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USITT DMX512, DMX512/1990, DMX512-A
DMX512 is a standard that describes a method of digital data transmission between controllers
and lighting equipment and accessories. It covers electrical characteristics (based on the
EIA/TIA–485 standard), data format, data protocol, and connector type. This standard
is intended to provide for interoperability at both communication and mechanical levels with
controllers made by different manufacturers.
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ANSI E1.11 - USITT DMX512-A |
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| Asynchronous Serial Digital Data
Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting
Equipment and Accessories |
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The ANSI Board of Standards Review approved "E1.11 - Entertainment Technology —
USITT DMX512–A — Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting
Equipment and Accessories" on November 8, 2004. ANSI E1.11-2004 was developed under the ESTA
Technical Standards Program by the Control Protocols Working Group with input from the entertainment
industry via public reviews. E1.11-2004, USITT DMX512–A is available for purchase as a PDF
from ANSI's
Electronic Standards Store. A hardcopy version is available from
USITT and
from PLASA.
The USITT DMX512 Subcommittee, sponsored by the Engineering Commission, transferred maintenance
of DMX512 in 1998 to the Technical Standards Program of
ESTA (the Entertainment Services and Technology Association) and its Control Protocols Working Group.
On March 18, 2004, the Control Protocols Working Group of the ESTA Technical Standards Program
(ANSI ASC E1) voted to accept the last set of public review comment resolutions for BSR E1.11,
Entertainment Technology—USITT DMX512–A— Asynchronous Serial Digital Data
Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories, and to accept the
draft standard as an American National Standard. See USITT DMX512 -
Behind the Revision for more information.
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Errata
Some published copies of ANSI E1.11-2004 show incorrect pin numbers in
Table 4 on page 15. The pins are shown consecutively numbered, while in fact, they are not. See the
DMX512 FAQ the DMX512 FAQ for
the correct information.
Companion Standards
ANSI E1.27-1-2006, Entertainment Technology - Standard
for Portable Control Cables for Use with USITT DMX512/1990 and E1.11 (DMX512-A) Products.
ANSI E1.20-2006, Entertainment Technology - Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512.
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DMX512/1990 |
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| Digital
Data Transmission Standard for Dimmers and Controllers |
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USITT DMX512 was originally developed in 1986, and revised in 1990. The 1990 Standard can be ordered from the USITT Office
- see the Online Bookstore.
In Europe, it can be ordered from PLASA.
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In response to a perceived industry requirement for lower cost DMX512 cable installations,
the DMX-over-Category 5 Cable Task Group was formed by ESTA's Control Protocols Working
Group (CPWG) to establish whether Category 5 cable, or "generic premises cable" as
it has become known, could be used as a low cost substitute in permanently wired DMX512 installations.
See the report on
this topic on ESTA's Web Site.
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 IEC DMX512 |
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It is important to note that while we have all been using DMX512 since 1986, it is not formally
recognized in the "official" standards world. A proposal to make DMX512 an International Standard
was submitted to the IEC in the spring of 1999. In August, the application was approved by IEC
Technical Committee 34 and the proposed standard was designated "Entertainment
Technology - USITT DMX512-A (IEC 62136)." TC 34 formally assigned the project
to Sub-Committee 34C (SC34C).
The revision through the ESTA Technical Standards Program (ANSI ASC E1) has resulted in an ANSI standard
(E1.11, Entertainment Technology - USITT DMX512-A - Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission
Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories) which also provides formal recognition
through an internationally recognized standards organization.
Given the international composition and active participation of international members of ANSI ASC E1
and the desire not to subject the standard to potential for additional changes that the IEC process
could introduce, the ANSI ASC E1 Control Protocols Working Group has decided not to pursue an IEC
standard for USITT DMX512-A at this time.
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There are some manufacturers of DMX equipment that place a voltage on Pins 4 and/or 5 of the
5 Pin XLR connector in clear violation of the USITT DMX512 and DMX512/1990 Standards
(and the new ANSI E1.11 USITT DMX512-A version). Connecting DMX512, DMX512/1990, or
DMX512-A compliant equipment, in particular equipment that uses the secondary data link (Pins 4
& 5), to non-compliant gear may disable and/or damage the compliant
equipment. For more details, see
the DMX512 Hazard Alert.
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 DIN
DMX
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DIN, a German standards organization, has developed a standard for "Stage Lighting
Control Systems." The primary emphasis of this standard is an implementation of USITT
DMX512/1990. This document from DIN states that all devices which conform to this DIN standard
may be labeled "DMX512/1990," "DMX512/DIN" or "USITT DMX512/1990."
This means that manufacturers would be able to mark products conforming to two different
standards with the same identifier. A user faced with equipment labeled DMX512/1990 will not
know whether or not the equipment complies with the original USITT DMX512/1990 standard or with
DIN's version.
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