Moving Head

Overview

This build page documents how to set up four moving heads with the HinksPix Pro controller’s DMX port and integration with xLights.


Specifically we are setting up four Starlight Moving Heads from YourPixelStore.com using the YPS Starlight ADV.xmodel &  documentation found here (add .xmodel to cart which is free during checkout) and videos shown below from Kyle Bostich of BFLight Shows.com

HinksPix Pro / DMX Port Wiring 

The HinksPix Pro’s DMX Plug is a green 3-pin phoenix connector. You will only use the DMX D+ and D- and wire these to an Ethernet cable that you’ve cut one end off of.

  • Strip back 1 1/2″ of the outer jacket.
  • Find the Orange and Orange/White wires.
  • Cut back the other 6 wires as they will not be needed.
  • Strip 1/4″ of insulation off the Orange and Orange/White wires.
  • Attach the Orange wires to the phoenix connector that plugs into the port as shown in the picture.

NOTE: The phoenix connector requires a very small, straight blade screw driver. You may have to back the screws out in order to open the jaws before pushing the wires in and re-tightening the screws.

TIP: The wires are very thin and fragile so I recommend using a small zip-tie to secure the Ethernet cable to the phoneix connector to provide strain relief. Pictured is the 3-pin Phoenix connector that plugs into the HInksPix DMX port. The ethernet coupler will join this dongle to the waterproof ethernet pass through already installed in the controller’s enslosure.

 

You may use Ethernet Couplers, Pass Through Connectors/Glands, etc. to create a water proof connection coming out of the controllers enclosure. It is recommended to use burial grade/outdoor rated Cat6 cable to run from the controller to the first moving head due to that cables thicker jacket and UV protection.

NOTE: You will need an adapter to convert the Ethernet cable to a DMX cable with the proper gender.  Usually a male DMX plug is needed. In our example we used an Ethernet to 3-Pin DMX XLR cable and an IP67 rated  Ethernet Coupler to make the connections on the roof waterproof.

 

xLights – Setting Up the Moving Heads

  1. In the Layout tab click on Import to “Create a new custom import model” and then double-click on an empty place in your layout.
  2. Navigate to the <YPS Starlight – ADV.xmodel> file you previously downloaded and double click on the .xmodel file to import the model.
  3. Rename the newly imported model to <MH1> or something short and easily identifiable as a Moving Head then Save it.
  4. Copy and Paste the MH1 model for as many moving heads as you have. In our example we copied it three times to have a total of 4 heads named MH1, MH2, MH3, and MH4.
  5. For each MH model under Controller Connections assign the DMX start channel. In our example the heads use 16 channels so starting channels are 1, 17, 33, and 49 (see picture below).



xLights – Create “Action Line Groups”

Using the Line model we will create what I call “Action Line Groups” where each Line model will represent a particular moving head action Pan, Tilt, etc.  I call it a group because each Line will perform the same action for all moving heads. Ex: All heads Tilt up the same amount at the same time.

  1. Create a Line model in your layout for the first Action
  2. Set # Strings = 4 (the number of moving heads you have)
  3. Set Lights/String = 1
  4. Under String Properties set String Type = Single Color
  5. Change the name to something like: MH <MH Action> GRP
    Example:     MH Pan (Course) GRP
  6. Set Controller to Use Start Channel
  7. Enter the first moving head Start Channel
    Start Channel = @MH1:1 (:1 for Pan action)
  8. Click the checkbox for Indiv Start Chans
  9. Edit the Indivi Start Channels for each moving head as follows:
    String2 = @MH2:1
    String3 = @MH3:1
    String4 = @MH4:1
  10. Click Save on the Model
  11. Right-click on the MH model you just created and Copy/Paste it  in your Layout. Repeat starting at Step 5 for all remaining MH Actions (see vendor documentation for list of actions and channel numbers).
  12. Click Save on the Layout

 

xLights – Visualizer Setup for Moving Heads

  1. In xLights on the Controller tab, click on the HinksPix Pro controller you will be wiring the moving heads to.
  2. Then click on the Visualize button.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the Visualizer window and drag each moving head onto the Serial Port 1 row in order MH1, MH2, etc.
  4. Close the Visualizer window and click Save on the Controllers tab.
  5. Click on the Upload button to push the configuration to the Hinks controller.

xLights / MH Lamp ON/OFF Sequences

  1. In xLights Create a New Sequence – Animation / 20fps / 10 seconds long.
  2. On all of your moving heads add a DMX effect.
  3. Set the Lamp CTL to the channel that turns ON the Lamp. 
    Ex: DMX Lamp CTL to channel 203 for 10 seconds powers ON the lamp. See picture below.
  4. Render and Save this sequence as MH – Lamp ON.xsq
  5. Click File / Save As and name the copy of this sequence as MH – Lamp OFF.xsq
  6. Change the DMX effect and set it to the Lamp CTL channel that turns OFF the lamp.
    Ex: DMX Lamp CTL to channel 103 for 10 seconds power OFF the lamp.
  7. Render, Save, and Close the sequence.

TIP: Schedule the MH Lamp ON sequence to run several minutes before your show starts. In FPP you can put this in the Lead In section and add a 300 second Pause after it.

The MH Lamp OFF sequence can go in the Lead Out after any other sequences that use the heads, followed by a 600 second Pause to allow the fans time to cool the heads with the lamp off. After the pause you can use additional automation like the TPLink Plugin to turn off power to Kasa SmartPlug(s) to power down light show controllers and the moving heads.

 

xLights / Mapping Sequences for Movers

Most sequencers use the Action Line Group concept so its fairly straight foward to import sequences. Example see screen shot.

Sometimes the sequencer has more moving heads than you own. If they have eight heads and you have four then map them like so:

Your Moving Heads Sequencers Moving Heads
1 2
2 4
3 5
4 7