• grandMA3 User Manual
    • About the manual
    • Device Overview
      • grandMA3 consoles
        • grandMA3 full-size
        • grandMA3 full-size CRV
        • grandMA3 light
        • grandMA3 light CRV
        • grandMA3 compact XT
        • grandMA3 compact
      • grandMA3 extension
      • grandMA3 replay unit
      • grandMA3 processing units
      • grandMA3 Nodes
      • grandMA3 Nodes DIN-Rail
      • grandMA3 I/O Node
      • grandMA3 I/O Node DIN-Rail
      • grandMA3 onPC command wing XT
      • grandMA3 onPC command wing
      • grandMA3 onPC fader wing
      • grandMA3 onPC rack-unit
      • Screen allocation
      • Keyboard shortcuts
      • Keys
        • . [Dot]
        • <<< [GoFastBackward] | Black
        • >>> [GoFastForward] | Flash
        • - [Minus]
        • + [Plus]
        • / [Slash] | * [Asterisk/Multiply]
        • At
        • Assign
        • Align
        • Blind
        • Clear
        • Channel
        • Copy
        • Cue
        • Down
        • Delete
        • Esc
        • Edit
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • Fixture
        • Group
        • Goto
        • Go+ [large]
        • Go- [large]
        • Go+ | Temp
        • Go- | Top
        • Help
        • Highlt [Highlight]
        • If
        • Learn | Rate1
        • List
        • MA
        • Menu
        • Move
        • Next
        • Numeric keys | arrows
        • Oops
        • On
        • Off
        • Pause [large]
        • Pause | Fix
        • Page+
        • Page-
        • Please
        • Power
        • Preset
        • Prvw [Preview]
        • Prev [Previous]
        • Select
        • SelFix [SelectFixture]
        • Sequ [Sequence]
        • Set
        • Solo
        • Stomp
        • Store
        • Thru
        • Time
        • Up
        • Update
        • U1
        • U2
        • X1 | Clone
        • X2 | Link
        • X3 | Grid
        • X4 | Layout
        • X5 | Step
        • X6 | TC
        • X7 | View
        • X8 | DMX
        • X9
        • X10
        • X11
        • X12
        • X13 | Phaser
        • X14 | Macro
        • X15 | Page
        • X16 | Exec
        • Xkeys
      • Control elements
        • Command area
        • Master area
        • Custom area
        • Dual encoders
        • Level wheel
        • Grand master
        • Executor elements
      • Connector pin assignment
    • System Overview
      • Standalone device
      • Locally networked devices
      • World server
      • Parameters
        • Calculate parameters
        • Expand the amount of parameters
    • First Steps
      • Unpack the device
      • Check scope of delivery
      • Position the device
      • Connect power
      • Connect desk light
      • Connect external screens
      • Connect USB devices
      • Connect DMX
      • Connect Audio In
      • Connect MIDI
      • Connect LTC
      • Connect Ethernet
      • Connect DC Remote In
      • Connect grandMA3 extension
      • Connect grandMA3 fader wing
      • Turn on the device the first time
    • grandMA3 onPC
      • System requirements grandMA3 onPC
      • Windows installation
      • Optimize Windows
      • macOS installation
      • Optimize macOS
      • onPC Terminal App
      • onPC settings
      • Clean start
    • Show File Handling
    • Workspace
      • User interface
        • Configuration of displays
        • Desk lock
        • User-defined area
        • Command line
        • Control bar
        • View bar
        • Tables in general
        • Trackpad window
      • Gestures
      • Command area
      • Master controls
      • Playback controls
      • Displays in grandMA3 onPC
      • Encoder bar
        • Feature group control bar
        • Encoder toolbar
      • Calculator
      • Playback bar
      • Command wing bar
      • Colors
        • System
        • Markers
        • Color theme
    • Command Syntax and Keywords
      • General syntax rules
      • All keywords
        • ; [Semicolon]
        • / [Slash]
        • . [Dot]
        • .. [DotDot]
        • = [Equal]
        • <<< [GoFastBackward]
        • >>> [GoFastForward]
        • - [Minus]
        • * [Asterisk]
        • % [Percent]
        • + [Plus]
        • Absolute
        • Acceleration
        • Action
        • ActivationGroup
        • Align
        • AlignTransition
        • Appearance
        • Assign
        • At
        • Attribute
        • Black
        • Blind
        • Block
        • BPM
        • Call
        • Camera
        • Capture
        • Certificate
        • ChangeDestination
        • Channel
        • ChannelSet
        • Chat
        • Cleanup
        • Clear
        • ClearActive
        • ClearAll
        • ClearSelection
        • Clone
        • CmdDelay
        • ColorTheme
        • Configuration
        • Console
        • Cook
        • Copy
        • Cue
        • CueAbs
        • CueDelay
        • CueFade
        • CueInDelay
        • CueInFade
        • CueOutDelay
        • CueOutFade
        • CueRel
        • CurrentUser
        • CurrentUserProfile
        • Cut
        • DataPool
        • Deceleration
        • Decimal8
        • Decimal16
        • Decimal24
        • Default
        • Delay
        • Delete
        • DelGlobalVar
        • DelUserVar
        • Dismiss
        • Display
        • DMXAddress
        • DMXReadout
        • DMXUniverse
        • Down
        • Drive
        • Echo
        • Edit
        • EditSetting
        • Eject
        • Effect
        • EndIf
        • Exchange
        • Executor
        • Export
        • Extract
        • Extension
        • Fade
        • Fader
        • FaderHighlight
        • FaderLowlight
        • FaderMaster
        • FaderRate
        • FaderSolo
        • FaderSpeed
        • FaderTemp
        • FaderTime
        • FaderX
        • FaderXA
        • FaderXB
        • FeatureGroup
        • Filter
        • Fix
        • Fixture
        • FixtureType
        • Flip
        • Flash
        • Fog
        • Font
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • Gel
        • GetGlobalVar
        • GetUserVar
        • Universal
        • Go+
        • GoStep
        • Go-
        • Goto
        • Grid
        • Group
        • HardwareKey
        • Help
        • Helplua
        • Hex8
        • Hex16
        • Hex24
        • Highlight
        • Houselights
        • Hz
        • If
        • IfActive
        • IfOutput
        • IfProg
        • Image
        • Import
        • Index
        • Insert
        • Integrate
        • Interface
        • Invert
        • Invite
        • IP
        • JoinSession
        • Key
        • Keyboard
        • KeyboardShortcuts
        • Knockin
        • Knockout
        • Label
        • Language
        • Layout
        • LearnRate
        • LearnSpeed
        • LeaveSession
        • Library
        • List
        • ListOwner
        • ListRef
        • Load
        • Loaded
        • LoadShow
        • Lock
        • Login
        • Logout
        • Lowlight
        • Lua
        • LuaFile
        • Macro
        • Master
        • MAtricks
        • Media
        • Menu
        • Mesh3DS
        • MessageCenter
        • Monitor
        • Move
        • MyRunningMacro
        • MyRunningSequence
        • NewShow
        • Next
        • Node
        • NonDim
        • Normal
        • Off
        • On
        • OnPC
        • OSC
        • Oops
        • Output
        • OutputLayer
        • Page
        • Part
        • Park
        • Paste
        • Patch
        • Pause
        • Percent
        • PercentFine
        • Phase
        • Physical
        • Plugin
        • Preset
        • PresetUpdate
        • Press
        • Preview
        • Previous
        • Programmer
        • Property
        • PU
        • Pyro
        • Rate1
        • Readout
        • Reboot
        • Recast
        • Relation
        • Relative
        • Release
        • ReloadPlugins
        • ReloadUI
        • Remote
        • RemoteHID
        • RemoteCommand
        • Remove
        • Reset
        • Restart
        • Root
        • RTChannel
        • RunningMacro
        • RunningSequence
        • SaveShow
        • ScreenConfig
        • ScreenContent
        • Scribble
        • Seconds
        • Select
        • Selection
        • SelFix
        • Sequence
        • SendOSC
        • Set
        • SetGlobalVar
        • SetUserVar
        • Shuffle
        • Shutdown
        • SnapDelay
        • SoftwareUpdate
        • SoundChannel
        • Solo
        • SpecialExecutor
        • Speed
        • Speed1
        • Stage
        • Station
        • Step
        • Stomp
        • Store
        • Temp
        • Texture
        • Thru
        • Time
        • Timecode
        • TimecodeSlot
        • Toggle
        • Top
        • Transition
        • Type
        • UIChannel
        • UiGridSelection
        • Unblock
        • Unlock
        • Unpark
        • Unpress
        • Up
        • Update
        • UpdateContent
        • User1
        • User2
        • User
        • UserProfile
        • Video
        • Version
        • View
        • ViewButton
        • Width
        • World
        • Xkeys
        • Zero
      • Extended command line syntax options
    • Windows, Views, and Menus
      • Add window
      • Rearrange
      • Store and recall views
      • Remove windows from a screen
      • Window settings
      • Menus
      • Change menu locations
      • Pool windows
        • Create pool object
        • Label pool objects
        • Move pool objects
        • Insert pool objects
        • Copy pool objects
        • Lock and unlock pool objects
        • Delete pool objects
    • Networking
      • Interfaces and IP
      • Session
        • Create a session
        • Join a session
        • Leave a session
        • Invite to a session
        • Dismiss from session
        • Create a custom key
      • Web remote
      • SFTP connection
    • DMX In and Out
      • DMX port configuration
      • Ethernet DMX
        • Art-Net menu
        • sACN menu
        • Transmit DMX using Art-Net
    • Single User and Multi User Systems
      • Create User
      • User settings
    • Patch and Fixture Setup
      • What are fixtures
      • Add fixtures to the show
      • MVR
      • Live patch
      • DMX sheet
      • DMX universes
      • Remove fixtures from the show
      • Position fixtures in the 3D space
      • Marker fixture
      • 3D window
      • Camera Pool
      • Stages
      • Classes and Layers
      • Attribute definitions
        • Activation group
        • Feature group
      • Parameter list
      • DMX curves
    • Operate Fixtures
      • What is the programmer
      • Fixture sheet
      • Encoder resolution
      • Using the color picker
      • Selection bar
      • Align
      • Selection Grid
      • Smart view
    • Scribbles
      • Create scribbles
      • Edit scribbles
      • Assign scribbles
      • Delete scribbles
    • Images
      • Screenshots
    • Appearances
      • Create appearances
      • Use appearances
      • Delete appearances
    • Groups
      • Create groups
      • Edit groups
      • Delete groups
      • Group masters
    • Presets
      • Preset pools
      • Create new presets
      • Recipe presets
      • Use preset
      • Edit or Update presets
    • Worlds and Filters
      • At filter
      • Create a world
      • Create a filter
      • Use a world or filter
      • Delete a world
      • Delete a filter
    • MAtricks and Shuffle
      • Blocks
      • Groups
      • Wings
      • Widths
      • Shuffle
    • Cues and Sequences
      • What is tracking
      • Look at cues and sequences
      • Sequence settings
      • Store cues
      • Update cues
      • Copy cues
      • Cue recipes
      • Store settings and preferences
      • Play back cues
      • Move in black
      • Cue timing
      • Renumber cues
      • Delete cues
    • Executors
      • Assign object to an executor
      • Executor configurations
      • Running playbacks
      • Special executors
    • Masters
      • Selected masters
      • Grand masters
        • Time Control
      • Speed masters
      • Playback masters
    • Phasers
      • Step bar
      • Phaser editor
      • Create sinus dimmer phaser
      • Create circle phaser
      • Create circle phaser around position
      • Create color rainbow phaser
    • Macros
      • Create macros
      • Edit macros
      • Assign macros to keys and buttons
      • Examples
    • Agenda
      • Agenda modes
      • Create an agenda entry
      • Edit an agenda entry
      • Agenda toolbar
      • Agenda edit menu
    • Timecode
      • What are timecode slots
      • Timecode settings
      • Track groups
      • Time ranges and events
      • Toggle view mode
      • Record a timecode show
      • Record an external timecode show
      • Edit a timecode show
    • Layouts
      • Create a layout
      • Edit layout
      • Layout view settings
      • Edit layout view
      • Edit layout elements
      • Layout encoder bar
    • Plugins
      • What is Lua?
      • Lua functions
        • Object-Free API
          • Cmd
          • CmdIndirect
          • CmdIndirectWait
          • CmdObj
          • Confirm
          • DataPool
          • Echo
          • ErrPrintf
          • ErrEcho
          • Export
          • GetPath
          • GetShowFileStatus
          • GetSubfixture
          • GetSubfixtureCount
          • HookObjectChange
          • HostOS
          • HostSubType
          • HostType
          • Import
          • MessageBox
          • ObjectList
          • PopupInput
          • Printf
          • ProgressBar
          • SelectedSequence
          • SelectionCount
          • SelectionFirst
          • SerialNumber
          • SelectionNext
          • TextInput
          • Timer
          • UserVariables
          • Version
        • Object API
          • Children
          • Export
          • HasActivePlayback
          • Import
          • ToAddr
    • Data Pools
    • System
      • Date and time
      • Clock
      • Desk lights
      • System information
      • System monitor
      • Info Window
    • Sound Window
    • Remote In and Out
      • DC remotes
      • MIDI remotes
      • DMX remotes
      • OSC
      • PSN
    • RDM
    • Control other MA Devices
      • grandMA3 Nodes
      • MA Network Switch
      • RemoteHID
    • Update the Software
      • Update grandMA3 consoles
      • Update grandMA3 Nodes
      • Update grandMA3 onPC windows hardware
      • Update grandMA3 viz-key
      • Network update
      • Troubleshooting
    • Fixture Types
      • Import fixture types
        • Import GDTF
      • Build fixture types
        • Insert fixture types
        • Insert DMX modes
        • Insert geometries
        • Insert models
        • Link models to geometries
        • Link DMX modes to geometries
      • Export fixture types
        • Export GDTF
    • File Management
      • Import / Export Menu
      • Folder Structure
    • Shut down the System
  • grandMA3 Quick Start Guide
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual consoles
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual processing units
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes DIN-Rail
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing XT
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC fader wing
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC rack-unit
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual viz-key
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual I/O Nodes
  • Release Notes
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Version 1.6

Remote Device Management (RDM)

Remote Device Management is a protocol that allows bi-directional communication between a grandMA3 device and RDM-ready devices attached to it (= RDM-ready fixtures) over a standard DMX line. ANSI E1.20 - 2010 by PLASA specifies the RDM standard as an extension of the DMX 512-A protocol (ANSI E1.11).

Manual settings, such as adjusting the DMX starting address, are no longer needed. This is especially useful for devices installed in a remote area.

RDM is integrated in DMX without influencing the connections. The RDM data is transmitted via the standard XLR-poles – new DMX cables are not required. RDM-ready and conventional DMX devices can be operated in one DMX line. The RDM protocol sends its own data packages in the DMX512 data feed and does not influence conventional devices.

To be able to use RDM, RDM has to be enabled at two different spots:

  1. Globally within the show file. To do so, tap RDM in Menu - Network Menu, or tap RDM in Menu - Live Patch - RDM.
  2. Per XLR port that shall use RDM. Therefore, the mode of an XLR port in the Output Configuration needs to be set from Out to RDM.

In RDM mode, DMX data is only sent when there are changes of DMX values. In addition, every 500ms a refreshing packet will be sent so that DMX fixtures will not switch into DMX fail mode.
This RDM output mode allows more time on the DMX line for RDM configuration.

The new RDM Devices window lists all devices that are discovered via RDM. It can be opened via the Add Window dialog and is located in the More-tab.
The same list is also displayed in Menu - Live Patch - RDM.

When an RDM fixture is detected on an XLR port, a new node called RDMPort will be added to the RDM devices list. Within each RDMPort node, all fixtures that are detected via RDM on this physical XLR port are listed. An RDM port is labeled with the IP of the device and the XLR port of the device, e.g., 192.168.0.4 - XLR D. If the device is not available anymore with the port, the font color turns red.
For each different fixture type, detected per RDM, a new node in the RDMFixtureTypes node in the RDM Devices window will be created. Each RDMFixtureType contains general information of the RDM fixtures, that is similar to all fixtures of the same product, e.g., the parameter description, or the available DMX personalities.

The grandMA3 creates RDMFixtureTypes by itself depending on these three parameters: ManufacturerID, DeviceModelID, and SoftwareID.
As soon as the same physical type of lighting fixtures have different software IDs due to different firmware versions, different RDMFixtureTypes are created.

This first implementation of RDM supports these RDM parameters, which can be set by the user:

  • IDENTIFY_DEVICE, 0x1000
  • DEVICE_LABEL, 0x0082
  • DMX_PERSONALITY, 0x00E0
  • DMX_START_ADDRESS, 0x00F0
  • PAN_INVERT, 0x0600
  • TILT_INVERT, 0x0601
  • DISPLAY_INVERT 0x0500
  • DISPLAY_LEVEL 0x0501
  • RESET_DEVICE 0x1001
  • FACTORY_DEFAULTS 0x0090
  • LAMP_STATE 0x0403

Only the cells of properties that an RDM fixture provides as set-able can be edited in the RDM devices window.

In grandMA3 the RDM communication follows this process:

  1. Discovery for new RDM fixtures.
    1. Check if detected fixtures are still available.
    2. Check for new RDM fixtures.
  2. Get parameter and sensor data.
  3. 1s Pause
  4. Start again at 1.

Parameters that are not changing during the runtime of a fixture, e.g., Device Info, are only pulled via RDM once when creating the corresponding RDMFixtureType. All other parameters and sensors are pulled every time in step 2.
As soon as an RDM fixture is not available for 3 discoveries in a row, it will be displayed in red in the list of RDM fixtures.

It is possible to match an RDM fixture with a fixture of the grandMA3 patch. To do so, edit the fixture cell of the desired RDM fixture in the RDM devices window. A pop-up opens and offers all fixtures of the current show file.
In addition, it is also possible to match fixtures within the RDM window in the live patch. In the live patch, it is possible to open the fixture list in the same way as described above, and by selecting any cell of a fixture then tapping Match at the bottom of the window.
To remove a match between an RDM fixture and a grandMA3 fixture, it is possible to tap Unmatch in the RDM window in the live patch or to tap Clear in the match pop-up.


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