Fixtures
A fixture in DMX Node represents a physical lighting device. You define its type, channel mode, and DMX start address. The app uses this configuration to map your faders and controls to the correct DMX channels.
What Is a Fixture?
A DMX fixture is any lighting device that accepts DMX512 control signals. Fixtures come in many forms — PAR cans, moving heads, strobes, dimmers, fog machines, lasers, and more. Each responds to DMX differently based on its design and operating mode.
In DMX Node, a fixture is a software representation of the physical device. It tells the app how many channels to use, what each channel controls, and where in the universe it starts.
No Profile Library
DMX Node does not include a built-in fixture profile library. All fixture modes — channel count, channel order, and function assignments — are configured manually.
This gives full flexibility to work with any fixture, but requires you to consult your fixture's DMX manual to get accurate channel mappings.
Fixture Types
When adding a fixture, select the type that best describes the physical device. The type is primarily for organization — it does not restrict channel assignments.
Fixture Modes
Most fixtures support multiple DMX modes — different channel configurations that enable or disable features. For example, a moving head might offer a 9-channel compact mode and a 16-channel full-feature mode.
A fixture mode in DMX Node contains:
- Mode name — a label to identify this mode (e.g., "8ch Standard").
- Channel count — the total number of channels this mode uses.
- Channel mapping — a function assigned to each channel position.
The mode you configure in DMX Node must match the mode selected on the physical fixture (via DIP switches or the fixture's built-in menu).
Channel Functions
Each channel in a fixture mode is assigned a function. The function tells DMX Node what that channel controls, enabling features like the Color HSV picker, Pan/Tilt joystick, and FX targeting.
Mode Examples
4-channel PAR LED (RGBW)
6-channel PAR LED
Moving head (8-channel)
Start Address
The start address is the DMX channel number where this fixture's channel 1 begins. The fixture occupies consecutive channels from start address through start + channel_count - 1.
The start address set in DMX Node must match the start address configured on the physical fixture. Set the fixture's physical address first, then enter the same address in the app.
Adding a Fixture
- 1Navigate to the Fixtures tab and tap Add Fixture.
- 2Enter a name for the fixture (e.g., "Front PAR 1").
- 3Select the fixture type that matches the physical device.
- 4Create a mode: enter the mode name and channel count from your fixture's manual.
- 5Assign a function to each channel position in the mode.
- 6Set the start address to match the physical fixture.
- 7Save the fixture.