What do I need to connect OnSong scenes to DMX stage lighting?
OnSong can connect directly to stage lighting that you already own with a small investment in your DMX lighting system.
DMX or "digital multiplex" is a technology that was invented in the early 90's as a way to control stage lighting using standard balanced cables. While these cables are sometimes confused with microphone cables, they are slightly different and are designed to carry data instead of analog audio. While the original DMX standard required a 5-pin XLR connector, most lower-cost systems utilize the more abundant 3-pin connector that's used with microphones. You connect your lighting together in a "daisy-chain", hopping cables from one fixture to another. Other equipment can be used to split these cables which can make for easier installations.
Computers do not have a dedicated DMX port so you'll need an adapter to connect your iPad to your DMX chain. OnSong sends lighting commands over the network using a protocol called ArtNet. What this means is you need an ArtNet compatible DMX adapter which plugs one end into your computer network, and then other end into your lights.
We've tried a number of ArtNet DMX adapters and most of them work well with OnSong including:
We have found that the following ArtNet-compatible adapters do not work:
We've found that the EZKling is the least expensive, best built, and easiest to configure device. Once connected, you can configure your lights and fixtures inside of OnSong, allowing you to build scenes that integrate your stage lighting. You can learn all about configuring lights and building scenes in our
DMX video tutorial.