ADJ Mega Bar Pro Master/Slave Question

Mega bars do not operate that way. If your using dmx why not put them in a lower channel mode and run the units sound active? 6 and 7 channel modes let you run the mega bar pro in sound active while still giving you control with dmx.
Sincerely,

Thanks James for the prompt response, and the suggestion.

I've assumed that if I put two lights into sound mode via DMX they would go off in random and uncoordinated actions that would look . . . uh . . . random. Even if they happen to start off doing the same thing (looking OK), eventually one of them would hear a beat the other missed and become unsightly.

Is this a bad assumption, i.e., are my fears unwarranted?

Thanks again,

Hobson

Well some do some don't. I had two mega bar pro's and if I am correct they just sort of scroll through the built in programs in sound active mode. Do you have a dmx controller?
Sincerely,

Please re-read the thread, Hobson, because you're NOT understanding.

Let me say it again:

MASTER/SLAVE mode CAN NOT be used at the same time as DMX mode. Got it? This is a critical part to understand. Let me explain why, and it will make more sense.

When a fixture sees DMX signalling on the wire, most fixtures will enter DMX mode. Some fixtures have to be configured to work off DMX mode, it depends how it was made, but that's not super important to this discussion.

When fixtures that can work in master/slave mode are hooked up TOGETHER, and WITHOUT DMX, they will enter master/slave mode, but it is depending on how they are configured(which is master, which is slave/which are slaves). In this mode, they speak their own proprietary language, which from what I understand is a variant of DMX. The master does its thing and as you'd expect, the slaves follow.

Back to DMX mode. Let's use my example of having 4 Mega Bar 50's, because I have 4 Mega Bar 50's. In reality, each has their own address. But, for over-simplifcation, let's just say I program them to all use the same 7 addresses, and let's say they will all be set to address 1. Now, whatever I do on the DMX controller, all 4 will do the same thing EXCEPT for sound active mode, in which case all 4 will act as their own independent sound active world.

Are you understanding this concept yet?

ALSO, you CANNOT mix and match DMX and Master/slave on the same data chain(your signal cable run). One or the other. Period. No exceptions.

With the above example, there is no master/slave relationship, they are all on the DMX cable. The reason they are behaving the same(except for sound active) is because they are all responding to the same command(s) at the same time, which may appear to be master/slave, but it's not. It's just duplication of information.

Now, let's say I break things up, and set bar 1 to DMX address 1, bar 2 to DMX address 8, bar 3 to 15 and bar 4 to address 22. Now they are NOT on the same channel(s). Now they can all be controlled independently I won't go int the pros or cons of same addresses or different addresses, just that my events require control and so I need to give each fixture its own address.

Here's the reality check:
ALMOST NO FIXTURE does a master/slave function in DMX mode. Chauvet made a fixture that had a DMX in and a slave out(as well as a DMX out), but I have no clue what that one was.

If you set two Mega Bars to the same address and throw them into a macro via DMX, chances are good that they'll behave the same.

Do you need further clarification on Master/Slave vs. DMX. It is a very important concept to understand.

James, Yes I do have a controller, a Magic 260.

Chris, Most of what you said is very useful. I agree that the understanding DMX concepts is very important. I like and understand the idea of putting both bars on the same DMX channel so that they will do the same thing at the same time - except when each is responding to the sound they hear in sound mode. Thanks for these ideas.

Contrary to your assertion, however, I don't think there is anything in the cited original thread that I didn't understand.

You acknowledge in a Mar 19, 2009 post in that thread (and in this thread when you refer to the Chauvet exception) that there are exceptions to your to this statement: "ALSO, you CANNOT mix and match DMX and Master/slave on the same data chain(your signal cable run). One or the other. Period. No exceptions."

It's that very exceptional fixture, the Chauvet Colorstrip, that I was asking about in this post.

Hobson

I'm not going to remember something I said over a year ago, so if you want to bring up anything basically over a week old, please direct me to it. And I'm certainly not going to hold in my mind the exact model of a fixture from a company that while I have fixtures by them, is a company I generally speaking do not like all that much. So the fact that I recall that there is an exception is a freakin' miracle all unto itself(for me anyways!)

Please understand I'm supporting IT, audio and lighting, as well as MIDI and some electronic circuit designs in addition to production on various events coming up and some product designs(datacomm hardware). So, in the case of this forum, I can only deal with what is directly in front of me.

If memory serves, that Chauvet fixture has a dedicated SLAVE OUT port. So, you're not mixing and matching on the same wire. You're going IN on that fixture with DMX via the DMX IN port, then that fixture is sending DMX OUT via the DMX OUT. The SLAVE OUT port is a side-chain type device, where it's spitting it's own langauge out that port for the master/slave communication. So, you have your DMX as ONE run, and then your master/slave stuff as a sepparate run. Again, my statement of no exceptions still holds true. You have to understand how the fixture operates to understand how my statement is still true.

Now, if some newbie came over and was running some DMX fixtures in a zone 1 on the left, and DMX fixtures in Zone 3 on the right, and then some sound active stuff doing master/slave in the middle, well, it would get rather strange for zone 3 on the right, assuming we're wiring from left to right. That's really the biggest concern. We have to get newbies to grasp that master/slave and DMX are mutually exclusive on the same wire. We also have to get them to also understand that you can't mix and match Master/slave and DMX modes, with that one exception(since you're bringing it up).

The best bet is if you want to emulate master/slave thing with DMX, is take a nice lazy route and just duplicate some DMX addresses for like fixtures. It's NOT perfect, but it works, it's tried and true and reliable. But it does fail when you go into a sound active mode, provided there is a sound active mode in the DMX traits for that fixture type.

But if you just gots to have Master/slave, BUT at the same time need control over on/off, your choices are to run them off a DMX dimmer or switcher pack in switching mode on those channels What's nice on the Mega Bar 50(and probably on other fixtures by now) os that not only can you chain the DMX signalling, but power as well. Quicker set and neater. This would probably be the best solution to give you a best of both worlds. DMX to the switcher channel, then power to the first fixture. Then, a DMX cable from the DMX OUT of the first fixture and into the DMX IN of the second and so on. Assign your master as the first and you're done. Or, also do what I do: label your stuff so you don't have to deal with it come show time. I use some tape with the fixture number and DMX address on my bar fixtures. In your case, you could mark the master and be done. That would save some time. Since the rest are slaves, marking them wouldn't be as necessary.

Also, let me offer a couple of things about Chauvet, which are documented. I have personally experienced a massive quality control issue with a certain fixture they make. Of the 4, all 4 love to break bulbs(I now transport them with the bulbs removed and only place the bulbs once the lights are at least in place and set, but maybe not focused and they still break bulbs), blow bulbs prematurely, and fail quite frequently. The odd thing was I've run into at least 20 other people who've said the same thing about the same fixture. I've had 2 go in for service this year, the second being on their bench right now.

When I call for help, I get attitude like it's MY problem their fixture isn't working as it should be, as if their gear is infallible and could never be faulted and then get hung up on. Repeatedly. Like, when their shutter at value 255 is BLINKING and it's supposed to be FULL OPEN. Or their spots suddenly start getting wonky on DMX for no reason....

I find there truly is a reason for their products being priced cheaper than ADJ. Because you get what you pay for.

I'm not saying ADJ isn't perfect either. I've had a 64 LED Pro go in for service twice this year, and again, that fixture is on their bench right now(or I think it is, they at least have it).

Now, one issue you're going to run into is needing to get that dimmer/switcher pack. The ADJ/Elation DP-DMX20L has been upgraded a while back to include the option to set each channel to your choice of dimming or switching on a per channel basis. This caused the PP-DMX20L relay pack to be discontinued. So, if you're looking for USED, the DP-DMX20L is the better option because it's better made, BUT ask to ensure it's one of the newer ones that have the switching feature in it. I have 3 of the older ones that do not have this feature, but it's OK for me since I use it with ParCans. So take that warning if you're going to buy used so you don't screw yourself. It's a super easy issue to miss because if you don't know in advance, how would you otherwise know?

I think you'll like the ADJ bars better. With a little creativity, you can make it happen.

Chris,

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

Hobson