Finally, a video that explains DMX that this noob can understand and follow. Thank you!! Sure, it does not cover it "all", but gives me the raw basics just to understand how to build a foundation.
Great video. I am looking at getting a DMX controller and was wondering what you would recommend for a small DJ show with only 4 pars and 3 other lights. My DJ shows are low profile now seeing I am getting older. I also have never done DMX and would love to. Thanks and I have subscribed!
one of the best tutorials on dmx on youtube. very well explaied even though i know dmx very well. also whats the most channels you have used i used 2048 once ages ago though
Really good tutorial Joe, thanks !! 1 Question: Are audio triggered control and DMX scene control of a lighting device mutually exclusive? Is it one or the other but not both? With some DMX controllers you can use a fader/setting to set the speed at which it runs through scenes. What about with audio? Can you assign what audio detection triggers?
Mic cable IS shielded, cause it's an analog signal it can pick up interference that might be audible as humm or buzz etc. DMX is digital, so it's all or nothing, a slightly distorted 1 or 0 is normally still read as a 1 or 0, however a really bad interference could cause a digital signal to cut out. Most of the time both will have some kind of shielding anyway. So the real difference is that DMX cable is 110 ohm rather than 80 for audio. In the real world it's not too big a deal.
Great video. However, while I know that you mention that controllers are different, it might be worth noting that A LOT OF THEM, especially the very common '192 channel' ones (Obey 40 and NeoNeon just as examples) assign their addresses in blocks of 16 addresses each. Thus it is harder to use the DMX addresses in the way that you describe, because fixture button one addresses DMX channels 1 thru 16, button two addresses DMX channels 17 thru 32, button three addresses DMX channels 33 thru 48, etc.
My question for you is the following: I'm a beginner DJ, my lights are currently on sound mode, but when there is no sound, they are off, what is the logic behind programming the lights, for example when mixing two songs, the most important is beat match, how about lightning? what presets should we save to begin with? I think my question is not clear, I'm sorry, but I find it very complex.
I have a question about the American DJ RGB 3C IR controller. I recently received the TMS® 4pcs 86 RGB LED fixtures for Christmas along with the American DJ RGB 3C IR controller. I am having problems hooking them both up, I daisy chained the lights together, including the controller itself. I also turned on the number 10 DIP switch on the back which is recommended on the manual, they say it's the DMX Function. But It is still unable to be controlled by the controller. Any recommendations? Thanks, Noah.
Hi @joe. thank you very much for teaching us how dmx works! Now, question: you siad I can use 1 channel for 2 lights if I want them both to do the same thing. so when I add the fixture in my dmx software I can add only 1 fiture even if I have 4 of the same fixtures? for example, I have 4 tri pak plus fixtures and I want them all to do the same thing of course. Do i need to add each of them to the dmx software or just add one and set the dmx channel/address the same to all 4 fixtures? next question: how many fixtures can I add in just one address? thank you
Hi, i have i really compact box with just 6 sliders and one master. Can i set up the lamp to a prefered colormix in beforehand in the lamp itself and then map it to just take up channel one so that i have each slider controlling one lamp each without interfering with each other?
If I use a DMX Board with a Dimmer pack.. And bought regular flood lights from Home Depot.. Will it work to dim the lights? I don't need anything else.. Just need to dim the flood lights without spending hundreds of dollars on lighting.
I have a long 5 meter or something dmx cable, if I put this one in my system I get errors, otherwise not... would a terminator solve this problem or do I have to get a better dmx cable, becouse without that cable it all just works fine, and the cable isnt broken, I tested that. some advice please?? :)
yer same i guess , 3 desks , one for gens dimmers and leds ( was some zero 88 thing ) and a wee desk for lasers and the last was for the movers and strobes
+JLDJ|UK IF YOU wher at a gig and you set all of your addresses on the lights or chaged the settings . If you packed all of the lights and went to a nother gig wold all of the settings still be as you left them p's you have been a inspiration to me as when I go up I will do the same as you with drama behind the scenes (video and lighting tecnishon)all and a part time mobile dj one last thing I am twelve years old do you have any advice on how I can reach my dream job please reply
Every single DMX tutorial I've found doesn't do half as good a job explaining what DMX is as this one. I've one question though, lets say I had two simple RGB lights, each one had four channels, R, G, B, and the dimmer. If I hook up the first light to 1, and the second one to 3, would the red channel of the second light be in sync with the blue channel of the first light? I feel like logically that's what should happen, but I just wanna be sure since I don't have anything to test with. (also sorry if there's some proper vocabulary that I'm missing lmao, I'm but a beginner).
Yes. Think of the addressing this way. DMX is like a 'postal highway' and the controller sends out packages, all marked with separate addresses. Inside each package is piece if info - the value that is meant for that address. So say we have only three houses - three fixtures on this highway and their house numbers are '1', '17' and '33'. We will also make the assumption, for this example that all the fixtures are of the same type - PAR CANs. If I send out DMX packages for '1' and '17' and '33' and they all contain the value (for example - it depends on the fixture's specifics) 10, then they will all glow red (we are assuming that 10 is in the red range). However, if we send out '1' and '33' with a value of 10, but make the package for '17' have a value of 70 then '1' will be red, '17' will be BLUE (assuming 70 equates to blue for this fixture) and '33' will be red. I hope that explains it clearly.
Hi joe you mentioned that you can use multiple fixtures on one channel so they all do the same thing. In my case can i hook up 10 par lights to channel one? Is there is limit to fixtures into one channel? Thanks
Hi Joe, I’ve got a starcloth dmx controller and an etc element- I can’t patch it so that I just have access to intensity only for the starcloth... help!?
Jack Elston try setting the starcloth to 3 channel mode and then patching it in the Element as a generic RGB 3 channel. You should then have control of intensity. If you add a colour effect, this will control the dimmer valu s for separate groups. Hope this makes sense.
Mic cables and dmx cables are wired the same but the way the wires are put into the cable is different Dmx cables are thinner so phantom voltage would break them
Dude this is like the best straight to the point, simple and clear DMX tutorial I have seen here on TH-cam. Thanks for the video.
Excellent video. First one I found that actually explains DMX properly, and fully. Thank you!
+Mike Ohman Glad I could help :)
+Mike Ohman same
Finally, a video that explains DMX that this noob can understand and follow. Thank you!! Sure, it does not cover it "all", but gives me the raw basics just to understand how to build a foundation.
It is good to have you around Joe. Always appreciate your videos (I am a novice). Makes it all so clear and easy.
+Peter Young No problem! I'm just happy to know people find these videos useful!
Quick, clear, and too the point. A great help, thanks.
Great video..almost at 1st base..looking forward to making it to home plate..keep them coming
Excellent, clear and informative. Thanks.
I found this very enlighten & I am just starting to use DMX lighting with a controller.
You did an excellent job on this.
DJ Smooth
Really great video. You clearly explained all the unknowns I had about how DMX works.
Glad I could help. The rest of it was spot on and really well explained!
Excellent explanation and very well shot. Good job JL.
Great video. I am looking at getting a DMX controller and was wondering what you would recommend for a small DJ show with only 4 pars and 3 other lights. My DJ shows are low profile now seeing I am getting older. I also have never done DMX and would love to. Thanks and I have subscribed!
Thanks for this short tutorial. I now understand DMX! Much appreciated
one of the best tutorials on dmx on youtube. very well explaied even though i know dmx very well. also whats the most channels you have used i used 2048 once ages ago though
Great, simple, concise video. thanks.
Really good tutorial Joe, thanks !!
1 Question: Are audio triggered control and DMX scene control of a lighting device mutually exclusive?
Is it one or the other but not both?
With some DMX controllers you can use a fader/setting to set the speed at which it runs through scenes.
What about with audio? Can you assign what audio detection triggers?
Awesome!! Thank you!! I look forward to your advanced DMX videos.
Dude Thais tutorial helpt me so much ! Thanks 🙂
Mic cable IS shielded, cause it's an analog signal it can pick up interference that might be audible as humm or buzz etc. DMX is digital, so it's all or nothing, a slightly distorted 1 or 0 is normally still read as a 1 or 0, however a really bad interference could cause a digital signal to cut out. Most of the time both will have some kind of shielding anyway. So the real difference is that DMX cable is 110 ohm rather than 80 for audio. In the real world it's not too big a deal.
Great video. However, while I know that you mention that controllers are different, it might be worth noting that A LOT OF THEM, especially the very common '192 channel' ones (Obey 40 and NeoNeon just as examples) assign their addresses in blocks of 16 addresses each. Thus it is harder to use the DMX addresses in the way that you describe, because fixture button one addresses DMX channels 1 thru 16, button two addresses DMX channels 17 thru 32, button three addresses DMX channels 33 thru 48, etc.
My question for you is the following: I'm a beginner DJ, my lights are currently on sound mode, but when there is no sound, they are off, what is the logic behind programming the lights, for example when mixing two songs, the most important is beat match, how about lightning? what presets should we save to begin with?
I think my question is not clear, I'm sorry, but I find it very complex.
I have a question about the American DJ RGB 3C IR controller. I recently received the TMS® 4pcs 86 RGB LED fixtures for Christmas along with the American DJ RGB 3C IR controller. I am having problems hooking them both up, I daisy chained the lights together, including the controller itself. I also turned on the number 10 DIP switch on the back which is recommended on the manual, they say it's the DMX Function. But It is still unable to be controlled by the controller. Any recommendations? Thanks, Noah.
i understand now, i have a dimmer, and i have had no idea what the "A" and "CH" options were for, i need to get a new manual for it :)
Hi @joe. thank you very much for teaching us how dmx works! Now, question: you siad I can use 1 channel for 2 lights if I want them both to do the same thing. so when I add the fixture in my dmx software I can add only 1 fiture even if I have 4 of the same fixtures? for example, I have 4 tri pak plus fixtures and I want them all to do the same thing of course. Do i need to add each of them to the dmx software or just add one and set the dmx channel/address the same to all 4 fixtures?
next question: how many fixtures can I add in just one address? thank you
Hi, i have i really compact box with just 6 sliders and one master. Can i set up the lamp to a prefered colormix in beforehand in the lamp itself and then map it to just take up channel one so that i have each slider controlling one lamp each without interfering with each other?
you are the best teacher
thanks mate you helped me a lot with this video!!!
whats the dmx controller you was using in this vid i forgot the name and might be getting one or one like it
Best tutorial ever
Great video and Can you do a video on how to control laser lights with DMX
It's the same as how to control any other type of lighting effect
Nicely done Joe, very clear :)
Excellent explanation.
If I use a DMX Board with a Dimmer pack.. And bought regular flood lights from Home Depot.. Will it work to dim the lights? I don't need anything else.. Just need to dim the flood lights without spending hundreds of dollars on lighting.
can u do a review of the colour wheel and gobos in your scanners pleases
nice job
Can you do a tutorial on programming chases for moving heads?
Really helpful, thanks a lot!
Really clear!
Do you recommend the mega par profiles for uplighting? I was thinking about purchasing 8 of them and the adj 3c rgb controller.
Thanks!
I’m probably overdoing it but I use a maxim LSC lighting desk when doing big events but I use a Chauvet obey 40 when doing smaller events
I have a long 5 meter or something dmx cable, if I put this one in my system I get errors, otherwise not... would a terminator solve this problem or do I have to get a better dmx cable, becouse without that cable it all just works fine, and the cable isnt broken, I tested that. some advice please?? :)
Is there any way to control these lights with audio input in a similar way to the MSGEQ7 graphic equalizer chips used in some Arduino projects?
yer same i guess , 3 desks , one for gens dimmers and leds ( was some zero 88 thing ) and a wee desk for lasers and the last was for the movers and strobes
Please put more info !
I would love to see a video of how
please do a tutorial on the JC1 controller
Joe can you put a light on to channels
+JLDJ|UK IF YOU wher at a gig and you set all of your addresses on the lights or chaged the settings . If you packed all of the lights and went to a nother gig wold all of the settings still be as you left them p's you have been a inspiration to me as when I go up I will do the same as you with drama behind the scenes (video and lighting tecnishon)all and a part time mobile dj one last thing I am twelve years old do you have any advice on how I can reach my dream job please reply
Thanks for untangerling my head!
Every single DMX tutorial I've found doesn't do half as good a job explaining what DMX is as this one. I've one question though, lets say I had two simple RGB lights, each one had four channels, R, G, B, and the dimmer. If I hook up the first light to 1, and the second one to 3, would the red channel of the second light be in sync with the blue channel of the first light? I feel like logically that's what should happen, but I just wanna be sure since I don't have anything to test with. (also sorry if there's some proper vocabulary that I'm missing lmao, I'm but a beginner).
Yes. Think of the addressing this way. DMX is like a 'postal highway' and the controller sends out packages, all marked with separate addresses. Inside each package is piece if info - the value that is meant for that address.
So say we have only three houses - three fixtures on this highway and their house numbers are '1', '17' and '33'. We will also make the assumption, for this example that all the fixtures are of the same type - PAR CANs.
If I send out DMX packages for '1' and '17' and '33' and they all contain the value (for example - it depends on the fixture's specifics) 10, then they will all glow red (we are assuming that 10 is in the red range).
However, if we send out '1' and '33' with a value of 10, but make the package for '17' have a value of 70 then '1' will be red, '17' will be BLUE (assuming 70 equates to blue for this fixture) and '33' will be red. I hope that explains it clearly.
How does the dmx channel and the address related?
Hi joe you mentioned that you can use multiple fixtures on one channel so they all do the same thing. In my case can i hook up 10 par lights to channel one? Is there is limit to fixtures into one channel? Thanks
There is no limit to how many lights you can assign to the same address
Keep doing you baby!
Nice video :-)
thanx joe!!! gr8 vid
do you study ''lights'' ??
I'm a mobile dj what dmx controller do u recommend at a cheap price
I would reccomend a chauvet obey 10
As it is low cost and easy to use
Hi Joe, I’ve got a starcloth dmx controller and an etc element- I can’t patch it so that I just have access to intensity only for the starcloth... help!?
Jack Elston try setting the starcloth to 3 channel mode and then patching it in the Element as a generic RGB 3 channel. You should then have control of intensity. If you add a colour effect, this will control the dimmer valu s for separate groups. Hope this makes sense.
Linus Pomroy thank you, I will try this 👍🏻
You think the Ultra stage uses more than 512 channels?
Oh yes.
probably about 6 universes so about 3072 channels
Is there anything preventing someone from using dmx cable as mic XLR cable?
no, constant use will damage the light or cable though...
Mic cables and dmx cables are wired the same but the way the wires are put into the cable is different
Dmx cables are thinner so phantom voltage would break them
The theatre I work at is also a 2 universe if any one fares
yes but they never bothered to uterlise the other 2 pins
how do dimmers and dmx work in a daisey chain?
Same thing , If you have a DMX in and out on your dimmer pack
how many channels will a laser take
Usually about 5 to 7 channels depending on what make or model
To set up your smart scans with Dmx!
I need to speak o you, how can I call you?
Hey joe, how much will this cost? Because i really need to know.... Ps. Good video :) pps. Pls answer before this friday :)))))
Rip
Although you can send 2 universes down 1 5pin dmx cable.
so if I have a 3ch controler can I run any other ch light
This controller only works with three channel lights with red, green and blue channels of control
do you know of one for under 40$
Stewart Young I don't think they exist