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DMX Lighting Controllers

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Not just to remotely control lighting, but to synchronise a small army of different fixtures, you're likely to need a DMX controller. DMX lighting desks can be used to control an array of DMX channels which dictate various parameters, whether it's the colour-mix of the spotlights and washes or the position of your moving heads.

What is a DMX Controller?

A DMX controller is a lot like a big remote control but usually they're connected up via cables. The control panel is loaded with multiple faders, each of which is assigned a single DMX channel or a range of DMX channels. Each channel controls a specific function that depends on the control options of the fixtures you've hooked up. So while one channel sets the colour of the spotlight, moving head or other fixture, the other channel sets the position. DMX controllers can range from the simple and compact, to the expansive and complex. The choice of gear that lies between depends on the number of fixtures and lighting effects you want to work with and the number of channels you'll need. For example, moving heads and lasers are generally more complicated than standard spotlights, so their functions will usually take up more DMX channels. More and more modern light jockeys are also working with a computer loaded with DMX software, a DMX interface and maybe a playback wing. If you need some help finding the right kind of DMX gear for your setup, see our DMX Controller Buyer's Guide for more info.

DMX Lighting Controllers: Daisy Chaining

A DMX lighting controller can be a powerful tool, especially when working with multiple fixtures and effects. Who wants to manually operate a rig of twenty spotlights, lasers and moving heads? Especially during a gig or theatre performance. As we've already mentioned, the faders that populate the control panel of a DMX controller are assigned to the DMX channels of the connected fixtures so they can adjust specific parameters. If you want to have this level of control over every light in your arsenal, then you need to make sure that your DMX controller has enough channels. From there, you can 'daisy-chain' your fixtures, so rather than plugging each fixture into the DMX controller, the fixtures are chained from one to the next with short DMX cables, and the first member of this chain is then connected to the controller. This really simplifies the setup and makes it a lot cleaner, since it doesn't leave a small mountain of cables all over the stage.

DMX Channels: An Address for Every Function (DMX 512)

The official name of the DMX protocol is actually DMX 512, which refers to the fact that a DMX controller is able to control a maximum of 512 channels. Your lighting fixtures can therefore use up a maximum of 512 DMX channels. Every function of every channel is adjusted via a fader, and each fader has a value range of 0 to 255, where 0 stands for fully off and 255 stands for fully on. If you're controlling an LED lighting effect, then you can do things like control the colour red with channel 1. The further you push the fader for channel 1 up, the brighter the red LEDs will glow. Then, you could assign the colour green to channel 2, and so on. Moving heads also feature adjustable pan and tilt, which can be assigned to separate channels so you can control the position of your moving head from your DMX controller. Assigning your channels to the various functions is also referred to as DMX addressing.

Programming Light Shows with a Lighting Controller

Setting all of your fixtures to a specific colour and pointing them at a specific spot is called programming. You can save all of the settings as a 'scene', and when you programme multiple scenes and play them one after the other, this is referred to as a 'chase'. This sequence can be controlled via a DMX controller. This is how light jockeys are able to keep their lighting moving all the time to create dynamic shows. The same effect can be created when the lights are synchronised to respond in time to music. Combined, these techniques can pack maximum atmospheric impact.

DMX Controller Apps

Some LED lighting is based on the Art-Net (DMX512 over IP) protocol, meaning that it can be controlled via an app loaded up on a smartphone or tablet. This way, the software is combined with the intuitive feel of a physical console.

DMX Lighting: Blackout

Many DMX lighting controllers include a Blackout function, which can be triggered to set every DMX channel to 0 in one shot, basically causing all the lights to shut off, resulting in a dramatic blackout.

Frequently Asked Questions About DMX Controllers

What can you do with a DMX controller?

Using a DMX controller, you can remotely control the various functions of lighting fixtures, effects, spotlights and moving heads. Via DMX addressing, the controller sends commands to the fixtures to adjust specific parameters like the colour of the light produced or the tilt or pan level. By setting and saving a number of scenes to create a number of chases, an entire light show can be programmed.

How do you set up a DMX controller?

Lighting fixtures are connected to a DMX controller via DMX cables. You could use a standard XLR cable, but if you want to be sure that everything will work properly, real DMX cables are recommended, since they have a higher impedance than normal XLR cables.

What does DMX stand for?

D.M.X. stands for Digital MultipleXed which is a light communication protocol that's based on the RS-485 protocol.

How do DMX controllers work?

When lighting fixtures are connected to a DMX controller via DMX cables, the various functions of your fixtures can be assigned to the various channels of the controller so that a specific channel is able to control a specific function. This is called DMX addressing, and from there, you can control your lighting fixtures remotely by using the faders of the DMX controller.