This month’s Buyer’s Guide is on Data Distribution Products. With ubiquitous usage of LED lighting products as well as the wide usage of automated lighting, networking infrastructure continues to be as important as ever. Data distribution products are at the core of these lighting networks. This month, we look at Data Distribution Products from a range of manufacturers and distributors. We encourage you to go to the company’s websites and explore their full range of offerings.
ADJ: D4 Branch RM DMX Data Splitter
The ADJ D4 Branch RM DMX data splitter is a single rack space, 4-way distributor/booster with 3-pin and 5-pin XLR input and output connectors. It’s fully DMX512 (1990) compliant. This unit takes the incoming DMX signal and splits it to four (4) separate outputs that are electronically isolated from each other to ensure uninterrupted data. In addition, each output has dedicated drivers to boost the incoming signal, and the unit includes a link / terminate button for easy troubleshooting. www.adj.com
Blizzard Lighting: Pipeline™ DMX Distributor
Meet Blizzard’s 8-way DMX distributor, the Pipeline™. The unit has two inputs and eight outputs and features absolute electrical isolation between input and outputs and between all of the outputs. There are two types of DMX connectors (3-pin and 5-pin) for each individual channel (DMX In and DMX Thru). Each DMX output features an independent driver. With Blizzard’s Pipeline™, you can run up to 32 units per one output channel. The Pipeline DMX Distributor is fully compliant to DMX-512 (1990). www.blizzardpro.com
City Theatrical: Multiverse® Transmitter
The Multiverse® Transmitter’s Ethernet input takes in Streaming ACN (sACN) or Art-Net and transmits between eight and 10 user-selectable universes of DMX/RDM, depending on the type of Multiverse Transmitter product used, using less radio energy than a present-day single universe wireless DMX transmitter. It has a Bluetooth radio receiver built in to communicate with CTI’s DMXcat® app on the user’s smartphone to control any lighting fixture part of the Multiverse setup, whether it is a lighting fixture with a Multiverse Module inside, a lighting fixture receiving its data from a Multiverse SHoW Baby or Multiverse Node, or any wired fixture downstream of those devices. www.citytheatrical.com
Doug Fleenor Design: DMX Decelerator II
A DMX512 isolator and re-timing device that receives any signal within the DMX512 specification and accepts some signals outside of the specification. It produces a DMX output signal with “relaxed” timing characteristics which are required by some DMX receiving devices. It offers three output speeds—Fast (40 Hz), Slow (20 Hz) and a new Bypass mode, which copies the incoming DMX data to the output without varying its timing or update rate at all. Medium speed output operates at 30 Hz. This allows the user to select the fastest speed possible while maintaining reliable control of the system even when non-compliant devices are present. Available in either 5 pin XLR or 3 pin XLR. www.dfd.com
Goddard Design Co.: DMX-Net RDM
DMX-Net RDM offers flexible, cost-effective modular data distribution for DMX512 and RDM. Each module is a hub providing a galvanically isolated input or output port. Fewer cable home runs needed. Allows flexible controller placement. Fault isolation simplifies troubleshooting. Ideal for wireway and plug strip installations. Modules mount in standard wall boxes. Custom face plates available. Modules need no complicated configuration—all can self-configure. Each has a bicolor LED for status indication. Data and power distributed by a private DMX/RDM buss using screw terminal blocks. Powered by a 24VDC supply @ 38mA per module. www.goddarddesign.com
Just Networking: the.BRIDGE
the.BRIDGE is an investment in future-proofing your project and an insurance policy for your events. Designed by industry professionals, Just Networking, the.BRIDGE makes global collaboration and decentralized production and site control a reality. Impossibly simple hardware and a web-based interface eliminate all of the complexity of remote networking and allow you to move any network traffic between any points on the globe. Your gear, your creatives, your operators, your entire network, in as many remote locations as you need them—just as though they were sitting at the same desk. Just Networking products are distributed by ACT Entertainment. www.just.industries | www.actentertainment.com
Link USA: LKS Data Connector
The LKS Data connector incorporates integral data transport while maintaining compatibility with all conventional Socapex-style 19 pin power connectors. Link’s coaxial pin design, coupled with its proprietary mounting method, not only transports 6 circuits of power but also carries DMX, Gigabit Ethernet, or digital audio. The LKS Data connector leverages a printed circuit board to provide easy termination of both ground and data contacts. When coupled with Link’s PDlink smart distribution system and its new CAT5SF 12/14 hybrid Eurocable, Link provides a complete solution for transporting power and data for lighting systems. www.linkusa-inc.com
Luminex: GigaCore 30i AV Network Switch
A 10Gb network switch that’s optimized to be used with the most advanced protocols. It allows for full network convergence of lighting, audio, intercom, and compressed video. Pre-configured QoS, IGMP multicast, and PTPv2 settings assures a responsive and stable network environment for the most demanding time-critical protocols like sACN, Art-Net, HogNet, MA-Net2, RTTrPL (BlackTraX), etc. Offering up to 1,000W of total PoE budget and PoE++ on every copper port, it can drive IP PTZ cameras. Its automated redundancy protocol RlinkX ensures redundant links and ring topology within the GigaCore network. Luminex products are distributed in North America through A.C. Lighting Inc. www.luminex.be | www.aclighting.com
Mega-Lite: Mega Dongle
The Mega Dongle is a USB interface featuring three options of DMX platforms in one package, including Lumen8, Enlighten, and Disco. The Lumen8 software features an advanced production and theatrical control platform. Enlighten is a fully featured software focused on required functionalities with a quick learning curve. The Disco software is a simplified introduction to the control platform with focus in small to midsize venues and ideal for the touchscreen-oriented users. It unlocks 24 Universes via Art-Net or sACN (Art-Net or sACN node Required). www.mega.lighting
Obsidian Control Systems: Netron EN12
The Netron EN12 from Obsidian Control Systems is a high-density Ethernet to DMX gateway with 12 RDM compatible ports. Easy to configure with a range of integrated presets plus a wide array of advanced merge and routing features, it is useful for live productions or installations requiring a lot of physical DMX ports. Contact closures allow for recall of presets, routings, mergers, or any of the internal cues. It supports sACN, Art-NET, RDM and offers web-based remote configuration. Internal presets make for easy plug-and-play deployment. Line voltage or POE powered; it includes a 1.8” OLED display with rotary knob. www.obsidiancontrol.com
Pathway Connectivity: Pathport® 8-Port Rackmount
Pathport® is a DMX/RDM Ethernet Gateway. The Pathport sends data over an Ethernet network to DMX512-capable end devices, such as moving lights, LEDs, and dimmers. Each port can be configured as an Input or Output as needed. Advanced features include extensive protocol support, slot-by-slot patching using multiple sources, crossfading on priority change, and signal loss behavior. Status LEDs for each port provide instant confirmation of DMX activity and direction. Using the LCD display and encoder knob allow for front panel configuration and reporting of the most commonly used features, such as IP address, port direction, and protocol selection. www.pathwayconnect.com
Sundrax Electronics: GigaJet20 Pro
The GigaJet20 Pro is a multifunctional 20-port rack mounted bidirectional converter, splitter, booster, intelligent merger transmitting DMX, Art-Net, sACN, KiNet, RTTrPL streams in Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Base-T) and fiber optic networks. Fiber optic cable increases maximum length of direct connection between devices up to 2,000 meters (using multimode SFP modules), or up to 10 km (using single mode SFP modules). The device also acts as five-port Ethernet switch working in 10/100/1000BASE-TX networks. Convert DMX512 into Art-Net and sACN protocols in both directions to transmit DMX data through Ethernet LAN and optical link for long distances between transmitter and receiver. Sundrax is distributed by BML BlackBird. www.sundrax.com | www.bmlblackbird.com
Swisson: XND-8
XND-8 is a user-friendly Art-Net (supports Art-Net 1 through 4, DMX, and RDM) and sACN to DMX converter supporting the distribution of eight universes of DMX via eight individually optically isolated DMX ports, each configurable as input or output. The XND-8 is perfectly suited to send DMX data to your fixtures from a computer or even from a mobile device. Many lighting control programs for PC or Mac support Art-Net output natively, with the help of XND-8’s DHCP capability, you can let your workplace network infrastructure do the network configuration of your XND-8 automatically. www.swisson.com
TMB: ProPlex® SGBS™
Portable managed Gigabit switches, with unique GBS LCD Panel™ push-button management providing simple access to the configurations most useful for advanced entertainment networks. ProPlex SGBS easily handles high volume, multicast, real-time data of the biggest shows and is fully compatible with entertainment-specific protocols including: AES67, Art-Net, Dante, GreenGo, HippoNet, HogNet, Livewire, MA-Net 2/3, Q-LAN, RAVENNA, RDMNet, RTTrPL, sACN, and more. Famous ProPlex “Blue Box” proven, rugged, reliable construction. Shock-mounted circuitry. Advanced thermal management. PoE and non-PoE versions. Front ports with etherCON connectors. Rear port options include etherCON, Duplex LC, or opticalCON connectors. Available in 10 or 28-port versions. www.proplex.com
NEXT MONTH
Ensure your Staging, Lifts, Flooring, and Seating Products are included in the October Buyer’s Guide by contacting PLSN Co-Editor Michael S. Eddy at meddy@timelesscom.com.
To download a PDF of PLSN’s Sept. 2022 Buyers Guide CLICK HERE
