Interfaces

Suitable interfaces to operate with Artist for system integration

DMX can only be streamed from Artist using the SIUDI USB/DMX boxes or Pathport Ethernet/DMX units.

DMX Isolation: The SIUDI DMX/USB interfaces are NOT isolated or protected internally and with these, an isolator should be employed unless you feel confident that your DMX equipment will not provide any rogue spikes or voltages. There are a number of these about. Call to see if we have stock or look at Artistic Licence, Celco, Doug Fleenor, Eurolite, Goddard, MA, Maris, Martin, Monacor and XTBA amongst others to find a unit that suits you, as your installation may also require DMX line splitting and some of these offer single port units or a number of different multiple port alternatives.

Isolation is NOT necessary with the Pathport Ethernet/DMX units. These units are not optically-isolated, but in Pathport's own words: "To our knowledge not one of over 8000 units shipped to date has ever been damaged by DMX line faults or spikes. This is because all Pathports utilise self-healing 250V protection circuitry on the DMX ports."

Useful data transmission distances to note: DMX - 1Km, RS 232 - 30 metres (dependent on cable quality), MIDI - 10 metres, USB - 2 Metres, Ethernet - various. Repeaters, boosters, splitters, mergers can be purchased for most of these. Please give us your requirements.

Audio Input: A mixer level signal needs to be supplied to the PC soundcard in order to activate the audio response. So the soundcard will require a stereo mini-jack input plug, and the most likely connector for this to interface with will be a female stereo jack or phono socket, in order to connect with a lead of the required length to reach the sound mixer. These can be purchased as adaptor connectors or as leads from such companies as
Kenton www.kenton.co.uk
Starland www.starland.co.uk
BCK www.bck.co.uk
Proel www.proelgroup.com
StudioSpares www.studiospares.com
Many other leads, connectors and adaptors are also available from these companies.

INTERFACES
Many interfaces exist and basically anything that will communicate with a PC can be made to talk to Artist. Below are popular examples, but if you have some other applications, or if we can be of any further help, please make contact.

Cheapest are devices such as standard QWERTY style keyboards/pads with the numbers and QWERTY letters activating 16 scenes, PG up, PG Dn to go between lists etc. How about this for the simplest remote station available! Just about £10.
KEYPAD, NUMERIC, BELKIN; Depth, external:120mm; Interface type:USB; Kit contents:Supports Win 98/98SE/2000/Me/XP and Mac OS X v 10.X or higher; Length / Height, external:15mm; Width, external:70mm

More specialised keyboards exist which may be just right for your application. Look for instance at the x-key desktop 20 keys and other programmable keyboards at http://www.xkeys.com/. Keys can be programmed for specific tasks as required.

MIDI INTERFACING

Keyboards

MIDI keyboards make great control surfaces!! Many users are at first "suspicious" - but once they've tried them, they're hooked. Edirol PCR-30 M & PCR-50 M keyboards, that we recommend, featuring quality standard sized velocity sensitive keys together with a wealth of knobs, buttons and sliders for controlling software and external hardware, all fully-assignable, USB bus powered and have USB/MIDI connection - so no power supplies needed, no MIDI converter - just straight in the USB port and you're away.

PCR-30M: 32-key MIDI keyboard with 8 Rotary knobs, 8 Sliders, 9 Switches.

PCR30_TOP_300
PCR-50M: 49-key MIDI keyboard with 8 Rotary knobs, 8 Sliders, 9 Switches.

PCR50_TOP_300

We are EDIROL dealers, so call us for prices. For more information, see all details at www.edirol.co.uk

If no faders are required, the Roland PC 300 is a good example of a 49 key (full sized keys) MIDI Keyboard controller that comes with a USB port and so requires no MIDI card, interface box or power supply.

For older style keyboards or devices with MIDI only, pc300_300 all later Windows operating system computers incorporate MIDI, in order to interface to the huge range of MIDI equipment available, and to use your choice of this equipment as a control surface to play Artist functions, an additional interface is required usb1x1_med to interface MIDI directly to USB. The Roland UM 1 series or equivalent (pictired) and equivalent devices made by MAudio, Yamaha and others - are the best interfaces to use with Artist. The UM1 and 1x1 are the basic entry level I in/1 out versions. Both 1 x 1 and UM1 are listed at £49. These are external USB devices which require no dismantling of the computer. We can supply these, but also suggested suppliers in the UK are Edirol (Roland) 0208 747 5949 www.edirol.co.uk, Starland Music on 01752 313 331 www.starland.co.uk or StudioSpares www.studiospares.com.

Many users also like to have manual faders for controlling their systems. MIDI controllers such as the Peavey PC 1600 have been successfully used, but it is now discontinued and the Kenton Control Freak can now perform the same functions within Artist. It has 16 buttons and 16 sliders, but it can be programmed with page shifts, so much more than 16 + 16 can be achieved. The Control Freak range will also require a MIDI/USB interface such as the Roland UM1 described above. freak-16-plan

peavey

If you already have a Peavey, then an ideal tool for quickly setting the presets in the Peavey, which is a tedious process at the best of times...is this handy bit of software which downloads the info into it and is worth the $29 for a license. See this link:
http://216.29.21.69/krhen/pvc/pvc.htm

Motorised faders?! Plus bump buttons and more. Well priced! – see here

http://www.behringer.com/BCF2000/index.cfm?lang=ENG

More motorised faders plus bump buttons

http://www.zzounds.com/item--CMAMH430

See Leviton NSi TLC 16 MIDI Touch panel http://www.nsicorp.com/NSI-Interactive/Content/ctlc16.html

TLC16

Wireless MIDI keyboards (with faders): http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-uf50607080.html

Other MIDI equipment
Try these links for other MIDI equipment to suit your application:
http://www.kenton.co.uk
http://www.starland.co.uk
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/d2/?page=shop/browse&category_id=5ef4569fba889a5cb7724bb0b341085a&product_id=179
http://www.jlcooper.com/pages/mcs3800.html
http://www.radikaltechnologies.com/Products/SAC-2_2/sac-2_2_0.html

TOUCH SCREENS

elo1525
We recommend and supply Elo 15" and 17" touch flat-screen interfaces.
USB interface and these are also very reliable (the touch components have a 10 year guarantee) Please call or email us for details.
There are many other models from different manufacturers that may suit your application better, and most standard PC touch screens will interface with Artist and access our built in Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs).

Wall Mount Touchscreens
ShowCAD are now supplying the Xantech range of wall mounted Touchscreens, more info here

DIGITAL INPUTTING

The Pulsar Outstation requires a Digital Input card from us, which will cost £350 plus the cost of the Outstation.

Outstation12_colours

Digital inputs are used for interpreting contact closures or switched inputs. Artist supports Advantech Digital input cards. Please try to get these (the world's most popular) as we do not have driver support for other manufacturers, although it may be possible to implement drivers for other cards if you have no other alternative.

A typical Advantech card we support is the PCI-1733. We suggest that you choose an isolated card like this one, but isolation is not essential if you're confident your application won't send any bad spikes or whatever back to the unprotected PC.

http://www.advantech.com/products/

Please follow these links as well :
Please first contact us with details of which devices you wish to use, including those from companies listed below, as some may not yet be supported.

LabJack U12
USB-based multifunction data acquisition and control device
http://www.labjack.com/labjack_u12.html
Seaport Iso-16
http://www.sealevel.com/catalog/8207.htm
Interworld - USB To Digital 96 TTL Input/Output Ports
http://www.ieci.com.au/products/product_page2.asp?PRODUCT_ID=1975
Interworld - USB To Digital 16 Isolated Inputs
http://www.ieci.com.au/products/product_page2.asp?PRODUCT_ID=2004
Dataq DI-700 USB Data Acquisition System
http://www.dataq.com/products/hardware/di700.htm
J-works
http://www.j-works.com/main%20frame.htm

RELAY INTERFACES

Chauvet DMX Relay
http://www.chauvetlighting.com/system/chauvet/dmxrelay.html
Artistic Licence DMX 1 & DMX 8 Relay units
http://www.artisticlicence.com/

SMPTE

MOTU (Mark of the Unicorn)
We recommend this MOTU Micro Express XT http://www.motu.com/products/midi/xpressxt_usb/

These units will generate and read SMPTE. We can supply these units, but not for the $395 currently advertised on the MOTU site! Unfortunately they are a bit more expensive outside the USA! Please ask for current pricing.

Some other units available for timecoded shows follow, although these are for reference only and have not necessarily been evaluated or used with Artist:

EES PC-MIDI ST. Usually in stock.
It has MIDI and SMPTE capabilities.
The retail-price in Germany (incl. taxes ) for one piece: 135,50 Euro.
At the moment PC-MIDI ST is in stock.
You can order directly - Shipment to UK: 20.- Euro.
info@ees-musik.de
http://www.ees-musik.de/frames/gb/com_int.htm

Other interesting alternatives are
http://www.spcomms.com/lanc_interface/
http://www.frontierdesign.com/pr_dakota.htm
http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/ees_pcmidi_st_prodinfo.html

MIDIMAN MIDIsport now superseded/renamed MAudio (please check with manufacturers for their current version, all are MIDI, but only a few include SMPTE).

External Rack Mount SMPTE Units
Alcorn McBride SMPTE Machine
http://www.alcorn.com/products/smptemachine/index.html
Horita – see VLR–100 PC.
Also see: Evertz, M-Audio, XRi Systems.
Look at the Sinodial Series Time-Lock: Equipped with a large high contrast display.
See also SMPTE links
www.laservision.com.au/cf/shop/products/DetailProducts.cfm?id=1
or http://www.laservision.com.au/pdf/sstl280300.pdf
Also:
http://www.vivid-lighting.de/Home_englisch/Products/DR-2_englisch/MIDI___SMPTE/body_midi___smpte.html 2048 channel DMX store which has SMPTE capabilities.

REMOTE ACCESS
For remote access look at software such as Timbuktu, PC Anywhere, VNC, or even 'remote desktop connection' built into Windows XP professional.

We can also supply or recommend Infra Red, Radio and other wireless communication devices. Please contact us for details of what is current.



	Suitable interfaces to operate with Artist for system integration DMX can only be streamed from Artist using the SIUDI USB/DMX boxes or Pathport Ethernet/DMX units. DMX Isolation: The SIUDI DMX/USB interfaces are NOT isolated or protected internally and with these, an isolator should be employed unless you feel confident that your DMX equipment will not provide any rogue spikes or voltages. There are a number of these about. Call to see if we have stock or look at Artistic Licence, Celco, Doug Fleenor, Eurolite, Goddard, MA, Maris, Martin, Monacor and XTBA amongst others to find a unit that suits you, as your installation may also require DMX line splitting and some of these offer single port units or a number of different multiple port alternatives. Isolation is NOT necessary with the Pathport Ethernet/DMX units. These units are not optically-isolated, but in Pathport's own words: "To our knowledge not one of over 8000 units shipped to date has ever been damaged by DMX line faults or spikes. This is because all Pathports utilise self-healing 250V protection circuitry on the DMX ports." Useful data transmission distances to note: DMX - 1Km, RS 232 - 30 metres (dependent on cable quality), MIDI - 10 metres, USB - 2 Metres, Ethernet - various. Repeaters, boosters, splitters, mergers can be purchased for most of these. Please give us your requirements. Audio Input: A mixer level signal needs to be supplied to the PC soundcard in order to activate the audio response. So the soundcard will require a stereo mini-jack input plug, and the most likely connector for this to interface with will be a female stereo jack or phono socket, in order to connect with a lead of the required length to reach the sound mixer. These can be purchased as adaptor connectors or as leads from such companies as Kenton www.kenton.co.uk Starland www.starland.co.uk BCK www.bck.co.uk Proel www.proelgroup.com StudioSpares www.studiospares.com Many other leads, connectors and adaptors are also available from these companies. INTERFACES Many interfaces exist and basically anything that will communicate with a PC can be made to talk to Artist. Below are popular examples, but if you have some other applications, or if we can be of any further help, please make contact. Cheapest are devices such as standard QWERTY style keyboards/pads with the numbers and QWERTY letters activating 16 scenes, PG up, PG Dn to go between lists etc. How about this for the simplest remote station available! Just about £10. More specialised keyboards exist which may be just right for your application. Look for instance at the x-key desktop 20 keys and other programmable keyboards at http://www.xkeys.com/. Keys can be programmed for specific tasks as required. MIDI INTERFACING Keyboards MIDI keyboards make great control surfaces!! Many users are at first "suspicious" - but once they've tried them, they're hooked. Edirol PCR-30 M & PCR-50 M keyboards, that we recommend, featuring quality standard sized velocity sensitive keys together with a wealth of knobs, buttons and sliders for controlling software and external hardware, all fully-assignable, USB bus powered and have USB/MIDI connection - so no power supplies needed, no MIDI converter - just straight in the USB port and you're away. PCR-30M: 32-key MIDI keyboard with 8 Rotary knobs, 8 Sliders, 9 Switches. PCR-50M: 49-key MIDI keyboard with 8 Rotary knobs, 8 Sliders, 9 Switches. We are EDIROL dealers, so call us for prices. For more information, see all details at www.edirol.co.uk If no faders are required, the Roland PC 300 is a good example of a 49 key (full sized keys) MIDI Keyboard controller that comes with a USB port and so requires no MIDI card, interface box or power supply. For older style keyboards or devices with MIDI only, all later Windows operating system computers incorporate MIDI, in order to interface to the huge range of MIDI equipment available, and to use your choice of this equipment as a control surface to play Artist functions, an additional interface is required to interface MIDI directly to USB. The Roland UM 1 series or equivalent (pictired) and equivalent devices made by MAudio, Yamaha and others - are the best interfaces to use with Artist. The UM1 and 1x1 are the basic entry level I in/1 out versions. Both 1 x 1 and UM1 are listed at £49. These are external USB devices which require no dismantling of the computer. We can supply these, but also suggested suppliers in the UK are Edirol (Roland) 0208 747 5949 www.edirol.co.uk, Starland Music on 01752 313 331 www.starland.co.uk or StudioSpares www.studiospares.com. Many users also like to have manual faders for controlling their systems. MIDI controllers such as the Peavey PC 1600 have been successfully used, but it is now discontinued and the Kenton Control Freak can now perform the same functions within Artist. It has 16 buttons and 16 sliders, but it can be programmed with page shifts, so much more than 16 + 16 can be achieved. The Control Freak range will also require a MIDI/USB interface such as the Roland UM1 described above. If you already have a Peavey, then an ideal tool for quickly setting the presets in the Peavey, which is a tedious process at the best of times...is this handy bit of software which downloads the info into it and is worth the $29 for a license. See this link: http://216.29.21.69/krhen/pvc/pvc.htm Motorised faders?! Plus bump buttons and more. Well priced! – see here http://www.behringer.com/BCF2000/index.cfm?lang=ENG More motorised faders plus bump buttons http://www.zzounds.com/item--CMAMH430 See Leviton NSi TLC 16 MIDI Touch panel http://www.nsicorp.com/NSI-Interactive/Content/ctlc16.html Wireless MIDI keyboards (with faders): http://www.cme-pro.com/products-list/product-uf50607080.html Other MIDI equipment Try these links for other MIDI equipment to suit your application: http://www.kenton.co.uk http://www.starland.co.uk http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/d2/?page=shop/browse&category_id=5ef4569fba889a5cb7724bb0b341085a&product_id=179 http://www.jlcooper.com/pages/mcs3800.html http://www.radikaltechnologies.com/Products/SAC-2_2/sac-2_2_0.html TOUCH SCREENS We recommend and supply Elo 15" and 17" touch flat-screen interfaces. USB interface and these are also very reliable (the touch components have a 10 year guarantee) Please call or email us for details. There are many other models from different manufacturers that may suit your application better, and most standard PC touch screens will interface with Artist and access our built in Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). Wall Mount Touchscreens ShowCAD are now supplying the Xantech range of wall mounted Touchscreens, more info here DIGITAL INPUTTING The Pulsar Outstation requires a Digital Input card from us, which will cost £350 plus the cost of the Outstation. Digital inputs are used for interpreting contact closures or switched inputs. Artist supports Advantech Digital input cards. Please try to get these (the world's most popular) as we do not have driver support for other manufacturers, although it may be possible to implement drivers for other cards if you have no other alternative. A typical Advantech card we support is the PCI-1733. We suggest that you choose an isolated card like this one, but isolation is not essential if you're confident your application won't send any bad spikes or whatever back to the unprotected PC. http://www.advantech.com/products/ Please follow these links as well : Please first contact us with details of which devices you wish to use, including those from companies listed below, as some may not yet be supported. LabJack U12 USB-based multifunction data acquisition and control device http://www.labjack.com/labjack_u12.html Seaport Iso-16 http://www.sealevel.com/catalog/8207.htm Interworld - USB To Digital 96 TTL Input/Output Ports http://www.ieci.com.au/products/product_page2.asp?PRODUCT_ID=1975 Interworld - USB To Digital 16 Isolated Inputs http://www.ieci.com.au/products/product_page2.asp?PRODUCT_ID=2004 Dataq DI-700 USB Data Acquisition System http://www.dataq.com/products/hardware/di700.htm J-works http://www.j-works.com/main%20frame.htm RELAY INTERFACES Chauvet DMX Relay http://www.chauvetlighting.com/system/chauvet/dmxrelay.html Artistic Licence DMX 1 & DMX 8 Relay units http://www.artisticlicence.com/ SMPTE MOTU (Mark of the Unicorn) We recommend this MOTU Micro Express XT http://www.motu.com/products/midi/xpressxt_usb/ These units will generate and read SMPTE. We can supply these units, but not for the $395 currently advertised on the MOTU site! Unfortunately they are a bit more expensive outside the USA! Please ask for current pricing. Some other units available for timecoded shows follow, although these are for reference only and have not necessarily been evaluated or used with Artist: EES PC-MIDI ST. Usually in stock. It has MIDI and SMPTE capabilities. The retail-price in Germany (incl. taxes ) for one piece: 135,50 Euro. At the moment PC-MIDI ST is in stock. You can order directly - Shipment to UK: 20.- Euro. info@ees-musik.de http://www.ees-musik.de/frames/gb/com_int.htm Other interesting alternatives are http://www.spcomms.com/lanc_interface/ http://www.frontierdesign.com/pr_dakota.htm http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/ees_pcmidi_st_prodinfo.html MIDIMAN MIDIsport now superseded/renamed MAudio (please check with manufacturers for their current version, all are MIDI, but only a few include SMPTE). External Rack Mount SMPTE Units Alcorn McBride SMPTE Machine http://www.alcorn.com/products/smptemachine/index.html Horita – see VLR–100 PC. Also see: Evertz, M-Audio, XRi Systems. Look at the Sinodial Series Time-Lock: Equipped with a large high contrast display. See also SMPTE links www.laservision.com.au/cf/shop/products/DetailProducts.cfm?id=1 or http://www.laservision.com.au/pdf/sstl280300.pdf Also: http://www.vivid-lighting.de/Home_englisch/Products/DR-2_englisch/MIDI___SMPTE/body_midi___smpte.html 2048 channel DMX store which has SMPTE capabilities. REMOTE ACCESS For remote access look at software such as Timbuktu, PC Anywhere, VNC, or even 'remote desktop connection' built into Windows XP professional. We can also supply or recommend Infra Red, Radio and other wireless communication devices. Please contact us for details of what is current.
©ShowCAD Control Systems Ltd 2006 ~ tel:+44 (0)1929 423222 email us