Lighting - Trackspot Manual - SXS Events

DichroicA dichroic (from Greek, meaning “two-color”) filter achieves and Audio-Visual Phone: courtesy 0870 of Services 080 2342richly-saturated color without using any pigmented (colored)materials. In simple terms, it achieves this effect by eitherwww.sxsevents.co.ukreflecting or “cancelling out” through destructive interferenceall but a narrow range of the light spectrum.mail: enquiries@sxsevents.co.ukThe “dichroic” name refers to the fact that one color (or broadrange of colors) is reflected or cancelled out, and one color (ornarrow range of colors) is transmitted through the dichroicfilter.The dichroics used in Trackspot are all manufactured at theHigh End Systems Optical Coating and Assembly Laboratoryin Austin, Texas. They are made from a base of low expansionglass material coated with multiple, microscopic layers ofspecialized materials separated by junctions that eithertransmit or reflect certain wavelengths of light, accounting forthe resulting color.Dichroic filters offer a number of advantages over traditionalgel filters: since they are made of low expansion glass andabsorb almost no heat themselves, they theoretically have nofailure mechanism; they transmit more light than gels; andtheir resultant colors are more richly-saturated than is possiblewith a gel.Dichroics are currently used for all Trackspot color and gobowheel dichroic filters. (Dichroics are also used on other HighEnd Systems fixtures.)DMX 512 control protocolDMX 512 is a standard method of controlling lighting fixturesand other devices (such as lasers and hazers). Developed bythe United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT),DMX 512 is supported by leading entertainment industryequipment manufacturers, such as High End Systems.DMX 512 (D for digital, MX for multiplex and 512 is thenumber of channels per link) is a reliable, efficient and wellunderstoodmethod of controlling lighting devices. Its strengthlies in its ability to control virtually any mix of DMXcompatibledevices on the same link using a single DMXcompatiblecontroller.See also “LWR control protocol.”DMX channelwww.sxsevents.co.ukThe DMX 512 protocol allows a total of 512 channels to beused on a particular link. You must assign a unique startingchannel to each Trackspot you wish to respond independentlyGlossary-2Trackspot User Manual