JESE FAQ - FreeStyler

FreeStyler Software
- CONNECTING TO YOUR TRI -
How to configure a Virtual COM Port (VCP)

Introduction
This article is a practical guide to setting up your FreeStyler DMX control software to work with a DMX-TRI or RDM-TRI.

The popular FreeStyler DMX control software interfaces to the majority of its supported DMX interfaces using a COM port serial connection. The vast majority of COM port devices are now facilitated using a virtual port over a USB connection. All JESE USB DMX interface products will support VCP, but may need to be configured manually to fall within the acceptable configuration options for FreeStyler.

Configuring Your VCP
Before opening FreeStyler, check that USB drivers are loaded, the VCP is enabled and select a COM port between 1 and 15 (the range handled by FreeStyler). The following is a step by step guide to pre-configuring your DMX-TRI on Windows XP.

1. Install USB drivers, available on the companion CD or by download from the FTDI Web site.

2. Plug your TRI in to a free USB port on your PC.

3. From the Smart Menu, Select the Control Panel.

4. From the Control Panel, Select the 'Administrative Tools', then 'Device Manager' from the 'Computer Management'.

5. Search for your TRI device, listed as a 'USB Serial Converter' in the 'Universal Serial Bus controller' tree and select.

The TRI device will be listed in the location field of the properties window. Select the 'Advanced' tab and ensure that the 'VCP' option is checked, before exiting the properties window.

6. Cycle the connection to your TRI by disconnecting and reconnecting the USB lead. This should cause the TRI to appear as a 'VCP'

Having cycled the connection to your TRI, a VCP (Virtual COM Port) should now be loaded for your USB connection and ready for use by FreeStyler. In the Device Manager tree, select ports then COM ports to look for the instance of your TRI. Ensure that the reported COM Port number is set to 15 or below, as this is the highest value accepted by FreeStyler. If the COM Port number is 16 or greater then it must be changed using the properties tab for the relevant COM Port, as shown below.

After a USB connection has been assigned a new COM Port number, cycle the TRI connection as previously described to affect the changes. Your TRI device will now work with FreeStyler.

Configuring FreeStyler
The final step is to select the options as displayed in the example below. Use the same COM Port as previously selected.