How to program DMX lights for beginners (simple lesson)
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- Опубліковано 19 чер 2013
- A very simple introduction to DMX programming using two PAR 64 lights and a Chauvet Obey 40 controller.
--These exact lights are no longer available but you can buy similar ones here:
amzn.to/2Mgmpvl
(they have DMX functions like the ones in the video as well as sound active mode and a remote)
--You can also buy the Obey 40 and 2 DMX cables here:
amzn.to/3jWoSpZ
I watched this video over 6 years ago, and it almost singlehandedly got me into lighting. I just found it again today and looking back, this is the best basic lesson I ever got. I've designed full shows on ETC consoles with over 500 intelligent fixtures, but it all started with this. Thank you for inspiring me those years ago.
Oh wow- I can't tell you how good that makes me feel. Thank you SO much for those kind words and for sharing on this channel! Thats so awesome about your success as a show designer. I am inspired :)
hey i just got one ..your story is very encouraging to my old analog head..well see how it goes for me ..do these things save the settings when powered off? ..or do you have to do it every time ?
9 years later and this is the best video that I have found for programming a DMX controller! Thank you sir for your explanation and clarity! Your videos have been very helpful!
Really appreciate those kind words and glad it's still helpful after all these years!
I'm an audio guy that knows nothing about lighting, but I love lighting deign. Your video really explains a lot. GREAT JOB!
You dont even know how much you changed the world with this video!
Thank you for that awesome comment!!! (I still can't believe how many views this has)
Thank you, Steve! It was important for me to start off with your tutorial. Easy as it may be, I really needed something that smooth, since I am a complete beginner!
Simple, straight to the point. I used to think that it is a complex issue but the way it has been explained I think and believe that I am ready for my next task in lighting
WOW! This is the BEST video EVER!!!
FINALLY! A video that talks to human beings and not Light Engineers with all their complex terminology. You made it all make sense in plain English! Thank you !!!!
I SOO needed this video, I just got a DMX Operator PRO and now these terminologies and make sense and I can program my scenes. Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank YOU!!!
Thank you very much from Russia. I watched your video about basics of DMX. And now it all makes sence to me. I found it a bit confusing at the beginning, but thanks to your video where you explain everything in detail and really show the simple basics on how to start making scenes and programm the controller. It makes me want to make something like your video in russian language, so that people will learn the basics in just 10 minutes, like I did watching your vide. Thansk again and keep up the good work!!! Good luck to you!
Much thanks. This vid helped me get started putting together a DMX setup for my band. It's not as complex as I thought, certainly no worse than MIDI. I've found uses beyond music as well. With this same controller and only a couple of fixtures, I've been able to produce a flickering fire glow effect, lightning flashes and a starry sky scene, all of which I plan to use in a school play. Am hoping to add more fixtures later on. The creative possibilities are fantastic.
+UncleFeedle Great
UncleFeedle
very clear explained, i really learned more in this 10 minutes, than in the last 10 years. (+)
+Uğur Akgöz
Thank you- that is such a nice thing to say!
me too!!!
Sir how to delete program on dmx?
@@LearnLizard do you have a video on how to create a moving head chase that will move the lights fast then slow in between transitions. I'm learning the basics but this would be what I'm aiming for.
Thanks so much I have watched several tutorials but none of them showed lights attached and working most just showed the steps to program. Yours has helped tremendously in understanding the basics !!!
Fantastic tutorial. DMX and computerized lighting always confused me, and this will help me out a lot as I budget a new stage I'm putting together. Many thank!
I just got my 1st dmx light. Thank you this has helped alot
If you want to upgrade ur console check out this product tutorial.
ua-cam.com/video/jUDxYccn3B0/v-deo.html
Thanks
I need used led lights from anywhere in the world, if you have free to give out please contact me @ debamvent@yahoo.com thank you and God bless you.
Everything is definitely saved in the console. Thanks for the positive comment!
Dear Steve, Thank you so much for this wonderfully simple explanation. I just dove into this DMX world and bought a controller and 2 sets of 4 different types of ADJ Pars. Today I set everything up and programmed my first chase. I have an Orion Controller, which is pretty much the same as the Chauvet Obey 40. However, if I had tried to program using just the instruction manual that came with this unit, it would never have happened. Now I feel like I can program any sequence successfully. Again! Thank You so much for this easy intro to this whole new world I've entered! Great Job!!!!! and I'm just 7 years late to the party!
I love getting comments like this on my channel!! Thanks so much for the kind words and good luck with your light shows.
I am about to invest in some LED par cans and a controller for my video business and this tutorial was invaluable. Thank you for sharing this!
Thanks so much for the compliment! On the Obey 40 you can group scenes into "Banks" which can contain up to 8 scenes. The reason this is relevant is that you can call up a bank and have a cycle (chase) through the 8 scenes automatically. Its an easy way to make chases without having to program them scene by scene.
Hi, Steve! Because of this specific video, I was inspired to get into lighting! I'm a drummer for the past 18 years, but I found this to be a great new hobby for the past two years, and I am loving it! I can now plug and play with any band that I want, and in some cases, even gotten paid for the light show I now bring to the table.
I took your advice from this video and bought the Chauvet Obey 40 DMX, and since then have bought American DJ par light sets, a simple 5-light strobe, and just last week bought a Chauvet Motion drape (discontinued, but as a result I got it on sale from someone that only used it twice in its existence) - all controlled through the Obey 40.
I have been looking at the other videos you offer today, and am very appreciative that you have taken the time to do this - especially the follow up on chase setups, which took me a while to understand.
Anyway, I thank you for your time to make these videos. I look forward to more video in the future, Steve!
Really appreciate your kind words and glad the Obey 40 is working out for you (its a work horse of a controller!) Wishing you continued success with your light shows :)
Fantastic video!
I've been trying to get a handle on this DMX lighting. (the terminology and steps killing me) You made it so simple to understand.
Thank you so much for posting!
Thank you so much! I am a janitor who was just handed a pile of equipment and told to make it work for a concert at the community-center where I work. I was about to cry but you made it seem logical.
never really knew the purpose of programing until I watched this video. thanks!
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@@jussdaa weirdo
It only took me 4 times watching this to realize that each light HAS to be disconnected from others in the chain in order to program correctly. That would have been nice to know... LOL Other than that, this was the most helpful tutorial I've found. Thank you very much! Took me from old school par cans into the 21st century!
I've done live events for decades. (Multiscreen live video projection.) And the presenter here looks like every professional lighting guy I've ever worked with! :-) That's why I chose this video first. Sure enough, he's competent and explains it all clearly. Thanks!
I was lost and now I'm found! I bought gear last year and could not figure out how to do what you just showed.. I can now get it back out and make it work. THANK YOU for such an informative video. It was VERY WELL MADE!!!!!!
Really appreciate those kind words and glad it was helpful- thanks for watching and good luck with your programming!
Really appreciate all the positive comments! FYI- My par lights are 36 x 3W RGB PAR 64 lights that I bought on eBay. (from a seller in Southern California called "musicsupply" They are from China and were inexpensive (4 for $265) So far I have been very happy with them.
+LearnLizard My question is, what about different types of fixtures? Does everything daisy chain together and you assign the addresses, or does there need to be some kind of splitter to send each model its own lead?
DMX512 is just a protocol, and doesn't care what fixtures or dimmers you use. You can daisychain up to 512 channels on one universe (a set of 512 addresses is called a universe). On large boards you have multiple universes, that means you use one DMX output per universe.
LearnLizard Love you're work, you inspired me and I scored myself a beginner dmx controller hat does 192 control channel for 12 projectors with up to 16 channels
16 bit resolution for fine Pan/Tilt movements 6 programmable chases with up to 240 scenes 8 Preset Scenes from New Zealand's equivalent of Ebay for $40nzd with roadcase, now just need some fixtures and a stand.
LearnLizard Love you're work, you inspired me and I scored myself a beginner dmx controller hat does 192 control channel for 12 projectors with up to 16 channels
16 bit resolution for fine Pan/Tilt movements 6 programmable chases with up to 240 scenes 8 Preset Scenes from New Zealand's equivalent of Ebay for $40nzd with roadcase, now just need some fixtures and a stand.
LearnLizard
Plzzz respond to me plzzzz
Perfect beginners tutorial! Good job! Thanks!
I have just purchase the Chauvet 70 DMX controller and had no idea on DMX or how to use it. You video is extremely good and you clearly define what each section of the desk does. Thank you for helping me get to grips with DMX. Im looking forward to producing some amazing shows via the knowledge gained from your video.
Thanks once again.
Thank you so much for posting this as well as your other DMX videos. Legit, you do great work.
This is a really helpful video. Thanks for keeping it simple! :)
Thank you thank you thank you...my church is going to be happy :). God Bless!
Hey! I am an educator and you have a wonderful way of explaining things!
Thank you! I been looking for tutorials on DMX lighting and no luck until now.
Excellent video! Thank you!
Thank you!!! Helped a lot!
Thank you very much. Now I can read the DMX controller user manual again and understand what it is saying 😆
Thanks for watching and glad it helped!
brilliant ! more than 1 year I was looking for a tuto about DMX controler ! we say in french : C'est trop bien ! (It's too much good !) Thanks !
With the setup I have, all the dmx addresses stay programmed. I believe this is standard. Thanks!
WOW THANKS!!!! U SAVED MY DAY!!
I don't know how to program until I watched this video and now I can do programming. Thanks so much for this video!
Also, your video is gold. Super easy, programming a scene from watching your video vs reading the manual
Doing lighting for a presentation day. Thanks a lot. But one thing. Stop saying it’s easy it’s frickin hard 🤣🤣
Mate, its easy. Trust me. I've been doing it for years with all different types of consoles, including, ETC Element, ETC Ion, GrandMA3 Light, ONYX and Zero 88. Just see what you find easiest and learn it.
quick question, I noticed your not using a terminator, do you not need it ? when should a terminator be used?
+Danny Finch
I have not been using a terminator (although it is good practice to) as my cables are under 30 feet long. The longer your cables, the more necessary they become to avoid signal transmission problems. Thanks for watching!
I got a terminator, they're only about $5. Plus, couldn't resist buying something as cool sounding as that.
good ole serial networking basics...good catch.
more good practice in using terminators is when you are using a larger number of fixtures in the chain. me personally as a general rule if i have 2 or more fixtures in the chain i use a terminator. save yourself some money buying a ready made one if you have a little bit of tech knowledge is a waste of money. make your own for a fraction of the price ( i make mine for about $1.70AUD). take a male XLR connector, remove the casing and solder a 120ohm 0.5W resistor between pins 2 and 3 (looking at rear view thats the left hand side and bottom pins). replace the casing and you're good to go just connect it in your final fixture on the chain
thank you so much ... its a very big help for me .. ive been using dmx for more than a year .. but havent figure out how to save a program light ... thank you so much for this .. God bless
I'm a sound engineer studying lighting for a new job, and this man is my saviour.
You are too kind! Thanks for those nice words and glad it helped.
Why doesn't fixture 2 control 7 8 9 10 11 12? Since the first fixture ends at 6,shouldnt it logically continue to 7?
+Aaron Wilson
Hi- The reason they do that is because different fixtures have different numbers of channels- The Obey 40 can accommodate a fixture that has up to 16 channels (thus the the starting address of fixture 2 starting at 17) Hope that makes sense and thanks for watching.
Yes, that really helps! Thank you so much. I love your videos, not only are they informative, but they are highly entertaining!
you could do that, or in the case of the obey 40 you could start fixture 2 at ch 9 through 14 so you could control it on bank 2 of fixture 1, thus doubling the fixtures you could use (depending how many channels your fixture has). the reason its not traditionally done this way is because it gets so confusing having to remember precisely where your fixtures start. I personally use software based DMX control with USB to DMX conversion these days. the process is so much more streamlined than using a physical dmx board, eliminates carrying around that extra hardware, though i have kept my physical board because you just never know when you may need to use it as a back up (has gotten me out of crap a couple of times such as computer glitches or hardware issues). and what i love is that when adding fixtures to your universe the software i use takes the address guesswork out by telling you what start address to program your fixtures to. this also as you pointed out continues the next fixture from the next available channel so it eliminates wasting channels. in the case of my software controller, i can theoretically connect 512 single channel par cans (think halogen with color gels) and not waste a single available channel
@Devondria Mbala-Robertson With this controller in particular, the third fixture would be at 33. the Obey 40 doesn't care how many channels a particular fixture has, it basically has already hard-set a bunch of 16-channel fixtures in its memory.
Your eyes are awesome!
ikr
he has different rye colors
Hahahah
Thank you! Really needed help with DMX and my Chauvet obey 40 and this really helped
Im the assistant light and audio manager at my high school theater and my teacher just called me to tell me he wants me to work the upcoming show by myself. This video saved me and clares me of any doubts I had as to what to do with the lighting. I just wana thank you for uploading this, you have made not only a student with an opportunity to prove himself happy, but also a lot of teachers and school staff happy as well.
That is so nice to hear! Really appreciate your kind words and thanks for watching
...and good luck with your shows- hope they turn out well :)
When you think you just have to plug stage lights in electricity and then see this...
😂😂How mistaken we were
That’s me right now
It's really not that complicated
Where's the Chauvet tutorial on how to use their damn controllers?
I cant find any except for this guy. His videos helped me to be honest.
It is the same as shown. He is even using one. The controller he is using is probably the most cloned model unlike the Obey 70.
The Chauvet manual sucks. They dont care about you. Thank goodness for people like this
Your videos provide incredible value to those who have no idea what they're doing with lights. Very informative and well taught.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate those kind words!
considering I knew nothing on this subject prior to this video, I feel like I learned quite a bit in a short period of time (owners manuals frequently seem like they're written in a foreign language) good video! simple and informative...
Is this guy high or what?
Great video. This is a great lesson for beginners like myself. With your instructions I feel like i can take it to the next level.
Appreciate the kind words and thanks for watching!
You're a genius!!! Finally I understand how to program DMX Lighting. It all makes sense now.
Don´t lie....u still lost!!
How do you say you’re mean how do you shut your name plugs
If you don’t have a controller how set up have that DMX cable
Very cool ...can't wait to start programming my lighting gear via DMX as only using gear in 'sound to light' mode at the moment.
awesome tutorial mate! from a person with zero knowledge on lighting like me, I fully understood the basics of lighting design. Lighting design always fascinates me. Keep it up! God bless you!
Thank you for your videos. I was interested in getting some lights but I'd no idea what DMX was or how it worked. After watching this, I invested in my first set of PAR lights and a second hand Obey 40. Had them up and running with my first chases programed in about 10 minutes purely on the basis of your tuition. Cheers.
An amazing explanation in plain language that is invaluable to anyone interested in getting into lighting for any field of stage lighting.
Appreciate the kind words and thanks for watching!
Thanks a ton for the awesome tutorial! I just purchased some DMX Lights and a controller for our youth group and I was pretty clueless to how to control anything. This video really helped out :)
Finally someone who has a tripod and all the equipment in the shot. Awesome tutorial! There truly is a lot to learn about lighting. Playing bass while running sound and now lights, along with my day job, gigging, practicing, ski patrol, motorcycle club, car club, honey do list, car and home maintenance, as well as any other thing that may befall my path. I had to set my second fixture to "d029" in order to sync. Other than that your tutorial walked me right through. It does not help that this is my first DMX controller and it's used. Thank You VERY Much!!!
Wow, I'm just getting into all of this. And thanks so much man! This video is SUPER HELPFUL!
This is a very helpful intro to DMX. I've been working with DMX lighting fixtures for several years now, and I think this will be great for teaching the new tech guys on my team and catching them up to speed on the basics. Thanks!
Appreciate those encouraging words and glad to hear to hear it is helpful!
I love your video. Very helpful I really appreciate you taking time out to help us who are not knowledgeable abut dmx controllers. I needed this video lol
What a great intro to the world of DMX! I just got a Chauvet 70 with no background in light or controllers, and this video was tremendous to kick things off for starters. Well done Steve, thanks and looking forward to going through your tutorials for more insight
Wow- thanks for those kind words and really glad the video helped. Have fun with your Obey 70 and appreciate you watching!
ingilizce bilmeyen birisi olarak anlaşılır teşekkür ederim 🙏
Thank you and now it seems much easier. I normally just use sound mode but I'm rethinking with all the lights I own.
Sound active mode is great for a lot of situations but having complete DMX control gives you so much more flexibility and really maximizes the potential of your lights- give it a shot!
The simplest and clearest explanation I've seen, thank you. :o)
As a complete novice with two ADJ z7 beams and an Ayra DMX controller in front of me (and a growing mood of confusion/rage) this is exactly what I needed to see. Thank you!
Ive always been a "tech nerd" and recently began building gaming pc's that I donate to needy kids, which was my introduction to led's , while shopping in a Amazon pallet store I came across several dmx decoders for a dollar a piece, so I bought about a dozen , honestly not really sure what they were, after some online research I figured out what they were and the very very basics of how they work. I still need to get a DMX controller to get full functionality. I'm really glad I came across your video to help me understand it more. Who knows maybe next year I'll have the baddest Christmas lights on the block!! Lol
That sounds awesome! Good luck with your project and thanks for watching...
Excellent tutorial. I came in ignorant and confused. I leave excited and confident to program my controller. Bravo, sir.
Thanks so much for the kind words and glad it helped. Programming scenes can be a lot of fun!
I'm a beginner and this channel is very helpful! Thanks so much
I appreciate you watching and glad they can help!
Thanks and really understood basics of DMX Control
Thank You! I have the same Set up! Great Break Down of how to work the unit.
Thanks for taking the time out to help people like myself. Cool thank you. 😎😀
Thank you very much for an easy to follow and explicit tutorial. Well done and much appreciated!
Thanks for watching!
If only all other tutorials on YT were like this!
Easy to understand, follow, educational, interesting and not pushing some random advert crap.
Also, this was posted in 2013 and so much better than a lot of 'tutorials' out there today!
Wow- I really appreciate those kind words and so glad it was helpful. Its interesting that most simple DMX fixtures are programmed pretty much the same way in 2020!
you'r the best! after all these years you still helped me a lot.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
This is very good. Thank you for free lesson. Respect from Norway
Great vid.. thanks for the help ... I've been DJing 25 years but never programmed DMX b4..
Thank you I’m a stage hand moving up you made this really simple
Thanks for the demo...it helps me a lot.
Many many many thanks friend,you explain like an open book, fantastic explanation, greetings from Spain
out of all the video tutorial i've seen, this is the only tutorial i learned a lot about using dmx...
Thank you for the easy and helpful explanation how scenes and chase works!
You are welcome! Glad it was helpful and appreciate you watching
great video man...u actually make me want to start using dmx
Thank you very much! I’m an amateur DJ, wanting to get into doing more advanced shows rather than just mixing. I actually only really know how to use a fader as far as mixing goes but I’m hoping I can do it to make money when I head to university in some months.
This tutorial was awesome and I appreciate the both quick and informative explanation of using it!
do you want to get some professional and high quality products?
Just have to thank you! I'm an amateur "sound-and-light-fixing" guy for a local band, and I've done this for almost 12 years now. BUT in my own, not so effective way.
When I saw your tutorial it just got to me. I finally understand it all!!! 😄 It just clicked. So now my DMX lights do what I say when I say it.
So THANK YOU!!! 🤘
That is really awesome to hear! Thanks so much for the comment and hope you take your light shows to the next level...
You have brightened my night! Thanks!
Thanks for superb DMX tutorial!
Appreciate you watching!
This video is what got me into DMX programming a couple years ago. Thank you for the awesome and easy tutorial!
Really appreciate those kind words and so glad it was helpful!
Thanks for making this video. I now know how I can do what I want to do via DMX (and that controller you demonstrated should fit the bill)
This is so awesome! Thanks so much for this tutorial! I appreciate it LOTS!
Steve, thank you so much for creating this very easy to understand lesson. I finally invested in a controller for my lights and found your lesson to be the easiest to understand. Great instruction technique!
Really appreciate those kind words and so glad it helped!
Best basic video on DMX on UA-cam!
Very helpful, easy to understand and I am able to do lights now.
Very glad it was able to help. Appreciate the kind words and thanks for watching!
Absolutely brilliant lesson, wow I've always wanted to know how this works, Chauvet should pay you commission because now I'm gonna install a complete Chauvet lighting rig with moving heads etc in my games room thanks mate
I remember this exact same controller in the 90’s, Thankyou for the memories!!!! And great video
Ha ha- yeah, the Obey 40's have been around forever, but they still get the job done-- and built like tanks :)
iam looking for this video for long time, and finally i found it... thanks learnlizard.. i really want to learn more about lighthing programe
This was a great beginner's tutorial; thanks for posting it!
Awesome! Thank you. I'm the A/V guy at work. Sooo very helpful.