“How will you choose about LumenRadio CRMX integrated into lighting fixtures as a lighting professional?”
I recently launched a vote among lighting professionals to gather their opinions on CRMX. Surprisingly, the majority chose the option “CRMX built-in”. This response indicates that professionals believe CRMX should become a standard feature in lighting fixtures, paving the way for future trends in the industry.
So, what is CRMX, and why do professionals unanimously support it?
What is CRMX?
CRMX stands for “Cognitive Radio MultipleXer” It is a wireless communication protocol specifically designed for controlling lighting fixtures, including stage lighting and architectural lighting.
Developed by LumenRadio, a Swedish company specializing in wireless lighting control, CRMX utilizes radio frequency (RF) technology to enable wireless communication between the lighting console and fixtures. Operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, CRMX serves as a wireless alternative to DMX, using the same DMX protocol to transmit control signals while eliminating the need for physical cables.
In simple terms, CRMX can be thought of as a wireless implementation of DMX control.
What advantages does CRMX offer over traditional DMX?
There are numerous advantages to using CRMX, beyond just the wireless connection. Let’s explore some of the key benefits:
1. Greater flexibility and mobility
This is the most obvious one. CRMX allows lighting fixtures to be placed and moved more freely, especially beneficial in situations where repositioning fixtures or quickly adapting lighting setups is necessary, and places where running cables is impractical or challenging. Lighting professionals can achieve the same level of control over their fixtures as with wired DMX, but with added benefits of wireless connectivity.
2. Enhanced control capabilities
One significant advantage of CRMX over DMX is its ability to support bidirectional communication and management between the console and lighting fixtures. While DMX is a one-way protocol, CRMX allows lighting fixtures to send feedback data back to the lighting console. This enables the console to receive information about the status and parameters of individual fixtures, enhancing control and monitoring capabilities.
3. Reduced cost and labor
Installing and maintaining wired DMX systems often incurs significant labor and material costs, especially in complex setups or large-scale productions. In contrast, setting up a wireless CRMX system can be simpler and faster compared to running cables.
4. Interference resistance
CRMX systems are designed to operate in crowded RF environments and have mechanisms to mitigate interference. This ensures reliable and stable wireless communication, even under challenging conditions.
5. Scalability
Wireless CRMX systems can be easily expanded or reconfigured as needed, without the constraints imposed by physical cables. Additional fixtures can be integrated into the system without the hassle of running new cables or making extensive modifications.
So, is CRMX the future?
Undoubtedly, CRMX represents the future of lighting control. Its primary purpose is to replace traditional wired connections between lighting consoles and lighting fixtures. Since we can benefit greatly from CRMX and make our work much easier, why do we embrace it happily?
In this context, EverSirius has upgraded the popular LED lighting panels, the 140W 2×1 Bi-Color panel and the 200W 3×1 Bi-Color panel, by integrating the Lumenradio TimoTwo module. These two lighting fixtures are perfect for large studio projects. Additionally, EverSirius fan-less Fresnel 200W and other new lighting fixtures being developed will also feature the Lumenradio TimoTwo module integration. Just stay tuned for more exciting updates from EverSirius!
