Which DMX Controller?
Discussion
I've been given half a dozen DMX party lights! But no controller. Looking at Amazon there's a whole range of controllers and prices.
What do I need to buy to "have a bit of fun" without being disappointed with the functionality or breaking the bank?
Could I use it for a more general house lighting control system? If so any recommendations for mood lights?
What do I need to buy to "have a bit of fun" without being disappointed with the functionality or breaking the bank?
Could I use it for a more general house lighting control system? If so any recommendations for mood lights?
From my limited experience, selecting DMX controllers can be a minefield, largely due to the apparent non standardisation of channels used by different DMX controlled lights, particularly at the 'cheap' end of the DMX market.
First thing to check is how many channels your lights need to control them. If you have LED lights then you can (probably) buy an LED oriented DMX controller which will have numerous in built functions (like colour mixes, fades etc) but these may only work with one scheme of DMX control in the light.
If all of your lights are the same then that simplifies things as you can use just one group of DMX channels and control them all at the same time with the faders or in built programs in the controller (if you are lucky...). If you have different types of lights to control then you would change them to different starting addresses (using dip switches or via menus if the light has an LED display). What becomes a pain is then you can select on the DMX controller to operate one or other light, or both at the same time. However if the lights are different and you want to control them at the same time, then the channels you are controlling with the same fader(s) might do completely different things on each light type!
I'm not sure I would want to base a home lighting system on a 'stage' type DMX system, as there are much cleverer home automation solutions out there instead!
First thing to check is how many channels your lights need to control them. If you have LED lights then you can (probably) buy an LED oriented DMX controller which will have numerous in built functions (like colour mixes, fades etc) but these may only work with one scheme of DMX control in the light.
If all of your lights are the same then that simplifies things as you can use just one group of DMX channels and control them all at the same time with the faders or in built programs in the controller (if you are lucky...). If you have different types of lights to control then you would change them to different starting addresses (using dip switches or via menus if the light has an LED display). What becomes a pain is then you can select on the DMX controller to operate one or other light, or both at the same time. However if the lights are different and you want to control them at the same time, then the channels you are controlling with the same fader(s) might do completely different things on each light type!
I'm not sure I would want to base a home lighting system on a 'stage' type DMX system, as there are much cleverer home automation solutions out there instead!
As above, there are no real standards across manufactures or even with the same manufacturer. Are they all the same make? If so you may be lucky and find a controller from same company that will have some programs.
If not you'll need to program them and save the scenes and chases, it's a PITA and time consuming. Might be better off looking for PC based DMX USB dongle, then you can run it all from a PC/Mac. Show Express is quite good. https://www.chauvetdj.com/showxpress/
If not you'll need to program them and save the scenes and chases, it's a PITA and time consuming. Might be better off looking for PC based DMX USB dongle, then you can run it all from a PC/Mac. Show Express is quite good. https://www.chauvetdj.com/showxpress/
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