Newbie Question on Inputs

mcastrigno · Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:27 pm

Hello. I am new to QLC+ and the DMX world in general so sorry if this is a basic question. I have Device on my network (Madrix Orion) that I want to detect data coming from it into QLC+.
I have a couple of questions here. The MADRIX Orion is configured to reflect digital values from its inputs.
1) I am not sure what kind of fixture/function/? to use in QLC+ to reflect data coming from it. I have attempted to use Simple Desk to see if the data is reflected on the sliders. I have not been successful in doing that.
2) In the attached screen shot you see that input has an IP address of 10.0.33.255 where as the outputs have ip addresses of 10.0.33.10 (correct) The 10.0.33.10 outputs work as expected but I don't understand where QLC is getting the address of 10.0.33.255 or how to have reflect the correct address.

Thank you in advance for any and all comments.

GGGss · Mon Feb 03, 2025 7:58 am

For each Artnet universe input, you need a separate QLC+ Universe configured.

I would start with two to keep complexity manageable... (the rest of the input universes, you can configure later on).

The 10.0.33.255 tells the network interface to listen for broadcast packets, which in your setup is correct...

If you want to check incoming values, the DMX monitor is the easiest way. https://docs.qlcplus.org/v4/main-window and https://docs.qlcplus.org/v4/main-window/dmx-monitor

Once you are set up... I'm eager to know what you are going to try to achieve.

mcastrigno · Mon Feb 03, 2025 4:26 pm

@GGGss Thank you for your reply. What I am trying to achieve is to test an existing setup of hardware. The attached photos show a display at a children's hospital which is part of the health system where I work as a software engineer. The display was made by a now defunct company. The computer inside died and we have no knowledge of it contents. I have been asked to fix this. Step one has been to figure out how this hardware works and test that it still does. I have been trying to use QLC+ to do this. The large number of universes is due to me struggling with the UI. It would not let me add a universe number of my choosing. To add universe 20 to match the configuration of the Madrix Orion device I had to add 20 universes. Numbers 11-19 will not be used. Numbers 1-10 are used by the controller device you see in the photo. It is configured to have a separate universe for each SPI output and one for the DMX output. The Madrix Orion device was not set to the broadcast address but I can try and change that. I will read the links you sent and see if I can get some results. This will take a few days due to logistical issues. I am replying before trying your links to see if more information would change your reply. Thank you.

mcastrigno · Mon Feb 03, 2025 4:52 pm

@GGGss I checked out the links to general documentation you provided but I did not find what I needed. I need to know what type of fixture and how to set it up and how to connect the network inputs to the fixture so that I can see the incoming messages reflected in the DMX view by some fixture changing state.

GGGss · Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:54 am

mcastrigno wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 4:26 pm @GGGss Thank you for your reply. What I am trying to achieve is to test an existing setup of hardware. The attached photos show a display at a children's hospital which is part of the health system where I work as a software engineer. The display was made by a now defunct company. The computer inside died and we have no knowledge of it contents. I have been asked to fix this. Step one has been to figure out how this hardware works and test that it still does. I have been trying to use QLC+ to do this. The large number of universes is due to me struggling with the UI. It would not let me add a universe number of my choosing. To add universe 20 to match the configuration of the Madrix Orion device I had to add 20 universes. Numbers 11-19 will not be used. Numbers 1-10 are used by the controller device you see in the photo. It is configured to have a separate universe for each SPI output and one for the DMX output. The Madrix Orion device was not set to the broadcast address but I can try and change that. I will read the links you sent and see if I can get some results. This will take a few days due to logistical issues. I am replying before trying your links to see if more information would change your reply. Thank you.

QLC+ does not need its internal Universes configured how your Artnet is arranged.
You can f.i. use QUniverse 2 as input which will listen to AUniverse 7...

But if it is solely to verify what is sent, you might be interested in DMX workshop. https://singularity-uk.com/product/dmx-workshop/ This freeware software solution lets you sniff the network and shows you how things are configured.
Once you understand the behind, you can start building a QLC+ project accordingly.
Nice project BTW

mcallegari · Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:07 pm

If you're using Art-Net, you can define the universe number to output in QLC+. (so for example universe 3 can output Art-Net universe 20)
I see no need here to use an expensive Madrix device when you can directly do everything with QLC+.
Is there anything in particular that is preventing you to do so?
I think a Raspberry Pi can manage the installation with no problem if properly configured.

mcastrigno · Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:50 pm

mcallegari wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:07 pm If you're using Art-Net, you can define the universe number to output in QLC+. (so for example universe 3 can output Art-Net universe 20)
I see no need here to use an expensive Madrix device when you can directly do everything with QLC+.
Is there anything in particular that is preventing you to do so?
I think a Raspberry Pi can manage the installation with no problem if properly configured.

Thank you for you reply
This is an existing installation. I have been asked to repair it, not redesign it. I do not have the authority to reconfigure this display. As a health care system we have strict rules on what can be connected to the network. They always have to be devices that allow enterprise management, like windows machines. This is not a show or dance party, this is something operating in the strict computing confines of a hospital.

The Madrix device provides a way to detect the button pushes. Yes you can do that with a Pi but I would never be allowed to use a Pi for Cyber security reasons that I cannot control.

Right now I am attempting to use QLC+ just to test this hardware. The PC that was part of this display is dead and has no recoverable information. The company who built this is out of business and we have no way of contacting anyone that worked on it.
So to my question, I need to know what type of fixture and how to set it up and how to connect the network inputs to the fixture so that I can see the incoming messages reflected in the DMX view by some fixture changing state. Can you help with that? Thank you.

MichelSliepenbeek · Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:48 pm

If your Madrix Orion is set up properly, when you press a button you should see a joy stick on your Inputs/Outputs Tab on the right in the bar for Universe 20.

Next step is to create an Input Profile (watch this video: https://youtu.be/DDKXLsjCYEI?si=2b9AjFjhz6zs5v1h).
On the first tab select DMX (instead of MIDI or OSC) and on the second tab use the Wizard, press your 7 buttons and apply usefull names.
Now apply this Input Profile for the Universe your Madrix Orion is in.

Then on your Virtual console create a Solo Frame with 7 buttons. For each button set the matching "Madrix Button" as External Control and add the Function that lights up one of the Led Strips.