This is the archive, no???

LSC Lighting Announces NEXUS Ethernet/DMX Converters

The NEXUS range is the latest addition to LSC’s Data Distribution products and offers conversion between DMX512 signals and Ethernet and currently supports both the Art-Net and Streaming ACN (SACN) protocols.

NEXUS provides the ability to convert between the two most popular Ethernet protocols namely Art-Net and Streaming ACN (SACN) and DMX512. Going further than your average converter, NEXUS allows users to:

  • merge two universes onto a single port on an LTP or HTP basis by universe or by slot (channel)
  • Soft patch across multiple universes
  • Auto switch between two assigned universes for redundancy purposes
  • Merge two universes and resend these as new Art-Net or SACN stream

Three models are available namely a single port portable Ethernet / DMX converter, a 5-port rack-mount Ethernet / DMX512 converter and a 5-port truss-mount Ethernet / DMX512 converter. Powercon power input connectors are available as an option on the 5-port units. The single port unit is powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE).

The units are supplied with female DMX512 connectors as conversion from Art-Net / SACN to DMX512 is the most common use for these units. However with the appropriate sex-change connectors, any unit can be configured for DMX512 to Art-Net/SACN conversion. In fact in the 5-port versions it is possible to configure a mixture of DMX512 ports; some as inputs and some as outputs making the system extremely flexible.

Complimentary to the NEXUS range of products is NexLan software. With versions available to run on Windows, Mac and other platforms, NexLan software is free and used to configure and monitor the NEXUS range of products.

You can find more information on the new NEXUS range at LSC’s website www.lsclighting.com.

Revision of ACN Standards Up for Review

All right, all you control freaks, (I mean that in a good way), get your thinking caps on.  The ESTA Technical Standards Program just announced that the revisions of the ACN or Architecture for Control Networks protocol documents are up for public review.

If you are smart and can understand the documents, ESTA is calling on you for your help in reviewing and making sure this standard is well, up to standards!  Here is a little background on the document up for public review:

BSR E1.17-201x is a revision of ANSI E1.17-2006, Entertainment Technology – Architecture for Control Networks (ACN), which is a suite of documents that specifies an architecture, including protocols and language, that may be configured and combined with other standard protocols to form flexible, networked audio, lighting, or other control systems. It can be implemented on networks that support UDP, IP, and related protocols. The revision is to correct errors and to improve functionality.

What are you waiting for?  Head over to the TSP site and download the documents and review them! All documents and review forms must be back to ESTA by August 24, 2010.

Review: Pathport Touring Edition Node

Pathport TE asleep

Last year, right before LDI, we did a pre show announcement about Pathway Connectivity preparing to announce their latest DMX node called the Parthport Touring Edition.  After a couple months of refinement and beta testing and getting the bugs worked out, Pathway has begun to ship the Touring Edition Node.  The folks at Pathway Connectivity were kind enough to send us a unit to write a review.

First, a little bit about the Pathport Touring Node:

The Pathport Touring Edition Node is designed with the needs of the rental and tour markets in mind.  The Touring Edition (TE) is fully configurable without need of a computer or network connection. This truss-mountable single port DMX node has an IP 54 weather rating and the full feature set of all Pathport nodes.  It’s also the first Pathport to incorporate DMX diagnostic tools directly from the user menu.  The TE will report incoming levels as well as transmit DMX to test downstream equipment and connections. The TE is also the first handheld RDM  controller and tester.  The TE can discover any RDM-compliant gear downstream.  It can also edit basic device properties such as DMX start address.

Click through to read our review and close up shots of the TE:  (more…)

New ESTA Protocol Magazine Out

protocol_spring09-coverRight before we left for our nice long memorial day weekend, we received the latest issue of ESTA’s Protocol magazine in the mail. While relaxing in the shade, we had a chance to read the magazine from cover to cover.

The cover article, ACN and RDM, Working together to add real value, caught our eye and was read first.  The article explains the uses and development of ACN and RDM within the entertainment lighting industry. The article covers how to leading manufacturers are working together to bring the standards together across the industry.  We highly recommend reading to article as ACN and RDM are becoming increasingly common place in the industry.  You can download the PDF of the entire article here.

In addition to the ACN and RDM article is another article on the implementation and usage of DDL (Device Description Language) which works hand in hand with ACN.  You can download and read the complete article here.

The ESTA Protocol magazine covers news and updates on industry standards.  It is avilable for reading online or you can sign up and receive your very own copy in the mail for free.

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