It is easy to change the PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) frequency of your RC4 Wireless device while on set. Through RC4’s OneTouch™ technology, you can cycle through frequencies with little effort.
This tutorial applies to 5 button devices such as the Magic DMX4dim, DMX4dim-500, and LumenDimM4, LumenDim4. For devices with three buttons, such as the Magic DMX6dim, you will need to utilize RDM or our Commander Software.
To successfully complete this process with OneTouch, each long-press of the Set B button increments to the next PWM frequency:
- 615Hz (default)
- 1.2kHz
- 5kHz
- 10kHz
- 20kHz
- 40kHz
- The next long-press cycles back to #1 (615Hz)
-The correct PWM frequency will eliminate visible artifacts:
-The flashing pattern on DimA/DimB is different for each available frequency, indicating which frequency has been selected.
-A chart of PWM frequencies clarifies all of this.
Why bother with PWM frequencies — why not just set it to 40kHz?
A. Lower frequencies deliver higher resolution, which improves the smoothness of dimming at the bottom end of the curve (very low dim levels)
B. Lower frequencies are more electrically efficient and can deliver more current with less heat than higher frequencies
C. The lowest ISL frequency of 615Hz looks best to the human eye in live entertainment applications
D. Higher frequencies eliminate artifacts in motion-picture capture. Use the lowest frequency that does the job, usually 5kHz. Do test shots whenever possible to find the ideal frequency. RC4 LumenDim devices default to 5kHz, optimal for most motion-picture applications
E. The faster the video frame rate, the higher the PWM frequency needs to be. For very-slow-motion capture (very high frame rate) 40kHz may be required. Remember that this reduces dimmer resolution and may look a little bit more “steppy” when dimming at low levels, and the dimmer will generate more heat when driving large loads.