Luminair allows iPhone to control DMX stage lighting

SyntheFX has released a handy iPhone app for A/V and theater professionals. Luminair 1.0 allows remote control of intelligent DMX512-A lighting systems via the iPhone. DMX is a widely-used standard for digital control of stage lighting, special effects and fog machines. Luminair uses Artistic Licence's Art-Net protocol through a Wi-Fi connection to interface with DMX devices. The app includes an on-screen "mixer," channel layout interface and data analyzer.

Synthe FX says Luminair allows "users to be unchained from the mixer desk or patch-panel in a way like never before." The touch-board layout allows users to quickly set up channels for each fixture.

The lighting mixer uses the iPhone's multi-touch interface to control with "accurate precision," and a "color changer channel" allows real-time color manipulation. Luminair's included data analyzer allows users to examine incoming DMX data packets for each channel in realtime. Users can save and restore individual fixture settings or entire projects using the built-in file manager.

Luminair 1.0 is available at the iTunes AppStore for the "introductory price" of $99, and works with any iPhone or iPod Touch running iPhone 2.0 software. A Wi-FI connection is required.