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DESIGN LED 36 BRICK™
©Elation Professional, Los Angeles Ca. 15 www.ElationLighting.com
7. UNDERSTANDING DMX
DMX-512: DMX is short for Digital Multiplex. This is a universal protocol used by lighting and
controller manufactures as a form of communication between intelligent fixtures and
controllers. DMX allows all makes and models of different manufactures to be linked
together and operate from a single controller. This is possible as long as all the fixtures and
the controller are DMX compliant. A DMX controller sends the DMX data instructions to a
fixture allowing the user to control the different aspects of an intelligent light. DMX data is
sent out as serial data that travels from fixture to fixture via data “IN” and “OUT” XLR
terminals located on the fixtures (most controllers will only have output jacks).
DMX Linking: To ensure proper DMX data transmission, always use proper DMX cables
and a terminator, never use microphone cables. When using several DMX fixtures try to use
the shortest cable path possible. Never split a DMX line with a “Y” style connector. The order
in which the fixtures are connected in a DMX line does not influence the DMX addressing.
For example; a fixture assigned a DMX address of 1 may be placed anywhere in the DMX
chain, at the beginning, at the end, or anywhere in the middle. The DMX controller knows to
send data assigned to address 1 to that fixture no matter where it is located in the DMX
chain. The Design LED 36 Brick™ can be controlled via DMX-512 protocol. The Design LED
36 Brick™ is a fixture that can operate in five different DMX modes; 3, 5, 6, 12, or 15
channels (see page 22 for the different DMX operations). The DMX address is set
electronically using the controls on the LED menu.
Data Cable (DMX Cable) Requirements (For DMX and Master/Slave Operation): Your
fixture and your DMX controller require a standard 3-pin or 5-pin XLR connector for data
input and data output (the illustration on the next page is of a 3-Pin XLR connector). If you
are making your own cables, be sure to use two conductor shielded digital DMX cable rated
at 120 ohms, this cable is designed for DMX transmission and may be purchased from your
Elation dealer or at most professional lighting retailers. Your cables should be made with a
male and female XLR connector on either end of the cable. Also, remember that a DMX line
must be daisy chained and cannot be split, unless using an approved DMX splitter such as
the Elation Opto Branch 4™ or DMX Branch/4™.