BEST PAR 60: How To Set Up DMX Control

Introduction

Setting up a DMX controller with your Rockville Best PAR 60 lights allows you to create custom lighting effects by controlling brightness, strobe, color mixing and auto-modes. These can be useful for concerts, stage productions and live DJ events. This guide will walk you through wireless and wired DMX setups, as well as how to operate the controller to get the most out of your lights.

Setup Guide

A.) Initial Startup 

1. Turn on Best PAR 60 lights.
2. Power on your DMX controller.
3. If using wireless DMX, enable the wireless function on your controller.

B.) Wireless DMX Setup

Required:
✅Rockville Best PAR 60 Light(s)
...plus
✅Rockville Wireless DMX Controller (RockForce W2 / RockForce W4) 
...or
✅Rockville Wireless DMX Transmitter (DMX-WTR) and...
✅Any DMX Controller or Computer Control Interface

Syncing the Controller to the Lights:
Up to 25 Rockville lights can be wirelessly synced with a Rockville Wireless DMX Controller or Transmitter.

To ensure the controller and lights communicate, set them to the same Wireless ID / DMX Signal Color Code.

• Set the Wireless ID on the DMX Controller or Transmitter:
  1. Locate the Wireless ID button on the back of the controller.
  2. Press the button to cycle through different colors.
  3. Select a color (e.g. Red).
• Set the Wireless ID on Each Light:
  1. Locate the Wireless DMX Signal button on the back of each light.
  2. Match the Wireless DMX Signal Color Code to the color code set on the controller (e.g. Red).
  3. Raise the wireless antennas on each light to strengthen the signal.
  4. Confirm connection: 
     • The Wireless DMX Signal light on the lights should flash green.
     • The controller’s Wireless ID Color Code LED (or DMX-WTR's ID Key LED Indicator) should flash red.
• Select DMX Channel Mode on Each Light:
  1. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Set menu.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Dmx channel menu.
  4. Press the Enter button to select Channel mode.
  5. Use the Up / Down buttons to choose between 6CH and 10CH: 
     • 6-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending.
     • 10-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending + auto-functions and strobe.
  6. Press Enter to save.
• Enable Wireless DMX:
  1. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Set menu.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the 2.4g wireless menu.
  4. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  5. Use the Up / Down buttons to select OFF.
  6. Press Enter to save.
• Set the DMX Address:
  1. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Dmx512 menu.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to set the address to A001 for Scanner / Fixture 1, or to a different address corresponding to another scanner / fixture (specified by your DMX controller).
  4. Press Enter to save.

C.) Controlling Your Lights with the DMX Controller

Understanding the DMX Fader / Channel Functions:

• On the controller, activate Scanner / Fixture 1, or the one(s) corresponding to your Best PAR 60 Lights.
• Reference the charts below to control the light(s) using the faders on your controller or controls within your DMX control software.

Pro Tip: You can mix faders 2–7 to create custom colors, then use fader 8 to apply a strobe effect.

D.) Wired DMX Setup

Required:
✅Rockville Best PAR 60 Light(s)
...plus
✅3-Pin DMX Cable (one per light) and...
✅Any DMX Controller or Computer Control Interface

Connecting the Controller to the First Light:

• Turn off 2.4GHz Mode.
  1. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Set menu.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the 2.4g wireless menu.
  4. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  5. Use the Up / Down buttons to select OFF.
  6. Press Enter to save.
• Connect a DMX cable from the controller's DMX Out to the first light's DMX In.
  1. Plug the male end into the DMX Out of the controller.
  2. Plug the female end into the DMX In on the first light.
• Connect another DMX cable from the first light's DMX Out to the second light's DMX In.
  1. Plug the male end into the DMX Out of the first light.
  2. Plug the female end into the DMX In of the second light.
• Connect additional lights using additional DMX cables.
  1. Plug the male end into the DMX Out of the previously connected light.
  2. Plug the female end into the DMX In of the next light.
  3. Repeat these steps for each additional light.
• Select DMX Channel Mode on Each Light: 
  1. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Set menu.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Dmx channel menu.
  4. Press the Enter button to select Channel mode.
  5. Use the Up / Down buttons to choose between 6CH and 10CH: 
     • 6-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending.
     • 10-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending + auto-functions and strobe.
  6. Press Enter to save.
• Set the DMX Address 
  1. Use the Up / Down buttons to navigate to the Dmx512 menu.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to set the address to A001 for Scanner / Fixture 1, or to a different address corresponding to another scanner / fixture (specified by your DMX controller).
  4. Press Enter to save.
• Control the Lights:
  1. On the controller, activate Scanner / Fixture 1, or the one(s) corresponding to your Best PAR 60 Lights .
  2. Control the light(s) using the faders on your controller or controls within your DMX control software.
  3. See Section C above for specific fader / channel controls.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: My lights are not responding to wireless DMX controller commands.

• Ensure the lights and controller are set to the same wireless DMX color group.
• Ensure the lights are set to the correct DMX Address and Channel Mode.

Q: How many lights can I connect with a DMX Controller?

• For wireless setup, you are limited to 25 lights that can be wirelessly linked directly to a Rockville Wireless DMX Controller.
• For wired setup, there's no fixed limit. DMX Controllers will have limits on channels of DMX that can be sent. They will also have a certain number of scanners / fixtures or groups of lights that can be controlled. However there is no limit to the number of individual lights that can be connected to the controller.

Conclusion

Setting up your DMX controller with the Best PAR 60 lights is simple, whether using wireless or wired connections. Now you can create custom colors, adjust brightness, apply strobe effects and automate lighting changes for your event or performance.