DMX
How to set up DMX controlled CLS fixtures?
To make DMX work correctly with CLS fixtures, we’ve put together some important information to keep in mind when you’re going to install your fixtures. Think about how to set an address, splitter cables, terminators and how to use your rail and DMX together.
max. 32
Fixtures per DMX line
0-512
Assignable addresses
Magnet
Required for addressing
3x
Fixture flickers = success
before you start
> WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE INSTALLING
To make DMX work correctly with CLS fixtures, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Think about how to set an address, splitter cables, terminators, and how to use your rail and DMX together.
Most CLS LED fixtures are compatible with both DMX512 and Wireless DMX. Each fixture can be addressed individually, allowing you to program an intensity value for each fixture that can be adjusted quickly at any time from a remote control system.
memory on board
CLS fixtures offer memory on board functionality. A pre-programmed intensity value can be stored in the fixture’s internal memory module. It is therefore not required to provide a continuous DMX control signal to the fixtures. The fixture will hold its last programmed value even if the controller is disconnected.
what you need
To configure DMX-controlled CLS fixtures you need a DMX controller with a digital interface and a simple magnet. You can address any CLS DMX-controlled fixture with a magnet. Any magnet that is strong enough will work. You can check this by placing the magnet on the dot on the back of the fixture.
Note before you start: CLS fixtures are always programmed on channel 1 by default. If you want all your fixtures to operate in the same way, you do not need to address them. Simply wire them and they will all respond identically.
wiring the daisy chain
> CONNECTING YOUR DMX UNIVERSE STEP BY STEP
The daisy chain of your DMX universe is simple to set up. Follow these steps to wire and configure your CLS LED fixtures correctly:
1.
Connect power to your controller and all fixtures.
2.
On your first fixture, put the DMX data cable in the DMX IN.
3.
Start the daisy chain by putting a DMX cable in the DMX OUT on fixture 1, and in the DMX IN on fixture 2
4.
Continue this chain for a maximum of approximately 32 fixtures. Check the product manual for the recommended maximum for your specific fixture.
5.
Set your fixtures to DMX channel mode and set a start address.
6.
Program your fixtures using the set address and the number of faders needed to use all functions.
Please note: Always place a 120 Ohm terminator on the DMX IN of the last fixture in your chain. Without termination, signal reflections can cause flickering or unstable fixture behaviour, especially on longer cable runs.
assigning an address
> HOW TO GIVE A CLS FIXTURE ITS START ADDRESS
To assign a starting address to a CLS LED fixture, you need a DMX controller with a digital interface and a magnet. CLS fixtures have a dedicated spot on the housing marked with a sticker. It looks like a circle with a smaller circle within it. Always use this marked location for the magnet.
1.
Set channel 1 on your DMX controller to a data output value between 1–255 for addresses 1–255,
or channel 2 for a data output value between 256–512 for addresses 256–512.
2.
Choose the address you want the fixture to be set to (1–512).
3.
Hold the magnet to the indicated spot on the back of the fixture to confirm. The fixture will flicker 3 times when the address has been set correctly.
4.
If all LEDs flash 10 times something went wrong. Please try again. If the problem persists, contact your local CLS distributor.
Grouping fixtures: To assign the same address to multiple fixtures simultaneously, confirm the same address on all fixtures you want to control as one group. All fixtures on the same address will respond identically to the same controller input.
Channels per fixture type
> HOW MANY CHANNELS DOES YOUR FIXTURE NEED?
In CLS fixtures, there are three main lighting options. To program these, you only need to look at the number of colours. A fixture with only white LEDs needs 1 channel. A fixture with 4 coloured LEDs needs 4 channels.
WHITE (w)
1 cHANNEL
Single white LED output. One channel controls intensity from 0 to 255.
tUNABLE wHITE
2 CHANNELS
Two white channels (warm + cool). Adjust colour temperature and intensity independently.
cOLOURfLOW rgbw / rgba
4 CHANNELS
One channel per colour: Red, Green, Blue, White (or Amber). Full colour mixing control.
Soft dim & master channel
If you choose to add the Soft Dim option, you will need one extra channel. So with an RGBW fixture, you will need 5 channels to use all its options. If a Master channel is also used, add another channel on top of that.
The Soft Dim and Master channel always come after the colour channels. So for a ColourFlow RGBW fixture: Soft Dim is channel 5 and Master is channel 6.
Please note: Always check the product manual. The programming table in the manual of each fixture shows the fixture-specific channel layout. For fixture-specific information, go to the product pages to download the manual.
For examples on how to address your installation without conflicts you can read more on
How does DMX work? – Address your installation without conflicts
full channel overview
> CHANNEL FUNCTIONS FOR CLS FIXTURES
The table below shows the function of every channel for CLS LED fixtures. Values marked with * are the default settings.
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH1 | Set address 001 to 255 | 0 | 0 = no change* | Use this DMX channel to set an address from 001 to |
1…255 | DMX address = 1…255 |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH2 | Set address 256 to 508 | 0 | 0 = no change | Use this DMX channel to set an address from 256 to 508. The configured DMX address is called “n” |
1…255 | DMX address = 256…508 |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH3 |
Static behaviour | 0 | no change |
If no DMX is present the fixture will respond like set in this function |
1 | Last DMX value* | |||
2 | Output off | |||
3 | Load static values |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH4 | Soft dim | 0 | no change | When dynamic softdim is activated an extra DMX channel after the colours and/or master controls the soft dim reaction. If fixed no extra DMX channel is used. |
1 | off* | |||
2 | Dynamic | |||
3-250 | Fixed interpolation delay |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH5 |
Master control | 0 | no change | If master is first channel is selected the channel will be DMX channel “n”. If master is last channel is selected the channel will be “n+x” (“x” is calculated in the output patch) |
1 | no master used* | |||
2 | master is first channel | |||
3 | master is last channel |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH6 |
Output 1 patch | 0 | no change | Each output channel can be patched to respond to the desired DMX channel. This enables the user to mix up the colours according to the controller that is used. |
1 | DMX channel n | |||
2 | DMX channel n+1 | |||
3 | DMX channel n+2 | |||
4 | DMX channel n+3 |
Example: all outputs are patched as 1
All outputs will be controlled by DMX channel “n”. If master is used total DMX channels will be 2, otherwise it uses 1 channel (“x” = 1).
Example: output 1&2 are patched as 1 and 3&4 are patched as 2
Output 1&2 will be controlled by DMX channel “n”.
Output 3&4 will be controlled by DMX channel “n+1”.
If master is used total DMX channels will be 3 otherwise it uses 2 channels (“x” = 2).
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH7 |
Output 2 patch | 0 | no change |
Each output channel can be patched to respond to the desired DMX channel. This enables the user to mix up the colours according to the controller that is used. |
1 | DMX channel n | |||
2 | DMX channel n+1 | |||
3 | DMX channel n+2 | |||
4 | DMX channel n+3 |
Example: all outputs are patched as 1
All outputs will be controlled by DMX channel “n”. If master is used total DMX channels will be 2, otherwise it uses 1 channel (“x” = 1).
Example: output 1&2 are patched as 1 and 3&4 are patched as 2
Output 1&2 will be controlled by DMX channel “n”.
Output 3&4 will be controlled by DMX channel “n+1”.
If master is used total DMX channels will be 3 otherwise it uses 2 channels (“x” = 2).
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH8 |
Output 3 patch | 0 | no change |
Each output channel can be patched to respond to the desired DMX channel. This enables the user to mix up the colours according to the controller that is used. |
1 | DMX channel n | |||
2 | DMX channel n+1 | |||
3 | DMX channel n+2 | |||
4 | DMX channel n+3 |
Example: all outputs are patched as 1
All outputs will be controlled by DMX channel “n”. If master is used total DMX channels will be 2, otherwise it uses 1 channel (“x” = 1).
Example: output 1&2 are patched as 1 and 3&4 are patched as 2
Output 1&2 will be controlled by DMX channel “n”.
Output 3&4 will be controlled by DMX channel “n+1”.
If master is used total DMX channels will be 3 otherwise it uses 2 channels (“x” = 2).
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH9 |
Output 4 patch | 0 | no change |
Each output channel can be patched to respond to the desired DMX channel. This enables the user to mix up the colours according to the controller that is used. |
1 | DMX channel n | |||
2 | DMX channel n+1 | |||
3 | DMX channel n+2 | |||
4 | DMX channel n+3 |
Example: all outputs are patched as 1
All outputs will be controlled by DMX channel “n”. If master is used total DMX channels will be 2, otherwise it uses 1 channel (“x” = 1).
Example: output 1&2 are patched as 1 and 3&4 are patched as 2
Output 1&2 will be controlled by DMX channel “n”.
Output 3&4 will be controlled by DMX channel “n+1”.
If master is used total DMX channels will be 3 otherwise it uses 2 channels (“x” = 2).
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH10 |
Static output 1 | 0 | no change | Each output channel can be set to a static intensity. If no DMX is present and static behaviour is set to “load static values”. The outputs will be set to the configured intensity values. |
1
| output off | |||
2…255 | intensity 2…255 *(255) |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH11 |
Static output 2 | 0 | no change | Each output channel can be set to a static intensity. If no DMX is present and static behaviour is set to “load static values”. The outputs will be set to the configured intensity values. |
1
| output off | |||
2…255 | intensity 2…255 *(255) |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH12 |
Static output 3 | 0 | no change | Each output channel can be set to a static intensity. If no DMX is present and static behaviour is set to “load static values”. The outputs will be set to the configured intensity values. |
1
| output off | |||
2…255 | intensity 2…255 |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH13 |
Static output 4 | 0 | no change | Each output channel can be set to a static intensity. If no DMX is present and static behaviour is set to “load static values”. The outputs will be set to the configured intensity values. |
1
| output off | |||
2…255 | intensity 2…255 *(255) |
DMX | Function | Data | Parameters | Description |
CH14 | Load default settings | 0 | no change | This function resets all settings to the Factory |
1 | Load Factory settings |
Factory settings | |||||||||||
Address | Static behaviour | Soft dim | Master control | Output patch 1 | Output patch 2 | Output patch 3 | Output patch 4 | Static output 1 | Static output 2 | Static output 3 | Static output 4 |
1 | 1 | Off | Off | 1 (R) | 2 (G) | 3 (B) | 4 (W) | 255 | 255 | 255 | 255 |
|
DMX |
Function |
Data |
Parameters |
Description |
|
CH15 |
Input Resolution setting |
0 |
no change |
In 16 bit mode 2 channels are used per colour. First channel is rough channel, second channel fine. 16 bit mode is only available in DRIVE mode 2. |
|
1
|
8 bit* |
|||
|
2 |
16 bit |
DMX ON TRACK SYSTEMS
> USING DMX WITH CLS TRACK FIXTURES - TROUBLE SHOOTING
When installing DMX-controlled fixtures on a CLS track system, the same addressing and programming rules apply. However, there are a few additional points specific to track installations to keep in mind.
connecting the ground wire
There is 1 common mistake when connecting the ground wire. We regularly hear that the fixtures on the rails do not work properly, flicker or contain many disturbances. This is often caused by a ‘ground wire loop’. The track is grounded on both sides, creating a loop. The ground on a DMX rail is 1-sided, so it only needs to be connected on 1 side.
maximum amount of fixtures on a rail
In general, it is recommended to connect a maximum of 32 fixtures to a DMX-Universe. In principle, this is no different for track, but to ensure that all fixtures perform optimally, we have looked at our recommended maximum number of fixtures on a rail. This number differs per fixture, and can be found in the manual of the product that will be installed.
inrush current
When all fixtures on a rail are switched on at the same time, the power supply receives a peak load. This peak can be more gradual by means of a current limiter. This limiter prevents your fuses from blowing out by curbing the current above a certain value.
Max. length track
In addition to a maximum number of recommended fixtures per track, there is also a maximum recommended length for the track itself. This is about 20M. This recommended length is for the data stream that runs through the track. The fixtures are sensitive to disturbances in a track because the data line is straight in it.
Note: couplers make the disturbances worse.
Global and data end feed
For proper connection of the global track, refer to the wiring diagram on the right. Depending on the group you intend to use, connect the live wire to L1, L2, or L3.
video explainer
> WATCH: HOW TO ADDRESS A DMX FIXTURE
View the video to see how to address DMX controlled fixtures. The PDF you can download below contains explanations to support addressing.
Continue reading
> RELATED ARTICLES
HOW DOES DMX WORK?
Learn what DMX is, how channels and addresses work, the difference between wired and wireless DMX, and when to use splitters and terminators.
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> NEED ADVICE?
Want to know more about DMX? Look at our product pages to see which products are compatible with DMX, or contact us. We are happy to help. You can leave your question in the form below, and we will do our best to get back to you within 24 hours.