How Does DMX Lighting Work? // History, Protocol, and Limitations

How Does DMX Lighting Work? What is the history behind it? How does the protocol work under the hood and what are some of its largest limitations? DMX512 which is more commonly referred to as just DMX is a lighting control protocol that was developed by USITT. It was designed to be a cross compatible protocol that could allow lighting fixtures to be controlled. The DMX Protocol consists of 512 addresses that make up a DMX Universe. Each address has a value between 0 and 255, which comes from the underlying data type a byte. A DMX connector consists of 5 pins, two of which are used for optional features. There are 3 pin variants, but these are not permitted to be used since they have different electrical characteristics. DMX termination is important because it prevents signal reflection. One limitation of DMX is that it can only hold 512 addresses of data. With modern day lighting taking up many addresses you will run out very quick. To solve this issue other protocols have been created to send DMX over a network.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:18 - History of DMX
1:50 - How Does DMX Work?
2:42 - DMX Connectors
3:29 - DMX Daisy Chaining
3:52 - DMX Termination
4:26 - DMX Addressing
4:50 - Light Boards
5:19 - DMX Limitations
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Пікірлер: 11

  • @TMKInteractive
    @TMKInteractive3 жыл бұрын

    Let us know if you have a suggestion for a future video!

  • @FootClob
    @FootClob3 жыл бұрын

    I don't understand why this guy only has 12 views. Very well presented and explained

  • @TMKInteractive

    @TMKInteractive

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your kind words! :)

  • @MyNeLi_cr
    @MyNeLi_cr Жыл бұрын

    I'm currently working on a thesis for my last year in college, and one of the things I'm talking about is DMX. This video existing is a bliss, thank you very much for it because you summarize this so well and it's really helpfull

  • @jordanhenshaw

    @jordanhenshaw

    7 ай бұрын

    What was your thesis?

  • @AlPortensis
    @AlPortensis2 жыл бұрын

    Very nice explained - to the point! Thanks a lot!!

  • @LanGust8
    @LanGust86 ай бұрын

    Well made video. Thanks

  • @antonio.x22
    @antonio.x22 Жыл бұрын

    TMK ! and everybody guys hello. let me know if you have some opinion or am I wrong? I have an old Sony Genezy with D-Light Controller, to plug it with DMX Lamps (3 pins). I suppose lamps DMX brand or models should work with this Sony device, being DMX it most work I suppose. I saw in the label of Sony controller by ADJ Lamps, "we don't guarantee other brand will work". Other envelope the same device displayed: "to use with DMX lamps" (0o) woot! I suppose, being DMX 3 pines lamp, it should work with this Sony DMX Controller, (the controller is linked with the proper Sony Genezy model with the D-Light feature).

  • @marcmayer4178
    @marcmayer41789 ай бұрын

    I dont think a terminator at the end is "important" almost never used one and worked just fine even in 120m runs i know technically the reflections should couse troble but when i had dmx problems a Terminator never was the solution and second thing RDM where the fixture can talk back to the console it also only uses pin 2 and 3, 4 and 5 is not realy specified in DMX512-A and is very very rarely used

  • @FootClob
    @FootClob3 жыл бұрын

    1st

  • @relaxspot3844

    @relaxspot3844

    3 жыл бұрын

    You beat me to it! Lol