DecaBox DMX Patchbay

DecaBox Protocol Converter with DMX Patching Firmware

From the field:

The box works flawlessly and was easy to get everything patched and set up. We are now able to execute our plan exactly thanks to you and your team!

We heard about Engineering Solutions a few years ago while researching how to stop our Chauvet ColorStrip lights from flickering while connected to certain consoles. While reading up on the site, we noticed a lot of custom solutions.

As our lighting rig grew, we knew we needed to expand our control capabilities. We knew that we could spend a ton of money on some sweet software and/or new gear, but the challenge was the fact that we tour with our equipment and visit different locations with different set-ups and wanted something we knew would allow our lights to work with any DMX controller big or small, without spending a ton of time addressing dip switches.

Our current set-up consists of two 48 channel dimming consoles that have been merged with some newer computer software. We pre-program most of our shows on the computer and had been wanting to use the dimming consoles to busk in some effects, chases, and submasters, but had no way to control anything from those consoles above the first 96 channels of DMX.

We asked Engineering Solutions for their help finding a solution that would allow us to Patch those channels to the control channels. After a short phone conversation, we were very excited to hear that the Deca-Box, the very same box we already purchased a few years ago (for the DMX slow downer) was capable of running software that could do exactly what we needed.

A short while later and some emails back and forth to ensure the software would fulfill all of our needs and button down some details, we had a complete solution. We opted to buy a second Deca-Box pre-loaded with the new software. While it was shipping, I was able to complete the DMX patching on my computer in a simple “.txt” file.

When the box arrived, I copied and pasted the DMX patching into the box, started it up, and it worked flawlessly! It took less than 2 minutes to unbox, load the file, and get up and running! I really appreciate the time and energy Engineering Solutions put into helping us achieve our goal.

Cameron Helwege

Statesboro First United Methodist Church

Florida

This is fairly simple work for the DecaBox.  DMX-512 goes in (and through, if needed) and new DMX-512 goes back out.  Any DMX input channel can by copied to one or many DMX output channels.

Granted, this is a fairly narrow niche project.  It’s something that would be a stock feature on any of the large-format lighting controllers.  But if your budget doesn’t include $7k for an ETC Ion desk (who doesn’t love that newly unboxed lighting console smell?), we’re here to help.

This file is called ‘patch.txt’ and is stored on the DecaBox’s internal SD card.

; Configuration file file for DecaBox DMX Patching sytem
;
; This file is called 'patch.txt' and can not be renamed.
; 
;
; Each line should start with a semicolon (;) or an actual command.
; It's best to edit this file in NotePad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac)
; So that unexpected formatting characters aren't included in this file.
;
; The premise here is simple: 
;
; 1. All DMX input channels are connected in a 1:1 ratio to all DMX 
; output channels. If nothing else is added to this file, the DecaBox
; will act as an active XLR cable. What goes in comes right back out, delayed
; by approximately 1/44 second.
;
; Audio guys will recognize this behavior is 'normalling' through a patch bay.
;
; 2. However, if data is included in the two columns below, output channels
; can be patched to input channels. The ratio need not be 1:1. Any number of
; output channels can be controlled by a single input channel.
;
; 3. There are two columns here. The first is input and the second, output.
; If you'd like DMX channel #5 from the lighting console to drive 
; output channels 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 20, the syntax would be
;
;5 | 5 8 11 14 17
;
; This character | is comes from shift+\ on the regular keyboard. It denotes
; the column break between input and output. Note also that there is a space after
; the column break and between each DMX output channel.
;
; Again, all channels not specifically mentioned in the table below are copied 
; 1:1 automatically.
;
; So in this sample, input #13 drives output #13 AND output #74
; input #14 drives output #14 AND output 82. 
;
; Etc.
;
13 | 74
14 | 82
15 | 241 203 76
1 | 2
2 | 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18