Just asking questions since I'm not getting answers elsewhere. I think the answer is obvious. But alas, I am not sure, so I must ask the question.

Right now I'm definately in the building stage for my lights. I've stopped adding on the audio side and am adding to the lights. My question pertains to the usage of the so-called intelligent lights.

I am thinking about a pair of DJ Scans. I see there are 4 DMX channels, Pan, Tilt, Gobo and Color. No On/Off. Of course, money is an object and a factor in the overall equation as well. But, I have an Aviator-8 and am planning on purchasing another. I already have 2 4-channel dimmer packs as well(DP-DMX20L's).

If I understand this correctly, I would still need to terminate the electical into a switcher or relay pack to control the on/off status of the fixture. I would want to burn two channels of the Aviator so I can go back and forth between one and the other, and sometimes both on and sometimes both off.

Am I correct in my assumptions? Also, if I attach DMX cabling between these units, can DMX signalling/protocol be passed thru via devices that are turned off or should these be at the end of the DMX chain? Or, am I gonna also have to splurge and get a DMX Splitter, such as the LSC DMX-Branch/4? I want this last part to be inexpensive. If this gets too costly, I'll just forget about the DJ Scans and go for some other Hi-Tech Effects lights.

Advice welcomed and appreciated. This is for my "last stage" purchase. I'm also interested in ideas for other effects lights that might be worth checking out, and opinions are good enough for me to get started on.

Thanks in advance.

So you want to controll the DJ Scans with the Aviator? I think that would woprk because the aviator is a switching center, so you can turn the lights on and off through it. And the DJ Scans do have an on/off (its for the bulb).

The DJScans are good in sound active mode. But I would recommend the ScanTrons if you want to control them with an external controller, not the Aviator though some thing like the DMX operator.

Thanks for the response. I would be controlling them through a DMX Controller, which I have. The Aviator is merely to provide on/off control.

But the issues that still have not been addressed are DMX thru issues. Will a non-powered fixture pass DMX signalling passively or is this something that must be actively repeated at each step of its journey?

They don't pass through signal. Intelligent lights shouldn't be turned on and off with a switch pack, they usually have some sort of lamp on and off or a shutter. that way they are always on to pass signal.

Makes sense. So, the DMX signal does require repeating, which I suspected.

I'll go through the list of products you recommended that I try instead. I'm running out of room on my truss with the upgrades I have planned, so it looks like intelligent lights might not fit into the game plan, but at this point I have enough interest to learn more information on the subject.

Right now, priority is on a show 8 days from now, and it appears it is sound only, leave the lights at home. Ah, back to the basics! More time to research lights for the next show. I have a Mystic on the way and am planning on a second Aviator-SP8 and a Barrel Flex and a Rover along with a pair of Par38BL's.

Thanks for the information. Time to get educated!

Thanks to messing around with my own equipment, I now see how the intelligent lights are activated. Simply hit the appropriate scanner bank number on a DMX operator that contains its channels, and the light will then turn on.

Learning too much today. Brain hurts, need food.