18 October 2021
Company News
16 bits DMX512 IC channel
Universe and Channel are the most important concepts on the DMX512 if you are familiar with the DMX512 series products.
Today let’s discuss the DMX512 IC channels.
As we known, a complete DMX512 control system contain DMX controllers , led pixels, power supplies and other accessories.
The DMX controllers in particular are the most striking which involving universes, channels, and the color depth that commonly called Bit.
Widely known , one universe is 512 channels.
The color depth is available for 8 bits,12 bits,14 bits and 16 bits that refer to not only DMX512 IC, but also SPI / TTL IC chip.
8 bits color depth, assign each color like red to channel 1, color green to channel 2, color blue to channel 3, etc.
So for RGB pixels it 170 pixels, RGBW pixels is 128 pixels.
But if 16 bits, then the color depth will be double than the 8 bits.
Assign each color like Red to channels 1 and 2 , color green to channel 3 and 4, color blue to channel 5 and 6, etc.
Any color value would increase both channels in Madrix 5.0 or other lighting software. then one universe would be 85 pixels for RGB pixels, RGBW would be 64 pixels.
There is another issue: Why customers who are familiar with the 16 bits DMX512 theory all are wondering why our most 16 bits DMX512 IC chip channels is same with the 8 bits DMX512 ?
Gamma correction ! From gamma 1.0 corrected to 2.2 , that means from 8 bits corrected to 16 bits.
So, when you choose our 16 bits DMX512 IC products ( UCS512CN series, UCS512G6, UCS512H4 series), do not worry about the channel qty and universes any more, calcuate it like 8 bit ones!
Still 170 pixels RGB, 128 pixels RGBW .
But do not forget to choose the 16 bit if there any 8 / 16 bits choices in the software.
Are there any model of DMX512 IC chip is 16 bits in strictly speaking ? All DMX512 IC factories contain UCS , SM, TM, Hi ,MR are no any real 16 bits DMX IC for the time being.
How about the real 16 bits IC in SPI IC chips ? Yes, we do have, like UCS8903, UCS8904, UCS7604, UCS8603, UCS5603, UCS9812 series.
Wish above simple words can help you understand this channel qty on 16 bits DMX512 IC.
Best regards from Art LED Team