New computer, MYDMX will not work

My computer reads- Windows could not find a driver device for your software.
Help?
Ed

MyDMX will not work on 64bit OS. 32 bit only. It's in the specs.

Thanks for the info CMBDJ, this is very disappointing news, may be time to get a real lighting controller, like a Hog!
Ed

Lol, MyDMX to a Hog is certainly a huge leap. Might want to rethink that one, especially since a new Hog will cost about 67x more then MyDMX.

I know the price of a Hog 500, try more like 10 times the amount of mydmx, not 67 times, And why would I want to rethink that one? Mydmx is not even in the same league as a controller like the Hog 500. Anyway, back to the subject.
I do not see any where in the product system requirements that says 32 bit only, or 64 bit not supported. Jingles, whats the deal?
Ed

I'm willing to bet that MyDMX will come out with a 64-bit version at some point in time. Considering the major toilet-filler that Vista has become and Microsloth can't wait to euthanize that evil beast, you may have to wait a while for MyDMX to get on the 64-bit bandwagon.

Be patient. I'm sure you could down-grade to XP or use a 32-bit version of Vista. Either route would certainly be a big cost savings over a Hog, but at the same point, if ou go Hog, you're certainly not going to need anything else. Except maybe a steady gig. And hopefully you get a steady gig anyways.

It's on the product page on the ADJ website.
Sincerely,

quote:

Lol, MyDMX to a Hog is certainly a huge leap. Might want to rethink that one, especially since a new Hog will cost about 67x more then MyDMX.

I wouldn't go with a Hog 500 since they have been out of production for a few years now and likewise support without for a few years. Writing profiles on the old Hog 2 OS was a pain to say the least, and I am sure it will need to be done sooner or later. Also, a Hog 1k would be easier and quicker to program do to access of palette buttons. Likewise, you can now get a Hog II as low as $4,500, cheapest Hog 500 I saw was around $3,700. Hog II would be much better, effects engine and touch screens.

Not saying it is not an option. In my opinion however, not a smart one at this point. Any Hog 500/1000/II you get will have been in use for years (chances are on the road where gear gets beat up the most) and profiles for newer fixtures are non-existent. Also, the cost of repairs on one of these consoles is not cheap now since they have been out of production for years and parts hard to come by.

I would much rather grab something like an Show Designer 3 since it is still in production and has support backing it. Or take Chris's advice and get XP or Vista 32 bit. The other thing is Windows 7 is right around the corner at this point, so Vista is already on it's way out.

Sorry if I sounded harsh, just going from MyDMX to a Hog is a giant leap. I am not quite sure of your setup, but chances are you really don't need a Hog. Would a Hog make moving light programing easier? Without a doubt. Would it be cost effective? Highly unlikely. I rent my Hog out for larger shows for about $800 a day, so not cheap to say the least.

Not to put any nails in a potential MyDMX coffin, because that's not my point and I like the MyDMX software BUT:

Talking to all the touring guys I run into, they all swear by consoles and NOT computer-based solutions. And I can see why.

With the possible combinations of hardware and software(and hence drivers, DLL's, .inf files and all sorts of registry gobbledygook going on), frankly, due to sloppy coding by developers these days, it's a miracle anything even works at all. You have to support multiple operating systems and all the goofiness that goes with that as well as try to account for all the "crippled" systems out there were people REFUSE to simply "restore" their machine to "factory fresh" or just redo the whole thing from the ground up on a somewhat regular basis just to "clean up the mess" you've made. So, after getting through the OS, you've got to run on top of that.

This is where dedicated hardware has always shined. The OS is SPECIFIC for the hardware, adn that's all it does. Period. Less muck to deal with, and as a result, more stability.

For example, one of the big reasons why I'll never go with a DigiCo Live D5 is that it is computer based. WINDOWS-based. Hell, when I saw it, it was Windows 98(not SE) based. ANd they say the damn thing is rock solid. What a load of crap. I saw the monitor console tank minutes before Kieth Urban was supposed to hit the stage. We delayed it another 10 minutes so the computer could reboot.

But likewise, I'm hesitant with digital console solutions. Analog doesn't have any of those problems.

Lighting however, is a whole other realm. For me, it is NOT cost effective to buy something like a Hog. First, I ain't gonna take the time to learn it. Second, lighting isn't my main focus. Third, they cost too much for what I need to do, but for what the consoles CAN do, they costs are 100% justified. For me, such a console is overkill and a waste of my money. For me, MyDMX is the better way to go. And if SerraAva were to take a look at my lighting hardware, he'd probably say that anything above and beyond MyDMX for me would be a foolish waste of money.

So, I can get an OEM license of XP Home for around $100. I forget what I can get XP Pro for. I need to get Vista for testing soon, so I need to research OEM version of that too. Bottom line there is that even the full blown version of Vista is gonna be more cost effective than going Hog. BUT: If you're planning on renting or have the type of lights and/or light show that warrant the necessity of a Hog, then perhaps looking at the MyDMX product is not thte ideal solution.

For me, for what I paid, and even at full retail(list), MyDMX has been worth it. My lighting designs are simple, but I need more than what my DMX Operator alone could do. I'm still learning my DMX Operator, but I know many things I want to do are not possible with that hardware. And I'm still learning MyDMX. I feel more confident with MyDMX than the DMX Operator.

Excellent points Chris. I am not digital afraid, but there are instances where a big old Heritage 3k is leaps and bounds better then a D5 or PM5D. If you are doing the same thing night after night, like monitors, they work well. It is a closed, self contained environment which room dynamics really don't have a huge effect on, especially if using some or all in ears.

Software based control will never be as mainstream as consoles, period. Like Chris pointed out, there are far too many hardware and software combination and too much stuff to cross over and go wrong. This is why I say computer based controllers should only be on computers that do nothing but run the DMX software and that is it. they shouldn't even connect to the internet or have anti-virus software on them because it is more stuff to interfere/go wrong is some way, foreseen or otherwise.

With regards to big time lighting consoles, all now use an OS to control them. The reason for this is ROM/DOS based consoles just aren't as powerful and can't process the information as well. When the Hog 3 line first came out, no one touched it because it was extremely buggy. It wasn't until 3 years after the Hog 3 was introduced that I started to trust it and then bought my Road Hog (currently looking at a Full Boar to pick up as well). Jands Vista is another great example, love it to death for some shows, but I always take two. One will always crash when I have them out.

As for OSes that consoles use, here is a quick run down:
Hog 3: Linux
Road Hog Full Boar: XPe
Road Hog: XPe
Hog iPC: XPe
Grand MA, Light, Ultra Light, and Micro: Linux
Jands Vista: Linux
Strand Palette Series: XPe
ETC Express/Expression/Insight: DOS
Hog II: DOS
Hog 500/100: DOS

So you can see the newer consoles all use an OS, be it Linux or XPe. Do they crash more then older ROM/DOS based consoles, yes. At the same time however, they are much more powerful in all aspects, be it features or the amount of information they can process and control and/or functionality. The other nice new feature with OS consoles, they save everything as you do it to a hard drive. Before with ROM based, crashing often times meant lose of data.

I totally concurr. I have an Allen & Heath ML 5000 48B(their biggest flagship analog). I smoke engineers all the time using even Midas consoles. It's called "Knowing your gear intimately inside and out". But digital.... I'm looking at a Digidesign Venue Profile. It will make the phone ring and get jobs as long as I can get a 64x32 processing capability. Not saying Midas sucks, it sure doesn't, but if I could afford an H3 I'd do it, or even their new XL8 or Pro6, but those are out of my price bracket.

And back to SerraAva's other point:
I don't agree 100%, but I agree enough to say that a "purpose built computer" is what you want for the road/shows. Why? It's going to do this ONE task and do it really really well, should be rock solid and as stable as hell. Most likely with a "hardened OS" on there, which means you strip out the crap you don't need.

I've even said "DISABLE wireless" when using MyDMX. I take it a step further. While not exactly following my own rules, my MacBook Pro is my "show machine", but I also gotta use it for a bit of everything as well, no choice, it's expensive(I got th 17" with the screen upgrade and faster CPU), so I got to get my money's worth out of it. When doing video editing/recording, or even ProTools or MyDMX or even MIDI/production, wireless goes OFF. Why? It wastes cycles and is constantly trying to reach out and connect to something, especially if there is no something to connect to. It's the nature of wireless.

The reason why I slightly disagree with SerraAva is only because I can't always just dedicate a machine to one task. And most people don't have that luxury either. But you can do your best to try to not have your computer be a "jack of all trades and master of none".

In practical application, I just can't follow even my own advise for a function specific machine. It doesn't make what SerraAva say to be less true. If I had the budgetting and resources, I'd be doing exactly that. When you can get a chance to talk to these road crews on big tours, you'll find they don't screw around and if what they have is stable, you can bet your ass they are NOT gonna change anything unless there is a dramatic need to do so. What if an update disables something determined "critical" or makes something a bit not as accessible? Stuff happens. Once they dial it all in, that's it, that's what it is. They'll learn the new stuff after this tour is over. Out on the road, you don't have time for problems, you stick with what you've got and make it happen.

At the same point, where SerraAva is saying that computers can far outperform certain things, well, it's not entirely true. Cisco Routers and other hardware, using Cisco IOS, outperform computers trying to do the same tasks. In this case, being very application specific is a strength. I've seen routers I've configured stay in constant production for over 10 years without a reboot or restart and still humming along just fine. But that's common for the datacomm environment.

The bottom line is that you have to have the right tool for the right job. Period.

In my case, despite the advantages of digital, I have chosen to stay analog(until I get money to upgrade) for audio. I like analog, I like how it sounds. I like how it NEVER crashes and I like how it is simply ALL THERE. For example, Metallica's tour, FOH is a Midas XL8(digital), while monitor is an XL4(analog). The monitoring task is far harder for that band and the guy wants more control faster, and so he stuck with analog. It's not a matter of budget, it's a matter of "this is what works best for this environment".

Case and point goes to lighting as well. The right tool for the right job. As some users here have discovered, MyDMX, being a great value product as it is, is NOT the perfect tool for all their ideas. Many people have learned they needed the CompuLive product instead. But in the case of SerraAva, clearly his choice is a console. Why is that? Well, because for apparently what he does and how he works, it makes the most logical sense for him to use a console.

Come on, let's look at things. You can get mixers for audio from anywhere from $15(new retail) to over $3Million dollars(considering a high end SSL with automation, digital control and all the goodies in a very large frame). Trust me, I've used nearly everything out there at some point, you get what you pay for(unless you don't like the SSL sound and prefer a Neve or an Oxford, or Soundcraft....)

Looking at lighting. It's the same thing. A sub $300 moving head light versus, oh, I don't know, say a $5K moving head. Trust me, you're gonna get a LOT more for your money by spending more. The same goes true for consoles and software.

There are reasons there are inexpensive products. Not everyone can afford to go from "nothing" to "top of the line". There has to be various levels.

The way I see it, with lighting, you start with a dimmer pack and a simple controller. You expand for a while and then start to outgrow that. Depending on your needs, the next logical step may be MyDMX, but for others, it may be CompuLive. Still, for others, it may be a better console. Then you outgrow those and step it up again. The same holds true for audio. You outgrow your 12 channel line mixer, get a basic 16-channel console, upgrade to a digital console(a Promix01 in my case, while still keeping the Mackie 1601VLZ running) and then take a BIG leap with the ML5000.

READ those labels. I'm amazed at how many people do not read things like "system requirements". Of course, sometimes they are wrong. I still use Windows 2000 Professional as an OS on some machines and Norton AntiVirus 2007 on the box said it supported Windows 2000 Pro. Nope, it didn't. So, sometimes they make mistakes too. But read it, ask and then buy after being advised.

Thanks guys. this is a very resourceful thread. Thanks to all the contributors.
Sincerely,

Thanks for the reply's, especially Serrava.
What I often need, as I am sure most of you who use a lot of fixtures know, is more than 1 playback.
I really like the MYDMX when you have a show where 1 playback is enough, but it is very limiting when you need more. I have spoken highly of my DMX in all my previous posts, and have had no problems with it, ever. And am now able to use it again. So, I am happy about that. Just mentioning that I probably should get something else, as I often rent an Avo or Hog when I need more than 1 playback, and yes that can get very expensive, and I am fortunate enought to be in steady lighting gigs now, along with my regular job as AV guy.
Thanks again, Ed

Ed, my suggestion is as follows, although it's not as practical:

People have before inquired about "merging" or "overlapping" scenes, or even "multiple scene playback". Unfortunately, this, as MyDMX stands today, is simply not possible. It can only do one scene at a time.

If you properly plan ahead, and I don't know how feasible that is for you, it requires a bit of work. Don't take this as an insult by me saying "how feasible that is for you". I don't know what your lighting design is or what your vision is, so I don't know how applicable this would be for you.

Let's take my example. Forgive my simple lighting. I have some Hi-Tech FX, a lot of Par38's, 8 64 LED Pros, a bank of Par36's(4 in total, gel'ed RGB and yellow), 2 moving heads, 4 color changers, 2 wash lights and a few other things that aren't notable enough to mention.

My lighting largely consists of color washes. So of course I match my various RGB to the various color wheels in the moving heads and the color changers, plus other colors. I can mix and match. So, let's say I have a scene of the 64 LED Pros doing a wash in pink. Another scene of the Par38's doing a wash in pink. Another scene of the color changers washing in pink, and another scene of the wash lights(color fusions) doing pink. Oh yeah, and the movers doing pink. Granted, not as complex as what you'd do. But, let's say I need "more pink". So, I take my 64 LED Pro pink scene and add the Color Fusions.(repeat for other colors). Add another set of scenes using the color changers... repeat with teh Par38's... Make a set with the movers doing a central spot, color matching. Another with the movers doing a a white spot intead of color. Another wiht the movers drawing circles on the wall in matching colors. Another set with "white" circles or even a gobo...

Clearly, my needs are very simplistic. I can easily "merge" scenes together to get the desired effect I want. No big deal.

Now, let's say you're doing stuff with movers and using the FX generator. This is when things get a bit icky when "combining scenes". If you have TWO different fixtures doing TWO different things but using the same number of steps, then it tends to work on for you BUT: you gotta manually input values from one scene into the other to make it happen.

I can definately see the desire to want to overlap scenes(hey I got my first bank of movers painting a vortex and spinning it, but I want to add some sweeps with some other movers in a simple color wash...) on the fly.

So, again, it's really looking like MyDMX is not ideal for you again. For me, MyDMX is pretty much everything I'm going to really need for the next 5-7 years or more. But it better move to 64 bit with Windows 7 or MyDMX just won't be able to stick around anymore. It's not a basic program, it does a whole lot, but definately lacks a level of sophistication that someone like yourself, Jingles or SerraAva would need. But, we have to look at our priorities. Mine is NOT lighting. MyDMX is easy to use, powerful enough to use and gets what I want done quickly and easily. For me, I'm down in the pit at FOH trying to pull a miracle out of my bottom on some of the bands I work with. Then again, I've worked with a lot of great bands too where getting that mix happening hasn't been a problem. Still, only two hands, two eyes, two ears, and my feet are being used to prevent my butt from slamming into the ground, so I can't use my toes to trigger lighting. I got enough to do monitoring FOH, monitors, recording, and cameras. Lighting is just one thing too many. Usually cameras and lighting get the shaft, I end up with a few scenes in lighting and find a camera angle I like and live with it.

It seems like perhaps CompuLive might be something you and Jingles should be talking about. He's good with the product and does support for it, so he's a wealth of knowledge on it. Then again, a PC platform might not be the way to go. Maybe a console is really where you should be looking to head to.

It comes back to "right tool for the job". In my case, MyDMX or even my DMX Operator are enough to get the job done for me. No, you're not going to be satisifed with either of those solutions, so what is the right tool for me is not the right tool for you. To each their own. This is why there is such a wide variety of possible solutions.

Ah, more then one playback. Yea, that is something you will only find in something like Hog or Avo. The SD3 does 18 playbacks and 17 chases at the same time, no where near the amount a Hog can do. But it is still a good amount and then on even larger shows, you could pick up a Hog or Avo.

For my larger shows for example, I often grab a Hog 3 with Expansion Wing. This is the reason I am now looking at grabbing a Full Boar, since it is becoming more and more common.

I was also looking at a Hog 1k/Hog II before I picked up the Road Hog. I bit the bullet and went for it because I was afraid of hardware failure on a console that I hadn't owned since it was made, meaning no idea how it was treated. I couldn't imagine showing up on a gig and the show not happening because my console dies. So I got the Road Hog and never looked back. Gear is an investment and something as important as a console that controls a 50 grand or so of lighting is the last thing I want to have fail.

So, I now am able to use mydmx, good thing, also ordered an Avolites Pearl from Rob yesterday,I hope to have the best of both worlds.
Ed

I totally agree with SerraAva. Gear is an investment. Last thing I want is the controlling element to FAIL.

In my case, I've seen digital audio consoles tank before events or during events. But, these have been consoles in early firmware releases or computer-based. The stand alone boards tend to be much more stable. Case and point: the Yamaha DM1000, I saw at Cache Creek had a nasty reputation of crashing whenever it felt like it(which was often) until Yahama finally released a stable firmware for it. Problem resolved. Yamaha PM5D? SO far no problems that I've witnessed. Digico? I've seen far too many crashes with their Live D5 platform, so hopefully their latest stuff is not so strapped to a computer. I've heard of crashes to Digidesign Venues, but that appears to have been resolved. especially since as I understand it, it is its own platform, not external computer-based(such as linux, OSX or Windoze)

Sometimes staying with "slightly older" technology can be the way to go. But sometimes we have to move forward as well.

Not to say all my experiences with MyDMX have been super perfect either. I've documented my first outing with it and the corresponding first failure at the same time. Since then, MyDMX has proven itself to be stable now that I have a fixed procedure I follow.

Even so, that DMX Operator is only a quick cable change away.