Will this DAC work ?

**Jacotex** · 10-08-2011, 11:50

Hello, i'm a newbie to lasers but here goes my question

I've got a single color green laser, it can be dimmed, that would mean its analouge right ?

Will it work with the ishow dac? (i dont care if im gonna loose the dim effect)

// Phil

**Jacotex** · 10-08-2011, 12:26

Can i connect it as TTL ? will it work ?

**badger1666** · 10-08-2011, 17:37

hmm ishow , dont even bother, its cheap for a reason
there are better options but its going to cost

**steve-o** · 10-08-2011, 18:26

give him a break badger, remember our new rule?

Yes it should work if it's analogue, it should work TTL. I don't personally know about ishow, though.

**cfavreau** · 10-09-2011, 00:00

It will probably work with the iShow DAC. Do you already have one?

**michelrietveld** · 10-09-2011, 03:56

I started out with a simple PT30K scanset from chinesedepartmentstore.com, bought ishow together with the dac, with the scanset i also got the pt-itrust interconnect ilda board. This board is used to connect the ilda cable from the ishow dac and has connections for the green modulation (ttl/analog which you set in the software) and the x/y scandrivers.
It is a good start to see what it is about and soon you will want more ;-)
The ishow does also work with spaghetti and performs even better but since last postings have revealed that spaghetti will no longer be supported (sadly) you will have to move to a more expensive dac/software combination if you want to take it to the next level. In my opinion, if you want to start spending money on lasers you can skip the ishow/dac investment and look for better alternatives, if you are unsure and want to start budget friendly than it is up to you.

Michel

**badger1666** · 10-09-2011, 04:36

Originally Posted by steve-o

give him a break badger, remember our new rule?

Yes it should work if it's analogue, it should work TTL. I don't personally know about ishow, though.

sorry mybad it was late and i was tired
sorry new guy

**Jacotex** · 10-09-2011, 12:23

Thanks for the help

it just says in the description of ishow, that it will support TTL, nothing about analouge (which my laser is)

What options woud you recommend without being too expensive?

**White-Light** · 10-10-2011, 04:08

Pangolin QS package is the best option at the cheaper end of the market in my opinion. Its around £500 / $600 US but comes with Pangolin's Quick Show software as well which many on here use in professional shows. QS is not unlimited in capability but its easy to use and once you have the FB3 / QS combination, you can always upgrade to Pangolin Beyond at any time without buying another DAC as Beyond will run on it also, you just pay an upgrade fee for the software. Obviously QS is pretty good otherwise some wouldn't be using it professionally.

http://www.pangolin.com/QS/

At the cheaper end still there's the RIYA DAC but I'm not sure what software runs on it. LSX is very capable but I've heard quite hard to use. Bear in mind that buying a DAC alone means you need to factor in the software cost on top.

**dnar** · 10-10-2011, 05:01

From memory, TTL controllers are low for ON, high for OFF, so you might need to invert your modulation.

**LaNeK779** · 10-10-2011, 05:53

Originally Posted by Jacotex

What options woud you recommend without being too expensive?

there is this DAC called RIYA multibus lite (which supports analog and is a very nice and compact unit) and there is this software called LSX that has an entry level version. both of them should not set you back more than 300 usd

you can try contacting member DrLava here for more info. or you can just buy the dac and use the bundled riya playback utilities (but this way you cannot create new content)

**absolom7691** · 10-10-2011, 08:33

Spaghetti will still be supported.

Gary has decided not to let a forum full of kids bug him. I haven't used Spaghetti, but a lot of memebers here love it and from what it sounds like, it is a snap to put together a show that looks very professional. Additionally, there are a ton of free frames out there on the net and on the FTP server, as well as free creation/drawing software. I would recommend Spaghetti if you are not looking to spend a lot right now.

**dnar** · 10-10-2011, 08:35

I must say, I still find programming timeline shows in Spaghetti much faster and easier than with QS...

There are some things I could do in Spaghetti I find much harder in QS...

**Jacotex** · 10-10-2011, 11:51

Originally Posted by absolom7691

Spaghetti will still be supported.

Gary has decided not to let a forum full of kids bug him. I haven't used Spaghetti, but a lot of memebers here love it and from what it sounds like, it is a snap to put together a show that looks very professional. Additionally, there are a ton of free frames out there on the net and on the FTP server, as well as free creation/drawing software. I would recommend Spaghetti if you are not looking to spend a lot right now.

So will ishow2+spaghetti, work together with an analouge laser ?

**matratzki** · 10-10-2011, 13:50

I have two I show DACs an I can say they DO NOT work with analog Lasers, because the output voltage is about 2V and that is much to less for your analog Laser..
..but with some electronic parts, op-Amps...Mosfets..it should be possible to output 5V instead of 2...
the next problem is that the i show Dac is single ended and do not work very good with most of the scanners available...

**JohnYayas** · 10-10-2011, 16:48

Jacotex, yes, iShow works with Spaghetti and analog projectors. That's what I have and it works OK. I don't particularly care for iShow DACs for anything other than beam shows, though. For analog shows, the output quality is fair, at best. But, if you economy is more important than quality they do they trick.

Matratzki, as far as signal source goes, the iShow DAC works perfectly fine with my analog projector. I'm not sure that your characterization is entirely correct. I have never heard of anyone having the problems you mention. iShow isn't the only single ended DAC out there. Being single ended is perfectly fine. Differential is really only advantageous over very long runs where noise might be a problem.

**matratzki** · 10-11-2011, 02:25

Originally Posted by JohnYayas

Matratzki, as far as signal source goes, the iShow DAC works perfectly fine with my analog projector. I'm not sure that your characterization is entirely correct. I have never heard of anyone having the problems you mention. iShow isn't the only single ended DAC out there. Being single ended is perfectly fine. Differential is really only advantageous over very long runs where noise might be a problem.

.

My two I show DACs do not work with my analog projector...but there now more than two years old, perhaps they changed their Dacs, so that also analog Lasers work with them.

**norty303** · 10-11-2011, 06:49

Its around £500

Not sure where you are getting your QS from, or what exchange rate you are using, but its available on ebay for under £400, in some cases very close to £300.

**White-Light** · 10-11-2011, 07:30

Originally Posted by norty303

Not sure where you are getting your QS from, or what exchange rate you are using, but its available on ebay for under £400, in some cases very close to £300.

I've not looked in a while. That's a very good deal at those prices.

**TsevenT** · 10-16-2011, 13:31

I am looking for a reasonably well performing DAC unit as well, costing not too much. Which Riya DAC do you guys recommend and does it work with Spaghetti?

**JohnYayas** · 10-16-2011, 13:42

All of the RIYA DACs work with Spaghetti. All of the DACs have the same basic features. Some offer more buttons, ethernet, a display screen, etc.

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