Swiss-based ELC Lighting has announced the finalization of a joint development with CAST Lighting, as part of the WYSIWYG Registered Developers program. The first step is a link between WYSIWYG and ELC’s dmXLAN nodes, a product line that has been on the market for almost two years. The dmXLAN nodes are DMX to Ethernet converters that can also serve as a DMX input to WYSIWYG Perform, allowing an unlimited number of DMX universes and desks and an unlimited number of WYSIWYG work stations in a network.
The ELC Node4 unit has 4 DMX inputs, 4 DMX outputs, and a MIDI/RS232 port for sending WYSIWYG Autofocus commands to connected supported consoles. The 10mBit Ethernet port can be connected to the network, and the IP address can be set. There are advantages for both rental companies as well as WYG-studios by using these nodes.
Advantages for rental companies:
Easy interface from DMX to WYSIWYG including Autofocus;
dmxLAN node4 can also be used during live events.
Advantages for WYG-studios:
Multiple WYSIWYG stations can access the same dmXLAN node4;
Multiple node4’s can be used in the same network to connect multiple consoles, including multiple Autofocus (MIDI) connections;
Multiple WYSIWYG stations can use Autofocus on the same console.
A real world example of this is the Ten Feet Studios in the Netherlands, where they have three WYSIWYG Perform stations: two Perform 2000 systems for the console operators, where they can see their own consoles output virtually displayed, and one Perform 5000 channel system used by the lighting designer, and also projected on the big screen, for all to see the virtual show. They presently use 2 dmXLAN node4’s for connecting the two consoles, both using 4 DMX lines each, including MIDI connections. It is also now possible to use the Autofocus function from any position and the LD’s can pre-select or pre-focus a fixture for the operators, giving them all more creative imput.
To use WYSIWYG with ELC, the customer will need a dmXLAN Node1, for 1 DMX universe, Node2 for 1 or 2 universes, or Node 4 for 4 DMX universes. For additional channels, extra units can be linked through the network ports.
The dmXLAN system is a DMX and fixture management system, based on Ethernet, but it can also be used without Ethernet for installations up to 4 DMX lines.I n this case the node unit will be inserted between the console and the rest of the DMX line, running the system or the lighting rig. The dmXLAN software allows operators to view, merge, patch, backup, and monitor all the DMX lines and as well as to control or isolate fixtures from the rig. During set up a rig can quickly be tested without the need to install the show console backstage.
When ashow is running, backstage technicians will have access to the fixtures to test or reset them, without disturbing the console operator. When more than 4 DMX lines are needed it will be possible to run all the DMX universes over Ethernet simply by connecting more dmXLAN node’s. The dmxLAN control software is made for windows PC and pocket PC (also for easy wireless connection via Wi-fi Wireless Lan systems). The special “dmXLAN to WYG” software is available for free to download from the ELC website. This software will run on the same PC as WYSIWYG.