DMX512

DMX512 (Digital Multiplex with 512 pieces of information) is a standard for digital communication between lighting controllers, dimmers, scrollers, scanners, and other stage equipment.

The electronic foundation for DMX512 is differential signaling over RS-485.

Arduino as master device (Sending DMX)

To send DMX data as a differential signal, use a transceiver like the MAX485 or 75176 (a cheaper version of the Max485).

• Fritzing diagram of the simplest Arduino based DMX master possible. Note: This circuit does not provide voltage isolation.
• For proper protection from ground loops, see Matthias Hertel's shield.
• Other DMX Shield designs for the Arduino
• OSC to DMX via Arduino and Iphone

DmxSimple

DmxSimple is a library from Tinker.it! for outputting DMX signals. It is compatible with all recent versions of Arduino. By handling DMX frames in the background, DMX can controlled in a similar way to analogWrite.

• DmxSimple
• A simple example
• Controlling DMX over serial, and via Processing

(to use DmxSimple with arduino 1.0 have a look here: http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,85547.0.html)

ArtNet (DMX over UDP)

karistouf's library implements the ArtNet protocol for both sending and receiving DMX messages via UDP packets.

Sending DMX without assembler programming

DMXSerial is a proof of concept on how to send DMX data by just using the hardware serial interface and no assembler code.

Arduino as slave device (Receiving DMX)

Hardware design for how to receive DMX, developed by Max Pierson.

- A very simple DMX receiver, based upon the DMX Receiver C code by Henne Henne's Site, German. Slightly adapted for Arduino, the code allows receiving DMX with an Arduino without using Timer/CTC stuff. Read more

Arduino four universes DMX library

Deskontrol four universes dmx library for arduino mega, this library allows up to four DMX universes as inputs or outputs, and does not use timers. In the examples can be found as merging two universes into a single output. With Arduino nano can only use an input or output.

Early research by Tomek

To send DMX from Arduino we use a driver chip like MAX485 or 75176 (the 75176 is just a cheaper version of the Max 485). The use of these drivers is a common way of transmitting and receiving dmx. You will find them in almost every dimmer/scroller etc.

The following explanations and examples are made for arduino Software 004 and 005. They will not work with other Versions, because of the change in the 'delayMicroseconds'.

-However in the code example section you will find a nice looking piece of code from two great Hungaryn guys (Peter Szakal and Gabor Papp ( http://nextlab.hu ) which works for arduino 008, at least.

-Since evolution keeps going on, here is a very nice code, working for a Duemilanove (tested on 013 and 017), thanks to Jason Ditmars

• How the DMX protocol works
• DMX Shield for the Arduino
• DIY DMX Transceiver
• some DMX code examples
• some examples how to interface to different programs
• DMX Shield to purchase
• Arduino GUI compatible processor board with DMX interface

• arduino becomes opendmx usb interface

• Cheapest Open-source DMX Interface

Downloads:

• arduino and dmx tutorial (pdf)
• arduino becomes opendmx usb interface (pdf)
• Photos