Introduction
DMX
DMX512-A or Digital Multiplex, is a protocol used for controlling a variety of different fixtures/equipment that can all be controlled within a single chain of communication. Otherwise called a universe.
There’s a lot more that can be talked about for DMX, but that’s not what this document is about.
How We Use DMX
At RIT, as of currently, the only streamline way we are able to utilize DMX is using the ETC Colorsource 40. A simple DMX controller made by ETC. It has 40 faders and is capable of communicating with a single universe. The board works great, and is lovely tool to have on set.
CRMX
Though, in the film industry, there is a growing popularity in a much newer protocol called CRMX, by LumenRadio.
CRMX (Cognitive Radio MultipleXer) can simply be thought of as DMX, but wireless.
However W-DMX/Wireless DMX is also a standalone protocol. Wireless Solution was the original owner of W-DMX, but LumenRadio gobbled up Wireless Solution and now also own W-DMX.
CRMX is a pretty fantastic protocol that’s lightweight and offers super solid reliability. Having the option of being able to control all of your lights on set at a single mobile station with barely any prep work is one of those things that make you question why you’ve never done this sooner. Then you look at the price tag of a single transceiver and immediately remember.
The Issue
At RIT, we don’t have any CRMX solution, but are flooded with lights that support the DMX protocol. One light worth mentioning specifically is the ARRI SkyPanel. There’s a special trick these lights have that we’ll circle back to.
The Solution
sACN/Art-Net
sACN and Art-Net are UDP based DMX-512 protocols. Meaning, they communicate through IP (Internet Protocol) packets, like WiFi or Ethernet LAN. However they are able to transfer MUCH more data. A single DMX512 cable is capable of handling a single universe, or 512 channels. Art-Net IV is able to handle 32,768 universes. Which is 16,777,216 channels.
These IP based protocols are heavily used in any facilities that need to communicate with and control a large number of fixtures. A node/gateway is a device that is able to map a DMX512 universe connection and translate that to a IP based connection.
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