DMX Priorities
Comprehensive guide to DMX control layers and overrides
DMXDesktop uses a priority system to determine which commands take precedence when multiple lighting effects or controls are active simultaneously. Understanding this system helps you create more predictable and professional lighting shows.
Priority Order (Highest to Lowest)
| Priority | Layer | Controls | Used By | Overrides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DMX Input (Reserved) | All DMX channels | Future Use | Everything Below |
| 2 | MIDI Input | Any mapped channel | External Controller | Everything Below |
| 3 | Manual Overrides | Any channel | Live Controls | Everything Below |
| 4 | Live Edits | Any channel | Stored Live Edits | Everything Below |
| 5 | Blackout | Dimmers → 0 | Live Button | Everything Below |
| 6 | Blinder | Dimmers → Full | Live Button | Everything Below |
| 7 | Effect | Effect Channel | Live Button | Everything Below |
| 8 | Strobe | Shutter/Strobe Channel (Strobe Mode) | Live Button | Everything Below |
| 9 | Fog | Fog/Smoke Channels | Live Button | Everything Below |
| 10 | Position | Pan / Tilt | Used by FX | Color → Default |
| 11 | Color | RGB / Color Wheel / CMY | Used by FX | Beam → Default |
| 12 | Beam | Dimmer, Focus, Zoom, Iris, Shutter | Used by FX | Gobo → Default |
| 13 | Gobo | Gobo Wheel, Rotation | Used by FX | Prism → Default |
| 14 | Prism | Prism Selection / Rotation | Used by FX | Default Only |
| 15 | Default Values | Fixture-defined startup values | Frame Start | — |
🧊 Freeze — Freezes current output instantly. Not part of queue. Overrides everything.