
DMX Lighting 101
Some Definitions
DMX: Lighting industry standard to send commands to light fixtures in real time. The full name is DMX512, which stands for Digital MultipleX and 512 is the number of adresses. Any DMX-enabled lights can be controlled by the Koolfusion controller .
DMX Address: You assign a DMX address ranging from 1 to 512 to each DMX fixture. This number is used by the lighting controller to talk to every fixture independently. If you need more than 512 addresses (called a DMX universe) because you have lots of lights, then you can use multiple DMX output interfaces.
DMX Interface or Dongle: Allows to send DMX from a computer's USB port. Interfaces are available from various manufacturers. See the list of Lightjams' compatible USB interfaces. There are also network-based interfaces using the ArtNET or sACN protocols.
DMX Cable: Looks like a mic cable with 3 or 5 pins. It is highly recommended you use DMX cables to avoid nasty interference.
DMX Terminator: To avoid strange electrical problems, you need to use what's called a DMX terminator. This is a little plug you put in the DMX out of the dimmer pack or last DMX fixture.
The Koolfusion controller: A lighting control software allowing you to create awesome effects.
Dimmer Pack: Converts DMX to standard 240V output. One DMX channel controls one 240V line and defines 256 intensity levels allowing dimming your lights. Most dimmer packs have multiple outputs. You can plug together as many dimmer packs as you need to control all your lights.
LED Lights: Once you're ready to add lights to your arsenal, go in your local light shop and be amazed by all DMX enabled lights. From simple RGB spots to wonderful moving heads allowing you to add movement to your show, there are thousands of options.
What's next? Try it


