I'm extremely new to lasers so if this isn't the place for asking advice on modding ready made disco type gear then bear with me.

I recently bought a GVG-712 tri-colour unit which I am having lots of fun with. I would like to be able to programme to spell out my own messages or draw pictures with. The unit currently has about 250 images programmed in which I can't change.

I know nothing about DMX control yet either so am asking if I buy a DMX controller will I be able to do what I am trying to do with that? If not then can I modify the 712 itself?

Yes I know I have jumped in at the deep end!

Thanks - Dave

450 --

We're in the same boat. I got a RGY from David Lanling and mine looks like yours. I have the DMX driver but haven't tried it yet. From what I know so far, DMX isnt fast enough to produce raster to draw pictures. I'm watching what others are doing with these.

Mike

Thanks for response Mike. if your manual is written in Gobbledegook/Chrinese/Engrish then it might well be from the same source. It is almost unreadable! What country are you in?

If it will help anyone give a definitive answer, this is the manual page for the DMX control.

I think your best bet if to buy a low end DMX controller. For those DMX controlled scanners, the projector itself has the driver to draw patterns with the galvos. The DMX input is just a control to tell the driver what to draw (hence, you're limited to a few patterns, instead of the nearly free-form canvas pangolin and some fast galvos will get you)

I think Pseudo is right about the DMX controlling the Pattens selection. I don't know what can be done with the CH3,4 (x-y) position inputs. Might get a simple picture but no annimation.

There are some differences in our channel assignments -- My CH 7 is static pattern size and CH 9 is color segment.

Mike

DMX is just a 3 wire serial interface if I remember correctly.

I have a optocoupler schematic that converts to DMX to good old RS232 3 wire.

I'll dig it it up if you want it.

I think sending a batch string of commands continuously would be really cool!! ;D 8-) :

All good music equiptment now days uses DMX control. It's just a serial current loop/dataline. Watch Australian Pink Floyd on TV. They got a Behringer 8024 equalizer like mine, and it has 100 DMX presets avail. ;D

Keyword is Protocol:
example send from your PC, 8 bits to address y then 8 bits for it's freq.........then....
Any software Laserist tools avail?

OOOPS I was wrong!! ;D I got MIDI. Anyways, DMX works the same, just a different plug
data/rate etc. I wouldn't buy a DMX controller because a PC solution would better, you got to send lots of DATA.

Your'e about making me jealous guys!

LRod --

You're confusing this old man !!!! *Here I thought all I'd need is DMX (whatever that is)----- Well, I'll keep reading and I'll have DMX control on my RGY in a couple days.
I hope software will improve but there's limits without galvo units.

Be sure to explain how to send a "batch string". I still remember something called RS232 !!

Mike

@Mike
You just need a DMX sender that's programmable with user presets. Or make your
own circuit attached to your computer.
That's what I'd do, but it's a big project. But google around and maybee you'll get lucky
with DATA.