DMX Cat

City Theatrical‘s DMXcat system is designed for use by the lighting professional who is involved with the planning, installation, operation, or maintenance of theatrical and studio lighting equipment. The system consists of a small interface device and a suite of mobile applications.

Together, they combine to bring DMX/RDM control plus several other functions to the user’s smartphone. DMXcat works with Android, iPhone, and Amazon Fire.

Hardware

The DMXcat’s interface device is a compact battery powered unit which fits easily in a pocket or tool pouch or may be worn on a belt. It uses Bluetooth LE technology for communication with the smartphone/applications (up to 50’ range). Without being physically connected, the user can move about the workspace and operate the various apps while still using the phone for on-the-job communication. The device’s five pin XLRF connector/cable assembly allows it to be connected to any point in a DMX data chain to allow testing and or control of the various DMX/RDM slot functions. It is charged using a standard USB to Micro USB cable and charger. Features include a built-in LED flashlight, an audible alarm (for locating a misplaced unit), an LED status indicator, an XLR5M to XLR5M Turnaround, and a removable belt clip. Optional accessories include: XLR5M to RJ45 Adapter, XLR5M to XLR3F Adapter, XLR5M to XLR3M Turnaround, and Belt Pouch.

Mobile App

DMXcat can function in seven languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, and English, depending on your mobile phone’s native language setting.

DMX Controller

The DMX Controller app is a flexible and feature rich means for controlling 512 channels of DMX data. Two different user interfaces are included. The first emulates a conventional slider control arrangement such as is found on many simple manual lighting controllers. Touch and swipe gestures control the various level adjustments. Users can work with and easily switch between screens displaying 8, 64, or 512 (Live View) channels of information. For those who prefer a numeric based interface similar to what is found on a full sized lighting console, command line instructions can be input using familiar keypad and thumbwheel controls. An active 16 channel display provides current channel status. With either interface, users can adjust/work with individual, groups, or ranges of channels, record and play presets, customise names, and display levels as %, decimal, or hex value.

RDM Controller

The RDM Controller is an application designed to control RDM enabled fixtures. Features include: – Control & monitoring of RDM devices- Full discovery – detects and generates a list of all RDM devices.- Detects all sub devices for a selected device- Shows all supported parameters- Shows descriptions for all PIDs- GET and SET for all PIDs (even user defined)- Monitors fixtures for any sensors with easy to view info. – When connected to an RDM enabled fixture, DMXcat identifies the fixture’s address and attributes and loads its control interface automatically.

Fixture Controller

The Fixture Controller app has been designed to serve as a setup and test tool for the vast selection of lighting fixtures in use today. Many of today’s moving light fixtures use over 40 channels of DMX control data, and can be configured to operate in a dozen or more modes (profiles). This can make it difficult to identify a particular channel’s function when setting up or testing a fixture with a small DMX controller. Using an extensive built in database of manufacturers, fixtures, and operational profiles, users can easily select and assign the fixture’s attributes and starting address, and a control interface specific to the fixture is displayed for testing its features. The various fixtures/personalities may be saved as “favourites” for future reference.
Personality Editor
Found within the Fixture Controller app, the Personality Editor allows users to create custom personalities. Working from scratch or by modifying an existing personality, individual attributes are added as needed and then saved. Upon completion, the manufacturer name, fixture name, and personality name are added and the profile can be saved to a “favourites” database.

DMX Tester

Connect the DMXcat to a point in a DMX data chain and view DMX information and levels. Parameters of the controller’s transmitted DMX signals may be adjusted and parameters of received DMX signals may be analyzed including: Break Time, Mark After Break, Inter-slot, Mark Before Break, Number Of Slots, and Refresh Rates. A Flicker-Finder function is included for identifying intermittent problems within the data network. The View Level function shows real time DMX levels sent from a console.

DIP Switch Calculator

The DIP Switch Calculator app is an indispensable tool used in the conversion of numeric values to their binary equivalents. Used when configuring DIP switches for setting DMX channels and other fixture parameters, users simply enter a three digit numeric value and its corresponding DIP setting is displayed. Both the numbering order and reading direction can be reversed to match the switch orientation as needed.

RF Spectrum Analyzer (Android only)

Identify potential communication problems before they happen. The RF Spectrum Analyzer enables the user to visualise existing Wi-Fi networks operating within a venue. Each wireless network is labeled and shown graphically within an overall schematic representation of the 2.4GHz RF channel spectrum. Armed with this information, wireless DMX operation can be optimised by adjusting the type of transmission (hopping patterns) and/or locating the control network in uncrowded or unused areas of the RF Spectrum.

Light Metre (Android only)

Useful for studio work, this app offers basic reflected light measurements to help in light level adjustment for film and video production. Light levels are displayed in LUX.