6
DMX BASICS
DMX is short for digital multiplexer, which is a universal protocol designed for the lighting industry
allowing for controlling of intelligent fixtures like scanners, moving heads, LED par cans, dimmer
packs, fog machines etc.
DMX allows you to control many fixtures channels, normally up to 512 with varying channels from 0-
255 (0-100%).
This will give control of channels like gobo selection, up and down movements, colours and dimming
etc.
DMX is a very good system as all this information can be sent down one cable, used in conjunction
with a DMX controller with memory all your channel settings can be saved and recalled easily.
DMX was designed so that all manufacturers can use the same protocol/language to control their
fixtures allowing the end user to use any make of fixture on their DMX controller as long as both are
DMX compatible, and the controller has enough channels to control the fixture that is attached.
Fixtures have an input and output DMX socket, allowing you to connect from the controller to the
first fixture then from that fixture to the next (this is called daisy chaining).
Sockets are normally 3 pin XLR but can be 5 pin XLR as well.
DMX fixtures need to have a DMX address set, as this is so they can then decode the correct
information from the controller. This is normally done by a digital display panel, where the address
can be changed by simple up and down buttons; the address ranges from 1-512. In addition to this it
can be controlled by a row of small switches, called dip switches; there the required address is
converted to a binary number.
To work out your dip switch settings you can simply download a DMX calculator from the internet or
see our table further on.
The order in which fixtures are connected in a DMX line does not influence the DMX address, a
fixture set to DMX address 1 can be put in a DMX line from beginning, middle or end, as it is set to
address 1 it knows to take information from that point onwards.
Manymanuals.com
Manymanuals.de
Manymanuals.fr
Manymanuals.it
Manymanuals.pl
Manymanuals.cz
Manymanuals.es
Manymanuals-pt.com
Kommentare zu diesen Handbüchern