TNasty
Active Member
First Project!
So the first project I'm working on is what I call the "Contender". It's basically an architectural lighting panel, just cheaper, running on an Arduino Uno, and features relays to cut power to the lights (helpful for when they're not in use for a while).
The reason I'm making the Contender is so I can convince my dad to hang my batten in the garage- he'll get to use the lights as work lights when he's working on the mower or cars, and whatever else he does in the garage. Pretty much just a system that'll keep him from needing to learn the basics of some control software.
I wouldn't be able to say the price of this so far, as I forget the price of the DMX shield (Maybe $30? Hard to guarantee that, since TinkerKit is now belly up), but really the only other things that'll cost much is the Arduino, nicer buttons, and *maybe* Neutrik connectors (I might also get the covers, considering the fact that it'll be in the garage, I don't want to clog up a connector with condensation or general crud).
So far it's practically done as far as code construction and testing goes, so all that's left is cleaning up the code (there's a lot that can be shoved into functions), polishing up the unit (project box, actual buttons, the works), and creating the presets (which can't be recorded, so I need to pull the code from the Arduino, copy values into it, and then reflash it, but that's not too bad). I think I might be able to make it have three presets, basically by pressing both preset one and two at the same time. Another thing worth noting is that I'll probably need to use relays to switch between "active" and "passthrough" modes, unless somebody can tell me what I'd need to know about transistors for that, but in the meantime I can just switch the plug around.
I'll upload a video on this within the week demonstrating some basic functionality and operation.
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Second Project!
The next project I'm working on is a basic fader/control wing, which I'm calling "J-Wing" (I just had to somehow refer to Hendrix's "Little Wing", without mentioning the word little). I'm working on this because I want to actually finish more than 30 seconds of a light show before saying "nah, too much rhythm" or something (who doesn't love playing with faders? Not to mention mixing RBG with my G27 pedals isn't really logical, but certainly possible if you're still flexible and willing to settle on "okay" pallets). Currently it's going to run off an Arduino Mega, as I certainly want the 15 analog input pins instead of the Uno/Leonardo's 5.
So the plan is to have 10 faders (ordered a ten pack of replacement Behringer slide pots from eBay... Interestingly that was the most economical option), 5 rotary pots, and I'm starting with 10 buttons (I could put more on, but I decided ten should be enough to start with... I also wound up getting Cherry MX Blue switches, because clicky mechanical switches, not to mention the keycap versatility).
Basically since QLC+ works with HID inputs such as flight sticks and game pads, I figured there has to be some way to make/mod a controller to have faders instead of triggers and joys. I wound up going with the "make" route, because it only cost me like $12 for a Mega, compared to $20 for an Xbox controller. Amazingly, this one project has only cost $35, and I'll probably just fire up my 3D printer to make an enclosure and keycaps (although I did buy the fader knobs, which I'm probably going to airbrush them with enamel in colors corresponding to a general config).
I'd use a MIDI interface for this, except for the facts that I did find HID libraries for the Mega, it's just another thing that I'd need to buy, and I'd need cables and an adapter to actually use it. So no MIDI right now, but I might implement that down the line.
I might also look into implementing ArtNet, but that may require stepping up to a Raspberry Pi, although I do like the idea of going wireless/networked with it down the line so that it can be used like a (W)RFU
My friend/manager Chris also mentioned that we could use something like the J-Wing as a streaming control pad, along with some editing scripts.
Here's a little representation of the J-Wing in QLC+ (only lacking the planned power LED):
I'll have more on the J-Wing once stuff starts arriving for that.
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Feedback is really appreciated; I likely plan on releasing the code as open source once it's in a polished enough state, along with accompanying How-To tutorials. I'll certainly take it into account while making the designs, because as I had said, I hope that other people will find the resources useful, and I might even sell a few prefab units to make some money on the side.
So the first project I'm working on is what I call the "Contender". It's basically an architectural lighting panel, just cheaper, running on an Arduino Uno, and features relays to cut power to the lights (helpful for when they're not in use for a while).
The reason I'm making the Contender is so I can convince my dad to hang my batten in the garage- he'll get to use the lights as work lights when he's working on the mower or cars, and whatever else he does in the garage. Pretty much just a system that'll keep him from needing to learn the basics of some control software.
I wouldn't be able to say the price of this so far, as I forget the price of the DMX shield (Maybe $30? Hard to guarantee that, since TinkerKit is now belly up), but really the only other things that'll cost much is the Arduino, nicer buttons, and *maybe* Neutrik connectors (I might also get the covers, considering the fact that it'll be in the garage, I don't want to clog up a connector with condensation or general crud).
So far it's practically done as far as code construction and testing goes, so all that's left is cleaning up the code (there's a lot that can be shoved into functions), polishing up the unit (project box, actual buttons, the works), and creating the presets (which can't be recorded, so I need to pull the code from the Arduino, copy values into it, and then reflash it, but that's not too bad). I think I might be able to make it have three presets, basically by pressing both preset one and two at the same time. Another thing worth noting is that I'll probably need to use relays to switch between "active" and "passthrough" modes, unless somebody can tell me what I'd need to know about transistors for that, but in the meantime I can just switch the plug around.
I'll upload a video on this within the week demonstrating some basic functionality and operation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Second Project!
The next project I'm working on is a basic fader/control wing, which I'm calling "J-Wing" (I just had to somehow refer to Hendrix's "Little Wing", without mentioning the word little). I'm working on this because I want to actually finish more than 30 seconds of a light show before saying "nah, too much rhythm" or something (who doesn't love playing with faders? Not to mention mixing RBG with my G27 pedals isn't really logical, but certainly possible if you're still flexible and willing to settle on "okay" pallets). Currently it's going to run off an Arduino Mega, as I certainly want the 15 analog input pins instead of the Uno/Leonardo's 5.
So the plan is to have 10 faders (ordered a ten pack of replacement Behringer slide pots from eBay... Interestingly that was the most economical option), 5 rotary pots, and I'm starting with 10 buttons (I could put more on, but I decided ten should be enough to start with... I also wound up getting Cherry MX Blue switches, because clicky mechanical switches, not to mention the keycap versatility).
Basically since QLC+ works with HID inputs such as flight sticks and game pads, I figured there has to be some way to make/mod a controller to have faders instead of triggers and joys. I wound up going with the "make" route, because it only cost me like $12 for a Mega, compared to $20 for an Xbox controller. Amazingly, this one project has only cost $35, and I'll probably just fire up my 3D printer to make an enclosure and keycaps (although I did buy the fader knobs, which I'm probably going to airbrush them with enamel in colors corresponding to a general config).
I'd use a MIDI interface for this, except for the facts that I did find HID libraries for the Mega, it's just another thing that I'd need to buy, and I'd need cables and an adapter to actually use it. So no MIDI right now, but I might implement that down the line.
I might also look into implementing ArtNet, but that may require stepping up to a Raspberry Pi, although I do like the idea of going wireless/networked with it down the line so that it can be used like a (W)RFU
My friend/manager Chris also mentioned that we could use something like the J-Wing as a streaming control pad, along with some editing scripts.
Here's a little representation of the J-Wing in QLC+ (only lacking the planned power LED):
I'll have more on the J-Wing once stuff starts arriving for that.
------------------------------------------------
Feedback is really appreciated; I likely plan on releasing the code as open source once it's in a polished enough state, along with accompanying How-To tutorials. I'll certainly take it into account while making the designs, because as I had said, I hope that other people will find the resources useful, and I might even sell a few prefab units to make some money on the side.