Lighting Control: Desks, DMX & Distribution

Everything that tells a rig what to do: lighting desks, DMX controllers, DMX distribution and dimmers, from Avolites, ChamSys, ADJ, Transcension, Nicolaudie and Elumen8.

Lighting Desks & Consoles covers Avolites Titan and ChamSys MagicQ systems, from USB interfaces and software dongles to full consoles such as the Avolites D3-110 and ChamSys MagicQ MQ70 bundles. DMX Controllers holds the simpler options: Transcension hardware controllers, ADJ’s app-based mydmx GO and Link interfaces, and Nicolaudie controllers for architectural installs. DMX Distribution keeps data reliable as a rig grows, with splitters such as ADJ’s Data Distro 6, LEDJ wireless DMX transceivers, wall plates and Art-Net nodes such as the Transcension N8. Dimmer & Relay Packs from Transcension and QTX switch and dim conventional loads.

Start from how the show will be run. A desk suits programmed or busked shows with many fixtures, while an app-based or standalone controller suits simple installs and mobile rigs.

The DMX explained guide covers addressing, universes and cabling.

Lighting Control FAQs

Do I need a lighting desk? For shows with many fixtures and cues, yes. For a handful of fixtures, simple scenes or a permanent install, a DMX controller or an app-based interface is usually enough.

Why do I need a DMX splitter? A splitter gives each run its own buffered output, so a fault on one line does not take the others down, and it lets data run in several directions. Long daisy chains become unreliable as fixture counts grow.