12
DMX-512 Start Address
The Start Address of a fixture is set using the “Addr” mode in the Control Panel Menu. Consult
the manual of the system’s DMX512 controller to select a desirable addressing scheme before
addressing fixtures. Each fixture connected to the DMX-512 data link requires a Start Address
to indicate the first DMX channel containing data designated for that fixture, see DMX-512
Background. Valid Start Addresses range from 1 to 512. Fixtures requiring more than one
channel for control will read subsequent channels up to the total number of channels required.
A fixture requiring five (5) channels of DMX, set to a Start Address of eleven (11), would read
data from channels: 11 and 12, 13, 14, 15. The next logical Start Address would be channel
16. Because all fixtures see the same data, fixtures may be set to any address without concern
to order in the DMX-512 chain or physical location. Choose a Start Address so the channels
used do not overlap with other fixtures. In some cases, it may be desirable to set two or more
same type fixtures to the same Start Address. In this case, the fixtures will be slaved together
and respond to the same data.
Example
Select Start Addresses for 4 fixtures each requiring 12 channels of DMX.
Since these are the first fixtures added to the system, the first unit will be set to Start
Address=1. This fixture occupies DMX channels 1 thru 12. The next DMX channel
available for a Start Address is found by adding the previous fixture’s Start Address to its
channel requirement: 1+12=13. DMX channel 13 is the next available Start Address. In
this example, to maximize channel usage no empty channels are left between fixtures so
the second Start Address is set to DMX channel 13. The second fixture occupies DMX
channels 13 thru 24. Repeat the process for the remaining two fixtures: 13+12=25 and
25+12=37. Therefore, the four 12 channel fixtures have Start Addresses of 1, 13, 25 and
37. Repeat the technique once more for the next free channel in the system, 37+12=49.
Channels 49 thru 512 are available for expansion of the system.
DMX-512 Channel Assignment
The Vector LED Spot requires 12 channels of DMX.
Channel Function
1
Shutter /Strobe / Reset
2 Dimmer
3 Color
Wheel
4
Rotating Gobo Wheel
5 Gobo
Rotation
6 Focus
7
Prism / Prism Rotation
8
Pan Coarse Position
9
Pan Fine Position
10
Tilt Coarse Position
11
Tilt Fine Position
12
Pan / Tilt Speed, Auto, Sound
