<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  The Light-O-Rama Software Package > Network Preferences > The DMX Tab

The DMX tab of the Light-O-Rama Network Preferences program can be used to configure up to 999 separate DMX universes, each using a separate adapter or E1.31 address (although please note that the software and your computer may not be able to adequately drive nearly that many universes simultaneously).  For DMX universes that use an adapter, the adapter and the protocol used on each universe can be specified; for those using E1.31, the remote IP address and port can be specified.

 

 

 

To configure a particular universe, click on its row in the list.  You will then be presented with the Advanced DMX Universe Configuration dialog, which has two main options - Use Adapter and Use E1.31:

 

 

 

Use Adapter

 

If you select "Use Adapter", you will then be able to choose the adapter and the protocol that the adapter uses.

 

For each universe, the Network Preferences program presents a drop-down list of adapters available on the system.  Note that the Network Preferences program cannot detect adapters that are currently in use.  For example, if you have an LOR USB485 adapter that is currently assigned to an LOR network, and you wish to assign it to a DMX universe instead, you will first need to unassign it from the LOR network before it can be reassigned to the DMX universe.  Furthermore, you may need to stop and restart the Sequencer, Hardware Utility, and/or Show Player before the device will be shown in the Adapter drop-down box.

 

DMX Adapter ("Adapter")

 

Each DMX universe (other than those that use E1.31) must be assigned to a DMX adapter, such as the LOR USB485 or the ENTTEC Open DMX USB adapter.  Each adapter can be assigned to only one universe.

 

Note that there are different types of DMX protocols that can be used.  Please be sure to select the correct protocol for your adapter.

 

DMX Protocol ("Protocol")

 

Different DMX adapters use different protocols.  You must specify the correct protocol for the DMX adapter you wish to use:

 

 

Other types of adapters may or may not work with LOR software.  If they do, you may need to experiment to find the correct protocol to use.

 

 

Use E1.31

 

If you choose "Use E1.31", you will then be able to select the IP configuration for the universe to use.

 

Please note that E1.31 configurations can be complex, and may require a firm grasp of networking, network topologies, and addressing.  Such topics are beyond the scope of this document.

 

IP Address

 

Here, you must select the type of IP address you wish to use for this universe:

 

•Specify: Selecting this option will cause the universe to use unicast mode, and lighting commands for the universe will be received by a single E1.31 device, using the IP address that you specify.
 

•Multicast: Selecting this option will cause the universe to use multicast mode, allowing lighting commands for the universe to be received by multiple E1.31 devices.  The actual IP address that will be used depends upon the universe number, in the manner described by the E1.31 standard.  For example, universe 37 will use IP address 239.255.0.37, while universe 650 will use IP address 239.255.2.138.
 

•Local: This option will cause the universe to send lighting commands to the computer itself, using the local loopback address (127.0.0.1).

 

Port

 

The IP port that the remote device or devices will listen on for lighting commands should be specified here.  In almost all cases, the standard value (5568) should be appropriate.

 

This should not be confused with the DMX Listener port.

 

Total Universes to Set

 

If you would like to set any following ports to these same parameters, simply change the value here to the total number of Universes you would like.  The universe being edited along with as many additional universes following this one will have the identical settings created.

 

 

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