---
title: "Wheel Channels - DMXDesktop"
lang: en
source: /wheel-channels
---

# Wheel Channels

Quickly configure color wheels and gobo wheels

The DMXDesktop Wheel Channel Importer allows you to quickly and easily configure **color wheels** and **gobo wheels** by pasting formatted text descriptions. The system automatically parses your input and generates channel steps, including **color matching, split colors, rotation, and shake effects**.

## How It Works

1. **Paste Your DMX Ranges and Descriptions** – Copy and paste your wheel channel data into the input box. The system will validate your format and parse the steps automatically.
2. **Automatic Parsing and Validation** – The tool ensures that all DMX values are within range (0–255). It prevents overlapping or missing ranges. It detects colors, split colors, rotation, and shake effects.
3. **Instant Step Generation** – Each step is dynamically added to your **wheel step channels** list. The parsed data is structured to ensure compatibility with your fixture.

## Input Format

Your input should follow this structure:

```
`000-005 Colour off (open)
006-010 Split Colour Open - Red
011-015 Red
126-128 Colour Wheel Rotation Stop
129-255 Colour Wheel Rotation Speed slow -> fast`
```

- **DMX Range:** `000-005` (Start-End Values)
- **Description:** `Colour off (open)` (Step Name)

In many cases you can often just Copy & Paste direct from the manual for your fixture!

*(Of course, you can use US English or British English spellings too - Colour/Color)*

## Features

### 🎨 Color Wheel Parsing

- Recognizes standard colors and assigns them automatically
- Detects **split colors** (e.g., "Split Colour Red - Blue")
- Supports **rotation effects** (e.g., "Colour Wheel Rotation Speed Slow → Fast")

### 🌀 Gobo Wheel Parsing

- Identifies **Gobo Open** (default value)
- Detects **rotation directions** (Clockwise / Counterclockwise)
- Recognizes **gobo shake** effects

### ✅ Validation & Error Handling

If the input is incorrect, a helpful error message appears with guidance on formatting.

## How to Use

1. **Open the Fixture Channels** for the fixture you want to edit.
2. **Click the 3-dot menu** on the right of the Color Wheel or Gobo channel you want to edit.
3. **Click the "Magic Wand" icon** to show the paste box.
4. **Paste your config**, or type it out following the example format(s) below.
5. If there are **errors**, they will be displayed for correction.
6. Once validated, the generated wheel steps will appear.

## Example

### Input:

```
`000-005 Colour Off (Open)
006-010 Red
011-015 Green
016-020 Split Colour Red - Blue
021-025 Colour Wheel Rotation Stop`
```

### Output:

- **Color Steps:** Off, Red, Green, Split Color Red/Blue
- **Rotation Detected:** Stop
- **Validated and Ready for Use!**

This tool **saves time**, reduces errors, and ensures your fixture's wheel channels are set up correctly.

## Ready to Configure Your Fixtures?

Download DMXDesktop