How to set up DMX light control Follow

Our DMX software is an integrated part of the Intelligent Cycling software and allows you to implement creative lighting at your bike studio for maximum effect. All you need is an LED setup and an Art-Net converter, and you are ready to deliver a new immersive, interactive, and motivating experience to your members.

The following topics will be explained below:

1. What you need to set up DMX light control
2. How to get started
3. Creating the JSON file
4. JSON file specifications
5. Different lighting fixture examples

1) What you need to set up DMX light control

If you want to control your lighting using the DMX signals sent by the Intelligent Cycling software there are a few things you need. The following list is an example of what you could use to set up DMX light control:

• Ethernet connected to the PC you use to run Intelligent Cycling
• (Optional: downloading and installing NotePad++ to your computer)
• A 1GB switch
• 2 Cat6 Ethernet Cables
• DMX Cables (if you need to convert from 3-pin to 5-pin it's no problem)
• An ArtNet DMX controller

2) How to get started

1. The ArtNet DMX controller will be the link between the PC and the lights. First, connect the Ethernet cable to the ArtNet controller and then use a second Ethernet cable to connect the ArtNet Controller to the PC.
2. Run a DMX cable from your ArtNet controller to your DMX-enabled light source.

When all cables are connected it might look similar to the example above.

3) Creating the JSON file

Upon first use, Intelligent Cycling creates a small file called: “dmx_setup.json”. This file tells Intelligent Cycling how to communicate with your lights, and you will need to edit the JSON file to match your light setup. This can seem a bit complicated so take it step by step.

After locating the dmx_setup.json file, open it in NotePad++ or any other text editor. If you use Notepad++, Notepad will help you register any errors in the code as you edit the JSON file which can be very helpful if you accidentally delete part of the code. You can leave Intelligent Cycling running in the background while you adjust the JSON file.

Starting Channel

DMX has 512 “channels”. Each light can use a different channel as its starting point. Check your lights manual to find out which number to input. If all your lights are by the same brand you can save yourself some time by setting the "Starting Channel" to the same number for all lights. Make sure the starting channel you have input for your light matches the information in your JSON file.

RGB Channels
When the starting channel is set, you have to set each color channel. Each starting channel also has 512 addresses. This tells your light what color to emit. For each color channel (R, G, B) starting number, the light has 256 different values that control the intensity of the selected color.
Now you have to set the values for the RGB channels and, if possible, White channels to match your light's specifications.

These are the settings you need to worry about:

"StartChannel": 1,
This is the starting channel of your lights. This can be set and changed for every light. These are the channels you change physically via your lights interface.

"RedChannel": 1, "GreenChannel": 2, "BlueChannel": 3,

These are the 3 different channels on your lights making up the spectrum of colors. They might be assigned the same numbers as in the example above, or they might be assigned different channels depending on the manufacturer. You can find the correct channels for your lights in the manual.

"WhiteChannel": 4
This is for lights that specify a channel to be used for White only. This should only be used if your lights support it.

4) JSON file specifications

The generated file that Intelligent Cycling creates contains this information:

In JSON code this is represented like this:

{
"DMXEnabled": true,
"DestinationIP": "255.255.255.255",
"DestinationPort": 6454,
"SourcePort": 6454,
"Net": 0,
"Subnet": 0,
"Universe": 0,
"UseWhiteChannel": true,
"Lights": [
            {
            "StartChannel": 1,
            "RedChannel": 1,
            "GreenChannel": 2,
            "BlueChannel": 3,
            "WhiteChannel": 4
             }
          ]
}

Brackets

All of the different brackets and commas are VERY important – this is why you should consider using NotePad++ to edit the file. NotePad++ will show you errors in the code if you accidentally forget a bracket! There's always a section in your light’s user manual describing which channels to use. This varies depending on the manufacturer so always check your own lights.  In our example using Notepad++ the JSON file looks like this:

How it could look with a 3-channel DMX

(this is an example of how your light's manual could show you info on the R, G, B channels)

So if your starting channel is 1 (or whatever you set it to via your light's physical control panel), then your Red channel needs to be 1, your Green channel needs to be 2 and your Blue channel needs to be 3. Your “UseWhiteChannel” needs to be set to “false” as this specific light does not have a “White” channel.

How it could look with a 5-channel DMX

(this is an example of how your light's manual could show you info on the R, G, B channels)

In this case, your light has a little more functionality, and you should use it like this:
Your starting channel is 1 (or whatever you set it to be via your light's physical control panel), then your RedChannel needs to be 1, your GreenChannel needs to be 2 and your BlueChannel needs to be 3. Your “UseWhiteChannel” needs to be set to “true” and your WhiteChannel needs to be set to 4.

5) Different Lighting fixture examples

In the following examples, you will see different use cases for DMX setup – from very simple – to very complex. You can play around with the settings as much as you’d like. If you manage to make a mess of things, just delete your JSON file and Intelligent Cycling will create a new one for you when you start the app back up. 😊

Simple light setup:
A room with multiple lights of the same model/brand.
The lights have the following specs:
Channels:
1 – Red
2 – Green
3 – Blue
4 – White
Starting channel is set to 1 for all lights.

The final dmx_setup.json would look like this:

{
     "DMXEnabled": true,
     "DestinationIP": "255.255.255.255",
     "DestinationPort": 6454,
     "SourcePort": 6454,
     "Net": 0,
     "Subnet": 0,
     "Universe": 0,
     "UseWhiteChannel": true,
     "Lights":
          [
            {
             "StartChannel": 1
            }
          ]
}

Complex Setup:
A room with 5 lights from different manufacturers.
Two lights with the following specs:

Channels:
1. Dimmer
2. Red
3. Green
4. Blue
5. White

Starting channel of BOTH lights is set to 10

One light with the following specs:
1. Red
2. Green
3. Blue
4. White

Starting channel is set to 15

One professional light with the following specs:
1. Dimmer
2. Red
3. Red (fine)
4. Green
5. Green (fine)
6. Blue
7. Blue (fine)
8. White
9. White (fine)

Starting channel is set to 19

One light that isn't controlled by Intelligent Cycling. Its Starting channel is set to 1. We don't want to control that light, which is why we don't list it in the settings file.

The final dmx_setup.json would look like this:

{
     "DMXEnabled": true,
     "DestinationIP": "255.255.255.255",
     "DestinationPort": 6454,
     "SourcePort": 6454,
     "Net": 0,
     "Subnet": 0,
     "Universe": 0,
     "UseWhiteChannel": true,
     "Lights":
          [
            {
            "StartChannel": 10,
            "RedChannel": 2
            },
            {
            "StartChannel": 15
            },
            {
            "StartChannel": 19,
            "RedChannel": 2,
            "GreenChannel": 4,
            "BlueChannel": 6,
            "WhiteChannel": 8
            }
          ]
}