New to DMX

[thewy83]

Hi Guys

 

I'm old school style lighting, I've just purchased a second hand Pulsar MP108 and I'm now looking for intelligent lighting to use with it. The desk will work with DMX 256, can it work with lights designed for DMX 512?

[smalljoshua]

DMX 256 and DMX 512 reference the number of channels available for use.

 

On the Masterpiece you can Control up to 256 channels, the DMX Protocol Allows up to 512. The Masterpiece outputs DMX 512 but only allows you to control 256 of those channels. So yes.

 

The Wiki has some info on DMX.

 

Josh

[thewy83]

Hi Guys

 

I'm old school style lighting, I've just purchased a second hand Pulsar MP108 and I'm now looking for intelligent lighting to use with it. The desk will work with DMX 256, can it work with lights designed for DMX 512?

 

Thanks for the explaination

[gareth]

There's no such thing as DMX256 - the digital multiplexed control protocol for stage lighting is called DMX512. I don't know the Masterpiece, so perhaps what they're trying to say is that the DMX output is limited to 256 channels rather than the 512 that would be the norm, but that doesn't make a difference to what the output is spitting out - DMX512 is DMX512, and any DMX-compatible equipment will be able to understand it.

[jonhole]

New to DMX

Not trying to be patronizing, so sorry if you already knew this, but 512 (or 256 in this case) doesn't always mean 512 lights. A moving head / LED par can etc etc can take up several channels each. For example one for each of these things: pan, tilt, change colour (often 3 channels - RGB colour mixing), strobe, intensity etc etc

[JDLX]

The desk will only have 256 control channels, you can use all 512 'dimmers' but will only be able to control them from 256 channels. With Dimmers this could mean you could soft patch sets of dimmers together - unfortunately it won't be of much use to you with moving lights.

[DaveP]

Dummy's guide to DMX (abridged version)

 

DMX 512 as its known, is a way of stuff talking to other stuff

 

The DMX data is constantly sent out.. so that if a bit of stuff needs to do something different, or is a bit on the deaf side, or just plain forgetful ..then it wont be long before the instructions in the DMX data is sent again (very quickly).

 

It may be found that some old DMX desks don't send out the same length of info as new fully 512 compliant desks ... in fact they can only send out data streams that are 1/2 as long and thus can only talk to less other stuff.

[KevinE]

My two penn'orth would be to say that the Masterpiece can be a daunting prospect even for a seasoned DMXer, so without casting aspersions, don't feel disheartened if programming the thing seems rather complicated...it is!

[thewy83]

My two penn'orth would be to say that the Masterpiece can be a daunting prospect even for a seasoned DMXer, so without casting aspersions, don't feel disheartened if programming the thing seems rather complicated...it is!

 

Thanks KevinE

 

But I'm determined to master it. I won't be using a lot of moving heads, mostly some DMX dimmer packs for par 64 cans, some colour changers x 8 and maybe (budget allowing 2 x scanners) its a live band situatuation that I'm trying create

 

Mal

 

Moderation: ...snip....

 

Dummy's guide to DMX (abridged version)

 

DMX 512 as its known, is a way of stuff talking to other stuff

 

The DMX data is constantly sent out.. so that if a bit of stuff needs to do something different, or is a bit on the deaf side, or just plain forgetful ..then it wont be long before the instructions in the DMX data is sent again (very quickly).

 

It may be found that some old DMX desks don't send out the same length of info as new fully 512 compliant desks ... in fact they can only send out data streams that are 1/2 as long and thus can only talk to less other stuff.

 

thanxs Davep

I now have a basic understanding of DMX, and the ability of the pulsar MP 108 to address 256 of the 512 DMX addresses availaible, having said that, and half afraid of setting off another debate, why is it that some manufactures use 3 pin XLR connectors and others use 5 pin connectors and is it possible to combine the two?

[Russ83]

In the DMX protocol, 5pin connectors are specified but many intelligent fixtures of the Chinese variety use 3pin.

Yes they are interchangeable. You can either go out and buy converters from somewhere like CPC or buy yourself some bits and make some.

 

Pin 1: Shield (ground)

Pin 2: Primary Data Complement (-)

Pin 3: Primary Data True (+)

Pin 4: Optional Secondary Data Complement (-)

Pin 5: Optional Secondary Data 2 True (+)

 

However - some manufacturers swap pins 2 and 3 (I think) so it's worth checking the manual before you plug the power in!

[DaveP]

why is it that some manufactures use

 

In the world of standards .. the standard is that nothings standard

 

As Russ83 said, buy or make your own converters

 

I believe the main culprit of swapping 2 & 3 was equipment from Martin

 

There is a nice page showing 3/4/5 pinouts HERE

[KevinE]

The basic rule of thumb is that the numbers on a 3-pin correspond to the numbers on a 5-pin if you're making up adapter leads.

 

People who eventually master the Masterpiece tend to love them, they are a powerful desk (even after all this time!) although they're very user-unfriendly by today's standards. Their main advantage (as far as I can see) is that they can be programmed for quite complex shows for nightclubs yet locked-out from your average DJ, meaning they can only access what the programmer wants them to on a few basic keys...so they keep performing day after day without costly call-out reprogramming sessions.

[LXbydesign]

I think the MP is quite easy to program - on certain things!!

 

For example, I had 12 Techno beams on it and they were using 18 channels of DMX which meant that each Page of 18 faders related to one fixture - which meant that,say, channel 2 being PAN (or whatever) was the same on each bank of 18.

 

so then it was very easy to know that Bank 1= Fixture 1 ... and so on

 

However, I am sure it can get a bit fiddly when the channel count per fixture is less - but then if things are written down properly it shoudnt be a problem

 

I just always think of programming the MP as "doing things in layers"

 

make a scene , make a chase , make a scene chase, make an enviroment chase!!!

 

anyway - good luck

[Ynot]

In the DMX protocol, 5pin connectors are specified but many intelligent fixtures of the Chinese variety use 3pin.

Not just the Chinese - many bits of kit from companies who started out in the DJ marketplace tend to use 3-pin XLR as well. But a search of the BR will bring LOTS of previous threads on that topic.....

Pin 1: Shield (ground)

Pin 2: Primary Data Complement (-)

Pin 3: Primary Data True (+)

Pin 4: Optional Secondary Data Complement (-)

Pin 5: Optional Secondary Data 2 True (+)

 

However - some manufacturers swap pins 2 and 3 (I think) so it's worth checking the manual before you plug the power in!

It's VERY unusual to find a 5-pin fed fixture with any reversals at all.

Very common however with 3-pin.