VST Live DMX Automation Not Sending The Correct Signal

I setup 2 DMX tracks to see what was going on, because I noticed my lights were not doing what I had programmed them to do.

The first track output is going to VST’s DMX Mixer so that I could see what signal was coming from the automation track.

The second track output is going to the lights.

I didn’t check all 11 channels, but channels 1 and 2 on VST DMX mixer is doing the following:

Channel 1 on mixer is only going to 91 even though the automation track is set to 127.

Channel 2 on the mixer is only going to 5 even though the automation track is set to 7.

So, the higher up the scale I go in the automation track the greater the error in the mixer setting.

FYI, I am only testing with a single light with 11 channels. I don’t have a DMX terminator on the light (am waiting for it to be delivered) however this shouldn’t be a problem with a single light setup.

Here is a sample project for you to look at.

VST DMX Test.vlprj (17.0 KB)

I did some further testing on this problem. The following was tested on Channel 1.

I created an automation track using the draw tools. The automation track was set to 255, but when I play the automation track back to the mixer and the lights it sends a 183 setting.

I tried recording the fader movements to create an automation track. I moved the slider all the way to 255, the automation track recorded 255, however when I play the automation track back to the mixer and the lights it sends a 204 setting.

That’s only the project. If a project uses assets (like DMX clips) you need to export your project as an archive. Use the function “Menu / File / Save Archive…”, select an empty folder, zip it and drop it here.

Thank you,
Michael.

VST DMX Test.zip (19.6 KB)

I removed the audio from the backing track, because the file was too big even zipped, but this should provide you with what you need. I hope.

After spending considerable time trying to figure out a work around for this issue, I discovered the Volume control on the DMX Track is affecting the channel values but, in a logarithmic scale. You probably figured this out already, but as far as I know DMX does function like audio, the values are linear, not logarithmic.

The upside is I do have a workaround (although very sensitive). The volume control allows me to get the values close to what they should be.

Any progress on a fix?

Just tested version 3.0.20, the problem with incorrect DMX signal is still there, but now the workaround of using the Volume control on the DMX track no longer works so I cannot program anything above 183 on any DMX channel. I can select 255, but the system only moves to 183.

This is a real problem or am I missing something??

OK, I see what you’ve done. I don’t believe DMX was on the original mixer channels. I see how I can control the DMX output with it. If I set it to zero it sets the DMX output to the proper setting from the automation track.

Thanks, this works