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DMX (lighting)

DMX Connector
XLR5 pinouts.svg
XLR5 pinouts
Type lighting control
Hot pluggable Yes
Daisy chain Yes
External Yes
Cable 2 pair, 24 AWG, 7x32 stranded, tinned copper, 6.9 left hand twist/ft
Pins 5
Connector 1
Max. voltage +6 VDC per pin
Max. current 250mA
Bitrate 250 kbit/s
Protocol asynchronous, half-duplex, serial protocol over a two-wire bus
Pin 1 Signal Common
Pin 2 data 1-
Pin 3 data 1+
Pin 4 data 2-
Pin 5 data 2+
Prohibited Non-DMX Connector
XLR-mw.png
XLR3 pinouts
Type lighting control
Hot pluggable Yes
Daisy chain Yes
External Yes
Pins 3
Connector 1

DMX512 (Digital Multiplex) is a standard for digital communication networks that are commonly used to control stage lighting and effects. It was originally intended as a standardized method for controlling light dimmers, which, prior to DMX512, had employed various incompatible . It soon became the primary method for linking controllers (such as a lighting console) to dimmers and special effects devices such as fog machines and intelligent lights. DMX has also expanded to uses in non-theatrical interior and architectural lighting, at scales ranging from strings of Christmas lights to electronic billboards. DMX can now be used to control almost anything, reflecting its popularity in theaters and venues.

DMX512 employs EIA-485 differential signaling at its physical layer, in conjunction with a variable-size, packet-based . It is unidirectional.

DMX512 does not include automatic error checking and correction, and so is not an appropriate control for hazardous applications, such as pyrotechnics or movement of theatrical rigging. False triggering may be caused by electromagnetic interference, static electricity discharges, improper cable termination, excessively long cables, or poor quality cables.

Developed by the Engineering Commission of United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), the DMX512 standard (For "Digital Multiplex with 512 pieces of information") was created in 1986, with subsequent revisions in 1990 leading to USITT DMX512/1990.

In 1998 the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) began a revision process to develop the standard as an ANSI standard. The resulting revised standard, known officially as "Entertainment Technology—USITT DMX512-A—Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories", was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in November 2004. It was revised again in 2008, and is the current standard known as "E1.11 – 2008, USITT DMX512-A", or just "DMX512-A".


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