We saw this "What is DMX on DJ Lighting" someone used as a search question on one of the major search engines which brought them to our site. We thought is was very interesting and wondered how many others don't really know? So we will try to touch base a little here and hopefully others will get a better understanding.

Not all lighting fixtures are DMX. If it is it will say so somewhere in the name or description of the item. Most of the lights today with the new LED's are being made DMX. The older halogen lamp fixture such as Mushroom or Double Derby lights were play and play with sound activation.

Today the new LED fixture Mushroom or Double Derby now comes with DMX. So what is it? Do I have to use it? What is the gain with it?

DMX512 standard  "Digital Multiplex with 512 pieces of information". OK, that's another story on how that came to be with that but not that important. So moving on. DMX gives you control of many functions built within the light per manufactures specs. Now to get control you need a DMX control board and or software for DMX. Once you have that then you can take control of the lights built in programs. Each light will be a little different but just saying this as an example. If I have a DMX light that will do RGB mixing I can mix colors, make them static, strobing, dimming you really have to look at the specs to see what the light can do.

Now you don't have to use DMX for the light to work. It work still operate normally with sound and run thru built in programs. Most of the lights now have a digital LCD screen on the back that you can scroll thru and set the light manually without using the DMX. Some of the older lights have what are known as dip switches. Normally about 10 few with 12. They look like tiny little light switches.

So if you are the guy on the run and like simple just go with the plug and play sound active programs on the light. If you want to spend the time and create a show then DMX is for you. It does take some time to sit and create a show. You have a day off you can sit at home and play and create shows which you can save to the DMX board or software.

Most of the new lights today do have master/slave. You daisy chain from first light to next and the next and so on. There is an in and out socket on the rear. You use 3 pin DMX cable to connect. Then what ever you set the first light to the rest will follow. If you don't want to run cables you then need to go to each light and set it.

You will see giving the light a DMX address. The mailman needs your address to get your mail to you. Your neighbor needs a different address so he gets his mail. If we all had the same address we would all get the same mail. So with DMX you can set the address for each unit to be independent or all to be the same.

It really is a great feature to have. It opens the door to a whole lot more. Its just up to you and if you want to take the time to do it. If not just plug it in and let it go.