Question pls for other Chauvet D-Fi users. My Chauvet TX and RX are so easy to get up and running, they are solid in connection, and good battery life. HOWEVER I have a small issue that I found through experimentation is defo due to the Chauvet TX and RX devices. AL funtion work but when trying to perform a slow smooth fade either manually or using a preset chase etc THE FADE IS NOT SMOOTH (IT IS FADES IN STEPS almost ike a slow strobe) and not matter what I have tried the issue remains with the Chauvet TX / RX. Cable connection the slow fades are perfect. I also tried cable to first fixture, then used the Chauvet TX / RX from the first fixture the second fixture . . . . reslt was the fisrt fixture fades lovely and smooth, the second fixture (connected with the Chauvet TX RX only fades in a step action. Have turned off all other 2.4Ghz wifi gear around the place, tried different distances, but still have the issue. This happens with different light desks and different fixtures. Unfortunately the only thing I haven't tried is the obvious . . . . i.e. buying a new TX and/or RX but I ain't wasting my money if the issue is with the all the devices. ANY IDES PPL ?
Currently, I am using the Donner system with the Chauvet obey 40 dmx board. Just out of curiosity one time, I took one of my lights out of my house and walked way down the street with it. I don't know how many feet I got before I started losing signal, but I know that I walked about six or seven houses down the street before it started acting weird. In terms of battery life, my daughters get anywhere from 7 to 9 hours. But I always keep a few extras charged up at gigs just in case I need to switch them out.
I can't speak for the Chauvets, but speaking from experience with the Donners, since they can be either a DMX xmitter or a DMX receiver, you absolutely, 100%, without a doubt need terminators if you're running cables between a group of lights behind a wireless DMX receiver. The Donners switch from receiver to xmitter based on whether or not they see a DMX signal on the pins. Based on that, if you have no terminator, the signal reflection that's inherent to running cables can cause the receiver to switch to transmitter very briefly. As it switches, the other receivers now start getting a signal from multiple transmitters on the same channel. If that happens, DMX devices will miss cues and could cause them to go a little nuts. For safety reasons, this is bad if you're using spark machines, flame projectors, or DMX controlled lasers (which I beg, please use laser control software with an ILDA connection and don't use DMX for lasers).
The longest I've gone so far with them is 7 hours and they still worked with no issues. For most events, I use them in the 4-5 hour timeframe and they always worked with no problems. I've never plugged them in while using them, so I would imagine that if you did that, they would last forever. But I cant say for sure.
@@dj-kalifornia Yeah that's fine for some events but installations can last a lot longer so it's kind of vital that they can work for 10 hours or even more. Well if you try it once and you remember leave a comment here for the future :)
I have several Rockville wireless DMX lights and the Both Lighting 360 tubes and they communicate with my Donner dongles so I don't see switching to Chauvet.
The Chauvet units are a bit higher quality, smaller, have a further range, will transmit/receive around corners (no direct line of sight) and last longer in terms of battery strength. The main issue with the Donner/Chinly/Lixada units is that they fail out of no where. There is zero quality control so while they do work for many people, a lot of people have reported that they just suddenly quit or stopped working all of a sudden. Many have also reported that their units were dead on arrival as soon as they got them. These are just some things that people have to think about when they decide to order lower quality or cheaper units.
I haven't used it yet with Soundswitch but it should work with no issues, just like any other wireless dongle. It's essentially just like using an old school traditional DMX cable, but in a wireless way.
great video, my question is with the chauvet d-fi, when you plug a receiver into a light fixture, can you daisy chain (master/slave) using standard dmx cables into the next light fixture? if so, how many lights can you do this with? thanks!
I bought some Chauvet freedom Q lights and I’ve been trying to connect wirelessly with a Rockville board with a DMX transmitter with no luck. Would you happen to know if the different brands incompatible? I use the Rockville dmx receivers with both Chauvet lights and Rockville lights and they work fine for what I need. I just can’t get the Freedom Chavet lights to receive dmx🤷♂️ I probably need to buy some chavet transmitters and receivers.
My Donners have no consistency with battery life. Some kick out at 2-3 hours, others at 5, others at 9. All 7 came in the same pack. I hear the best are the chamsys
@@Mobile_Nightclub_Project each one has a small hole. You use a small tool and push the button. That changes the color/channel. You have to make sure the rest including the transmitter are on the same color
You can not. You have to use Chauvet transmitters with their receivers. Same with the Donners/Lixadas/Chinsly's. They all have to match with each other.
Thanks for your information I was going to buy the chinly donner or Chuvet Di-fi you have helped me decide. Can I plug it to a basic Soundswitch controller? Will that work?
Yes, you absolutely can. They are just wireless DMX, and work the same way as having a traditional DMX cable. They will work with any interface or software.
You can leave them plugged in and still have them work so I don't see any reason why a power bank wouldnt work either. It's essentially just like plugging them into a standard outlet.
I haven't tested it with ILS but I dont see any reason why you cant. It's basically like just connecting a standard DMX cable to your lighting fixtures, but in a wireless way.
NO, you have to turn on both the receiver and transmitter together. They have small little switches on them that you move to turn them on and off. But once they both are on, they do automatically connect to each other as long as you have them all on the same channel.
No, you would have to hit the little switch to turn them off. Otherwise, if you don't do that and just let them run, then the battery will die on them and they will turn off on their own at that point.
Hi Josh, got a question: somebody sold me 2 moving heads where he put a dmx receiver inside. Buying the chauvet stick i thought i could connect to them. Unfortunately i've tried the 16 channels. It didn't work. Any idea ? Thanks
Hey there! Without knowing what type of receiver they put inside and how they connected it, I don't think I would be much help to you on this one. However, I have seen this with other equipment (like uplights as an example) where if there's a receiver inside a piece of hardware already and you're connecting another receiver to it, they most likely are fighting with each other to get the signal from the transmitter. Also, if the receiver inside is stuck on a certain channel and you're not able to change it, then that could be another issue because the internal receiver could be on a completely different channel than what the transmitter is on. My suggestion would be to open up the moving heads if you can, and tear that DMX receiver out, and then use your external dongles so that everything matches and you have full control over the channels. Plus, you won't have 2 dongles fighting with each other if they are not compatible.
Thanks Joe! I don't use DMX controllers. I use software based DMX. I'll use ShowXpress for bigger lighting rigs or more advanced light control. For small to mid size events and easy lighting control, I'll use MyDMXGo.
Hey thanks for the info! Q - Can the Chauvet dongles operate if they're plugged in with their mini-usb getting power or will they only operate when not powered and changed? thanks!
They'll still operate if you plug them in but you really might not need to. I've done gigs that were 8-9 hours and they still worked perfectly fine on battery power.
Thank you for the review, trusted Chauvet for 20 years, I am ready to go wireless now and you have confirmed my instincts to go with Chauvet.
Question pls for other Chauvet D-Fi users. My Chauvet TX and RX are so easy to get up and running, they are solid in connection, and good battery life. HOWEVER I have a small issue that I found through experimentation is defo due to the Chauvet TX and RX devices. AL funtion work but when trying to perform a slow smooth fade either manually or using a preset chase etc THE FADE IS NOT SMOOTH (IT IS FADES IN STEPS almost ike a slow strobe) and not matter what I have tried the issue remains with the Chauvet TX / RX. Cable connection the slow fades are perfect. I also tried cable to first fixture, then used the Chauvet TX / RX from the first fixture the second fixture . . . . reslt was the fisrt fixture fades lovely and smooth, the second fixture (connected with the Chauvet TX RX only fades in a step action. Have turned off all other 2.4Ghz wifi gear around the place, tried different distances, but still have the issue. This happens with different light desks and different fixtures. Unfortunately the only thing I haven't tried is the obvious . . . . i.e. buying a new TX and/or RX but I ain't wasting my money if the issue is with the all the devices. ANY IDES PPL ?
Currently, I am using the Donner system with the Chauvet obey 40 dmx board. Just out of curiosity one time, I took one of my lights out of my house and walked way down the street with it. I don't know how many feet I got before I started losing signal, but I know that I walked about six or seven houses down the street before it started acting weird.
In terms of battery life, my daughters get anywhere from 7 to 9 hours. But I always keep a few extras charged up at gigs just in case I need to switch them out.
Awesome review very detailed thank you so much
I can't speak for the Chauvets, but speaking from experience with the Donners, since they can be either a DMX xmitter or a DMX receiver, you absolutely, 100%, without a doubt need terminators if you're running cables between a group of lights behind a wireless DMX receiver. The Donners switch from receiver to xmitter based on whether or not they see a DMX signal on the pins. Based on that, if you have no terminator, the signal reflection that's inherent to running cables can cause the receiver to switch to transmitter very briefly. As it switches, the other receivers now start getting a signal from multiple transmitters on the same channel. If that happens, DMX devices will miss cues and could cause them to go a little nuts. For safety reasons, this is bad if you're using spark machines, flame projectors, or DMX controlled lasers (which I beg, please use laser control software with an ILDA connection and don't use DMX for lasers).
Thanks for info. Was hoping to save a few bucks but I knew how this was going to go... lol... buy it nice... don't buy it twice... lol...
would these chauvet also work with lights (both light tubes) that have wireless dmx built in?
Great comparison video!
Thanks my dude!
Will the Chauvets work with Both Lighting IR4 up lights? Those lights work with the donner transmitter but not sure if they’d work with the Chauvet
Great stuff. Question:
Can you use the Chauvets while plugged in, for as long as you want without the battery dying? Thx!
The longest I've gone so far with them is 7 hours and they still worked with no issues. For most events, I use them in the 4-5 hour timeframe and they always worked with no problems.
I've never plugged them in while using them, so I would imagine that if you did that, they would last forever. But I cant say for sure.
@@dj-kalifornia Yeah that's fine for some events but installations can last a lot longer so it's kind of vital that they can work for 10 hours or even more. Well if you try it once and you remember leave a comment here for the future :)
I have several Rockville wireless DMX lights and the Both Lighting 360 tubes and they communicate with my Donner dongles so I don't see switching to Chauvet.
The Chauvet units are a bit higher quality, smaller, have a further range, will transmit/receive around corners (no direct line of sight) and last longer in terms of battery strength. The main issue with the Donner/Chinly/Lixada units is that they fail out of no where. There is zero quality control so while they do work for many people, a lot of people have reported that they just suddenly quit or stopped working all of a sudden. Many have also reported that their units were dead on arrival as soon as they got them. These are just some things that people have to think about when they decide to order lower quality or cheaper units.
Thank for posting this, you really break it down to everything I needed to know.Do you know how I performs with sound switch?
I haven't used it yet with Soundswitch but it should work with no issues, just like any other wireless dongle. It's essentially just like using an old school traditional DMX cable, but in a wireless way.
thanks for the video. what type of light panel is that in your background?
It's the Chauvet SlimBEAM Quad
@@dj-kalifornia nice. Thanks man
Great review! Thanks!
No problem!
Hello sir, how may transmitters can you use with 1 receiver
I've only tested it with one transmitter but I've used 12 receivers and everything worked with no issues. :)
@@dj-kalifornia nice. I think the most I'll use is 10.
great video, my question is with the chauvet d-fi, when you plug a receiver into a light fixture, can you daisy chain (master/slave) using standard dmx cables into the next light fixture? if so, how many lights can you do this with? thanks!
I bought some Chauvet freedom Q lights and I’ve been trying to connect wirelessly with a Rockville board with a DMX transmitter with no luck. Would you happen to know if the different brands incompatible? I use the Rockville dmx receivers with both Chauvet lights and Rockville lights and they work fine for what I need. I just can’t get the Freedom Chavet lights to receive dmx🤷♂️ I probably need to buy some chavet transmitters and receivers.
My Donners have no consistency with battery life. Some kick out at 2-3 hours, others at 5, others at 9. All 7 came in the same pack. I hear the best are the chamsys
Great video :) I use the Donner's, most of the time they are flawless, but occasionally one drops out, it may be interference in the building.
I have found that if you change the channels at each venue, much like you do with wireless mics, it helps a lot with dropouts and interference. :)
@@dj-kalifornia How do you change the channels? I threw the instructions away years ago :)
@@Mobile_Nightclub_Project each one has a small hole. You use a small tool and push the button. That changes the color/channel. You have to make sure the rest including the transmitter are on the same color
Great job. Can you use the chauvet transmitter with the donner receivers?
You can not. You have to use Chauvet transmitters with their receivers. Same with the Donners/Lixadas/Chinsly's. They all have to match with each other.
Thanks for your information I was going to buy the chinly donner or Chuvet Di-fi you have helped me decide. Can I plug it to a basic Soundswitch controller? Will that work?
Yes, you absolutely can. They are just wireless DMX, and work the same way as having a traditional DMX cable. They will work with any interface or software.
one question i have. can you use chauvet dongles while charging them with a powerbank? That way you can extend the working time.
You can leave them plugged in and still have them work so I don't see any reason why a power bank wouldnt work either. It's essentially just like plugging them into a standard outlet.
Can we connect gigbar ILS with D-fi?
I haven't tested it with ILS but I dont see any reason why you cant. It's basically like just connecting a standard DMX cable to your lighting fixtures, but in a wireless way.
Do chouvet recievers turn automatically when are connected to the transmitter?
NO, you have to turn on both the receiver and transmitter together. They have small little switches on them that you move to turn them on and off. But once they both are on, they do automatically connect to each other as long as you have them all on the same channel.
@@dj-kaliforniawhat about turning off. If I turn the transmitter off, recievers will turn off automatically?
No, you would have to hit the little switch to turn them off. Otherwise, if you don't do that and just let them run, then the battery will die on them and they will turn off on their own at that point.
Hi Josh, got a question: somebody sold me 2 moving heads where he put a dmx receiver inside. Buying the chauvet stick i thought i could connect to them. Unfortunately i've tried the 16 channels. It didn't work. Any idea ?
Thanks
Hey there! Without knowing what type of receiver they put inside and how they connected it, I don't think I would be much help to you on this one. However, I have seen this with other equipment (like uplights as an example) where if there's a receiver inside a piece of hardware already and you're connecting another receiver to it, they most likely are fighting with each other to get the signal from the transmitter.
Also, if the receiver inside is stuck on a certain channel and you're not able to change it, then that could be another issue because the internal receiver could be on a completely different channel than what the transmitter is on. My suggestion would be to open up the moving heads if you can, and tear that DMX receiver out, and then use your external dongles so that everything matches and you have full control over the channels. Plus, you won't have 2 dongles fighting with each other if they are not compatible.
Great Video! Very authentic. What controllers do you like?
Thanks Joe! I don't use DMX controllers. I use software based DMX. I'll use ShowXpress for bigger lighting rigs or more advanced light control. For small to mid size events and easy lighting control, I'll use MyDMXGo.
Can the Chauvet be used with fixtures from other brands such as ADJ etc..?
Absolutely! In fact, I use them with my ADJ Inno Pocket Spots! :)
@@dj-kalifornia Awesome thanks!
@@alblinx6158 No prob! :)
Hey thanks for the info!
Q - Can the Chauvet dongles operate if they're plugged in with their mini-usb getting power or will they only operate when not powered and changed? thanks!
They'll still operate if you plug them in but you really might not need to. I've done gigs that were 8-9 hours and they still worked perfectly fine on battery power.
Cheaper is never better.
I’m too busy djing to play with lights. So I use soundswitch with auto scripts. Works perfectly
Yeah but u pay for that which sucks. The WMX1 is a beast and does the same thing plus more
I've played around with the WMX1 and you're right...that thing is incredible!
i have dropouts within 10 ft inside my office
With what?
Thank you for getting right to the point. One of the best videos for a dmx beginner. @dj.ai_ thank you again