Creating Fixtures

When a fixture isn't in the library, create your own definition.

When to Create a Profile

• Fixture not in the library
• Custom or DIY fixtures
• Modified fixtures with different channel layouts
• Rebranded fixtures with unique addressing

Fixture Definition Basics

A fixture profile includes:

Identity

• Name: Fixture model name
• Manufacturer: Brand name
• ID: Unique identifier (auto-generated from name for custom fixtures)

Channels

Each channel specifies:

• Number: Position in DMX range
• Name: Descriptive label
• Type: What it controls (color, dimmer, position, etc.)
• Default: Starting value

Modes

Fixtures often have multiple modes:

• Different channel counts
• Different feature sets
• Match to physical fixture settings

Creating a Profile

Step 1: Gather Information

From the fixture's manual, collect:

• All DMX modes and channel counts
• Channel-by-channel breakdown
• Value ranges for each function
• Any special behaviors

Step 2: Create New Definition

1. Go to Project > Fixture Editor
2. Click New Fixture
3. Fill in the basic information in the Metadata section

Step 3: Define Pixels

In the Pixels section:

1. Click Add Pixel to add individual pixels, or use Generate Pattern to create patterns (Line, Grid, Ring, Cube)
2. Select a color variant (RGB, RGBW, RGBA, RGBWA, RGBWAUV)
3. Each pixel is assigned DMX channels automatically
4. Adjust pixel positions in the 3D viewport

Step 4: Channel Types

Step 5: Add Modes

If the fixture has multiple modes:

1. Click Add Mode in the mode selector bar
2. Name the mode (e.g., "9-Channel", "Full")
3. Define pixels and parameters for each mode separately
4. Each mode has its own pixel layouts, parameters, and channel count

Step 6: Test

1. Add the fixture to a project
2. Patch it to your hardware
3. Test each channel individually
4. Verify all functions work

Step 7: Save

1. Click Save to Library to save globally, or Save to Project to save for the current project only
2. The fixture is now available for use

Example: Simple LED Par

A basic 7-channel LED Par:

Mode: 7-Channel

Channel 1: Dimmer
Channel 2: Red
Channel 3: Green
Channel 4: Blue
Channel 5: Strobe
Channel 6: Color Macros
Channel 7: Mode Selection

Example: Moving Head

A moving head with two modes:

Mode: 16-Channel
1: Pan
2: Pan Fine
3: Tilt
4: Tilt Fine
5: Speed
6: Dimmer
7: Shutter
8: Red
9: Green
10: Blue
11: White
12: Color Wheel
13: Gobo Wheel
14: Prism
15: Focus
16: Control

Mode: 8-Channel
1: Pan
2: Tilt
3: Dimmer
4: Red
5: Green
6: Blue
7: Color Wheel
8: Speed

Advanced Features

Value Ranges

Some channels have discrete values:

• Color wheel positions
• Gobo selections
• Special functions

Define these as value ranges within the channel.

Saving Fixtures

When saving a fixture definition:

• Save to Library - Saves to your local fixture library (persists across projects)
• Save to Project - Saves only to the current project

Troubleshooting

Channels Don't Match

• Re-check the manual
• Verify fixture's current mode
• Test with raw DMX values

Colors Are Wrong

• Check RGB channel order
• Verify channel numbers
• Test each channel individually

Position Is Inverted

• Check pan/tilt polarity settings
• Some fixtures invert axes
• Add invert flags to the channel

Related

• Adding Fixtures
• Generic LEDs
• Library Manager