How To Use DMX on Your Insta Party 51 5-in-1 Dance Floor DJ Effect Light:

Introduction

This article explains how to set up DMX for your InstaParty 51 using either a DMX controller or the primary/secondary feature (also known as master/slave). It also provides a simple overview of what common DMX faders control in the example shown in the video.

The steps are simple and easy to follow, even if you have no technical experience.

Requirements

• Rockville InstaParty 51 light (one or more)
• DMX cables (one cable from the controller to the first light, plus one additional cable for each extra light you want to link)
• DMX controller (only if using a controller setup)
• Power for the light(s)
• Wireless remote (optional, if you want to control the primary light using the remote)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Option 1: Set Up DMX Using a DMX Controller

1) Connect the DMX controller to the first light

1. Take a DMX cable.
2. Plug the male end into the DMX Out port on your DMX controller.
3. Plug the other end into the DMX In port on your first InstaParty 51 light.

2) Daisy chain additional lights (optional)

If you are using more than one light:

1. Take another DMX cable.
2. Plug the male end into the DMX Out port on the first light.
3. Plug the other end into the DMX In port on the second light.
4. Repeat the same process to connect more lights.

3) Set every light to DMX Address Mode

1. On each light, press the Menu button until you reach DMX address mode.
2. Make sure every light in your setup is set to this DMX address mode.

4) Confirm the lights are ready

• When you see the dot blinking at the end of the display, it indicates the lights are ready to be used with the controller.

5) Activate the correct fixture/scanner on your controller

1. On your DMX controller, activate the fixture or scanner used for the lights (the example shown uses Scanner 1).
2. After this, you should be ready to control the lights from the controller.

6) Basic fader overview (example from the video)

This is a simple reference of what the faders controlled in the example shown. Exact channel behavior can vary by controller and configuration, so use the included DMX guide if you need exact values.

• Fader 1: Master dimmer
  • Important: If this is down, you may not see any light output.
• Fader 2: Strobe (skipped in the example)
• Faders 3 to 6: Derby controls
  • Adjust derby colors (red, blue, green in the example)
  • Fader 6 controls the derby motor movement
• Faders 7 to 9: Gobo controls
  • Faders 7 and 8 affect gobo output
  • Fader 9 adjusts gobo speed
• Faders 10 to 13: Laser controls
  • Faders 10 to 12 adjust laser output
  • Fader 13 adjusts laser speed
• Fader 15: Auto mode and sound mode activation (based on value range)
  • Auto mode example range: values from 10 to 30 activate auto mode for every light
  • Sound mode example range: values from 131 to 150 activate a sound mode that uses all of the lights
  • You can move the fader to change which auto or sound mode is selected

Tip: If you want a specific auto mode or sound mode value, refer to the DMX guide included with your lights.

Option 2: Set Up Primary/Secondary (Master/Slave) Using DMX

1) Choose your primary and secondary light

1. Pick one light to be the primary (master).
2. Pick one or more lights to be secondary (slave).

2) Connect the primary light to the secondary light

1. Take a DMX cable.
2. Plug the male end into the DMX Out port on the primary light.
3. Plug the other end into the DMX In port on the secondary light.

If you are using more secondary lights, continue daisy chaining:

• DMX Out of the first secondary light to DMX In of the next secondary light, and so on.

3) Set the secondary lights to DMX Address Mode

1. On each secondary light, press Menu until you reach DMX address mode.
2. Confirm each secondary light is set to DMX address mode.

4) Select a mode on the primary light

1. Set the primary light to any auto mode.
2. The secondary light(s) should follow the primary light.

5) Optional: Use the wireless remote with a primary/secondary setup

You can control the primary light using the wireless remote, but the video recommends the following to prevent the secondary lights from going out of sync:

1. On each secondary light, cycle to Remote mode in the menu.
2. Make sure Remote mode is turned Off on the secondary lights.
3. Use the remote to adjust only the primary light.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

I connected everything, but I do not see any light output

• Make sure Fader 1 (master dimmer) is raised. Without it, you may not see any light coming through.

My lights are not responding to the DMX controller

• Confirm the controller is connected to DMX In on the first light.
• Confirm each light is set to DMX address mode.
• Check the DMX cable direction when daisy chaining (DMX Out to DMX In).
• Look for the blinking dot indicator that shows the light is ready.

My secondary lights are not following the primary light

• Confirm the DMX cable is connected from DMX Out on the primary to DMX In on the secondary.
• Confirm the secondary lights are set to DMX address mode.

The remote is causing secondary lights to behave unexpectedly

• Set Remote mode to Off on all secondary lights so only the primary light is controlled by the remote.

Conclusion

You can set up DMX on your InstaParty 51 in two common ways: using a DMX controller to control one or more lights, or using the primary/secondary feature so secondary lights follow a primary light. Once connected and set to DMX address mode, you can control brightness, effects, speeds, and automated programs.