Command-/Control Interface:

Primarily all commands are sent and all feedback is received in ASCII text format. As an alternative to ASCII syntax, the most essential features of the Generator can be operated with a compact binary data format, which provides a higher throughput and easier handling together with some kind of control application.

This way the DMX lighting bus is easily integrated into applications, which support serial ports together with a scripting language. Known examples are Visual Basic™ and the Crestron™ media controller. Office-applications can be used, too when appropriate DLL libraries are added.
In a most simple case - especially to set up or debug computer controlled lighting installations - manual interactive operation is possible with a simple terminal program.

The range of use is not restricted to Windows-, Linux- or Macintosh computers. Suitable serial ports are available at many handheld devices, industrial controls or special hardware based media controls. In addition to the default rate of 115.2 kilobaud, 57600, 38400, 19200 and 9600 baud are configurable.

A green LED signals the presence of data traffic and sufficient supply voltage.

RS-232 connector:

Upon request, we deliver the RS-232 / DMX Generator equipped with a 9 pin "male" SubD connector.
A Bluetoth or XBEE wireless adaptor can be plugged directly here and be supplied with 5 volt power.

The most essential commands:

• Any DMX channel no.1 to 512 can be set to any level by sending a short sequence of ASCII text to the box (8 bit of resolution). Binary commands are implemented as a more compact alternative.

• For any DMX channel a fade ramp can be executed automatically, duration programmable up to 31.9 seconds. This diminuishes the expense of programming considerably. Any number of fade processes can be active simultaneously on all DMX channels. When a new preset (=lighting scene) is loaded, a soft fade may be performed from the actual scene into the new one.

• The actual configuration of the DMX transmit buffer can be saved permanently as a preset (=lighting scene). Up to 383 presets can be stored and be recalled at any time. During power-on always preset no.0 is loaded.

• By means of the flexibly configurable chaser function automatically sequences of presets are loaded to DMX OUT in a cyclic manner. Soft fade transitions are possible.

• The cycle of DMX data packets can be set by command between 24 and 512 DMX channels. If a DMX channel out of the active DMX cycle is adressed, the packet length is readjusted automatically.

Electromechanical Features:

DMX-OUT: standard compliant 5 pin XLR connector (on request available with 3 pin XLR or with an 8 pin detachable clamp)

Power supply:

Similar products made by Cinetix:

• The USB / DMX512 Generator is a functionally nearly equivalent device with USB interface.

• If an external DMX bus shall be read out to the PC via RS-232, we recommend the RS-232 / DMX512 Control Box. This appliance is equiped with a merge feature, too: data received at DMX IN can be merged for retransmission together with data uploaded from the control PC. The merge method or priority can be set individually for every DMX channel.
  

• If MIDI channel messages are preferred to control DMX transmission and merge it with incoming DMX data, we supply the MIDI / DMX512 Control Box.
  As a special feature, this model extracts DMX data into MIDI for "video jockey" software.
  If only DMX transmission is needed, the MIDI / DMX512 Generator is available as a low cost variant.

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  Manual of the RS-232 / DMX512 Generator  (PDF file)

  

  
  * State of information September 2011. Right of technical modifications reserved.
  * This description is for information only, no product specifications are assured in juridical sense.
  * Trademarks and product names cited in this text are property of their respective owners.