Documentation

05 - DMX Camera (SuperDMXCamera)

Module: SuperStage Runtime (ASuperDMXCamera)
Target Users: Lighting designers, virtual production technicians
Prerequisites: 03 - DMX Fixture Base
Last Updated: 2026-04-14

1. Overview

SuperDMXCamera is a virtual cine camera controlled via DMX signals. It inherits from SuperDmxActorBase and can be controlled from an MA console just like a fixture, controlling the camera’s:

  • 6-Axis Motion — X/Y/Z three-axis translation + Pitch/Yaw/Roll three-axis rotation
  • Lens Parameters — FOV (Field of View), Aperture (f-stop), Focus Distance
  • Render Output — Can render camera view to a RenderTarget for display on LED screens, etc.

Use Cases

  • Real-time camera preview on stage (console operator remotely controls virtual camera angles)
  • Camera scheduling for virtual studios
  • Real-time camera rendering for LED screen content
  • Sync video content with lighting in light shows

2. Class Inheritance Chain

AActor (UE5 Engine Base Class)
  │
  └── ASuperBaseActor ·············· SuperStage Root Class (L1)
        │                           ├ SceneBase / ForwardArrow / UpArrow
        │                           └ AssetMetaData
        │
        └── ASuperDmxActorBase ····· DMX Fixture Base Class (L2)
              │                      ├ DMX Address (Universe/Address/FixtureID)
              │                      ├ Fixture Library / Channel Reading / Matrix Reading
              │                      └ SuperDMXTick / Address Label
              │
              └── ASuperDMXCamera ·· DMX Camera (L3) ← Class described in this document
                    ├ UCineCameraComponent  ← Cine camera (FOV/Aperture/Focus)
                    ├ USceneCaptureComponent2D ← Scene capture (render to RT)
                    ├ 6-axis motion control (translation + rotation)
                    ├ Lens parameter control (FOV/Aperture/FocusDistance)
                    ├ Boot Refresh initialization
                    └ CameraParamSpeed interpolation smoothing

Design Note: ASuperDMXCamera inherits directly from ASuperDmxActorBase rather than ASuperLightBase, because cameras don’t need the Pan/Tilt rotation axis structure (SceneRocker/SceneHard). It uses its own 6-axis free motion system, which is more suitable for camera control scenarios than the Pan/Tilt model.

3. Component Structure

ASuperDMXCamera
  └── SceneBase (USceneComponent)                    ← Root component (inherited)
        ├── ForwardArrow (UArrowComponent)            ← +X direction preview (inherited)
        ├── UpArrow (UArrowComponent)                 ← +Z direction preview (inherited)
        ├── AddressLabel (UTextRenderComponent)       ← DMX address label (inherited)
        │
        ├── CineCamera (UCineCameraComponent)         ← Cine camera component
        │     ├ FilmbackSettings   ← Film back size (Super 35mm etc.)
        │     ├ LensSettings       ← Lens parameters (focal length/aperture/focus)
        │     └ PostProcessSettings ← Post process settings
        │
        └── SceneCapture (USceneCaptureComponent2D)   ← Scene capture component
              ├ TextureTarget      ← Render target texture
              ├ CaptureSource      ← Capture source type
              └ bCaptureEveryFrame ← Whether to capture every frame
Component Type Description
CineCamera UCineCameraComponent Cine camera component providing professional camera features (FOV/Aperture/Focus)
SceneCapture USceneCaptureComponent2D Scene capture component rendering view to RenderTarget for LED screen use

4. Default Parameter Configuration

In the B.DefaultParameter group of the Details panel, you can set the camera’s motion ranges and lens parameter ranges.

4.1 Start Switch

Parameter Description Default
Start Camera start switch. When set to True, the camera begins responding to DMX signals False

Important: After placing in the scene, you must set Start to True to begin accepting DMX control.

4.2 Initialization Function

Operation Description
Boot Refresh Click this button (in editor) to automatically calculate InitialPosition/EndPosition and InitialRotation/EndRotation based on the current position and MovingRange/RotRange

Usage Steps:

  1. Place the camera at the center position you desire in the scene
  2. Set MovingRange (translation range) and RotRange (rotation range)
  3. Click the Boot Refresh button
  4. The system automatically calculates InitialPosition and EndPosition (based on current position ± MovingRange/2)
  5. The system automatically calculates InitialRotation and EndRotation (based on current rotation ± RotRange/2)

4.3 Translation Range

Parameter Description Default Unit
Moving Range Translation range for X/Y/Z three axes (total range) (0, 0, 0) cm
Initial Position Start of translation range (system auto-calculated, read-only) (0, 0, 0) cm
End Position End of translation range (system auto-calculated, read-only) (0, 0, 0) cm

Translation Mapping:

Actual Position = Lerp(InitialPosition, EndPosition, DMX Value)

Where the DMX value is normalized 0.0 ~ 1.0:

  • 0.0 → at InitialPosition (range start)
  • 0.5 → at center position (initial placement position)
  • 1.0 → at EndPosition (range end)

Example:

  • Camera placed at (500, 0, 300)
  • Moving Range set to (200, 100, 50)
  • After Boot Refresh: InitialPosition = (400, -50, 275), EndPosition = (600, 50, 325)
  • DMX PosX = 0.0 → X = 400, DMX PosX = 1.0 → X = 600

4.4 Rotation Range

Parameter Description Default Unit
Rot Range Pitch/Yaw/Roll three-axis rotation range (total range) (180, 360, 90) degrees
Initial Rotation Start of rotation range (system auto-calculated, read-only) (0, 0, 0) degrees
End Rotation End of rotation range (system auto-calculated, read-only) (0, 0, 0) degrees

Rotation Mapping:

Actual Rotation = Lerp(InitialRotation, EndRotation, DMX Value)

Default Rot Range = (180, 360, 90) Meaning:

  • Pitch: ±90°, total range 180°
  • Yaw: ±180°, total range 360° (full rotation capability)
  • Roll: ±45°, total range 90°

4.5 Lens Parameter Ranges

Parameter Description Default Unit
FOV Range FOV range (min, max) (15.0, 120.0) degrees
Aperture Range Aperture range (min, max) (1.2, 22.0) f-stop
Focus Distance Range Focus distance range (min, max) (50.0, 100000.0) cm

Mapping Method (same as translation/rotation):

Actual FOV = Lerp(FOVRange.Min, FOVRange.Max, DMX Value)
Actual Aperture = Lerp(ApertureRange.Min, ApertureRange.Max, DMX Value)
Actual Focus Distance = Lerp(FocusDistanceRange.Min, FocusDistanceRange.Max, DMX Value)

4.6 Interpolation Speed

Parameter Description Default Range
Camera Param Speed Interpolation speed for camera parameter changes 3.0 0.0 - 10.0
  • Larger value → faster response (more direct)
  • Smaller value → slower response (smoother but with delay)
  • Value = 0 → no movement (locked)
  • Value = 10 → almost no delay

Tip: Recommended 3.0 ~ 5.0 for a balance between responsiveness and smoothness.

5. Render Output Configuration

SuperDMXCamera can render camera view to a RenderTarget for display on LED screens, monitors, etc.

Parameter Description Default
Render Target Render target texture (UTextureRenderTarget2D) None
Render Resolution Render resolution 1920 × 1080
Enable Scene Capture Whether to enable scene capture rendering False

5.1 Setup Steps

  1. Create a Render Target asset in the Content Browser
  2. Assign it to the camera’s Render Target property
  3. Set the desired Render Resolution
  4. Set Enable Scene Capture to True
  5. Apply the Render Target to a material in the scene (e.g., LED screen panel material)

Performance Tip: Scene capture consumes additional GPU resources. If render output is not needed, keep Enable Scene Capture at False.

6. Control Parameters (Runtime Values)

In the C.ControlParameter group of the Details panel, you can see the current control parameter values. These values are typically driven by DMX signals but can also be manually adjusted in the editor for testing:

6.1 Translation Control

Parameter Description Range Default
PosX X-axis position (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5 (center)
PosY Y-axis position (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5 (center)
PosZ Z-axis position (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5 (center)

6.2 Rotation Control

Parameter Description Range Default
RotX Pitch rotation (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5 (straight forward)
RotY Yaw rotation (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5 (straight forward)
RotZ Roll rotation (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5 (level)

6.3 Lens Control

Parameter Description Range Default
FOV Field of view (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5
Aperture Aperture (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5
Focus Distance Focus distance (normalized) 0.0 - 1.0 0.5

All control parameters are normalized 0.0 ~ 1.0 values. The system automatically maps them to actual physical values based on the previously set ranges.

7. Cache Information (Read-Only)

In the A.Cache Info group of the Details panel, you can view the current actual physical values (after interpolation smoothing):

Parameter Description Unit
CurrentPosX/Y/Z Current actual position cm
CurrentRotX/Y/Z Current actual rotation degrees
CurrentFOV Current actual FOV degrees
CurrentAperture Current actual aperture f-stop
CurrentFocusDistance Current actual focus distance cm

These values are read-only, primarily used for debugging and monitoring.

8. Blueprint Control Functions

SuperDMXCamera provides two core blueprint functions for DMX control:

8.1 DMXCameraControl (Motion Control)

Controls the camera’s 6-axis motion:

Input Parameter Description
DmxXPos DMX attribute for X-axis translation
DmxYPos DMX attribute for Y-axis translation
DmxZPos DMX attribute for Z-axis translation
DmxXRot DMX attribute for Pitch rotation
DmxYRot DMX attribute for Yaw rotation
DmxZRot DMX attribute for Roll rotation

8.2 DMXCameraParams (Lens Parameter Control)

Controls the camera’s lens parameters:

Input Parameter Description
DmxFOV DMX attribute for FOV
DmxAperture DMX attribute for Aperture
DmxFocusDistance DMX attribute for Focus Distance

8.3 Typical Blueprint Implementation

Event SuperDMXTick(DeltaTime)
  │
  ├─ DMXCameraControl(PosX, PosY, PosZ, RotX, RotY, RotZ)
  └─ DMXCameraParams(FOV, Aperture, FocusDistance)

9. DMX Channel Planning Recommendations

One SuperDMXCamera requires 9 basic DMX attributes. Using 16-bit precision (recommended), it requires 18 channels:

Channel Attribute Precision Description
1-2 PosX 16-bit X-axis translation
3-4 PosY 16-bit Y-axis translation
5-6 PosZ 16-bit Z-axis translation
7-8 RotX 16-bit Pitch rotation
9-10 RotY 16-bit Yaw rotation
11-12 RotZ 16-bit Roll rotation
13-14 FOV 16-bit Field of view
15-16 Aperture 16-bit Aperture
17-18 FocusDistance 16-bit Focus distance

Tip: If fine control isn’t needed, 8-bit precision (9 channels) can be used, but motion may not be smooth enough.

10. Usage Steps Summary

  1. Place Camera — Drag SuperDMXCamera into the scene at your desired center position
  2. Set Ranges — Configure MovingRange, RotRange, FOVRange, ApertureRange, FocusDistanceRange
  3. Initialize — Click Boot Refresh to auto-calculate start/end ranges
  4. Configure Fixture Library — Create or select a fixture library containing 9 attributes
  5. Set Patch — Assign Universe and Start Address
  6. Start — Set Start to True
  7. (Optional) Configure Render Output — Set RenderTarget and Enable Scene Capture
  8. Send Signals from Console — Push corresponding channel faders; the camera should begin responding

11. FAQ

Q: Camera not responding to DMX signals?

  1. Check if Start is set to True
  2. Check if Boot Refresh was clicked
  3. Confirm DMX network is correctly configured (see 01 - Network Configuration)
  4. Confirm fixture library and Patch configuration are correct

Q: Camera movement jittery?

  • Increase Camera Param Speed value (makes movement smoother)
  • Or use 16-bit precision DMX attributes (reduces quantization error)

Q: Camera movement range wrong?

  • Re-adjust MovingRange / RotRange
  • Re-click Boot Refresh to update calculations

Q: Render output shows black?

  • Confirm Enable Scene Capture is True
  • Confirm Render Target is correctly assigned
  • Confirm Render Target resolution is set correctly

Next Steps: Read 06 - DMX Activity Monitor to learn how to monitor DMX channel data in real-time.