ETC SmartFade ML v3.0.1 - Manual (Page 26)

18 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual
DMX Output
DMX (Digital MultipleX) is a worldwide standard (or protocol) that your SmartFade ML uses
to communicate with lighting equipment. It is a digital protocol that basically defines a state
of “on”, “off” or a percentage of “on”. DMX can be used to control dimmers, moving lights,
fog machines, LEDs, scrollers, media servers or any number of other DMX devices.
DMX is restricted to a total of 512 (output) channels available in one DMX line (referred to
as a universe). Your SmartFade ML has two such universes, allowing control of up to 1024
outputs (2x512).
The DMX outputs are patched to console channels for intensities or devices in SmartFade
ML. There are 48 intensity channels, 24 device channels and 2 independent channels. The
D1-24 channels can be patched directly to dimmers in the patch by channel/dimmer menus
as well. Each console channel can be patched to multiple outputs. The default is set 1:1.
INT A1-A24, , INT B1-B24, DEVICE INT D1-D24, IND 1, IND 2
A moving light device can have up to 48 different parameters, each parameter requiring one
of the 1024 outputs. This depends on the type of moving light, and is automatically set by
patching the appropriate personality.
DMX Out Speed
In rare cases some DMX devices may have trouble reading DMX at the full standard speed
supplied by SmartFade ML. This is often seen as flicker in your lighting devices. You can
slow down the DMX out speed to try to alleviate such communications errors with other
manufacturer’s equipment. The default is set to “Max”.
Menu>Setup>DMX Out>[Max]..[Slow]..[Medium]..[Fast]