What is the history of DMX512?
Before DMX512, most manufacturers had their own dimmer control protocols that were proprietary and incompatible with other manufacturers’ equipment. As the industry grew and shows became more complex, the need for cross–manufacturer compatibility became critical. In 1986, the USITT Engineering Commission sponsored a session at the Annual Conference in Oakland, California. From that session, a project started that resulted in USITT DMX512 – Digital Data Transmission Standard for Dimmers and Controllers. Minor revisions were made in 1990. The expectation was that proprietary protocols would normally be used, but when there was a need to mix manufacturers in a system, users would switch over to DMX512. DMX512 was intended to be a lowest common denominator protocol. For more information, including a brief discussion of the differences between the original, 1990, and ANSI versions, see the DMX512 – Behind the Revision page.
