First version

Part 4 of 4

Troubleshoot

“Why are my lights not moving?” The causes to check, in order.

First of all

Three questions to cut the problem in half

Each question checks one stretch of the diagram. Answer in order.

  1. Does the box hear the music? Is the mixer on, and does it send sound to the line input?
  2. Do the orders arrive? Are the Mac and the box on the same network?
  3. Do you see the light in the Visualizer? Is the Live DMX switch on (green light)?

The causes

The real causes, one by one

The beams are frozen while the music plays

The box listens only to its line input. If the mixer is off, or sends it no sound, it stops moving, even if the cues are right.

To do: turn the mixer on and check it sends sound to the box's line input.

The Visualizer shows no light from the box

Without the Live DMX switch on, the 3D preview does not show the box's light. MaestroDMX must also send Art-Net (version 1.5 or later).

To do: turn on Art-Net in MaestroDMX, turn Live DMX on in the Visualizer's toolbar, and wait for the green light.

Choosing a cue has no effect

The Mac and the box must be on the same network. Otherwise the cue number never reaches the box.

To do: check both are connected to the same router.

Velvet Light DJ sends nothing

The Auto lights switch starts paused. While paused, the app sends nothing.

To do: turn Auto lights on.

The cue number goes out, but the box does not react

The OSC message port is adjustable in the apps. If the app's port is not the one the box expects, the message is lost.

To do: compare the two ports.

By default, the port is 7672 in Velvet Show and in Velvet Light DJ. Only change it if you changed MaestroDMX's port.

Cues collide or go all over the place

Velvet Show and Velvet Light DJ both send cues to the box. If both run at the same time, it receives conflicting orders.

To do: use only one of the two at a time.

The light does not follow pauses or jumps in djay

Velvet Light DJ follows the position of the track in djay thanks to the macOS “Accessibility” permission. Without it, the app counts the time on its own: a pause or a jump forward throws it off.

To do: allow Velvet Light DJ in System Settings ▸ Privacy & Security ▸ Accessibility.

Other possible causes

Audio cables, fixture power, router, crowded Wi-Fi: these depend on your gear.

To do: check them last, once the three questions at the top are passed.