What is DMX 512?

DMX 512 (DMX512-A) is a communications protocol that is most commonly used to control lighting and effects such as stage and theater lighting. It provides a common method for linking controllers, dimmers and other similar hardware devices. It can also control more advanced items such as fixtures, output controllers, fog machines and moving lights.

DMX 512 Advantages

DMX 512 has plenty of advantages. It is able to control a wide variety of devices and fixtures at a cost that is very affordable, and the standard is powerful which provides exceptional control of lighting and devices for designers. This makes DMX 512 very popular in the entertainment industry.

Connecting DMX 512 Fixtures and Devices

A DMX512 controller is connected to fixtures or devices in a multi-drop bus topology commonly called a “daisy chain”. Most devices created for theatrical lighting or effects include a DMX 512 compatible input and output. Being a daisy chain configuration, the DMX 512 system connects in to the first device's input socket and then links from that first device via its output socket to the input of a second device, which in turn can be linked via its output to the input of a third device, and so on and so forth. This is continued until all devices are connected. It should be noted that due to the design of the DMX 512 standard and its technical specifications, DMX 512 is an extremely useful standard to use no matter how many fixtures or devices need to be attached.

DMX 512 and the Zone Laser Tag Products

DMX devices are controlled by Zone Input Output Server (“ZIOS”). ZIOS works with many of Zone's laser tag systems; including Infusion, Nexus and Rift to a lesser or greater extent. ZIOS is an event-based control server that integrates signals from the laser game to communicate with many of the devices used at the laser game center such as lighting in the foyer, audio systems, effects in the arena and so on. For example, if a player tags a base-station a light may be instructed to turn on and an announcement made.

Ethernet to DMX Gateway

The Ethernet to DMX Gateway is the first link in the daisy-chain. Configuration is easy. Simply connect an Ethernet to DMX Gateway to your network and it will be auto-detected and will start to operate immediately.

Connecting Lights and Other Devices

Most DMX lighting fixtures and other similar devices are connected together using small runs of standard 2-core shielded DMX cable via the daisy-chain configuration.

DMX Room Expander

Where long runs are required such as a requirement to place lighting and/or effects in other parts of the building, standard CAT 5 Cable is used and connected using our DMX Room Expanders.

Example Multi-Drop Bus Topology

Address Table

The table above shows all the dip-switch settings and the associated laser tag devices.

Some Zone DMX Devices

DMX controlled LED light. Available as single channel solid color, or, 4 channel RGB colour mixing.

DMX Controlled, 4-channel, high output, LED controller. Used to control lengths of RGB rope lights, or, retro-fit older non-DMX lighting fixtures.

DMX controlled, 8-channel, relay controller. Used to control simple non-DMX devices.

DMX controlled, 4-channel, RGB colour mixing wall LED controller. Used in lasertag arena wall system.

4 channel, colour mixing DMX Pack Rack controllers. Used in lasertag system kitup rooms and vesting rooms.