What are DMX controllers?
Solve your doubts and learn about the entire catalog of DMX controllers
In this category you can find all types of controllers that allow the user to turn strips on and off, adjust intensity, decorative effects and change color tone.
DMX (Digital Multiplex) controllers are a universal protocol used in lighting engineering and by most manufacturers of lighting control tables and projectors, being used as a means of communication between the equipment and the controllers. It was developed in the USA in 1986 by the USITT (United States Institute for Theater Technology) so that all the lights inside a theater could be controlled, since at that time they were regulated by dimmers (regulators).
1 What are DMX controllers?
DMX controllers use “special” connectors called XLR. In the past, the most used was the one made up of three pins and called XLR-3. Currently, the most used within the entertainment industry is the 5-pin or also called XLR-5.
2 How are DMX controllers connected?
The DMX signal can be linked between different connectors by making a series connection between them. This occurs so that the original or primary signal sent from the DMX controller is sent to the first fixture and from this to the next. This is because all devices that use this protocol have input and output connectors (male or female) that allow the connection between several devices sequentially.
3 How do DMX controllers work?
This type of controllers base their operation on the use of channels (channels in English) to transmit executed control commands to the connected devices. Within the DMX512 protocol (the most used on the market) there are 512 channels, and 256 levels can be found in each of the channels. To give an example, in a colored spotlight it is possible that the parameters from 1 to 15 correspond to the white tone, from 16 to 30 the blue tone and so on until reaching level 256. Before starting to work with any DMX device it is very important to know the coding of the channels and the different effects that can be achieved with their configuration. All DMX controllers come with their corresponding instruction manual in which the codes or sequences to follow to obtain the different effects and possibilities that this type of controllers offer us.
4 Music controllers
Within the controller market, there is a specific category called music controllers. These are capable of performing lighting effects in line with the music that is playing at that moment. Its operation is based on a microphone installed in the controller itself, which is responsible for transforming the sound received into an analog signal and thus producing flashes and sequences in time with the music. In conclusion we can see that DMX controllers are a link used mainly to control show lighting. In addition, it not only allows us to control the lighting effects, but it is also possible to control smoke machines, moving heads and any other product that works with this protocol. This DMX control element is a basic element in any type of show since it allows us a wide variety of light effects, colors, effects and sound.
