The Pathway Network Fade Processor produces reliable DMX512 output from Crestron and AMX controllers.

As entertainment, architectural and home-based audio-visual systems continue to converge along an Ethernet backbone, we've encountered more and more systems where a Crestron or AMX automation controller must drive DMX-based fixtures or dimmers.

Because these controllers operate at a relatively high interface level - only issuing commands when a change is required - they are not well suited to producing a streaming protocol like DMX. Unfortunately, they are most often asked to control LEDs, which are particularly unforgiving of imperfect or slow DMX.

The Pathway Network Fade Processor (NFP) provides a solution.  Sitting on the Ethernet wire, and acting as an interpreter between high level commands and a standard Pathport node, the NFP removes the computational overhead from the Crestron or AMX controller,  while ensuring the Pathport node maintains a clean and adequate DMX refresh rate.

Using unicast UDP as the transport layer, the NFP receives easy to program text-string commands from the user's front end, converts them to Pathport Protocol xDMX, which the Pathport node then transmits as DMX to the end devices.  The NFP must be used in conjunction with at least one regular Pathport node.

Unlike RS232 serial converters, which can only address a single universe of DMX, each NFP will handle up to 1024 channels out of a possible pool of 32,7689 channels (64 universes), and multiple NFPs can exist on one network.  A regular Pathport output node is required to send the DMX to the end equipment, but there is no limit to the number of output nodes on the network.

Available in the R-series rackmount or the D-series surface mount form factors, the NFP works with Crestron, AMX and any other automation controller capable of generating text-string data.

If you require further information, please contact support from the Contact Us! page or call 403-243-8110.