What is Digital Multiplex (DMX)

What is Digital Multiplex (DMX)

DMX, short for Digital Multiplex, is a lighting control protocol widely used in the lighting industry. It serves as a communication system that enables centralized control of individual or groups of lights using one or more channels. The DMX setup involves a daisy chain sequence, where a controller sends out data that travels through all the connected lighting fixtures.

DMX provides precise control over various lighting functions. DMX channels instruct light fixtures on specific actions to perform. For example, each color of an RGB light requires one DMX channel, while an RGBW light requires four channels. This means that a DMX Universe, which can control up to 512 channels, can fully control 128 RGBW fixtures.

To ensure the proper functioning of the DMX system, a terminator is used at the end of the daisy chain. The terminator prevents signal distortion by stopping the signal from bouncing back. It plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the DMX signal.