Cobalt Hardware Channel Count & Desk output numbers

Question

Hi Guys, Can you clarify the Channel & Output numbers for the Cobalt 20 hardware? On the info screen our Cobalt 20 shows: 
 Channels 5000 
 Outputs 4096, used 1082 remaining 3014 
 The 5000 Channels refers to control channels, either a single dimmer or a device (which may have multiple attributes). Is that right? 
 The outputs refer to the DMX channels available or used. In my case 1082 DMX channels used. How many DMX universes can this be split over? It doesn't correspond to 2 universes (1024), and we're using some, but not all, DMX addresses in 3 universes. 
 For example, can I have addresses (multi attribute devices) split across 6 universes, as long as the total DMX attribute count is 4096 or less?

Richard · Accepted Answer

Yes. 
"Channels" means the desk channel numbers you type in - eg # [CH]. 
In Cobalt, one channel is one luminaire, regardless of whether it's a single dimmer, a moving light or a multi-cell fixture (with decimal/sub channels). 
 
Cobalt hardware currently supports 5000 desk channels, while Congo hardware has 3072. 
- If it makes your housekeeping easier then you can also reduce the Desk Channel count in System Settings. 
 
"Outputs" is the number of patched DMX (or DMX-over-Ethernet) addresses. 
It doesn't matter which Universe they are patched to, only the total number that are patched. 
 
So in the show file you had open at the time, you had patched 1082 Outputs (DMX etc addresses), and had 3014 available for additional fixtures.