USB Serial input

Request a feature that you would like to see in QLC+.
Explain in details why you would need it and which is your usage case.
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asm
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Real Name: Allan Madsen

Hi
1st GRATE JOB you are doing :-)

2nd.
How about a USB serial plugin, so that you can use a USB port as seriel input (Maby output)
So that you can use like a arduino for input of buttons, slider and so on :-)

(Edit (addet))

Its for use a Arduino to connect slider, buttons, led and so on.
To make some hardware control over the program.
Like a sound trigger with at low cut off freq and a higer cut off freq to like trigger scenes. Just as a exampel. I know Raspberry Pi have input pins you can use to that example.
Last edited by asm on Sun Jan 22, 2017 1:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
shortylight
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Real Name: Martin Kurze

Hi,

if you use MIDI as the serial protocol, then all is available already. In my opinion a Teensy 3.x is a better choice to build up your own external controller. There are MIDI libraries which are doing a good job!

Martin
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GGGss
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Or another 'elegant' way - have your Arduino running QLC+ and use your hard-wired inputs to deliver messages through Artnet.
Your (other or main) QLC will get the messages through the ARTnet-networked-system.

(Not that easy dough - hardwired-inputs will have to be patched to dummy outputs on Arduino - network on both sides will have to be configured and on the main QLC it should be configured to listen to Artnet-messages.)
In this way you are freed from the hassle cables bring with it and the distance between hardwired-inputs and controller.
(Commands could be sent FOH or BS and picked up in the control room)

my 2 cents
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shortylight
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GGGss wrote:Or another 'elegant' way - have your Arduino running QLC+ and use your hard-wired inputs to deliver messages through Artnet.
You probably think of the Raspberry Pi?
asm
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Real Name: Allan Madsen

Yes but way convert from USB to MIDI to USB?

Iam talking on a Raspberry pi :-) btw.
asm
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GGGss wrote:Or another 'elegant' way - have your Arduino running QLC+ and use your hard-wired inputs to deliver messages through Artnet.
Your (other or main) QLC will get the messages through the ARTnet-networked-system.
my 2 cents
:-) Its a looong way just to control your QLC+ with sliders, leds and button's from within 30cm off the raspberry pi, in the same box :-)
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GGGss
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asm wrote:Yes but way convert from USB to MIDI to USB?
Sending Midi-signals involves midi-harware ergo USB -> midi-hardware -> midi-signals -> midi-hardware -> USB.

What you want to achieve is using Rasp Pi to function as a hardware controller and have QLC to react at it's conversed inputs? So this means you'll have to program your Rasp Pi as a midi-host.
Then ofcourse you will have to program it in such a way that QLC will see it as a midi-controller (hardware) and you will have to convert it's hardware inputs to midi signaling so QLC can do something with it. Ergo outputs: you will have to prgram you Pi so that incomming (feedback) signals from QLC will trigger Pi outputs through midi.

Interesting project if you'd ask me but ... this involves tweaking everything. Don't expect 'working out-of-the-box' scenario.

If you are going forth with this project - I'd suggest to start with tackling the 'being a midi-controller' first for your Pi. Channels, notes, velocity, speed & timing kinda stuff... This will be the big step into the right direction.
Quick search gives me a https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/view ... 63&t=29328 lead.
All electric machines work on smoke... when the smoke escapes... they don't work anymore
asm
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No i like to make a arduino with some sliders, leds, button and so on talk to RPI, like with the GPIO pins, bouts that only digital and no Analog (AD converters) i can connect direct to the RPI (maby true a USB port or direct to RX/TX)
shortylight
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Hi,

again, I did something like that and you should think about the work it will be. Hardware should be selected by its capabilities for the need of each project separately. I suggest to take devices like Teensy 3.2 https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/ which can be programmed as easy as Arduinos. With libraries directly provided by the community you can use the Teensy as a USB MIDI device, so no round trip via hardware MIDI is necessary https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_midi.html . On the other hand there are lots of analog and digital input pins to be addressed by sliders and button. A free tutorial helps with most of the questions: https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/tutorial4.html. This way is supported by QLC+ already, no changes have to be done. Even the MIDI feedback option of QLC+ can be used to switch LED by the Teensy for example.

Good luck with your project!

Martin
asm
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shortylight wrote:Hi,

again, I did something like that and you should think about the work it will be. Hardware should be selected by its capabilities for the need of each project separately. I suggest to take devices like Teensy 3.2 https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/ which can be programmed as easy as Arduinos. With libraries directly provided by the community you can use the Teensy as a USB MIDI device, so no round trip via hardware MIDI is necessary https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_midi.html . On the other hand there are lots of analog and digital input pins to be addressed by sliders and button. A free tutorial helps with most of the questions: https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/tutorial4.html. This way is supported by QLC+ already, no changes have to be done. Even the MIDI feedback option of QLC+ can be used to switch LED by the Teensy for example.

Good luck with your project!

Martin
Thanks that what i was look for :-)
starwolf73
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There is two great projects for MIDI<->Serial Bridge already build for that. A simple arduino will work, take a look at:

HairLess
Work under Win, Mac and Linux
http://projectgus.github.io/hairless-midiserial/
https://github.com/projectgus/hairless-midiserial

See this example for Hairless integration
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=79326.0

TTYMIDI
Work for Linux only with arduino Midi librairy
http://www.varal.org/ttymidi/
http://playground.arduino.cc/Main/MIDILibrary
SherwoodBC
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I just tried the Midi interface on a Teensy 3.1 and Teensy LC yesterday. Worked great, first try.

One problem however. The channel values are only 7 bits (0 - 127). I am already struggling with 8 bit resolution being steppy on the LEDs. 7 bit will only make it worse. I tried every configuration I could find, but 7-bit seemed to be the limit.

Or is there something I missed?
asm
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I will use this pcf8591 look it up, its a 4 x AD 8bit i2c chip
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GGGss
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@sherwoodbc: Yes you missed something small ... MIDI is ~only~7b (0-127)
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asm
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Look at "map" in arduino ide.
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