I. There are various dimmer modes available in RC4 Series 3 Harmonized Design devices
A .The process of selecting modes is the same for all RC4Magic, RC4Magic-900, LumenDim and W- DIM devices
1. There are small differences between 2 channel and 4 channel devices. This demonstration shows the options in a 4-channel dimmer.
a. View the list of available modes in 2-channel devices and their blink patterns.
b. View the list of available modes in 4-channel devices and their blink patterns.
B. To select the next dimmer mode, the Function buttonFunction buttonEvery RC4 Harmonized Design™ device provides a Function button, sometimes called the Func, Shift or Shift/Func button, to increase the number of available functions available with the other buttons. The Func button also invokes CodeLoader mode when held down during power-up.
Read more » is pressed down and held while the Set B buttonSet B ButtonAll RC4 dimmers have Set buttons for each individual dimmer output. The second button is the Set B button. On a 2-channel device these are Set A and Set B buttons. A 4-channel device adds Set C and Set D. The most common use of the Set button is to assign a DMX channel and […]
Read more » is tapped repeatedly until the desired dimmer mode is reached
1. This is similar to the restore defaults process but uses the Set B button (restore defaults uses Set A)
2. The Dim A and Dim B indicators display a blink patternBlink patternRC4 Wireless devices use small colored LEDs to indicate various modes of operation. In addition to indicators simply being on or off, they can blink at different speeds or blink with patterns that indicate a particular setting or parameter value. For example, an indicator might indicate 1 short blink, or 2 short blinks followed by […]
Read more » to identify the currently selected mode
3. Complete this 2-button process in less than 3 seconds to avoid invoking a Function button long-press feature (it can easily be done in less than 1 second)
C. This example starts with the LumenDimM4 set to default DMX channels and dimmer curve, and default simple dimmer mode (the first and most commonly used mode)
1. The default DMX channels are 1 to 4 for DimA through DimD
2. The assigned DMX channels can be changed using RC4 standard OneTouchOneTouch™RC4 OneTouch™ uses DMX channel levels to represent channels and curves, which are then adopted by a dimmer when a single small button is pressed. Back in 1993, James David Smith, chief product designer at RC4 Wireless, envisioned a day when wireless dimmers would be so small that there would be no room for rows […]
Read more » as demonstrated in Assign DMX Channels and Dimmer Curves with standard RC4 OneTouch.
3. RC4 Digital PersistenceDigital PersistenceDigital Persistence is a feature in all RC4 dimmers. When used with LED light sources, it emulates the way a traditional tungsten lamp behaves when power is applied and removed. The filament in those lamps take time to heat up and produce white-hot light output. Similarly, they take time to cool off and stop producing […]
Read more » (smoothing) is turned off for these examples
a. Turning smoothing off can be done using the Set C ButtonSet C ButtonAll RC4 dimmers have Set buttons for each individual dimmer output. The third button is the Set C button. On a 2-channel device these are Set A and Set B buttons. A 4-channel device adds Set C and Set D. The most common use of the Set button is to assign a DMX channel and dimmer […]
Read more », as demonstrated in Adjusting RC4 Digital Persistence to Emulate Halogen Lamps.
b. Smoothing can blur or mask some features of the RC4 Flkr Engine, so it needs to be turned off for this demonstration
c. When shooting video, the PWM frequencyPWM frequencyTo see a visual representation and in-depth explanation of PWM, watch our latest video This chart is also a helpful resource. PWM stands for Pulse-Width Modulation. It is a method for using a switching device (one that can only be on or off) to create what appears to be analog changes in level. This is done by […]
Read more » should be adjusted to 5kHz or higher (the default PWM frequency on the LumenDimM4 is 5kHz)
II. Changing the dimmer mode on a LumenDimM4
A. The next mode after simple dimmer mode is crossfade modeCrossfade modeRC4 dimmers are often used to control color temperature of LED motion picture lighting. This is done by combining cool-white and warm-white light sources. When only the cool LEDs are on the color temperature value is highest (around 7000 Kelvin); when only the warm LEDs are on, the color temperature value is lowest (around 3000 Kelvin). […]
Read more »
1. Using a small tool like a bent paper clip, press and hold the Function buttonFunction buttonEvery RC4 Harmonized Design™ device provides a Function button, sometimes called the Func, Shift or Shift/Func button, to increase the number of available functions available with the other buttons. The Func button also invokes CodeLoader mode when held down during power-up.
Read more »
2. With a second small bent paper clip, tap the Set B Button
3. Release the Function button
4. The DimA and DimB indicators display a blink pattern to identify the currently selected mode
5. The device is now in the 2nd mode, which is crossfade modeCrossfade modeRC4 dimmers are often used to control color temperature of LED motion picture lighting. This is done by combining cool-white and warm-white light sources. When only the cool LEDs are on the color temperature value is highest (around 7000 Kelvin); when only the warm LEDs are on, the color temperature value is lowest (around 3000 Kelvin). […]
Read more »
a. The first assigned DMX channel controls Hue (the color mix, usually of cool white and warm white)
b. The second assigned DMX channel controls Level (brightness)
c. Devices with 4 dimmers provide 2 separate crossfade engines (Dim A/Dim B, and Dim C/Dim D)
c. Crossfade mode is demonstrated in W-DIMm3 Cross-Fade Mode for WW/CW Leds.
B. The next dimmer mode provides a 3-channel implementation of the RC4 Flkr Engine
1.Using a small tool like a bent paper clip, press and hold the Function button
2. With a second small bent paper clip, tap the Set B button
3. Release the Function button (complete all of this in less the 3 seconds)
4. The LEDs will respond with a different blink pattern
5. The first three dimmers (red, green and blue) may begin to flicker are vary in some way (this depends on DMX channel levels at the time)
6. The fourth dimmer output, DimD, is in normal DMX dimmer mode, it is not part of the RC4 Flkr Engine
a. Several DMX channels are used to control parameters of the RC4 Flkr Engine
b. A separate video demonstration of the RC4 Flkr Engine is available
G. The next dimmer mode provides a full 4-channel implementation of the RC4 Flkr Engine
1. Follow the same steps outlined previously, ensuring the Func/SetB button pressing is completed in less than 3 seconds
2. All 4 dimmers (red, green,blue, and white) may begin to flicker are vary in some way (this depends on DMX channel levels at the time)
a. Several DMX channels are used to control parameters of the RC4 Flkr Engine
H. The next dimmer mode is 3-channel HSL (Hue, Saturation and Level)
1. Dim A, Dim B, and Dim C must be connected to red, green, and blue light sources respectively
2. Follow the same steps outlined previously, ensuring the Func/SetB button pressing is completed in less than 3 seconds
3. The LEDs will respond with a different blink pattern
4 The first assigned DMX channel controls Hue (the color)
a. This is a mix of the red, green, and blue light sources connected to DimA, DimB, and DimC
5. The second assigned DMX channel controls saturation
a. Higher saturation produces a deeper stronger color
b. Lower saturation produces a paler color, with the lowest setting being white (no color)
6. The third assigned DMX channel controls level (brightness)
I. The next dimmer mode is 4 channel HSL (Hue, Saturation and Level) mode
1. DimA, DimB, DimC and DimD must be connected to red, green, blue, and white light sources respectively
2. Follow the same steps outlined previously, ensuring the Function/Set B button pressing is completed in less than 3 seconds
3. The LEDs will respond with a different blink pattern
4 The first assigned DMX channel controls Hue (the color)
a. This is a mix of the red, green, blue and white light sources connected to DimA, DimB, DimC, and DimD
5. The second assigned DMX channel controls saturation
a. Higher saturation produces a deeper stronger color
b. Lower saturation produces a paler color, with the lowest setting being white (no color)
c. In this mode, 4-color HSL, the white source helps provide better low-saturation colors
6. The third assigned DMX channel controls level (brightness)
7. Only 3 DMX control channels are used, even though 4 dimmers are utilized
J. The next dimmer mode is 3 channel flicker/ HSL mode
1. This look is useful for flicker effects that tend to “center” around a particular color or benefit from moving smoothly across the HSL color palette
2. Follow the same steps outlined previously, ensuring the Function/Set B button pressing is completed in less than 3 seconds
3. The LEDs will respond with a different blink pattern
4. The random levels generated by the RC4 Flkr Engine now control the Hue, Saturation, and Level of the HSL engine, which controls the first 3 dimmer outputs
a. Like regular 3-color HSL mode, Dim A, Dim B, and Dim C are typically connected to red, green, and blue light sources respectively
K. The next dimmer mode is 4 channel flicker/ HSL mode
1. Follow the same steps outlined previously, ensuring the Func/SetB button pressing is completed in less than 3 seconds
2. The LEDs will respond with a different blink pattern
3. The random levels generated by the RC4 Flkr Engine now control the Hue, Saturation, and Level of the HSL engine, which controls all 4 dimmer outputs
a. Like regular 4-color HSL mode, Dim A, Dim B, Dim C and Dim D are typically connected to red, green, blue and white light sources respectively
L. The next selection circles back to the beginning: simple dimmer mode
1. Follow the same steps outlined previously, ensuring the Func/SetB button pressing is completed in less than 3 seconds, to circle back to the first mode, simple dimmer mode
2. This is the default and most commonly used mode, with a DMX control channel assigned to each dimmer output
3. Simple dimmer mode can also be selected by restoring defaults, which also changes numerous other parameters in the device back to default settings.
a. A separate video about restoring defaults for various different RC4 series devices can be found using the Knowledge Base search feature
View the list of available modes in 2-channel devices and their blink patterns.
View the list of available modes in 4-channel devices and their blink patterns.