DMX USB PRO fixture address, multiple fixtures?
Dearest fellow Max users,
I have successfully connected both the DMXUSBPRO and IMP.DMX.PRO externals to connect to my ENTTEC box using Max 6 on a 2014 retina 15" MBP — I have tested messages out to a range of DMX gear including 6 chained LED panels, 2 strobes, 1 moving light, and a 6-channel dimmer pack.
These are all DMX controllable, but I am stuck on how to assign *addresses* to multiple DMX devices with the DMX USB PRO patch — I've read everything and I only see information on how to send channel and value data, but nothing about multiple fixtures. Is it not possible to chain different fixtures with this external even though I have up to 512 channels? should I use the LanBox with serial connection instead for varied fixtures? http://www.lanbox.com/lcx.php
Not only am I having difficulty chaining devices, but even sending information directly to certain channels — for example, I have channels 1 & 2 controlling the pan/tilt of the moving light, but channel 3 and 7, which are 0-255 color and dimming, respectively, do not control the light at all.
Please help! thank you in advance!!!
Best,
Max [sic]
DMX addresses are assigned using hardware controls on the lighting fixtures, not via any communication built into the DMX signal. A DMX signal is actually very dumb, it's just a constantly repeating list of 512 8-bit values.
You'll need to look at the manual for the fixtures you're using to see how to set the address (also called start channel). Usually its either a series of DIP switches, showing the address in binary, or an LCD display with buttons.
Thanks very much for your reply — so to clarify — if I need to chain the devices and I set their internal addresses either via their panel or dipswitches, this just simply moves their starting channel position from a default of 1-3-5- etc, to somewhere higher, like 97-100-etc? and this all operates between channels 1 and 512?
any idea why I can't change the color on the mover? it's channel 3 — value white 0-14, red 15-29, green 30-49, blue, etc...
Max
That's basically it yes. Although obviously devices can have the same start address if the control information they need to follow is the same.
Not sure about the colour, check the DMX control specification in the fixture manual.