Okay, I'm kind of new to the whole DMX lighting thing. I understand par cans and dimmers, but I have a question involving the Elation SDC-6 controller. What kinds of lights will it work with, besides par cans? DMX? Thanks!!
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Welcome to the forums. This is a 6 channel controller for up to 6 dmx channels. You will still need a dimmer pack for par cans and/or a switch pack for on/off effects lights. For DMX light you are limited to only 6 channels. So a very basic scanner or LED fixture.
hope this answers your question. If i was not clear let me know.
Sincerely,
hope this answers your question. If i was not clear let me know.
Sincerely,
To clarify what jingles said, any DMX controller can control any DMX fixture. It comes down to how many channels that controller can control and ease of use for your particular situation.
Thank you guys!! And 1 more question, can you link together LED par cans and still control them with that controller?? Thanks again!!
Yes. You can link up to 32 units/fixtures per DMX universe. You can also address the LEDs, up to 32 of them per universe again, the same channel. So you could in fact have 32 P64 LED Pros all addressed channel 1 and control them all with the SDC-6 controller.
With that many units however, I would highly recommend a DMX splitter.
With that many units however, I would highly recommend a DMX splitter.
What do you mean "link them up?"
Here is how DMX works. Like MIDI, it would be "FROM DMX OUT to DMX IN, FROM DMX OUT to DMX IN". But DMX OUT is really more of a DMX THRU, as it will continue to pass the DMX data it received back out the DMX OUT port.
So, if you mean "well, I want to add in some LED Par Cans", then sure, go for it, no problem whatsoever. Just follow your signal flow.
Want to have multiple same lights do the same thing and save on channels? DMX allows channel duplication. So, in my case, let's say I take my 8 64 LED Pro fixtures and all give them the starting address of 33 and are all in 7 channel mode, what I do for one will work for all.
A bit of advise that I throw in is try to project where you think you will be in a few years with lighting. This way, maybe you spend MORE on a controller now, but end up not having to replacing what you buy NOW in a few years because you thought too small. Not that tninking small is bad, some incredible stuff has been done on low end and limited controllers. Lighting is a good area to sort of do some forward projecting.
In my case, I'm an audio guy. I have to think where I am going in the future. My mains became monitors. My older smaller consoles are still in production but doing more transfer work than live events. My current large format analog is great for FOH, monitor duty or both. When I get a digital console, I have the split made and my large analog console becomes a live recording and/or monitor desk. When I replace my monitors, the monitors can be front fills as well as stage side fills or additional monitors.
When I replace my mains, my existing mains can be used to widen out my coverage pattern to the sides while letting the new mains cover the main audience coverage areas.
Minimal loss of investment by thinking in increments of 5-10 years down the road.
You may not need to think 5 years down the road, but might want to think about "I plan to add lights, so will this console grow with me for a while or am I just thinking too small right now?" I can't comment on the controller you've selected, mainly because I've been too lazy to look it up myself. Elation makes good stuff, so I'm positive it's a good bit of gear.
Here is how DMX works. Like MIDI, it would be "FROM DMX OUT to DMX IN, FROM DMX OUT to DMX IN". But DMX OUT is really more of a DMX THRU, as it will continue to pass the DMX data it received back out the DMX OUT port.
So, if you mean "well, I want to add in some LED Par Cans", then sure, go for it, no problem whatsoever. Just follow your signal flow.
Want to have multiple same lights do the same thing and save on channels? DMX allows channel duplication. So, in my case, let's say I take my 8 64 LED Pro fixtures and all give them the starting address of 33 and are all in 7 channel mode, what I do for one will work for all.
A bit of advise that I throw in is try to project where you think you will be in a few years with lighting. This way, maybe you spend MORE on a controller now, but end up not having to replacing what you buy NOW in a few years because you thought too small. Not that tninking small is bad, some incredible stuff has been done on low end and limited controllers. Lighting is a good area to sort of do some forward projecting.
In my case, I'm an audio guy. I have to think where I am going in the future. My mains became monitors. My older smaller consoles are still in production but doing more transfer work than live events. My current large format analog is great for FOH, monitor duty or both. When I get a digital console, I have the split made and my large analog console becomes a live recording and/or monitor desk. When I replace my monitors, the monitors can be front fills as well as stage side fills or additional monitors.
When I replace my mains, my existing mains can be used to widen out my coverage pattern to the sides while letting the new mains cover the main audience coverage areas.
Minimal loss of investment by thinking in increments of 5-10 years down the road.
You may not need to think 5 years down the road, but might want to think about "I plan to add lights, so will this console grow with me for a while or am I just thinking too small right now?" I can't comment on the controller you've selected, mainly because I've been too lazy to look it up myself. Elation makes good stuff, so I'm positive it's a good bit of gear.
Thank you everyone for all your help!!