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DMX Interface Card Hardware: this is a complete step-by-step description how to access the hardware, and how to set the working parameters required for DMX512/1990. Find memory maps, hardware addresses and other hardware-related stuff.

. .	WG18: Hardware Description    Get this page in PDF format DMX-512 PC-Interface Card 1512A, 1512B-LC

SOUNDLIGHT offers a range of PC interface cards, not only readily available but affordable and easy to program. Besides we offer ready-to use software packages for free.

Programming of our interface cards is really simple. Here are the few steps to get things running.

To initialize the card:

1. Determine the card address.
   To do so, use a routine as outlined below. In all examples we will assume a card address of $0100:
   1. Write $FF to card address $0100
   2. Write $03 to card address $0101 (0100 +1)
      This sets the internal card RAM address to $03FF.
   3. Write $AA to card address $0102 (0100 +2)
   4. Read card address $0102 (0100+2)
   5. If the return value is $AA, the card is found.
   6. If not, repeat steps (1) thru (5) for addresses $0120, $0140, $0160

2. Transfer the DMX Operating System into the card,
   to make the card operational. Assume you were going to find a 1512A card in your (unknown) computer.
   1. Read card address $0100 to reset the card, then
   2. open the file SLHDMX12.BIN.
      NOTE: Close this file before opening it. This ensures to never get a "file open" error. Depending on the programming language used, you must open the file as BINARY or RANDOM because all NULL bytes must be transferred exactly as read.

      Then the file will be transferred into the card RAM. The card address must be known to do so.

   3. Set RAM-Adress = $0000
   4. Write the RAM-Address LowByte to Card-Address +0
   5. Write the RAM-Address HighByte to Card-Address +1
   6. Read the next byte from file and write it to Card-Address +2
   7. Repeat (3) thru (5) until EOF

      We have now transferred the DMX operating system and are ready to start the card. This will enable the card processor to check the card status and return a card identification byte.

   8. Read Card Address +3 to start the card and wait at least 50us to read the result.
   9. Write $F9 to Card Address +0
   10. Write $03 to Card Address +1 This selects the return byte RAM address $03F9 within the card RAM.
   11. Read Card Address +2
       Return value $04: Card 1512C present
       Return value $05: Card 1512C present
       Return value $80: Card 1512A or 1512B/LC (12 MHz Card) present
       Return value $01: Card 1512B (16 MHz Card) present

       If a 1512A Card is identified the initialization is okay. f another card is being identified the complete initailization procedure has to be repeated, using the proper DMX operating system. Please use the following files:
       SLHDMX12.BIN for card 1512A or 1512B/LC
       SLHDMX16.BIN for card 1512B
       SLHDMX17.BIN for card 1512C
       After file transferral the retuirn value must be checked again. If the return value matches none of the values listed above, either the card or the DMX OS transfer process has shown defective. Return codes $06 to $1F are reserved for future SLH products.

3. Transfer the Default Parameters into the card.
   The DMX operating system files allow individual setting of channel count, card timing an other parameters. If no or invalid parameters are set the card may automatically set valid parameters instead.

   Card-RAM Address	Parameter	Default or typical Value
   $03F0	Startsync Duration Minimum Value: 88us Value: n = Startsync / 2	dmxdef(0) = 45
   $03F1	StartByte for DMX Transmissions	dmxdef(1) = 0
   $03F2	End Idle Time (us) n = (Idle Time - 30us) / 2 The minimum idle time after transmission of a complete DMX telegram is 30 us	dmxdef(2) = 0
   $03F3 $03F4	LowByte Channel Count HighByte Channel Count LO: 001 HI: 000 1 channel sent LO: 002 HI: 000 2 channels sent LO: 003 HI: 000 3 channels sent ... LO: 000 HI: 000 256 channels sent LO: 001 HI: 001 257 channels sent LO: 002 HI: 001 258 channels sent ... LO: 255 HI: 001 511 channels sent LO: 000 HI: 001 512 channels sent LO = Channel Count AND 255 HI = INT ((Channel Count -1)/256)	dmxdef(3) = 0 dmxdef(4) = 1
   $03F5	Send Repeat $00: Send Once, then Stop (Recommended) $80: (<>0): Send continuously	dmxdef(5) = 0
   $03F6	Inter-Digit Time n = IDT * 16 / 24 optimum Value: 0	dmxdef(6) = 0
   $03F7	not used	dmxdef(7) = 0
   $03F8	Card Mode $00 = Write Mode $FF = Read Mode 1512A, 1512B-LC: only Write Mode supported	dmxdef(8) = 0
   $03F8	not used	dmxdef(8) = 0
   $03F9	Card Type Return Value see below	dmxdef(9) = 0

   Now transfer the Default Parameter Values to the Card Data RAM:

   1. Set n=0
   2. Write $F0 + n to card address +0
   3. Write $03 to card address +1
   4. Write dmxdef(n) to card address +2
   5. n= n+1
   6. Repeat (2) thru (5) while n<10
   
   Now the card is ready for use. Eventually you may want to erase the DMX data RAM. To do so, simply write $00 to all remaining card RAM locations.

4. Start the Card
   After initialization and setting of the operating system parameters the card may start its first transmission. To start the card, use the command:
   1. Read Card Address +3

   According to the card mode set above one or more DMX telegrams will be sent.

5. Transfer DMX data to the card
   

   To transfer data to the card or read back data from the card) we highly recommend to use a timer. This will ensure the best data integrity, since access to the card during transmission may corrupt send data. Use a timer (timer repeat time >25 ms) to initiate the command sequence outlined below.
   Please note:

   • Each write access to the card will stop the card CPU, which must then be restarted.
   • After all memory updates heve been processed start the card to initiate e new DMX transmission.
   • The card wil then complete the current DMX telegram an await the next data update.
   1. Write LowByte of DMX Channel to CardAddress +0
   2. Write HighByte of DMX Channel to CardAddress +1
   3. Write Value of DMX Channel to CardAddress +2
   4. Repeat (1) thru (3) for all channels that have to be updated
   5. Start the card by reading from CardAddress +3

SOFTWARE ACCESS

HARDWARE SETUP

• SWITCH SETTINGS
  Do not change switch settings unless required. The cards come with address $0100 (256 dec) set.

  Switches 1 and 2 set the card's interface address

    CARD ADDRESS $0100 (256 dec)
    CARD ADDRESS $0120 (288 dec)
    CARD ADDRESS $0140 (320 dec)
    CARD ADDRESS $0160 (352 dec)

  Switch 3 sets the card type identification. It MUST be set in accordance with the card's crystal frequency.

    12 MHz CARD  typical setting for 1512A, 1512B-LC
    16 MHz CARD

  Switch 4 is for factory use only and must never be changed.

    ALWAYS ON

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS / HOW TO .. ?

• I can't put the card to work.
  All cards are fully checked prior to shipment. Of course any electronic component can fail, but in a computer system chances are that address, software or hardware conflicts exist. Please try one of our ready-to use programs first. Most of these programs show a clear identification of the card after initialization in a message box. Address, card type and/or frequency will be displayed. If the card cannot be found please check for an address conflict.

• OK, your program is running fine but the card does not respond to my program. It does nothing.
  We have prepared several demos which are presented in our programming lessons. Use these demos as a skeleton for your own projects. Before the card can be used you must transfer the card operating system into the card. If bytes are transferred erroneously, missing or faulty the card will not work! For Beginners it is a good idea to read out the card contents after transferral to make sure everything is okay and matches the SLHDMXnn.BIN file's contents.

• A card was found but the wrong card type displayed.
  Please check the card switch setting. SW3 must be set according to the card's crystal frequency to allow identification..

• I have a 1512C card and this cannot be identified when using the routines described above.
  This is a shortcoming of the current SLHDMX12.BIN and SLHDMX16.BIN driver files, which have been written prior to the release of the 1512C card. Thus the drivers do not know this card type. New drivers will be released shortly. Please use the identification scheme as outlined on the 1512C page..

• What about drivers?
  We supply DLL's which can be used with Windows 3.1/3.11 and Windows 95/98, respectively. Please check the drivers download area below to obtain the latest drivers available. A decription how the access the DLL functions is contained in the 1512B manual and every source code demo of our programming lessons. There you can also download a OCX control element to drive the cards.

• What is the difference to all the other cards you offer?
  The original card was called 1512A. From this, we derived the 1512B, which is a reliable card for professional use. It features additional safety through optical isolation and runs at higher clock speed (16 MHz compared to 12 MHz). The 1512B-LC (Low Cost) is basically the same card but without the costly optical isolation components and standard speed. It was designed as a very low-cost hardware solution for participants to our internet DMX programming lessons. The card was so succesful that we decided to do several production runs and keep it as a standard device. The 1512C is the latest model added to the family and features two links (1024 channels). It can even read DMX data simultaneously.

DMX-512 PORT 9Pin female	This is the Standard DMX Interface pin layout as used with our PC interface cards 1512A and 1512B. Please note that the standardized connector for DMX-512 is the 5-pin XLR connector. As this type of connector is much too bulky to be mounted on a PC slotcard, we have chosen the widely used 9pin SubD. PIN    INPUT / OUTPUT     PIN ASSIGNMENT 1 OUTPUT DMX + 2 OUTPUT DMX - 3 IN / OUT DMX + (2. Link) 4 IN / OUT DMX - (2. Link) 5 do not use 6 GND Screen, GND 7 GND Screen, GND (option) 8 GND Screen, GND (option) 9 GND Screen, GND (option)

  Download Card Operating System SLHDMX12.BIN
       For cards 1512A and 1512B-LC, latest version.

  Download Card Operating System SLHDMX16.BIN
       For cards 1512B, latest version.

  Download Card Operating System SLHDMX17.BIN
       For cards 1512C, latest version.

  Download Dynamic Link Library SLHDMX2.DLL
       For 16-Bit Applications, latest DLL version.

  Download Dynamic Link Library SLHDMX32.DLL
       For 32-Bit Applications, first DLL version.

  Download Dynamic Link Library SLHDMX33.DLL
       For 32-Bit Applications, latest DLL version.

  Download Drivers Collection 1512B

  Operating manual 1512B
DOS-Text DMXPCI.TXT

  Why opto-isolated? A technical Note

Application examples for SLH DMX512 PC Interface Cards

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