usbdmx.com Home of the opto isolated, bus powered, DMX512 interface with both in and out universes. Cheap and simple to build. USBDMX logo

Latest News LightFactory 2.0 ships with support for USBDMX.com interface.

The interface has the following key features.

  • USB Bus powered
  • DMX lines galvanically opto-isolated from the USB bus
  • DMX lines over voltage protected, and current limited
  • Simultaneously send and receive up to 512 channels
  • Minimal host computer resource needed
  • Firmware up-datable over USB
  • High quality resilient line drivers
  • Heavy duty powder coated steel case
  • Affordable and easy to build
  • Compatable with all major O/S
I originally designed this interface around the begining of 2004, but due to time pressures, and that fact I work with computers all day long so don't always want to see them in the evening, it actually took me till the begining of 2005 to finish the firmware and polish it to the point where it was ready to be released.

Since its first release in early 2005, I have made a number of improvements to the DMX side of the circuit. These improvements add greater protection to the interface. The DMX lines are now fully galvanically isolated, and have over voltage and protection. They are also protected from excessive current draw. These improvements not only offer better protection to the host computer, but also to the interface. Since the revision 1.2 improvements I have now redesigned the PCB around a specific high quality case, which was I think one of the main elements lacking with this interface.

I have been interested in lighting for a number of years, but found that the good lighting desks, that can control moving lights, are well beyond the range of my budget as an amateur. Being interested in electronics as well I thought about building myself a lighting desk, but soon decided that as a software guy it was going to be a better idea to write one for my G4 powerbook. Please check out the open source project called LightsOn, it aim is to develop a robust framemwork for lighting applications.

I had one reservation, real time control. By this I mean faders are really easy to use in a live environment, but reacting quickly to change several channels at the same time with a mouse is a lot harder. This is why the USB DMX interface has the ability to receive a full universe. The idea being you can use a basic (cheap) lighting desk to send fader positions into the lighting application. This gives a powerful combined solution, real analogue control over a highly configurable lighting application.

Since I have put a lot of effort into the firmware, and the hardware design, I saw no point in being the only person to benefit. This site is dedicated to helping people build the hardware, and write applications to use it.