High End Systems DL.3 Lighting Console Tips

CHAPTER 4

DMX Programming Basics and Quick Start

DL.3 Digital Light User Manual 41

Lighting Console Tips

Lighting consoles differ in many aspects and it is important to understand how your console

operates with DL.3, DL.2 and Axon media servers.

Many sophisticated lighting consoles utilize pre-made fixture libraries. A fixture library consists

of profiles for various types of lighting fixtures and devices. Each profile corresponds to the

fixture’s DMX protocol and allows for ease of programming. Depending upon the manufacturer

of your lighting c onsole, some param eters might have different labels for parameter names and

functions than are listed within this manual. Consult your lighting console manual for further

information.

DL.3 and DL.2 fixtures are patched as three different “fixture types” in the Wholehog 3 library

systems. This allows for ease of programming as well as the ability to adjust quickly for any of

the various DMX protocol options. The Motion fixture type controls the actual moving yoke,

projector, and integrated camera. The Global fixture type controls the global graphic engine

functions such as intensity, keystone correction, viewpoint, etc. The Graphic fixture type

controls each graphic object functions such as opacity, object, media, etc. DL.3 and DL.2

protocol allows for 1, 2, or 3 graphic objects.

An Axon media server had no motion control but utilizes the same Global and Graphic fixture

types. In the Fixture Schedule or Add Fixtures window of Wholehog software, you would add 1

motion, 1 global, and 3 graphic “fixtures” for each complete DL.3 or DL.2 unit, or 1 global, and

3 graphic “fixtures” for each complete Axon unit.

The best way to organize your patching is to assign user numbers for these items. Patch the

motion first, the global second, and the graphic fixture types last. For example, set up user

numbers 1-5 that correspond to the DL.3 or DL.2 fixture number 1, where user number 1 is the

motion, 2 is the global, and 3-5 the graphic fixture types.

Although all lighting consoles output the same 512 DMX channels per universe, the on-screen

labeling often differs. Parameter functions are displayed in either alpha-numeric descriptions

(strobe 1), percentage (0-100%) or decimal (0-255 for 8-bit and 0-65535 for 16-bit). Consult

your lighting console manual for further information.