by James David Smith | Jan 6, 2014 | Projects
Pinball machines are candy to the senses for those of us who love things that light up, make lots of noise, and have a soft spot for the arcade. While most may view these pieces of machinery as something nostalgic from the solid-state electronics era of the 1970’s, the pinball machine takes the stage front and center in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s production of The Who’s Tommy. And, these aren’t just any pinball machines. Through the magic of RC4Magic Wireless Dimmers and their ability to smoothly deliver dimming power to lamps, LEDs, relays, and solenoids, these pinball machines light up, flash, and chase, all while being completely untethered.
by James David Smith | Aug 9, 2013 | Articles, Press Release
RC4Magic
Wireless DMX & Dimming
The DMX2flkr and DMX4flkr produce beautiful flicker and flame effects. Use our RC4 Flkr Effects Engine to define unique, personalized looks, not prepackaged or canned effects. You determine — in real time with DMX channels — how oscillators and random-number generators modulate multiple dimmer channels. Build an effect in minutes, not hours. Tweak it in seconds, anytime.
The DMXfb (Full Bridge) is the world’s first miniature DMX-controlled AC-Inverter. Smoothly control small AC-powered loads with variable AC frequency and amplitude. Ring telephones and smoothly dim EL-Wire with no hum, buzz or vibration. You haven’t seen EL-Wire dim until you’ve seen a DMXfb.
The DMXi2c connects to Arduino, RaspberryPi, PicAxe, and most microcontrollers, using the common I2C chip-to-chip communications protocol. Now you have real-time DMX control for your most sophisticated custom projects. The DMXi2c emulates external read-only memory, effortlessly accessible using library functions bundled with most programming environments and languages.
Don’t forget that RC4Magic Series 2 DMX2dim and DMX4dim wireless dimmers remain industry leaders. There is no better way to smoothly control low-voltage lamps, LEDs, RGB tape, motors, relays, solenoids and more.
Hey — do you smell smoke? Probably not. But…
Check out our RC4Magic Series 2 LIFETIME WARRANTY. If you didn’t misuse or abuse it, we’ll fix it. For free. Forever. What qualifies as abuse? Don’t connect your RC4Magic Series 2 dimmer to AC mains, use it under water, or set it on fire. Dumb stuff isn’t covered.
Soundsculpture SNET2 Magazine Ad, Lighting Dimensions January 1994
For over 20 years RC4Wireless has delivered the world’s smallest, most versatile wireless DMX devices for arts and entertainment. While imitators come and go, we continue to innovate and thrive. Your needs are ever changing; our reliable and affordable solutions evolve with you.
When it’s time to choose a wireless dimming system, choose the one with the smallest devices, the best track record, and an unbeatable warranty. Choose the system with the brightest future, from the people who started it all, and still do it best. RC4 technology is used everyday by Disney and Cirque du Soliel. From rep houses to churches, from weddings to rock concerts, RC4Magic Series 2 is there.
Choose RC4Wireless.
RC4Wireless
dev.rc4wireless.com
moreinfo@theatrewireless.com
Toll Free 866-258-4577
by James David Smith | Mar 14, 2013 | Articles, Press Release
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A do-not-miss presentation for propsmasters, costume people, and anyone else interested in DMX-controlled wireless lighting and motion in props, practicals, costumes, and more.
Guests will present physical examples of their work – not just another PowerPoint yawn – letting you see fascinating wireless technology up close and learn about just how difficult – or easy – it was to make props do more than look pretty. Presenters include:
Craig Gottschalk, Lighting & Sound Director
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Sean Dane, Prop Shop Foreman
Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Peter M. Anderson, Lighting and Sound Supervisor
Northwestern University Theatre & Interpretation Center
Travis Shupe, Master Electrician, and Lee Fiskness, Lighting Director
The Santa Fe Opera
And the chair, bringing them all together:
James David Smith, President and Chief Product Designer
RC4 Wireless
Read the seminar description on the USITT website and plan to attend on Wednesday March 20 from 6pm – 7:15pm. We look forward to seeing you!
Discover the new RC4Magic DMXi2c. Live, real-time wireless DMX for your next Arduino, Basic Stamp, or Raspberry Pi project using the I2C or SPI serial port.
Flickering! With RC4Magic DMX2flkr and DMX4flkr wireless flicker engines. Candle flames, arc welding, color shifting, you name it, these cool little devices can do it for you. Beautiful effects, faster than DMX typically delivers, wirelessly controlled. Already used by Disney. Now you can use it, too!
EL-Wire and EL-Tape, telephone bells, and other small AC loads. The RC4Magic DMXfb is a software controlled miniature AC inverter providing variable voltage and frequency under wireless DMX control. Perhaps the most versatile device in the RC4Magic line-up. Remarkable!
HUGE RC4 Announcement at
USITT Brag & Swag / New Product Showcase
RC4 is the final presenter at this year’s USITT Brag & Swag / New Product Showcase. We’re the headliner, the main attraction, the closing act. And for good reason. Don’t miss one of the biggest announcements in our corporate history.
Are we announcing something that will be meaningful to YOU? Absolutely. We’re not corporate dead heads… everything we do is for you.
Come to the USITT Brag & Swag on the evening of Thursday March 21, stay to the end, and discover how and why RC4 is even better today than ever before. Like… WOW! |
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by James David Smith | Oct 1, 2012 | FAQ, Learn About..., Special FX, Fog, Misc., Support, Wireless Dimming
I’ve had a small linear actuator on my trade-show table of tricks for years — some of you may have seen it at USITT Stage Expo, or the ABTT Show in London. It’s a little extendable “arm” that runs in and out using 2 channels of wireless DMX control.
How do you make a small DC motor or actuator change direction?
They change direction when you reverse the polarity of the power driving them: swap the red and black wires (the + and – leads) and they run the other way.
You need 2 channels of DMX assigned to two separate DC dimmer outputs, a small DPDT (double-pole, double-throw) relay, and — of course — the motor or actuator. One dimmer provides motor power, the other dimmer drives the coil of the relay. Connect the motor power through the contacts of the relay to provide one polarity when the relay is NO (normally open) and the opposite polarity when NC (normally closed).
Use the linear dimming curve for motor power. This lets you control motor speed. Use a non-dim curve for the relay, to ensure it is either open or closed. If you send dimmed power to a relay, it will chatter and not switch reliably.
Here’s a diagram of how to connect the relay to an RC4Magic DMX2dim dimmer. You’ll want to use a relay with a coil voltage that is the same as the motor, and run the whole thing at that voltage. A good choice would be 12V, but it can be anything from 6V to 24V when using our R3 dimmers; or 6V to 18V with our older dimmers.
One more detail that matters more for large loads than small, but is a good idea in all cases: put snubber diodes across both dimmers, right at the dimmer outputs. This is a high-current rectifier diode in the opposite polarity of power output. That is, the diode will NOT conduct, so you might think it’s pointless. In fact, when the motor is coasting, or being turned externally, it’s generating electricity in reverse polarity. The diode absorbs that energy, preventing it from getting back into the dimmer electronics. This is called “back-EMF” (EMF is electromagnetic force). Mechanical relays generate little snippets of back-EMF as well, when they release. There is some protection built-in to RC4 dimmers, but it never hurts to add another external diode.
There you have it: now you can make that drawbridge go up and down… or whatever else you want to do with a reversible DC motor.
One dimmer provides motor power, the other dimmer drives the coil of the relay. Connect the motor power through the contacts of the relay to provide one polarity when the relay is NO (normally open) and the opposite polarity when NC (normally closed).
In recent versions of firmware, RC4 dimmers also provide a DC Motor dimmer curve. This curve combines the two control channels into one, with the motor off in the center. You still need two dimmer outputs, with one driving the relay for direction. When raising the DMX level above half you control the speed in one direction; lowering below half spins in the other direction. You can access the DC Mot curve on RC4Magic devices using RC4 Commander software, and on LumenDim devices using RDM.
As a precaution, when using the DC Mot curve, the outputs are locked off until the DMX control level crosses 50% to enable power. That way, a motor won’t be spinning at full speed when you connect a DMX universe with all channels off.
by James David Smith | May 7, 2012 | Articles, Press Release
Our online rental system is up and running! Now it’s easy to rent an RC4Magic wireless dimming system, or add pieces to your existing system. Go to the new system…
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Raleigh, NC – RC4Wireless, maker of the RC4Magic Wireless Dimming System, has launched the RC4 Rental Program. Managed directly by the manufacturer, this new service uses Fedex to deliver rental equipment directly to your door, along with paperwork and packaging for return when your project is complete.
RC4Magic Series 2 is the most popular system in the world for controlling lights in theatrical props and practicals, using a DMX console. There is no easier or better way to fade a lantern up and down, create a fire effect, make glowing coals wax and wane, and create numerous other beautiful looks.
Lighting designers love the control, performers love the freedom. But some production companies struggle with the cost.
The RC4 Rental Program helps. “For me, rentals are helpful in several ways,” explains James David Smith, president of RC4. “It lets small churches and school productions with limited budgets do fun and creative stuff with wireless; it also lets potential purchasers try before they buy; and it provides access to RC4 when a producer — a movie company, for instance — prefers leasing and renting rather than being saddled with a capital expenditure, depreciation, etc.”
RC4 rental rates are offered by the month, by the week, and by the day. The most economical rate is monthly. A deposit is required at the outset, fully refunded when equipment is returned. A nominal shipping charge covers the cost of getting the system out to you and back again.
What if a rental comes back with a broken terminal or a torn label? “Nothing bad will happen to you!” quips Mr. Smith. “I’ve been in this business for a long time, and I know what props masters and electricians face everyday. You’re going to send your rental units back with paint on the back, adhesive residue on the side, a big scratch across the top and no label at all. That’s ok. As long as you haven’t set it on fire, immersed it in liquid, or driven over it with a truck, I will take it back and fully refund your deposit. If you could remove your tape and Velcro that would be great,” he smiles.
A typical rental consists of an RC4Magic DMXio transmitter, and a pair of DMX2dim 2-channel wireless dimmers. This little dimmer is remarkably versatile because of its small size, high power handling, and the ability to control traditional lamps and LEDs with very smooth dimming, as well as small motors, solenoids, and relays.
Purchasing these three items would cost $1257USD. Now you can rent them for a week at a cost of only $179.75 including shipping both ways. The deposit required is $628.50, refunded when the items are returned. RC4 accepts payment by Visa, Mastercard, and check.
Need to rent for longer? Rent the same three pieces for a month for only $284.50, and again that includes shipping both ways. Need additional pieces? Need a 4-channel dimmer? No problem! All components of the RC4Magic Series 2 systems are available for rent (subject to availability on the dates required).
For more information about RC4 rentals, and a custom quote for purchase or rental, call RC4 toll free at 866-258-4577, or email moreinfo@theatrewireless.com.
