More problems with MyDMX

Nightraven,
Not pointing any blame but, Are you sure the problem is with MyDMX, and not a Windows issue, do you allow Windows automatic updates? Maybe a virus? Maybe spyware/malware?

I am just saying I use 2 dedicated laptops for DJing. They have VDJ on it, and the neccessary drivers. Never touch the internet again for those laptops. I use a third for my light controller. Once I got it working the way I want it, again it will never see an update. I

Also, once I get the laptops to the point I want them. I will make an image. This way if I try a software update, and something does not turn out the way I hope. I can then always roll back.

My suggestion at this point, if you can gain access to another PC, try installing myDMX on it (Use the April 2010 version). Then see if you can load one of your saved shows to it. It sounds like a file permission issue on your PC.

If that works OK, that points to an issue with your current setup, and your best bet may be to reformat your Windows and start over. Just remember to back up your files first (Documents/My DMX files)

Dj Stevie Ray,

I did not even think about that....Thank you. I will never use this laptop again to get online. For what ever reasons it seems to be loading up now. Of course I do not have my light rig connected so I do not know for sure. I ran all my spyware, and virus software just incase to make sure it is clean. I'll let ya know after my halloween gig.

Ric

Dont feel bad
i have just reinstalled VDJ because it caused my laptop to crash,
i have a FRESH install of windows 7 and a FRESh install of myDMX software.
the myDMX software still freezes all the time
no updates have been installed.
the problem is with the software, not the PC.

is there a WORKING version of this software, or is it destined to be sent back for a refund?

Hey guys what version date of my dmx are you using? Please use the April 30th 2010 available from out website. Let me know.
Sincerely,

I am using April 2010 and I'm right in the middle of a gig and MyDMX took a major crap on me. Well, let me put it into perspective:

I was in blackout, I came OUT of blackout into a soft pink, and then it just stopped working, lights went out, whole room went black, people could no longer see the activities on stage.

Kicking to my blackout scene and then back to any other color scene(I'm just using washes) yielded no results. I had to exit MyDMX to resolve the issue. I re-launched MyDMX(no time for a reboot) to address/resolve the issue. I'm also monitoring audio levels right now as I don't have the compressor quite dialed in where I would like it yet but we're getting there.

This IS NOT the first time I've had this issue. At my August show, I ran into similar issues, as well as at 2 September events: Scenes being called up don't behave properly. The problem can be REPLICATED, but cannnot be done so reliably, but CAN be done. The 3D Visualizer is useless for this because thank goodness it shows what I WANT it to show, but reality shows me something else, like scenes freaking out on me.

They need to fix this. I didn't have this problem with March 2009, which I have archived safetly somewhere(I think).

This issue needs to be addressed and resolved ASAP. XP Home, latest drives, virus and spyware free.

I would consider higher end software if I could get a guarantee in writing via some sort of certified or notarized document but my business is being tanked by lazy idiots who have no skills.
Case and point: idiot got a $2400 contract to do lights. Brought 2 trees with 4 crappy-gel'ed P64's each(not LED, just regulars) and running off a couple of power packs running a program. Promoter complained to me about it. I lost the bid WITH sound and lights for LESS and I still got bitched at. The sound guy showed up drunk with broken gear and he must have gotten his money up front for booze. Also, not to slam DJ's, but it was a BAND event(live band) and he was a DJ with a broken DJ mixer. So I don't want to slam DJ's but we have to understand when you need 30 inputs and you bring 3 stereo inputs and no mic inputs, how the hell can you get the job done?

I bid $2000 for sound and lights. They ended up paying close to $5000 for sound, lights and some other crap and the show COULDN'T happen. I found out from friends that the show wasn't able to happen.

Back to the issue at hand:
Something aint' right with ADJ's myDMX product, and it's not just this. MIDI needs massive work as well.

Hey Chris. I'll be bringing this issue up with the developer tomorrow at the LDI show. I'm pushing for bug fixes to happen on my dmx.
Sincerely,

Hey chris. Can you post your exact method on recreating this issue? Like nMe your exact rig how the issue starts and what you do to start.
Thanks.
Sincerely,

Chris, One of our techs has said this, "If it works fine with the 3D, it could be the interface which is locking out. Sometimes this happens when there is a power surge. I sometimes have problems with smoke machines.

Next time the scene doesn’t work, ask your customer if he can note down the state of each LED (Interface LED's). For example if the red LED is off or on static, it must be the interface which is locking out.

Ask your customer to try:

1. A different USB cable, higher quality cables can sometimes solve the issue
2. Plugging the laptop into a different ring main or experimenting unplugging the laptop power when the scene is activated to confirm if this is the problem


If the problem usually happens when going from blackout to a full on with par cans, this will help confirm that it is a power surge causing the problem."
Let me know please.
Sincerely,

Jingles,

I have found the 3D visualizer to not be so accurate. I quit using it to pre program because my movers would be off, with different gobos and move differently than the visualizer dipicted them. I now only program with my lights fully deployed. It is a huge pain but it is the only way I can make sure it is correct.

After reading Chris' post about his experiences with lights doing some erratic things, sounds very familiar with my original problems with the April 2010 update. I have since purged April 2010 and went back to good ole March 2009. My first show is tomorrow to test it, fingers crossed. Ill post how it goes. I will be extremely disappointed if I cannot get my system back to the reliable way I had it with 2009. It has been an absolute nightmare since I tried the update. My advice to those who have not updated with 2010 is DO NOT DO IT. If it is working well with 2009, then count your blessings and drive on! So Jingles, if you do not hear from me tomorrow then all went well, if not you be able to read the panic in my texts that will be coming your way for help.

Thanks,
Ric

Let's dig in and show the developer is "fulla crap".

1: Due to issues at the venue, I use a UPS for certain elements, mainly the laptop computer and the recording rack, which are all plugged in together. The laptop gets power from the same rack that the recording gear is in, which oddly is also where the Opti Branch/4 is also located. It goes power from the main Furman unit, to the recording rack's UPS, then a Furman in that rack.

Power issues aren't the problem.

Problems with smoke machines? Well, they are on a sepparate circuit. I'm glad you brought that issue up, because, well, I had problems Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday, but the smoke machines(Ice-101 and HZ-300) were not even hooked up in any way until Sunday, and yet, still had issues.

Did I try another USB cable? Well, let me put it this way, I've been using the same braid shielded USB cable since Day 1(it's silver due to the clear jacket), and never once have I used the included cable, mainly because it's too short. The cable cost me over $20, is STATED to be a high quality USB2.0 cable. Then again, so they say.

I also tried unplugging the laptop. Nope, same problem.

Here's an interesting other couple of things:
Suddenly, for no valid reason, lights would just go on, while in blackout. Interesting!!! Things would be fine, but then, well, something would just go on. But that could be a bad light, as it's been consistently the Mega Bar 50 labelled "3". It's scheduled for me to call Support for repair, along with another labeled "1" that has a dead LED.

BUt, here's what the problem is:

I get this problem a lot. In my Repo! show, I have a "pre scene" thing. Why, don't ask, I don't recall, but it was to deal with a timing issue I think, and so it just stuck. It fades up the following:
8 Mega Bar 50's(currently as 4 banks of 2 each, will be adjusted to be 8 individually addressed lights), 8 64 LED Pros, 4 Mega Panels to a light blue.
The NEXT SCENE is merely the same scene minus the fade, so the lights are full on. There are no other changes in the scene, and OFTEN, things will FLIP OUT(like lights flashing)

And this isn't the only one(but it seems to be the most noticable to me because I know there should be NO difference), as it can happen with other scenes. Most often coming OUT of blackout, but not always.

What else is on my line? Maybe the tech wans to know my signal flow:

17" Macbook Pro with 4GB RAM, and XP Home SP3, running MyDMX latest, and latest Windows patches, hotfixes and latest BootCamp(Mac OS 10.6 latest with full patches). I DO NOT run parallels, I use Bootcamp and boot natively into Windows.

MyDMX USB Dongle attached via 3' ADJ Accucable 3-pin DMX cable into Elation Opto Branch/4
Run 1 to Stage: generic fogger(not mine), 2 Chauvet Q-Spot 150's, 8 Mega Bar 50's, Ice-101 and HZ-300. Ends with a DMX terminator.

Run 2: Bank of 4 Mega Panels, then off to a tree with 4 ADJ 64 LED Pros, 2 Chauvet DMX500 color changers, then a long run back to a CHauvet Follow spot and a DMX terminator.

Run 3 is the same as Run 2, minus the Mega Panel bank

Does the tech care to explain why the interface is locking out? I mean, can it NOT handle the bandwidth? I'm only going to add more lights so this problem is apparently only going to get worse?

Slated additions are 4 ADJ Profile Panels, 8 Elation RGB Zooms and 8 Elation Opti Tri Pars. Not only that but an AccuFog1000(ADJ) and some additional movers(numbers are unclear, just know it will be in at least pairs)

Addressing the "if it works fine with the 3D..." statement, I don't completely agree, mainly because we both know that the 3D Visualizer is really for roughing things out, although for doing color wash stuff, it's ideal(because nothing moves), but even in my case, the lack of total accuracy with the 3D Visualizer still hasn't been a killer because I was still able to see the scene was about as correct as I needed it in regards to movers. For how I work, it's accurate enough and I know I need to do tweaks at the venue, that's a given and not a complaint, it's a fact of life.

Now, addressing the LED status:
Before I answer, just keep this in mind: when you're in an event and you gotta fix stuff FAST, well, you don't really have time to look at that sort of stuff, you just try to get things un-f*cked ASAP so you can get back to rolling again! In the case of my weekend event(where I posted after another issue before the guy tore down the WIFI access), it is a film festival, and so between films, we have hosted stuff. Last thing I need are lights hitting the screen! But in my Repo! show, I have things TIGHLY timed and errors CANNOT be tolerated.
Now, onto the LED observation: To the best of my knowledge, the LED appears to be behaving as it SHOULD normally be behaving. But, I cannot confirm this 100% as I'm more concerned about resolving the issue, but whenever I'd check, everything seemed just fine as I would normally expect. I do check the LED's on the Opto Branch/4 and it looked fine, with green and red flickering, as well as my basic DMX test plug/terminator(which I wired backwards compared to the LED's in the opto branch 4, so I'll make a new one soon).

Now, I'm in a rather bad position. The Compu Show product has two problems for me:
1: Cost, but this is an easy one to address, for lack of a better term. I CAN get money!
2: The workflow is NOT as intuitive FOR ME right now as MyDMX, and with all it CAN do and the poor manual, I'm having NOTHING but struggle with it. Not in my defense, but I'm stretched REALLY thin on time and resources right now, so it's difficult to REALLY sit down and be able to concentrate, especially when it seems my kids are constantly trying to kill each other!! This appears to actually be the best product for exactly what I need it for, in regards to the Repo! show, but it's massive overkill for things like the Sacramento horror Film Festival, SacAnime, IndyEuphoria, Sac Horror/Sci-Fi and small club events, where MyDMX is an ideal fit.

In short, myDMX ain't leaving my rig. But if I'm going to keep running into these sort of issues, I gotta look at other stuff. I'm NOT opposed to redoing my Repo show from scratch with different software, it's that learning curve. I do have 3 months between Repo shows, so there IS the time.

In the meantime, I'm tempted to back down to March 2009 myself, set the entire rig up in my garage and then test it all out and see what happens. Thank goodness I'm mostly LED and moving MORE that way all the time.

before i start rattling my brain, are you using a DMX terminator at the end of your curcit?

Yes. I am one of those people who keep saying "use a DMX Terminator" and all runs that I do are terminated with a DMX terminator regardless of length. No exceptions.

Throw out any other ideas now. Who knows, maybe you've run into something I may have overlooked.

Oh, and no USB hubs either, powered or otherwise.

do you have a moving head on your rig? i found on some of my testing set-ups they they can cause problems but fixed when i moved them to the end channel and end of the DMX

@ Ric, I did not hear from you last night. Does this mean your show went well? I really hope so.
Sincerely,

Jingles,

Yes, you are correct as all went well. Looks like I exersized all demons in MyDMX for now (Fingers crossed). I am following DJ Stevie Ray's advice and never using this laptop for anything other than dedicated MyDMX. It is a shame that it has to be that way though and it looks like there are many more out there that have had problems with the update as I have had. Gotta run...off to another show tonight.Ric

I always use a terminator also!

One thing i would like to point out - ADJ's uninstaller is CRAP, so if you do end up trying to uninstall the program ans reinstalling it, most of the time it wont work. The uninstaller seems to leave all sorts of crap on pcs.

My suggestion would to be uninstall, use a registry cleaner such as ccleaner, or just do the search manually (exercise caution if you choose to do it this way, you could really screw up your system this way).
Search program files (default: C: mydmx) and make sure there is nothing there left.

Finally reinstall fresh download of your choice version.

I am having issues with the update as well. When I'm running MY-DMX in the background with Mixmeister or Virtual DJ in the foreground, my lights go into blackout and I cannot control them until I exit out of the other running software. Any work arounds???

Hey rob welcome to the forums. what are your computers sepcs? We really don't recommend using another software at the same time on my dmx unless your computer has a lot of good specs like processor and ram and even video memory in some cases.

Also might want to edit your location info.
Sincerely,

Dell 1520 4G ram, Windows 7. Everything is up to date. Only started when I did latest update from My DMX software. In past, never had the issue.

what exact version date does yours say? April or sept?
Sincerely,

Sept 2010 is the version that I have issues with.

I have experienced the drop-out stuff when moving MyDMX to the background to say, maybe play some music using Windows Media Player, or perhaps move to a text editor to make notes(such as scene changes, or maybe noted scene problems perhaps caused by goofy software).

Although, for show time, I disabled pretty much anything I could, rebooted clean(and disabled a lot of stuff for that as well), and even with MyDMX the only running software, it was really not a pleasant experience for the show.

I just wish I had the time to set up my lights in my garage and run through the show using various releases of MyDMX.

Folks, I can't say this enough: Be a data packrat. SAVE everything!!!! I have MyDMX back to March 2009(including April and September 2010). Worse case scenario is you can fail/fall backwards! Dedicate a USB stick to storing your older MyDMX software, libraries, shows and whatnot. You'll thank me for it later!

Note, I'm not here to bash MyDMX. I do this for Sony Vegas Pro as well, although my NEED for this hasn't been necessary as the latest version always seems to be stable and resolves any previous issues.