DAC: Easylase or Mocha?

[Nagilo]

Hello.

Can anyone recommend a medium priced DAC that also supports ILDA? I'm working on a software that generates ILDA frames that I then need to transfer to the laser device. The amount of points within one frame is not that high and there is no need for fast and smooth animation. Therefore I'm searching for a DAC that is of good quality and very reliable with a good developer API (SDK). So far these two look the most promising. Do you recommend them or do you prefer others?

JM-Laser EasyLase USB II http://www.jmlaser.com/EasyLase_D.htm
Showtacle Moncha.NET http://www.showtacle.com/products/moncha-net

Thanks in advance

Matthias

[swamidog]

Check out the ether dream DAC.

http://www.ether-dream.com/

Hello.

Can anyone recommend a medium priced DAC that also supports ILDA? I'm working on a software that generates ILDA frames that I then need to transfer to the laser device. The amount of points within one frame is not that high and there is no need for fast and smooth animation. Therefore I'm searching for a DAC that is of good quality and very reliable with a good developer API (SDK). So far these two look the most promising. Do you recommend them or do you prefer others?

JM-Laser EasyLase USB II http://www.jmlaser.com/EasyLase_D.htm
Showtacle Moncha.NET http://www.showtacle.com/products/moncha-net

Thanks in advance

Matthias

[Bradfo69]

I only have familiarity with the Moncha and I've always been happy with it. I don't use it very much but, never had any problems.

[JohnYayas]

Moncha is a package deal and comes with software. I am not sure if there is an official API for the Moncha DAC or not so be sure there is. EasyLase has more 3rd party support and EasyLase II has some nice new features but they aren't exposed via the standard DLL. Or, at least they aren't documented. They're both good DACS. I don't think you will go wrong with either of them. Also check into the mini-lumax and RIYA dacs. Both are on par with EasyLase.

[Guido]

Hi,

dont forget the Easylase LC !! Comes for the same Price as Easylase II but incl. a License for Dynamics (1 Outputcard only !! )
Also USB Bus powered, same SDK like EL II, 3+1 Colors, 50Kpps max., DMX in/out on ILDA Plug.
Works also with Mamba and all other Cards who support EL II.
This Time the Euro / Dollar Rate is interesting for you. If someone does a Groubuy with more than 10 Cards i can offer the Card for 225$ e.a.
+ some $ for Shipping

[james]

Even if you buy one of the proprietary laser DACs you might want to think about getting or building a modified sound card DAC, preferably an 8 channel one... aka LaserBoy DAC. There are a lot of neat things you can do with it!

James.

[Things]

Even if you buy one of the proprietary laser DACs you might want to think about getting or building a modified sound card DAC, preferably an 8 channel one... aka LaserBoy DAC. There are a lot of neat things you can do with it!

James.

Like free hair removal trying to get it to work with Win 7

[Nagilo]

Good morning.

Thanks for all your feedback. The laser we are using is a single 532nm green laser projector that is used for educational issues in a safe environment. There is no need for music playback or any other gimmicks that we all know from typical laser shows. So, the laser, controlling computer and DAC are installed once and should have a long life time without much maintenance. This is why I need to balance between high-end professional DAC and low-price solutions. Anyway, RIYA is from the Ukraine and maybe not a good solution. Mocha.NET is from Slovakia but the PPS rate is quite low compared to other products. The Mini Lumax seems to be a hobbiest solution. At the moment EasyLase or the Pengolin QM2000.NET board seem to be the best solutions. The later one is a bit more expensive but it is optionally integrated in the laser projector as a OEM solution.


And there are Developer SDKs for Easylase, Mocha and Pengolin. The one from Mocha provides just 5 functions for acquiring the laser device and sending ILDA or DMX frames. The SDK for Easylase is much more comprehensive and the one for Pengolin seems to be kind of standard in the laser industry.


Matthias

[LaNeK779]

just for added variety, there are the RIYA DACs as well. Cheap and reliable

[White-Light]

The SDK for Easylase is much more comprehensive and the one for Pengolin seems to be kind of standard in the laser industry.


Matthias

You could try contacting "Zoof" on here with questions about the Pangolin one as he wrote Laseroids and some other games on there using the SDK.

Also, consider if you're going to have a secondary use of showing some displays to your students as this may influence your choice of bundled software. I was thinking along the lines of how good it would be to have the students go wow at some professional shows and then have them start to develop their own ILDA files / shows using the SDK.

Several of your choices either come with or can be used with various software packages.