Device-Specific Configuration

Anyma µDMX

Linux

You need a udev rule like this in /etc/udev/rules.d/10-local.rules

# udev rules file for the anyma dmx device
SUBSYSTEM=="usb|usb_device", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="16c0", ATTRS{idProduct}=="05dc", GROUP="plugdev"

ArtNet

If you’re having problems sending ArtNet data, it may be because your receivers don’t support ArtNet II and/or send ArtPollReply messages. You can force OLA to always broadcast data by changing ~/.ola/ola-artnet.conf to contain:

 always_broadcast = true

Streaming ACN / E1.31

All Platforms

Some older networking gear only supports an old revision of E1.31 called Revision 20. To use this older version you need to change a line in ola-e131.conf. Change this line

revision = 0.46

to this line

revision = 0.2

Only do this if the older gear cannot accept the standardized version of E1.31.

Linux

If you are planning to receive large amounts of multicast traffic (20+ sources), you will need to adjust the maximum amount of igmp memberships. Use the following command:

echo <number_of_memberships> | sudo tee /proc/sys/net/ipv4/igmp_max_memberships

For example this command sets the maximum number of igmp memberships to 256:

echo 256 | sudo tee /proc/sys/net/ipv4/igmp_max_memberships

Eurolite USB DMX512 PRO

Linux

Sometime the cdc_acm kernel module claims the device. If this happens you’ll see errors like “Cannot claim device” and/or “another process has device opened for exclusive access”. To avoid this you can remove the module (rmmod). A udev rule like what is used for the Anyma device should also work.

Mac

Install the KEXT.

OSC

The message types are described in the OSC Spec .

Receiving DMX

The OSC plugin accepts a number of message formats:

Path OSC Message Type Data Comments
/path ‘b’ Blob of length 1 to 512. The most efficient way of sending DMX data over OSC.
/path/N ‘i’ Slot value from 0 to 255 Update a single slot. N is the slot number from 1 – 512.
/path/N ‘f’ Slot value from 0.0 to 1.0 Update a single slot. N is the slot number from 1 – 512.
/path ‘ii’ Slot number from 0 to 511, slot value from 0 to 255 Update a single slot.
/path ‘if’ Slot number from 0 to 511, slot value from 0.0 to 1.0 Update a single slot.

Sending DMX

The following formats are available for sending data:

Config Option Path OSC Message Type Data Comments
blob /path ‘b’ Blob of length 1 to 512. The most efficient way of sending DMX data over OSC.
float_array /path N * ‘f’ Slot values from 0.0 to 1.0 Not quite as efficient as the blob type.
int_array /path N * ‘i’ Slot values from 0 to 255 Not quite as efficient as the blob type.
individual_float /path/N ‘f’ Slot value from 0.0 to 1.0 N is the slot number from 1 – 512. Results in a lot of messages being sent, avoid using this.
individual_int /path/N ‘i’ Slot value from 0 to 255 N is the slot number from 1 – 512. Results in a lot of messages being sent, avoid using this.

Open DMX USB / FTDI RS485

There are two options, the ‘Open DMX’ plugin that requires the kernel module, and the native FTDI driver.

The Open DMX Plugin requires the dmx_usb kernel module, which means it’s Linux only. The FTDI driver can be used on either Mac or Linux.

Linux, Open DMX Kernel Module

Make sure the opendmx plugin is enabled. Make sure the dmx_usb kernel module is loaded.

Mac FTDI

You must have libftdi-dev installed before you run ./configure. Otherwise the FTDI DMX plugin won’t show up in the list of OLA plugins.

Enable the FTDI driver (ola-ftdidmx ) and disable the USB Serial and Open DMX drivers (ola-usbserial.conf & ola-opendmx.conf)

Linux, FTDI

Same as Mac, but you also need to make sure that you add the following udev rule:

# udev rules for ftdi devices
SUBSYSTEM=="usb|usb_device", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0403", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6001", GROUP="plugdev"

SPI

This plugin is designed for the Raspberry Pi. It may work on other hardware, but that’s up to you. For instructions on the hardware side of things see OLA LED Pixels.

If you’re on a Raspberry Pi, see the steps at Raspberry Pi SPI Overview or alternatively the instructions below should work.

Enable the spi-bcm2708 module, by editing /etc/modprobe.d/raspi-blacklist.conf and commenting out the “blacklist spi-bcm2708” line. The file should look something like this:

# blacklist spi and i2c by default (many users don't need them)

#blacklist spi-bcm2708
blacklist i2c-bcm2708

To allow non-root access, add the following to /etc/udev/rules.d/99-spi.rules

SUBSYSTEM=="spidev", MODE="0666"

StageProfi

This comes in two flavors, a USB model and an Ethernet/IP model.

 device = /dev/ttyUSB0
 device = 192.168.1.250

Enttec USB Pro

Mac

Make sure you install the drivers: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

After a restart, run:

 ls /dev/cu.usbserial-*

Make sure your ~/.ola/ola-usbpro.conf file matches the path above:

 device_dir = /dev
 device_prefix = ttyUSB
 device_prefix = cu.usbserial-

i.e. Look for devices at /dev/ttyUSB* , /dev/cu.usbserial-*

OLA also comes with a tool to update the firmware on a USB Pro:

 ./tools/usbpro_firmware -d /dev/cu.usbserial-0000101D -f <firmware_file>

Enttec USBDMX2

Linux

You need a udev rule like this in /etc/udev/rules.d/10-local.rules

# udev rules file for the usbdmx2 dmx device
SUBSYSTEM=="usb|usb_device", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0962", GROUP="plugdev"

There is an issue where the device isn’t detected correctly the first time. You may need to restart OLA once the DMX Transmit LED comes on.

Mac

There is an issue where the device isn’t detected correctly the first time. You may need to restart OLA once the DMX Transmit led comes on.

Velleman VM166 / K8062

Mac

If you’re installed from source you’ll need the codeless KEXT which is available here. If you installed OLA from the mac binary package this is already included.

Linux

You need a udev rule like this in /etc/udev/rules.d/10-local.rules

# udev rules file for the velleman dmx device
SUBSYSTEM=="usb|usb_device", ACTION=="add", ATTRS{idVendor}=="10cf", ATTRS{idProduct}=="8062", GROUP="plugdev"

Then make sure the user olad runs as is a member of plugdev.

KarateLight, KarateDMX

Linux

You need a udev rule like this in /etc/udev/rules.d/81-karate.rules

# udev rules file for the karate-device
KERNEL=="ttyACM?", ATTRS{product}=="DMX2USB simple", SYMLINK+="kldmx0"

Then make sure the user olad runs as is a member of ‘dialout’ which is the default group owning ttyACM?.