Hello!

Just received my first laser projector with ILDA interface. Yey!

Now I am looking into ILDA equipment and DMX equipment to connect it to. I have found a few ILDA <-> USB adapters ranging from $60 - $125 with included ILDA software.

My main concern is the ILDA adapter itself. Is this a standard component such as USB <-> serial adapter? Or do they have variable quality? If so, what are the parameters I should look at when buying an ILDA <-> USB adapter?

Do for instance all ILDA adapters support dimming colors so that you can mix different shades of color outputs on RGB lasers? Or is this up to the projector itself?

I saw that my projector takes 0 - -2.5V for RGB pins on the ILDA interface for instance. Presuming this regulates the amount of output for this color?

Appreciate the advice you can give!

got a link to the projector you brought?

LaserWorld CS-400RGB

Output power: min. 250mW, max 400mW,
>60mW / 532nm; >150mW / 655nm; >40mW / 473nm

Going to meter them individually soon. Found the flip switch modes to activate them separately without any animation.

Retails at around US $1100 / 900 EUR. Got it at an E-bay auction at 283 EUR. So feel I made a good deal.

Reading up the detailed specs however seems that full angle scanning is a bit too slow to do advanced graphics. But I am sure it'll be great to do simple laser shows.

unlucky... if its not to late send it back now and get a refund.

failing that the projector will work with any dac. the spec doesnt saying if the lasers are ttl or analogue, good old laser work!

Thank you for pointing this out

To the USB <-> ILDA adapter question; Does this mean that the ILDA adapter I am getting is a lot depending on the laser it should run? As such it is not a standard interface?

Some other lasers I have been looking at include this

Really like to have the 473nm or 445nm vs others selling 405nm blue channel projectors.

I don't get it, why should he return it? Any working projector with 473nm lasers in it for under 300 euros is a great deal, regardless of the quality or manufacturer reputation..

i dont under stand the question.

if you want to be able to control the projector your self so not auto then you will need a dac which will plug into the 25 ilda connector on the projector. 99% of dacs come with the required software

cos laser world are shit!

40mw of 473 or as much 445 as you want?

better modulation from 445 and a good size beam. 473 are very well known for their poor modulation

FYI, a USB - ILDA adapter is typically called a DAC. And it's standardized, all DAC's should work with all ILDA compitable projectors.

Sure, but it was <300 euros! You won't find a projector with 445nm modules for under 300 euros either..

When you describe that I need a DAC to plug in to the DB25 port I presume that the DAC is integrated in the DB25/USB converter itself. (?)

My question is simply what I should consider when buying an USB <-> ILDA adapter. Compatibility is of course one thing. Both with projector and potential 3rd party software.

Are there different degrees of quality of these adapters, or are they a standard component pretty much compatible with anything (both hardware/software)?

Reason for asking is that I may in the future may want to replace both software controlling the projector and the projector itself.

true but you could make one for like £150

Thank you for clarifying! So I should be safe buying any kind of USB <-> DB25 ILDA (DAC) converter then. Even for future upgrades of both software and hardware?

Just want to get this part right

as grix said above its a dac not a converter.

google -

pangolin qm2000
pangolin fb3
moncha
fiesta
easylase

and some i cant think of off the top of my head

Some day I will for sure attempt a DIY laser projector build. I feel that I however am not there yet. And want to get some nicely from-factory-aligned-and-just-working laser for now.

Yes. btw, can you link one of the DAC's you said you found for <100$?

probably ishow, which is poo

I am having a hard time coming to terms with the facts. If you can clarify it would be appreciated.

This is how I reason/think:

DAC stands for Digital/Analog Converter, first off. Right? So something which I have digitalized on the computer is transferred to the projector in an analogue form, in this case over DB25/ILDA interface?

2ndary since what I get to the computer is a USB port, it is an adapter of some sort. Or "converter" if so may.

What it bottles down to is simply if the $60 china ILDA <-> USB adapter will differ from a $300 professional adapter. It contains a DAC, as you say. Will the quality of the DAC affect my output?

Thank you. Will do.

Sure. Found one of top of my head here.

As andy_con says it is a "ishow crap" thingie. But over time I will probably use some other software. It comes inclusive for free, so I expect it to be crap

Hence my concern of future compatibility.

massively...


there is a big big big big big big difference

It's technically a converter but it's never called that, just "DAC". Yes, the quality of the output will be affected by the DAC. Don't buy an iShow DAC, they are garbage, so I've heard.

Here are good but cheap DAC's:
SELLING RIYA Multibus Lite Controllers

No software included though.

if you wnat to future proof then get a decent dac now, otherwise you will have to buy one at a later date

Thank you for clearing this out.

Then I know what I am up against.

If I am looking around, are there any parameters I should take into consideration for judging a good DAC? Or is reputation based purchase the best way to go on this one?

pangolin make the best controllers in the world, so anything from them is tops.

i have owned and used all the below and all are worth the money

pangolin qm2000
pangolin fb3
moncha
fiesta
easylase

not owned or used a riya but generally heard good things about it

Looked them up. Didn't find retail prices at any of their web sites. What price ranges are we looking at? The FB3 & EasyLase looks attractive. The EasyLase even seems to have DMX ports.

I find $150 + S&H an excellent price and liked the form factor of the RIYA device.

+rep to you both for all help!

easylase does not come with software the fb3 does.

there are upgrade options if you buy an fb3. fb3 is something like £500