Requirements
The Mac, the widget and its firmware, and the cable and terminator a real fixture needs.
| What | Needs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | macOS 15 Sequoia or later, Apple silicon | No Intel build |
| Interface | An Enttec DMX USB Pro | Others that copy its protocol may open; only a genuine Enttec is checked |
| Firmware | DMX/RDM, major version 2 | It ships with 1.x, which is DMX-only |
| Driver | None | macOS has the driver for its USB chip |
| Line | A terminator in the fixture’s DMX output | With RDM switched on at the fixture |
| Network | None | Two checks, both optional (Privacy) |
The Mac
macOS 15 Sequoia or later, on Apple silicon. There is no Intel build, so an Intel Mac is offered nothing. Windows and Linux are planned and not started. There is no iPad version: the widget’s USB chip has no way to talk to an iPad.
The widget and its firmware
RDMBench talks to fixtures through an Enttec DMX USB Pro. Plug it straight into the Mac, not through an unpowered hub. Only one program at a time can hold the widget, so quit anything else that has it open.
The firmware is the catch, and it shows up on the first run. The widget ships with a DMX-only build. RDM needs the DMX/RDM build, major version 2, flashed once with Enttec’s EMU tool; the widget keeps it after that. Ours arrived as 1.44 and went to 2.4.
| Firmware | What it is | RDMBench |
|---|---|---|
| 1.x | DMX-only | Says so and stops, rather than timing out |
| 2.x | DMX/RDM | The one the bench needs |
| 3.x | RDM sniffer | Says so and stops |
Some interfaces from other makers copy the Enttec protocol, and the bench may open them. It has only been checked against a genuine Enttec.
The line
- Plug the fixture into the widget’s DMX output, one fixture straight off the widget to start with.
- Switch RDM on at the fixture, if it has a setting for it.
- Put a terminator in the fixture’s DMX output. An unterminated line can make a fixture miss requests. The bench here runs a 5-pin cable and a 5-pin terminator.
The network
None. RDMBench works fully offline. It makes two checks when it can, one for app updates and one for the fixture library, and both can be turned off (Privacy).