phix — Professional DMX Lighting Console
phix is a software-based DMX lighting console for professional live events, theater, and installations. It combines an intuitive graphical interface with a powerful text command line, giving you the speed and flexibility of a hardware console in a desktop application.
What can phix do?#
- Control any fixture — import fixtures from the GDTF standard library or your own files, then patch them to DMX universes
- Program lighting looks — use the programmer to set attribute values (intensity, color, position, gobo, etc.) and save them as presets
- Build cue stacks — create sequences of cues with fade and delay times and play them back with executors
- Run dynamic effects — apply procedural waveform effects (sine, chase, step, and more) to any attribute across groups of fixtures
- Control from anywhere — connect MIDI controllers, send OSC from a tablet or phone, or synchronize to timecode
- Integrate with your show — use the REST/WebSocket API to connect phix to other show-control software
Key concepts at a glance#
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| Fixture | A physical light, fog machine, or any DMX device |
| Universe | A DMX universe with 512 channels |
| Patch | Assigning a fixture to a universe and start address |
| Programmer | A temporary workspace for live attribute edits |
| Preset | A stored set of attribute values (e.g., "Full", "Red") |
| Group | A named set of fixtures, optionally arranged in a grid |
| Sequence | An ordered list of cues |
| Cue | A lighting state with timing (fade/delay) |
| Executor | A playback slot (fader + buttons) assigned to a sequence |
| Effect | A procedural waveform applied to fixtures over time |
| Master | A global control for speed, timing, or intensity |
How to navigate this documentation#
- Start with Installation to get phix running
- Follow the First Show guide for a quick end-to-end walkthrough
- Read the Interface Overview to understand the layout
- Dive into specific topics as you need them
- Use the Command Reference when working from the command line
tip
phix supports both a graphical interface and a full text-based command line. Most actions can be done either way — this documentation shows both where relevant.