Chauvet DMX-55 DMX User Manual
DMX-55
DMX Controller
USER MANUAL
Chauvet, 3000 N 29th Ct, Hollywood, FL 33020 U.S.A
(800) 762-1084 – (954) 929-1115
FAX (954) 929-5560
www.chauvetlighting.com
TABLE OF CONTENT
BEFORE YOU BEGIN ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
WHAT IS INCLUDED................................................................................................................................................................................3
UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS ....................................................................................................................................................................3
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................................... 4
FEATURES............................................................................................................................................................................................4
GENERAL OVERVIEW.............................................................................................................................................................................4
PRODUCT OVERVIEW (FRONT) ...............................................................................................................................................................5
CONNECTION DIAGRAM (REAR) .............................................................................................................................................................. 6
LCD DISPLAY TABLE OF DEFINITIONS.....................................................................................................................................................6
COMMON TERMS ..................................................................................................................................................................................7
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS.......................................................................................................................................... 8
SETUP .................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Setting up the system ........................................................................................................................................................................................8
Fixture patch ......................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Joystick setup.....................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Reverse DMX channel and joystick...................................................................................................................................................................9
Deleting a scanner’s dmx channel settings.....................................................................................................................................................10
Clear all scanner’s DMX channels................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Display Pan/Tilt DMX channels ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Fade time settings............................................................................................................................................................................................10
Scene Programming ........................................................................................................................................................................................11
Entering programming mode ...........................................................................................................................................................................11
Create a scene.................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Scene edit ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Copy scanner settings .....................................................................................................................................................................................12
Copy scene ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Delete scene .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Delete all scenes..............................................................................................................................................................................................12
Copy bank........................................................................................................................................................................................................12
CHASE PROGRAMMING........................................................................................................................................................................13
Create a chase.................................................................................................................................................................................................13
Inserting a bank of scenes into a chase..........................................................................................................................................................13
Add a step........................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Delete a step....................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Delete a chase................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Delete all chases..............................................................................................................................................................................................15
PLAYBACK (SCENES) ..........................................................................................................................................................................15
Manual run scene ............................................................................................................................................................................................15
Running in Sound-Mode..................................................................................................................................................................................15
Running in Auto-Mode.....................................................................................................................................................................................15
Blackout ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................15
PLAYBACK (CHASES) ..........................................................................................................................................................................16
Manual run chases...........................................................................................................................................................................................16
Auto run chases............................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Music run chases............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
MIDI OPERATION.................................................................................................................................................................................17
DATA TRANSFER................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
APPENDIX...................................................................................................................................................................... 18
DMX PRIMER .....................................................................................................................................................................................18
Fixture Linking..................................................................................................................................................................................................18
MAINTENANCE ....................................................................................................................................................................................19
RETURNS PROCEDURE........................................................................................................................................................................19
CLAIMS ..............................................................................................................................................................................................19
GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING..............................................................................................................................................................20
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................ 21
DMX-55 User Manual 2 2006-01-11 11:59:07
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
What is included
DMX-55 Controller
DC 9~12V 500mA power adapter
Manual with warranty card
Unpacking Instructions
Immediately upon receiving a fixture, carefully unpack the carton, check the contents to ensure that
all parts are present, and have been received in good condition. Notify the shipper immediately and
retain packing material for inspection if any parts appear damaged from shipping or the carton itself
shows signs of mishandling. Save the carton and all packing materials. In the event that a fixture
must be returned to the factory, it is important that the fixture be returned in the original factory box
and packing.
Safety Instructions
Please read these instructions carefully, which includes important
information about the installation, usage and maintenance?
Please keep this User Guide for future consultation. If you sell the unit to another user, be sure that
they also receive this instruction booklet.
Always make sure that you are connecting to the proper voltage and that the line voltage you are
connecting to is not higher than that stated on decal or rear panel of the fixture.
This product is intended for indoor use only!
To prevent risk of fire or shock, do not expose fixture to rain or moisture. Make sure there are no
flammable materials close to the unit while operating.
The unit must be installed in a location with adequate ventilation, at least 50cm from adjacent
surfaces. Be sure that no ventilation slots are blocked.
Always disconnect from power source before servicing or replacing lamp or fuse and be sure to
replace with same lamp source.
In the event of serious operating problem, stop using the unit immediately. Never try to repair the unit
by yourself. Repairs carried out by unskilled people can lead to damage or malfunction. Please
contact the nearest authorized technical assistance center. Always use the same type spare parts.
Don’t connect the device to a dimmer pack.
Make sure power cord is never crimped or damaged.
Never disconnect power cord by pulling or tugging on the cord.
Do not operate this device under 113° F ambient temperature conditions.
Caution! There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the housing or attempt
any repairs yourself. In the unlikely event your unit may require service, please contact
CHAUVET.
DMX-55 User Manual 3 2006-01-11 11:59:07
INTRODUCTION
Features
Universal DMX-512 Controller
240 scene memory
192 DMX channels of control
Polarity selector
Fog control button
Strobe
3 space 19" rack or table top mount
Removable rubber edge guard
Midi compatible
Controls up to 12 intelligent lights
30 banks of 8 scenes
Beat-activation, tap sync, auto run
6 sets of chases containing 240 scenes
Assignable and reversible joystick
Override button
Reversible sliders
Grab any fixture on the fly
General Overview
The DMX-55 is a universal intelligent lighting controller. It allows the control of 12 fixtures composed
of 16 channels each and up to 240 programmable scenes. Six chase banks can contain up to 240
steps composed of the saved scenes and in any order. Programs can be triggered by music, midi,
automatically or manually.
On the surface you will find various programming tools such as 8 universal channel sliders, a joystick
and LED display indicators for easier navigation of controls and menu functions. You can control the
pan and tilt of different intelligent lighting fixtures using the same joystick at the same time by means
of a programmable joystick. This joystick allows the user to assign individual pan and tilt channels for
every fixture. Integrated fog and strobe controller simplifies setup and eliminates multiple control
sources.
DMX-55 User Manual 4 2006-01-11 11:59:07
Introduction
1 2 16 7 3 8 9 10 25
12
11 23 18 13 17 4 22 24 15 14 21 5 6 19 20 26
Product Overview (front)
Item Button or Fader Function
1 Scanner select buttons Fixture selection
2 Scanner indicator LEDS Indicates the fixtures currently selected
3 Scene select buttons Universal bump buttons representing scene location for storage and selection
4 Channel faders For adjusting DMX values, Ch 1~8 can be adjusted immediately after pressing the
5 Page A Indicator LED Represents Ch 1~8 range selected
6 Page B Indicator LED Represents Ch 9~16 range selected
7 Page select button In manual mode, press to toggle between pages of control or to select both pages
8 Program button Used to enter programming mode
9 Music/Bank Copy button Used to activate Music mode and as the copy command during programming
10 LCD display window Status window displays pertinent operational data
11 Mode Indicator LEDS Provides operating mode status, (manual, music or auto)
12 Bank Up button Function button to traverse Scene/Steps in banks or chases
13 Bank Down button Function button to traverse Scene/Steps in banks or chases
14 Tap Display button This is a Tap-Sync during playback and during programming changes the DMX value
15 Blackout button Sets the shutter or dimmer value of all fixtures to “0” causing all light output to cease
16 Midi/Rec button Activates MIDI external control and also used to confirm the record/save process
17 Auto/Del button Used to activate Auto mode and as the delete function key during programming
18 Chase buttons Chase memory 1 ~ 6
19 Speed fader This will adjust the hold time of a scene or a step within a chase
20 Fade-Time fader Also considered a cross-fade, sets the interval time between two scenes in a chase
21 Fog button Built in Chauvet fog controller
22 Strobe button Built in Chauvet strobe controller
23 Override button
24 Joystick To control pan and tilt movement
25 Mode button Switches operating modes
26 FINE button Sets joystick to control pan and tilt in 16 bit resolution (fixture must have this feature)
respective scanner select button, Ch 9~16 after pressing the Page select button
simultaneously. Both LEDS on will allow control of both lower and upper range channel.
displayed in the LCD panel to percentages
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34 27 28 29 35 30 31 32 33
Connection Diagram (rear)
Item Button or Fader Function
27 MIDI input port For external triggering of Banks and Chases using a MIDI device
28 DMX polarity switch May be used to correct signal polarity
29 DMX output connector DMX control signal
30 DC Input jack Main power feed
31 Strobe connector Chauvet Mono Strobe ¼” connector for built in strobe controller
32 ON/OFF power switch Turns the controller on and off
33 Fog connector Chauvet fog controller IEC connector
34 Audio input jack Audio input feed for music triggering
35 DMX input connector Used in data dumps between controllers
LCD Display Table of Definitions
Display Reference Definition
SN1
BK1
CHASE1
STEP 009
DATA 184
SP :1M54s
TP:4.25s
ASS 04 05
RES 10 13
Scene 1
Bank 1
Chase 1 is activated
Step # 9 of a chase
DMX Value (000-255)
The current speed is 1 minute 54 seconds
Sampled time between the last two taps
Assign DMX channels 4 and 5
Reverse DMX channels 10 and 13
DMX-55 User Manual 6 2006-01-11 11:59:07
Introduction
Common Terms
The following are common terms used in intelligent light programming.
Blackout is a state by where all lighting fixtures light output are set to 0 or off, usually on a temporary
basis.
DMX-512 is an industry standard digital communication protocol used in entertainment lighting
equipment. For more information read Sections “DMX Primer” and “DMX Control Mode” in the
Appendix.
Fixture refers to your lighting instrument or other device such as a fogger or dimmer of which you can
control.
Programs are a bunch of scenes stacked one after another. It can be programmed as either a single
scene or multiple scenes in sequence.
Scenes are static lighting states.
Sliders also known as faders.
Chases can also be called programs. A chase consists of a bunch of scenes stacked one after
another.
Scanner refers to a lighting instrument with a pan and tilt mirror; however, in the ILS-CON controller it
can be used to control any DMX-512 compatible device as a generic fixture.
MIDI is a standard for representing musical information in a digital format. A MIDI input would provide
external triggering of scenes using midi device such as a midi keyboard.
Stand Alone refers to a fixture’s ability to function independently of an external controller and usually
in sync to music, due to a built in microphone.
Fade slider is used to adjust the time between scenes within a chase.
Speed slider affects the amount of time a scene will hold its state. It is also considered a wait time.
Shutter is a mechanical device in the lighting fixture that allows you to block the lights path. It is often
used to lessen the intensity of the light output and to strobe.
Patching refers to the process of assigning fixtures a DMX channel or.
Playbacks can be either scenes or chases that are directly called to execution by user action. A
playback can also be considered program memory that can be recalled during a show or running
mode.
DMX-55 User Manual 7 2006-01-11 11:59:07
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