Maybe a bit unothodox, but:
is it possible to control (set) via BMT thing like this usb controlled relay board:
USB Relais Modul 2 Kanal 5V PC Intelligente Stick Control Bord Switch Kostenloser Stick USB Computer Control Relais Modul|Relais| - AliExpress ?
i believe you simply set the bits in the output sequence and it triggers the board, but I have no idea about the usb nor how to program/set usb output; can’t find any documentation about this usb communication and know they provide the app for switching;
i know it is possible (i’ve done that) to read MIDI from SQ mixer and I want to use mic fader position/mute status to controll “On Air” light
(as well as mute studio monitors, but that is quite easy with BMTp)
i’ve done sth similiar previously with MIDI relay from microdesignum (to light red signal leds on Rode mics) but it would be much simpler and cheaper with direct usb relay unit for 230V lamp
thank you!
Well, I’m not 100% sure how the board is programmed but if the USB is a serial interface, then it should work. If it is something else, then maybe not. For this type of thing, I’ve done this with a combination of an Arduino (which has USB Serial) with a relay hat and it worked quite well. In my case the relay controlled analog amp switching. You should also pay attention to the amount of power the relay would need to be rated at to ensure it can handle the wattage you require. In your case 10A times 230v is 2300W which seems high for such a small device but I guess you have to believe somewhat in the published specifications.
From the sketch in the description, it does not look like it is serial so I would go the safer route instead and get an Arduino with a relay hat.
Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care
Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz
my first thought was to simply set a word (setting 8 bits) and send it do the right port - that how I imagine this thing might work; is such a task doable with BMT? could I simply set and send words to usb receivers?; maybe it’s not that simple, but my lack of knowledge led me to asking you here
Yes, this will not work as MT Pro can handle the following type of traffic only.
Keystrokes
Mouse Actions - Output actions only
Serial Communication
MIDI Communications.
It does not handle USB raw communication actions. As earlier noted, you will need something with a serial interface such as Arduino or similar and then attach a relay hat to it. Either that you would would need to write some helper application on your computer to convert the USB communications to one of the methods Bome MIDI Translator Pro supports.
Here is the Arduino sketch I wrote for the project I mentioned earlier. I have a Bome Project file that interacts with it.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#define BAUD_RATE (115200)
//wrap plain strings
#define CF(s) s
// Pin definitiona
#define Relay1 7
#define Relay2 6
#define Relay3 5
#define Relay4 4
const int SERIAL_INPUT_BUFFER_SIZE = 1024 * 1;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(BAUD_RATE);
pinMode(Relay1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(Relay2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(Relay3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(Relay4, OUTPUT);
// give a little time before sending ready message
delay(1000);
Serial.println(F("READY"));
}
void loop() {
// received Serial command?
if (Serial.available() > 0)
{
static char input[SERIAL_INPUT_BUFFER_SIZE];
static uint16_t readCharCount = 0;
char c = Serial.read();
if (c == '\r' || c == '\n')
{
if (readCharCount < SERIAL_INPUT_BUFFER_SIZE - 1 && readCharCount > 0)
{
input[readCharCount] = '\0';
handleReceivedCommand(input);
}
readCharCount = 0;
}
else
{
if (readCharCount < SERIAL_INPUT_BUFFER_SIZE - 1)
{
input[readCharCount] = c;
}
else if (readCharCount == SERIAL_INPUT_BUFFER_SIZE - 1)
{
Serial.println(F("ERROR: INPUT BUFFER OVERFLOW"));
}
readCharCount++;
}
}
}
void handleReceivedCommand(const char* received)
{
bool ok = false;
skipWhiteSpace(&received);
// parse Commands
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY1-On")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay1, HIGH);
ok = true;
//break;
}
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY1-Off")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay1, LOW);
ok = true;
// break;
}
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY2-On")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay2, HIGH);
ok = true;
// break;
}
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY2-Off")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay2, LOW);
ok = true;
// break;
}
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY3-On")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay3, HIGH);
ok = true;
// break;
}
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY3-Off")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay3, LOW);
ok = true;
// break;
}
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY4-On")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay4, HIGH);
ok = true;
// break;
}
if (startsWithCommand(&received, CF("RLY4-Off")))
{
digitalWrite(Relay4, LOW);
ok = true;
// break;
}
if (ok) Serial.println(F("OK"));
if (!ok)
Serial.println(F("ERROR:INVALID COMMAND"));
}
// Checks if "*received" starts with the given command.
// If yes, advances *received to the next non-white space
// after the command and return true.
// Otherwise, or if command is empty, return false.
bool startsWithCommand(const char** received, char* command)
{
if (command == NULL || command[0] == 0)
{
return false;
}
skipWhiteSpace(received);
int len = strlen(command);
if (strncmp(*received, command, len) == 0)
{
(*received) += len;
// NB: don't skip white space here.
return true;
}
return false;
}
void skipWhiteSpace(const char** received)
{
// skip white space
while (*(*received) != 0 && *(*received) <= 32)
{
(*received)++;
}
}
Steve Caldwell
Bome Customer Care
Also available for paid consulting services: bome@sniz.biz
I’ve chosen different approach anyway
The relay board ‘comes’ with an app and a command line tool (win) you can launch with parameters. That works. I simply make shortcuts to the cmd tool .exe file called with parameters i need. Now BMT only have to launch a file when the action conditiots are met.
That is really simple (and inexpensive) - exactly what I aimed for
And ‘on air’ light when mics are open is only one example; there is a whole universe of things possible to do: now one can control lights in a home with a midi keyboard (maybe not the most practical, but you got the idea)
cheers!
