node-dmx-animate

A wrapper for wiedi's node-dmx with some easier controls and animation presets. With this libary you can control DMX devices using node.js and animate them easily. There is also a http Server with an api and a premade Webinterface for this libary: dmx-animate-web

Installation

For this libary you need to have node.js and npm installed on your machine. (Tutorial) Then just run in your console:

npm i dmx-animate --save

Get started

Create a new javascript file in your folder and require dmx-animate:

const dmxAnimate = require('dmx-animate')

var dmx = new dmxAnimate({
  universes: [
    {name: 'demo', driver: null, serialPath: 'COM7'}
  ]
})

Then initialize an universe like that.

• name - String : The name of the universe
• device- String, referring a registered driver
• device_id - Number or Object(windows: COM[number], linux: '/dev/cu.usbserial-6AVNHXS8')

These drivers are registered by default currently:

• null: a development driver that prints the universe to stdout
• artnet: driver for EnttecODE
• bbdmx: driver for BeagleBone-DMX
• dmx4all: driver for DMX4ALL devices like the "NanoDMX USB Interface"
• enttec-usb-dmx-pro: a driver for devices using a Enttec USB DMX Pro chip like the "DMXKing ultraDMX Micro".
• enttec-open-usb-dmx: driver for "Enttec Open DMX USB". This device is NOT recommended, there are known hardware limitations and this driver is not very stable. (If possible better obtain a device with the "pro" chip)
• dmxking-utra-dmx-pro: driver for the DMXKing Ultra DMX pro interface. This driver support multiple universe specify the options with Port = A or B

Once you have created the instance of dmx-animate and choosen the driver, you can start adding devices:

Devices

The dmx universe is made of devices. Register a new device by...

• calling a new instance of new dmx.Device(options)
• adding it using the function dmx.addDevice(options,(universe))
• adding multiple using dmx.addDevices([options1,options2,...],(universe))

(optionally add the universe to dmx.addDevice)

options is a object with some necessary keys: [optional]

options	explanation
name	String - the unique name for the device
startChannel	number - the channel number on witch the device is registered
channels	Array - a list of labeled channels the device uses
[type]	String - use a preset
[programs]	Object - adds javascript functions to the device instance
[universe]	insert the universe index, name or instance; default to 0

Example:

var rgbDevice = dmx.addDevice({
	name: 'basic-rgb',
	startChannel: 4,
	channels: ['r','g','b']
})

There are a few functions and properties on this new object. Take a look at Functionality

Device presets

I made some preset devices already for you to use. You can inherit a preset by using the type property. The presets can be found at devices.js

Important: The channels property is no longer required, but the name and startChannel obviously are. You can still overwrite channels, programs etc.

Example:

var rgbDevice = dmx.addDevice({
	type: 'basic-rgb',
	name: 'basic-rgb',
	startChannel: 4
})

device name	description
rbg-led-par56	A 5 channel rgb par
basic-rgb	basic 3 channel rgb device
basic-dimmer	basic 1 channel device
4ch-dimmer	dimmer with 4 channels, used for dimmer packs
mania-scx500	a scanner with some color functionality
Feel free to commit to this device list via pull Request.

And you can add presets yourself at the top of the code to use it elsewhere:

dmx.deviceTemplates[name] = {
	channels: ['r','g','b'],
	programs: {

	}
	...
}

Programs

Programs are ways to add shortcuts for certain actions to a device. They are defined as a function in the programs object like this:

var dimmer = dmx.addDevice({
	channels: ['value'],
    programs: {
      dimIn: function(time = 2000){
        return this.dim(0,255,time).run()
      }
    }
})

You can then run this program by:

dimmer.dimIn(1000)

In the function you have access to the device and its native functions by using this and you can insert arguments like time. Important : For the http api it is important to return the current state (consider return this.getState() too)

Groups

Groups are a way to group multiple devices together and control them all at once. Initialize an instance with new dmx.Group(devices, options) or dmx.addDevice(new dmx.Group(devices, options)) to use it with the http api.

The group must have its own name property and can have seperate programs Example:

var group = dmx.addDevice( new Group([rgbDevice, dimmer], {
	name: 'device-group',
	programs: {
		allOneOn: function(){
			this.devices[0].setChannels([255,255,255])
		}
	}
}) )

In the programs you can access the whole group with this again and then an array of devices with this.devices.

The groups have the same methods as the devices, but just apply it to every device.

Methods and Functionality

Enough of setting up! Here we'll talk about controlling your set up devices and universes actually. dmx.getUniverse(name)

Returns the node-dmx universe object

dmx.getUniverse(name).update(object)

Update single channels of a universe

• object - Object containing the channels as keys and values

dmx.nodeDmx

Get the original node-dmx instance and perform actions: node-dmx

Device.setChannels(channels)

Updates the channels of a device. channels can be:

• an Array of values in Order of the device channels
• a Object with channel-value pairs

Device.set(channel, value)

Sets a channel or more to a value or more. Part of animation. channel can be:

• String - the channel name
• Number - the channels index in Device.channels
• Array - an Array of values in Order of the device channels (value argument does not matter)
• Object - with channel-value pairs(value argument does not matter)

Device.dim(channel, value,duration,[easing])

Animates a channel/channels from the previous value to another in a given duration. Part of animation.

• channel - look at Device.set
• durationNumber - the time it takes to animate in ms
• easingone of the following easing methods (optional)

All easing methods:

• inear (default)
• inQuad
• outQuad
• inOutQuad
• inCubic
• outCubic
• inOutCubic
• inQuart
• outQuart
• inOutQuart
• inQuint
• outQuint
• inOutQuint
• inSine
• outSine
• inOutSine
• inExpo
• outExpo
• inOutExpo
• inCirc
• outCirc
• inOutCirc
• inElastic
• outElastic
• inOutElastic
• inBack
• outBack
• inOutBack
• inBounce
• outBounce
• inOutBounce

Device.delay(duration)

Delays the next step of the animation by the given duration in ms. Part of animation.

Device.execute(callback)

Executes a javascript function callback when reached in animation. Part of animation. This can be used to animate multiple devices at one, log the progress or whatever.

Example: see below "Part of animation"

Everything labeled "Part of animation" is not ran on run call, but can be chained e.g:

dimmer
	.set(0,255)
	.dim(0, 130, 2000)
	.execute(() => {
		console.log('dim finished')
	})
	.delay(1000)
	.dim(0, 0,5000)

And to execute the whole chain of actions step by step, you need to run Device.run(callback)

Part of animation. This starts the previous defined animation chain and calls the callback on Finish:

dimmer.run(function() {
	console.log("Finished")
})

Device.stopAnimation()

Stops the current animation.

Device.blackout()

Sets all channels to 0.

Device.getChannelState()

Returns the current values for the given channels as Object.

Device.getPrograms()

Returns all defined programs for the device.

Sequences

You can define a sequence of different actions, animations and programs with dmx.addSequence(name,function,[config])

name String - The name of the sequence function Javascript Function - This runs on sequence call config Object - (optional) configuration e.g {duration: 2000}

If you return a animation object, it automatically calculates the duration for that. Else wise configure it yourself. You can also put arguments into your sequence function which can be inserted on call:

dmx.runSeq(name, ...args)

Runs the sequence with the name and inserts arguments.

dmx.stopSeq(name)

Stops a sequence again.