TouchDesigner-OpenDMX-CHOP

TouchDesigner-OpenDMX-CHOP is a custom TouchDesigner C++ CHOP for transmitting DMX512 lighting data via USB.

OpenDMX is a USB-to-DMX interface based on FTDI chips. This plugin provides a minimal and efficient integration of OpenDMX-compatible DMX output into TouchDesigner, enabling low-latency, direct control of lighting devices from CHOP channels.

System Requirements

• Operating System

  • Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)

• Architecture

  • x64 (Intel / AMD)

Runtime Requirements

• TouchDesigner

  • TouchDesigner 2025.31550 or later

• FTDI Driver

  • FTDI D2XX Direct Driver must be installed
  • Virtual COM Port (VCP) mode is not used

Device Requirements

• USB-DMX Interface

  • FTDI-based OpenDMX-compatible USB-DMX device

  • FTDI USB chips supported by the D2XX driver (e.g. FT232RL)

    Supported Device Examples

    ・USB DMX FTDI

    Generic FTDI-based USB–DMX converter cables(e.g. FT232-based USB to RS-485 DMX cables commonly sold online)

    

• DMX Output

  • DMX512 (512 channels)
  • Output only (DMX IN is not supported)

• Connection

  • USB connection to host PC
  • Standard 3-pin or 5-pin DMX output

Build Requirements

• External Dependencies for Build
  • TouchDesigner C++ SDK (matching the installed TouchDesigner version)
  • FTDI D2XX Library (includes required ftd2xx.lib for build)

Required SDKs and Directory Layout

Important

This repository does NOT include required SDKs or binary libraries. To build this project, the following SDK files must be provided by the user and placed in the expected directory structure locally.

Expected directory layout

The following layout describes the expected local build environment. Files listed here are not included in this repository unless explicitly stated.

include/
 ├─ TD_SDK/
 │   ├─ CHOP_CPlusPlusBase.h
 │   └─ CPlusPlus_Common.h
 └─ FTDI_SDK/
     └─ ftd2xx.h

lib/
 └─ FTDI_LIB
     └─ ftd2xx.lib

Installation

This section describes how to install the built plugin and required runtime libraries. The required SDKs and binary libraries are not included in this repository and must be obtained separately under their respective licenses.

1. Copy the generated DLL into the following TouchDesigner plugins directory.

C:/Users/<username>/Documents/Derivative/Plugins

2. Download the D2XX Direct Drivers release from the following link.

https://ftdichip.com/drivers/d2xx-drivers/

3. Restart TouchDesigner to load the plugin.

4. The custom operator will appear under the Custom page in the OP Create Dialog.

How to use

1. Connect the USB-DMX interface to your lighting device and verify the output.

2. Create an Open DMX CHOP from the OP Create Dialog
   (Tab → Custom → Open DMX CHOP).

3. Connect a CHOP containing channel data to the input of the Open DMX CHOP.

   • Each channel corresponds to a DMX channel.

   • Values are expected in the range 0 – 255

     

4. Select the target USB-DMX device from the Device parameter.

   • Only FTDI-based OpenDMX-compatible devices are supported.

     

     The serial numbers shown in the Device parameter are the same as the serial numbers displayed in tools such as QLC+.

     

5. Enable DMX output by turning Active ON.

   • DMX data will be transmitted continuously while Active is enabled.

6. Adjust the update rate if available.

   • Typical DMX refresh rates are around 30–44 Hz.

License

• The source code in this repository is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.

• TouchDesigner and its C++ SDK are proprietary software provided by Derivative Inc. and are not redistributed in this repository. Usage of this project in conjunction with TouchDesigner is subject to Derivative Inc.'s license terms.

• The FTDI D2XX Driver and SDK are proprietary software provided by and are not redistributed in this repository. Usage is subject to FTDI's license terms.