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How to Program the Disco 240 DMX Controller for Studio Lights

If you are looking for a versatile and affordable DMX controller for your studio lights, you might want to consider the Disco 240 DMX Controller. This device can control up to 24 scanners with 16 channels each, and has 30 banks of 8 programmable scenes. You can also create up to 6 chases with up to 240 steps each, and adjust the speed and fade time of each chase.

Disco 240 Dmx Controller Manual

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However, programming the Disco 240 DMX Controller can be a bit tricky if you don't have a clear guide. The user manual that comes with the device is not very detailed and may leave you confused. That's why we have created this article to help you understand how to program the Disco 240 DMX Controller for studio lights.

Step 1: Set the DMX Address of Each Scanner

The first thing you need to do is to set the DMX address of each scanner that you want to control with the Disco 240 DMX Controller. A scanner is any device that responds to DMX signals, such as a moving head, a par can, or a strobe light. Each scanner has a set of dip switches that allow you to assign a DMX address from 1 to 512.

The Disco 240 DMX Controller uses 1 to 240 channels of DMX512, so it can control scanners with no more than 16 channels. The address is distributed as follows:

Scanner serial numberDMX starting addressScanner address switch location

111 ON

2175 ON

3336 ON

4495 ON,6 ON

5657 ON

6815 ON,7 ON

7976 ON,7 ON

81135 ON,6 ON,7 ON

91298 ON

101455 ON,8 ON

111616 ON,8 ON

12177<

5 ON,6 ON,8 ON</

<td

189

<td

7 ON,8 ON

<td

205

<td

5 ON,7 ON,8 ON

<td

221

<td

6 ON,7 ON,8 ON

<td

237

<td

5 ON,6 ON,7 ON,8 ON

Note: The switch location is from left to right.

You can use this table as a reference to set the DMX address of each scanner according to its serial number on the Disco 240 DMX Controller. For example, if you want to control a scanner with serial number 3, you need to set its dip switches to 6 ON and the rest OFF. This will assign it a DMX starting address of 33.

Step 2: Connect the Communication Cable

After setting the DMX address of each scanner, you need to connect them to the Disco 240 DMX Controller using a communication cable. The communication cable is a three-wire cable that carries the DMX signal from the controller to the scanners. The cable should be specifically intended for DMX or RS-485 networks, such as Belden 9841 or 3105a. These cables have an impedance of 120Î and a low capacitance.

The communication cable should be connected in a daisy chain topology, which means that each scanner is connected to the next one in a linear sequence. The first scanner is connected to the DMX output of the Disco 240 DMX Controller, and the last scanner is terminated with a 120Î resistor to prevent reflections that can disturb the DMX signal. You can use a DMX terminator plug or make your own by soldering a 120Î resistor between pins 2 and 3 of an XLR connector.

Never use T-taps or Y-taps to connect multiple scanners to the same cable, as this can cause signal distortion or failure. Also, avoid using microphone cables or other types of cables that are not designed for DMX or RS-485 networks, as they can introduce noise or interference.

Step 3: Program Scenes and Chases

Once you have connected all your scanners to the Disco 240 DMX Controller, you can start programming scenes and chases. A scene is a static configuration of the scanners' parameters, such as color, intensity, position, and gobo. A chase is a sequence of scenes that are played back with a certain speed and fade time.

To program a scene, you need to select the scanner that you want to control by pressing one of the buttons in the SCANNER area on the controller's panel. Then, you can use the sliders in the CHANNEL area to adjust the parameters of the selected scanner. You can also use the buttons in the FUNCTION area to access more parameters or functions. For example, you can press PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN to switch between different banks of channels.

When you are satisfied with your scene, you can save it by pressing one of the buttons in the SCENE area. You can save up to 8 scenes per bank, and up to 30 banks per controller. To recall a scene, you just need to press its corresponding button in the SCENE area.

To program a chase, you need to select one of the buttons in the CHASE area on the controller's panel. Then, you can press EDIT and use the buttons in the SCENE area to select which scenes you want to include in your chase. You can also use SPEED and FADE TIME sliders to adjust how fast and smooth your chase will be.

When you are done with your chase, you can press EDIT again to exit the editing mode. You can save up to 6 chases per controller. To play back a chase, you just need to press its corresponding button in the CHASE area. e0e6b7cb5c