github for xlights.
So i Originally got these 60W DMX Moving heads last year and programmed my show. I put them out in the yard and you can barely notice them next to the Mega Tree. This year (2020) I decided to beef them up and went with the 7r 230W Moving heads that come with Gobo wheels. photos.app.goo.gl/7R3dgX6prGQvRbv76 so now i have to import new DMX devices as these bigger units are 16 channels. But i have already implemented them is several shows. I cant wait for Christmas.
Are they weatherproof or do you have them inside something?
THEY ARE ONLY 6 WATTS I HAVE SOME AND I HAVE TESTED IT
Thanks! That did sound a tad high for the light it produced.
CanispaterChristmas we call these small lights. Toys. My new set up I am working on has 4000 pixel. Screen from WS2812b strips. 4x Robe Robin Pointe. 8x Martin Mac Aura XB moving wash. 12X RGBWAUV LED pars. All dmx over artnet to link in time code to run with the pixels and a fireworks firing system. For music synchronised display. Up to 5inch ball shells. I know it's a bit full on but I need to do better than the previous year display
Pyrotechnics!? NOW WE’RE TALKING! :) Neighbors probably wouldn’t like that though. LOL!
CanispaterChristmas meh. I'm not worried. Check out the fireworks videos on my channel
Ah the Chinese micro led beam
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those moving heads are only 10 watts not 60watts
Thanks!
Hi Jeff what address does the moving light get programmed to
Which address do you mean. I was able to set the DMX address on mine. I think I chose 0 and 1 or 1 and 2. Can't remember.