DMX Basics
18 articles in this folder
A Short History of DMX512
DMX512 was published in 1986 by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) as a standard way for lightin...
Can I use a microphone cable for DMX?
Yes, a microphone XLR cable will usually carry DMX on a short, simple rig, and it is still the wrong cable for the job....
DMX Basics: 8-bit vs 16-bit control
8-Bit DMX Lighting Control In the context of DMX, an 8-bit control offers a resolution of 256 steps for each channel...
DMX Basics: Addressing your fixture
Addressing your DMX fixtures involves designating the location within the 512-channel universe where a specific DMX dev...
DMX Basics: DMX512
DMX512, short for Digital Multiplex 512, is the protocol which digitally manages up to 512 channels via a single data ca...
DMX Basics: RDM
RDM (Remote Device Management) and ArtRDM (RDM over Art-Net) are advanced protocols used in lighting control. They allo...
DMX Basics: Signal Loss
When the signal is lost on an ENTTEC DMX device the last value is held until either the signal returns or the device is...
DMX Basics: Troubleshooting
Follow the points within this article to work on one fixture at a time, starting with the first fault in the DMX chain a...
DMX Basics: Universe
A set of 512 channels of DMX512 is referred to as a Universe. This concept provides a structured framework for managing...
DMX Device flicker at regular times
If you see flickering on your DMX installation at regular intervals, this is probably due to RDM device polling that is...
DMX termination: when the 120 ohm resistor matters
A DMX terminator is a single 120 ohm resistor connected across the two data wires (data+ on XLR pin 3, data- on pin 2) a...
How far can you run DMX cable?
With proper 120 ohm DMX cable and a termination resistor on the last fixture, DMX512 runs of 300 m (roughly 1000 ft) are...
How many fixtures can you connect on one DMX line?
You can connect a maximum of 32 unit loads to one DMX line, because DMX512 uses the RS-485 (TIA/EIA-485-A) electrical st...
Is your installation ready for Overdrive? A pre-flight checklist
Twelve questions covering cable, topology, fixtures and verification. Answer each one yes, no, or don't know, and be hon...
Overdrive mode: cabling and topology requirements
Plan an Overdrive run on DMX-rated 120 ohm shielded twisted pair, up to roughly 60 m (about 200 ft), with no more than 3...
Overdrive mode: what changes when DMX runs faster than the standard
Overdrive mode lets a single DMX output carry more than one universe by running the line faster than the 250 kbit/s rate...
Overdrive mode: your fixtures decide whether it works
Most people approach Overdrive as a cabling question. Cabling is the part you can see, specify and control, and it does...
What is DMX512?
DMX512 is the standard digital protocol used to control stage and architectural lighting. Short for Digital Multiplex, i...