To control connected devices with DMXControl 3, you must also "virtually" add the Devices to your project. This is necessary so that DMXControl 3 knows which function is assigned to which DMX channel and within which value range.
Overview
In DMXControl, each device has a so-called device definition file (DDF). This definition contains all device-specific information, including the name, manufacturer, and especially the DMX channel mapping.
If a device is not available in the local library or the Online Library, a custom DDF must be created.
For more information, see the separate article in the wiki: Creating Custom DDFs.
Simple devices with a standard channel mapping may also be found in the Generic folder if they match the DMX layout of the device. This applies to conventional dimmer channels, switch packs, as well as simple RGB devices, fog machines, etc.
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If you want to control conventional PAR spotlights through a 12-channel dimmer pack in your project, you should not add the dimmer itself as a new device with 12 DMX channels. Instead, you should add 12 instances of the Generic Dimmer. |
Usage
Adding Devices
To add devices to your project, click on [Add Device] in the menu bar at the top of the Project Explorer. This opens the Device Manager.
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| Figure 1: View of the "Add Device" dialog. |
With this dialog, you can add devices from the local library, the DDF Library, or your custom-created devices.
Devices can also be added via the context menu in the Device folder in the Project Explorer or the Stage View.
Replacing Devices
In DMXControl, information about device properties is stored. This makes it possible to replace devices with similar properties but different channel mappings throughout the entire project. An example use case would be replacing a defective LED spotlight with one from a different manufacturer.
To replace a device, first add the new device. Then, in the Device folder of the Project Explorer, select the device to be replaced. Choose « Replace Device » from the context menu, select the new device from the list, and confirm with [Ok].
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Replacing a device cannot be undone! |
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If you only want to change a device in a specific scene (cue) or preset, you must edit it through the Programmer. The « Replace Device » function will replace the device references throughout the entire project. |
Device Properties
To access a device's properties, select the « Properties » option from the context menu in the Stage View or Project Explorer after selecting the desired device(s).
All available settings are listed in the article Device (Options).