I am considering a plan to overhaul and expand the field DMX outputs of our venue.
Our last full system renovation was in 1999. ETC Job # 101574. An infrastructure for catwalk and over stage DMX outputs along with wired (Expression) RFU ports was installed along with 192 dimmers, Source 4s, etc.
We have side coves, or box booms, that are split vertically. As in upper and lower coves for a total of four. They currently do not have a DMX output.The lower coves each have an input for the classic RFU.
I would like to pull back all of the RFU wire from these positions and reuse the conduit for DMX over CAT 5. I would place a DMX splitter of some kind perhaps an ENTTEC RDS4 (http://www.enttec.com/?main_menu=Products&pn=71004) in the attic and run lines to all four coves.
A colleague has suggested DMX nodes. I am considering the ROI. The cove positions are a limited amount of hanging space. Anyone could suppose a future hang of ten Source 4 LEDs or four MAC Vipers per side. In this type of scenario it is arguable to make each cove a discrete universe. Our current inventory of multichannel devices is relatively low and our potential for new acquisitions is thin.
However, we currently cannot fit all of our shared inventory of multichannel devices on the second DMX output. That is provided all devices are set to operate on the maximum # of DMX channels.
Current inventory: (6) Martin PAL 1200, (2) Martin MAC 700, (4) HES Technobeams, (4) HES Trackspots, (3) HES Dataflash AF 1000, (4) Vari Lite VL 1000 TS, (12) ETC D60 Lustr +, (16) Wyrbon Forerunner.
I also need advice on how to get a DMX output from our install dimmer racks. We have 100 amp disconnects for portable dimmers just on the stage side of the wall from the dimmer room.
