Re: DMX help
DMX ( Digital Multi Plex, before that was AMX, Analog Multi Plex) can handle 512 things on one cable. On the receiving end it can pass in and out of various devices and keep going. Each device has a selectable address or a starting address that tells it which of the 512 addresses to listen to. A dimmer rack may start at DMX address 1. If it is a rack of 96 dimmers the dimmers are 1-96. if a similar rack is set for a starting address of 101 then the dimmers are DMX addresses 101 thru 196. If you continue the signal out of the rack and on to a scroller, then address the scroller as 201 then it listens to DMX 201. You can continue this on to a moving light. Each moving light has its own specific number of dmx addresses needed. If the mover is very simple it may need only 14 addresses; intensity, shutter, gobo, color, pan, tilt. ect. Each individual thing you want to control needs an address. Moving lights get compicated which is why the consoles have fixture libraries of moving lights.
Once everything has an address, then the console has a patch. In the patch you get to change the order of the DMX addresses into something that makes more sense to you, the operator. Some operators make all the front light on channels 1-10, fill on 11-20. Whatever order make it easy for you. "Patch" "dimmer" 101 @"channel" 1. Now the light plugged in to dimmer 101 will come on when you bring up channel 1 on the console.
Patches can also be defaulted 1 to 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3....this is good to do during setup to check your lights.
Moving lights and moving light consoles get more complicated. I have done it the most basic way. Assign a moving light to DMX 301. Patch the 14 dmx addresses it needs individually; 301 @ channel 11, 302 @ 12, 303 @ 13...ect. Then on a basic console I have to figure out what function in the moving light each channel does. This is a good way of understanding what is actually happening. Sometimes a moving light responds to very specific percentages; The "control" function is on channel 14 is set to 25 % for 2 seconds, while the intensity channel is set to 0% then the fixture will reset. This is why there are moving light consoles. They just create a reset button.
I hope that was clear. I have to go. My 14 yr old is doing some CKY band with 6 movers and 24 dimmers.
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