Basics of DMX 512
Here are the main categories covered in this informative white paper - please download full version.
1. Introduction to DMX
Often those of us plunged into the entertainment lighting industry, through work or circumstance, find ourselves inundated with industry jargon and information overload. What is a moving head fixture, and how do you control it? What is this DMX I keep hearing about? This handbook is designed to promote a basic understanding of the DMX 512 protocol. With this in mind, it covers the basics in theory of operation, proper equipment use, and some very basic sample applications.
2. Industry Standards
Before 1986, most manufacturers used their own proprietary control protocols, forcing system designers to mostly use fixtures and control consoles from the same manufacturer. Although there was no control standard to allow the use of a different manufacturer’s products, a number of companies developed adapters and patches for this purpose, which created control arrangements that were overly complex andsomewhat expensive.
3. Theory of Operation
In technobabble, DMX 512 is an asynchronous serial digital data protocol. This section will attempt to explain how DMX operates in a simplified and easy-to-understand manner using a Cable TV Analogy and DMX Communications.
4. Protocol Specifications
Understanding how DMX 512 operates is important, but it’s only part of the picture. The physical equipment, connectors and cabling, play a critical role in the proper functionality of the protocol. The DMX standard specifies exactly what types of connectors and cable may be used.
5. Sample Applications
The figures on the following pages illustrate several different applications using various DMX products.
Samples include:
- Dimmer Control
- Intelligent Fixture Control
- Dimmer & Intelligent Fixture Control
- Distributed Control
Please download the full document for details.
