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ProKontrol MH Manual Rev. A
© 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
4. APPENDIX
4.1 A Quick Lesson On DMX
DMX (aka DMX-512) was created in 1986 by the United States Institute for Theatre
Technology (USITT) as a standardized method for connecting lighting consoles to lighting
dimmer modules. It was revised in 1990 and again in 2000 to allow more flexibility. The
Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has since assumed control over
the DMX512 standard. It has also been approved and recognized for ANSI standard clas-
sification.
DMX provides up to 512 control “channels” per data link. Each of these channels was origi-
nally intended to control lamp dimmer levels. You can think of it as 512 faders on a lighting
console, connected to 512 light bulbs. Each slider’s position is sent over the data link as an
8-bit number having a value between 0 and 255. The value 0 corresponds to the light bulb
being completely off while 255 corresponds to the light bulb being fully on.
DMX data is transmitted at 250,000 bits per second using the RS-485 transmission stan-
dard over two wires. As with microphone cables, a grounded cable shield is used to prevent
interference with other signals.
There are five pins on a DMX connector: a wire for ground (cable shield), two wires for
“Primary” communication which goes from a DMX source to a DMX receiver, and two wires
for a “Secondary” communication which goes from a DMX receiver back to a DMX source.
Generally, the “Secondary” channel is not used so data flows only from sources to receiv
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ers. Hence, most of us are most familiar with DMX-512 as being employer over typical
3-pin “mic cables,” although this does not conform to the defined standard.
DMX is connected using a daisy-chain configuration where the source connects to the input
of the first device, the output of the first device connects to the input of the next device,
and so on. The standard allows for up to 32 devices on a single DMX link.
Each receiving device typically has a means for setting the “starting channel number” that
it will respond to. For example, if two 6-channel fixtures are used, the first fixture might
be set to start at channel 1 so it would respond to DMX channels 1 through 6, and the next
fixture would be set to start at channel 7 so it would respond to channels 7 through 12.
DMX has become the standard for lighting control. It is flexible, robust, and scalable, and
its ability to control everything from dimmer packs to moving lights to foggers to lasers
makes it an indispensable tool for any lighting designer or lighting performer.
3.9.6 Firmware Updates
If firmware updates become available anytime in the future, they will be avail
-
able at our website at: www.blizzardlighting.com.
1. Create a folder named “PROKONTROL MH” in the root directory of
your USB memory stick.
2.
Download and copy the update file to the folder.
3. Insert the USB memory stick to the USB port.
4. Power off the controller.
5. Press and hold REC + BLACK OUT + RUN MODE.
6. Power on, and wait for about 3 seconds till the LCD display shows
“PRESS ANY BUTTON TO UPDATE”
7. Release REC + BLACK OUT + RUN MODE.
8. Press any button, then, it will start updating.
9. Once the update is completed, power off the controller, then power
on again. The updated firmware is now in service.
