Filter
Top Products
2-4 Overview of Controller Operation Technobeam
®
User Manual
the fixture to a controller and are sending DMX 512 commands to the
fixture, and the Receive LED is OFF, see the section titled
“Troubleshooting” on page 2-20.
† - Unless this fixture is crossloading, the yellow Transmit LED should
never be ON solid. (The Transmit LED will flicker yellow if you have
enabled preset playback
and
the fixture is set for either fixture number
1 or DMX start channel 1. This is due to preset playback
synchronization, as described in “Synchronizing Preset Playback” on
page 4-9. Try unplugging the fixture, waiting a few minutes, then
plugging it back in. If the Transmit LED continues to be ON, contact
High End Systems Customer Service in one of the ways shown in the
section titled “Contacting High End Systems” on page Intro-4.
More information about crossloading software is shown in the section
titled “Upgrading Software” on page 2-18.
Overview of Controller Operation
In order to coordinate the playback of multiple Technobeam fixtures
from a central location, you need to connect the fixtures to a DMX 512-
compatible controller using XLR data-grade cabling.
What is DMX 512 Protocol?
DMX 512 is an industry-standard protocol for controlling lighting
fixtures and other devices (such as lasers and hazers). Developed by
the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT), DMX 512 is
supported by leading entertainment industry equipment
manufacturers.
DMX 512 (
D
for
digital
,
MX
for
multiplex
and
512
is the number of
channels per link) is a reliable, efficient and well-understood control
protocol. Its strength lies in its ability to control virtually any mix of
DMX-compatible devices on the same link using a DMX-compatible
controller.
What Kind of Cabling Should You Use?
There are two main types of cabling you can use: microphone cable
and data-grade cable. Although pin-compatible microphone cable is
suitable for small-scale designs, data cable is recommended, especially
for longer cable runs. Data cable is designed to carry a higher-quality
signal with less susceptibility to electromagnetic interference.
The cable you use should have the characteristics listed below:
• 2-conductor twisted pair plus a shield
• maximum capacitance between conductors - 30 pF/ft.