Control Freak: A real world guide to DMX512 and Remote Device Management
by Wayne Howell

In this book Wayne Howell explains the subject of control protocols in words and language that make the complex topics he deals with clear and understandable.

In his preface, Mike Wood says: "Clarity is important. If there's one thing we need right now with lighting control it's clarity. The world of entertainment lighting is in a period of significant change; moving lights have become ubiquitous and we have two simultaneous disruptive technologies – the introduction of LEDs as truly viable light sources and the slow inexorable merger of video and lighting. The consequence is that new and improved control standards have become essentials rather than nice-to-haves. Those standards have issued but just because a piece of paper with 'standard' written on it exists doesn't mean that anything will actually happen. It needs developers to adopt those standards and incorporate them into products; it needs users to connect those products together in a rig and make them work; and finally it needs everything to come together in a show that achieves the designer's artistic vision. Control protocols are an essential enabling technology to help achieve that artistic vision – that's what it's all about and why we are all so passionate about this industry."

The author says: "Control Freak is intended to provide a more in depth discussion of the subject than simple protocol standards guidance booklets. It is intended to prove useful to both users and product designers whilst also offering an introduction to those who simply require an overview of the subject."

About the Author:

Wayne Howell studied physics at Birmingham University, specializing in nuclear structure. He freelanced with Lighting & Sound Design before working at Avolites. In 1988, he started Artistic Licence as a projects design house. His clients range from Pink Floyd to the Rolling Stones. Artistic Licence is an active participant in the ESTA DMX512-A, RDM, and ACN programs.

Contents by chapter:

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 LIGHTING CONTROL PROTOCOLS
CHAPTER 2 THE DATA
CHAPTER 3 THE WIRE
CHAPTER 4 DMX512 NETWORKS
CHAPTER 5 FAULT FINDING & COMMON FAULTS
CHAPTER 6 DMX512-A
CHAPTER 7 CONVERSION & SPECIALIST PRODUCTS
CHAPTER 8 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
CHAPTER 9 REMOTE DEVICE MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 10 PACKET STRUCTURE
CHAPTER 11 DISCOVERY COMMANDS
CHAPTER 12 USING RDM COMMANDS
CHAPTER 13 THE RDM PHYSICAL LAYER
CHAPTER 14 RDM SPLITTERS
CHAPTER 15 RDM PRODUCT SUPPORT
CHAPTER 16 NOTES TO RDM PRODUCT DESIGNERS
APPENDIX A Q&A
APPENDIX B ESTA START CODES
APPENDIX C DMX512 START CODE CONFLICTS
APPENDIX D ESTA MANUFACTURER CODES
APPENDIX E DECIMAL, HEXADECIMAL & BINARY CONVERSION
APPENDIX F START ADDRESS OFFSETS BY UNIVERSE
APPENDIX G START ADDRESS DIP SWITCHES
APPENDIX H WORLD INFORMATION
APPENDIX I GLOSSARY OF TERMS
APPENDIX J OTHER INTERFACES
APPENDIX K RDM PIDS
APPENDIX L WIRE GAUGES
APPENDIX M BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX N WEB RESOURCES