About RDM

RDM is a two-way communications method built-in to DMX512 for lighting control. By using RDM, you can find fixtures, find out about them and their status, patch them, and set their operating mode without needing to go to the fixture itself. For fixtures rigged in difficult locations, RDM is very useful for remote setup.

Discovery

RDM automatically discovers RDM-capable fixtures. Discovery runs continuously any time the Patch screen is open and the RDM button is enabled, and will repeatedly search for devices. As devices are added or removed from a system, they will be updated in the patch list.

Note: Discovery takes place during short periods of rest of normal DMX transmission and is a lengthy process to complete. You should expect at least several seconds of delay to discover a fixture on a small system and much longer delays on a very large system.

Addressing and Mode

RDM allows you to set the DMX address and the operating mode of a fixture remotely.

Setting the operating mode may change the footprint, which is the number of DMX addresses occupied by the device. If you change the mode of a device adjacent to some other device or dimmers in patch, the new mode could be larger than the available space and overlap already used DMX addresses. When this happens, the affected ones are indicated in the patch list in red, and you will need to take corrective action and re-patch.

The Patch system knows how to match the chosen mode with the correct personality.

Universe

You cannot change the Universe part of the DMX patch for a Device found by RDM. RDM can only operate on the one universe it is connected to. To change the universe a fixture is patched to, you must physically re-plug the fixture to another DMX cable.