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MedeaWiz® Hydra™
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DMX Control
DMX512 (Digital Multiplex) is a standard for digital communication networks that are used to
control stage lighting and effects.
Learn more at Wikipedia
Multiple lights, special effects, props and Sprites may be connected to a single pair of wires and
individually controlled from a DMX console or computer with a USB to DMX adaptor.
DMX512 use has grown into other areas including theme parks, haunted houses, Christmas
shows, escape rooms, museums, trade shows, and more. With DMX512 you can have a master
control device programmed to run a complete scripted automated show that includes all types
of lighting, special effects, mechanical / pneumatic movements, and audio / video. Many third-
party controller options are available including software programs to run on a PC.
They will allow you to construct a full show from a series of events at specific times.
The Hydra allows you to play audio / video files from the MedeaWiz Sprite using your DMX512
controller. Multiple Sprite media players can be controlled independently from a single cable.
Sending commands to the Hydra for the Sprite
You will need to set an address in the Hydra to match the DMX512 channel you will use.
Your DMX controller will transmit 1 byte of data on this channel to the Hydra repeatedly.
The Hydra will select the DMX byte at the address and pass it to the Sprite media player.
Only new / different data bytes get passed to the Sprite. Repeated ones are discarded.
We discuss the serial codes in two categories: Playing files and other commands.
Each DMX program in the Hydra has a "safe mode" and a "full mode"
DMX safe mode
With "safe mode" there is no risk of accidentally changing a setting in the Sprite.
It will only pass data to the Sprite to play files from 001 to 200, and return to file 000.
Hex 0x01 to 0xC8 will play files named 001 up to 200.
Since DMX controllers transmit 00 normally for lights off, we use 0xFF to play file 000.
Please refer to the Sprite manual online for a list of all serial control codes.
DMX full mode
The "full mode" will pass all byte data. In the Sprite, values above 0xC8 are used for various transport
controls such as pause and play, volume control, mute, video and audio output settings and more.
Accidentally sending one of these commands could stop your show and require a reset.
It may be necessary to use the IR remote control with the Sprite to enter the setup menu to restore.
The Hydra will ignore repeated commands. To send repeat commands, such as for Next file, you should
send an unused command such as 0xFE before resending the same command.
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