Wireless DMX accessories can be quite effective at cleaning up your performance rig and extending the range of your lighting array. However, there are important factors to consider when implementing such accessories in your DMX signal chain. This quick guide serves to outline the key points for observation when configuring your wireless DMX accessories with SoundSwitch and provides easy setup and troubleshooting steps to follow.




Points to Consider 


  • Wired DMX connections will almost always outperform wireless DMX connections in regard to latency, consistency, and ease of use. For this reason, we recommend using a wired connection wherever possible.

  • Wireless DMX connections will always introduce a degree of latency to your signal chain, even when using products advertised as 'zero-latency.' This may affect how certain movement effects and other elements behave during performance with SoundSwitch.

  • The quality of your wireless DMX accessories' performance can be greatly affected by the characteristics of your performance environment. A wireless connection can be negatively affected by a variety of factors, including:
    • Physical obstacles (walls, objects, people) interceding the space between your wireless transmitter and receiver.
    • A noisy signal environment can cause interruptions and degradation in signal quality during transmission. This could be the result of nearby Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth connections, and a variety of other devices that emit any sort of wireless signal.

  • While the SoundSwitch Control One and DMX Micro do support the connection of external transmitters and receivers, neither device features built-in wireless DMX transmission. 

 


Setup


  1. Open and read the entirety of your wireless DMX device's user manual.

  2. Configure your transmitter and receiver's frequency band (for supported devices) and any other setup steps intrinsic to the device in accordance with the device's user manual.

  3. Connect your wireless transmitter to the DMX OUT port of your DMX interface.

  4. Connect your wireless receiver(s) to the DMX IN port on your desired fixture(s)

  5. With SoundSwitch open, navigate to Edit Mode and add your connected fixtures to the DMX map (if you haven't already). For assistance in this process, please see the video tutorial below:




  6. Open the SoundSwitch MIDI Menu and test your fixtures' response using color overrides. If your fixture's behavior corresponds with the selected override, you can be confident that your fixture's wireless connection has been established. This process is also demonstrated in the above video tutorial.



Troubleshooting


If you encounter an issue with your wireless DMX deployment, there's a wide array of variables that could be at play, only a few of which being intrinsic to SoundSwitch. Here's our general best practices to follow if you're experiencing such an issue:


  • Test via a wired connection: If transmission appears to be failing, replace your wireless accessories with a single DMX cable to test if your fixture responds. If it does, it indicates that the issue is specific to your wireless system.

  • Consult user manual: Your wireless DMX device's manufacturer has likely included their own troubleshooting and setup guidelines to assist in issues specific to the device itself. Make use of the manufacturer's resources to probe any and all potential configuration issues with your wireless DMX device.

  • Swap frequencies: Some wireless DMX accessories support specific frequency and/or frequency band selection. If you find that your wireless system is otherwise configured correctly, but signal is intermittent or low-quality, try a different frequency configuration to see if the performance improves. If your performance environment contains heavy noise in a particular range, it may be necessary to do this to improve performance.

  • Conduct full-spectrum troubleshooting: It's important to consider all possible variables when troubleshooting fixture response with SoundSwitch or any other DMX lighting software. Please see our full fixture troubleshooting guide and follow the checklist within to identify and resolve the issue: Fixtures Not Responding in SoundSwitch



We're here to help you get the most of your lightshow with SoundSwitch! If you're having trouble after performing the measures above, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] for assistance. 


To ensure we're best prepared to assist, it's helpful to include the following information with any fixture troubleshooting request:

  • A screenshot of the fixture profile you're using as it appears in the SoundSwitch DMX Library Search; Please be advised that troubleshooting is not available for fixture profiles from the Public database. 

  • Describe your signal chain: How many wireless devices are you using? What results have you observed when switching to a wired connection?

  • A PDF copy of your lighting fixture's user manual


As always, thanks for being a valued member of the SoundSwitch community!