Design Beam 1200C™
©Elation Professional® 18 Design Beam 1200C™
8. 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 p ossible as long as all the fixtures and
the controller are DMX compliant. A DMX controller sends the DMX data instruct ions to the
fixture allowing the user to control the different aspe cts of an intelligent light. DMX data is
sent out as serial data that travels from fixture to fixture via data “IN” and data “OUT” 3-Pin or
5-Pin XLR connectors located on the fixtures (most controllers will only have output jacks).
DMX Linking: To ensure proper DMX data transm ission, always use proper DMX cables
and a term inator. When using several DMX fixtures try to use the shortest cable path
possible. The order in which the fixtures are connected in a DMX line does not influence the
DMX add ressing. For example; a f ixture assigned a DMX add ress 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 De sign Beam 1200C™ is a 21-channel DMX f ixture (16-bit
mode). The DMX address is set electronically using the controls on the LCD menu.
Data Cable (DMX Cable) Requirements (For DMX and Master/Slave Operation): Never
split a DMX line with a “Y” style connector. Your fixture and your DMX controller require a
standard 3-pin or 5-pin XLR connector for data input and data output (the figure 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 ca ble rated at 120 ohms, this cable is specifically designed
for DMX t ransmission and may be purchased from your Elation dealer or at most
professional lighting retailers. Your cables should be m ade 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™.
Note: Although microphone and DMX cables may look similar, they are not
constructed of the same material and should never be used in place of each
other.