esp8266_dmx_explorer: DMX with a web-based frontend + accepts raw UDP packets

I hooked some ipixelLED LEDs up to an esp8266 swadge today. It worked out quite well :)
github.com/cnl...
ipixel-leds.com...
Declan DP With you: • Royalty Free Music | W...
PATREON: / cnlohr

[@romeucapelasa]

I can't handle how the cat is so ok with it like in no way it would be an normal thing for any animal to have random colored tubes flashing

[@stranger7968]

cats have a lower visual range they can see. Maybe it mostly sees just flashing lights ?

[@slipperytiger]

Every time I check in on this channel I'm absolutely amazed by the shear amount of knowledge this dude has. Cool to see someone who has such a deep interest in this type of stuff.

[@Baracurava]

Man, this is an excelent implementation of this chip

[@michael-gary-scott]

This is really cool! I've been wanting to play with DMX, this feels like a good starting point :)

[@ralphyrocket5770]

F'n A!!!! That's some good work!!

[@sebbes333]

Imagine this seen from the cats point of view... :D

[@starogre]

"hooman finally coding the project i design for him"

[@Scrogan]

I’ve never actually heard of the DMX standard before, this channel is kinda a goldmine for me! I imagine DMX is what those surrounding LEDs for TVs and monitors use.

[@costynvd]

DMX is used for large scale installations in theaters, nightclubs, festivals, etc. Not usually for small scale LED installations where controller and light are pretty much next to eachother.

[@overlisted]

Yes.

[@avejst]

Great project Thanks for sharing👍😀

[@filipenicoli_]

I've had to deal with discovering unknown addresses before. You can connect one light at a time and try turning half of the addresses on and half off, let the user inform the light's state and select the correct group (on/off). Then you reapply the method to the group selected before. With 8 rounds of this you can find one address in 256.

[@CNLohr]

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA. I could easily put buttons in the webpage to facilitate this.

[@Stabby666]

@@CNLohr Just one button - "Is it on yet?" and let the code behind it step through the address ranges 😁

The good ol' binary search :D

[@Stabby666]

I've been using DMX512, and MODBUS (which uses the exact same technology - only the data is different) - I've always used RS485 line drivers like the MAX481, which are really cheap, but didn't realise you could use a cheaper method like this. Of course I doubt this method has anything like the same range, and doesn't have the isolation you need with a proper DMX setup, but it's a nice trick!

[@CNLohr]

Yep. This is def a janky thing but it works most of the time.

[@patagonaa]

Is there any reason not to use ArtNet/ArtDmx here? It's almost as simple as raw UDP packets (basically, UDP Packets with a header), supports broadcast and unicast and also has optional support for autodiscovery in the network.

[@Dragonmastur24]

If he wasnt using colorchord im sure he would use sACN or artnet to get the data to the esp. That's the magic of his colorchord though, its doing all the color drawing itself in real time on that esp thats also hosting a website and outputting dmx, amongst many other things

[@CNLohr]

I just don't have experience with ArtNet.

[@LelanVance]

Noice

[@503jmn]

I have an RGB DMX controller but it only does RGB. How would I control individually addressable LEDs like you have in your tubes? Is that DMX512? I need to dive into this :(

[@catbb]

nice

[@CrucialMuzic]

Sorry to be the elephant in the room, but seeing your circuit board sitting on carpet makes me nervous lol. No antistatic/ESD bag/mat anywhere :P Anyway this was pretty awesome, thanks for the amazing video :)

[@procactus9109]

When was the last time you saw an operating circuit in a bag. Lol

[@CrucialMuzic]

@@procactus9109 Not IN the bag, but I would definitely have my circuit board sitting on the outside of the bag at the very least or on an ESD mat...

[@CNLohr]

It's fine. It's an ESP. Every year at MAGFest, we have literally thousands of unprotected circuit boards dangling from people's necks, and in general only a handful breaks, none of which due to ESD. Modern *good* chips protect against ESD. No need for extra precautions.

[@JamesChurchill]

@@CrucialMuzic IC's on assembled PCB's almost never have ESD-related failures. It's the loose ICs prior to assembly that need more protection, and even that is intended more to maximise yield than because they die from being looked at funny.

[@CrucialMuzic]

@@CNLohr I'm sure it's fine, it's just good practice that's all. Thanks for the reply! :)

[@kalskirata2012]

One question: Is the color information preprogrammed for this track or generated on the fly?

[@CNLohr]

ColorChord generates everything on the fly, so it's great for live music.

[@parvprobots797]

plz make smallest esp board

[@CNLohr]

In a few videos.

[@labaipavarges]

Have you seen this tho?: github.com/forkineye/E131 Damn I still wish I took up electrical/software engineering. Always wanted a project/product that I could easily sequence in vixen lights and just switch to your colorchord if I had nothing for a song that comes up. For a hobbyist like me its too difficult and time consuming to understand how to use your work/code. I don't think I have too wild ideas, but until that day comes when I have enough willpower to sit-down or find someone to help me sort the details I will always find your videos entertaining and motivational to keep coming back to the soldering iron. Thank you for the videos.

[@CNLohr]

I had not seen that.