This page compares DMX Core 100 with the Pharos Designer LPC 1, LPC 2 and LPC 4. Pharos also offers an Express range for smaller projects. DMX Core 100 does not program Pharos controllers, and an LPC has many advanced capabilities that are not listed here.
This page is about Pharos Controls, the architectural lighting company. Points in the Pharos column are taken from pharoscontrols.com, including the LPC product page, Designer 2 download page, IO module library, TPS touch-panel pages, Q-SYS plugin documentation, and Pharos Cloud help. Where a point is not documented there, it is left out.
LPC 1, LPC 2 and LPC 4 only. The LPC X and VLC are other Pharos Designer controllers and are not filled in below.
| Topic | DMX Core 100 | Pharos LPC 1 / 2 / 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 software (800 universes) $399 software (8 universes) · $999 appliance |
See Pharos Controls. No price is published on pharoscontrols.com. |
| Output capacity | Up to 800 universes at 40 Hz | LPC 1: 512 channels. LPC 2: 1,024 channels. LPC 4: 2,048 eDMX channels, two local DMX ports. Pharos describes capacity as limited by patched channels, not universes used, and states that up to 40 Designer controllers can synchronise. |
| Programming software | Windows, macOS and Linux. The show can run in that software, or on a DMX Core touchscreen appliance. | Designer 2, for Windows and macOS. Pharos describes it as the software that programs and configures the LPC. |
| Touchscreen hardware | DMX Core touchscreen appliance | Add-on. TPS 5 and TPS 8 wall-mount touch panels are compatible with any Designer controller, including an LPC. |
| Web interface | ✓ | Built-in or custom. The web server includes a JavaScript API. |
| Art-Net, sACN, KiNet | Art-Net, sACN (E1.31), KiNet, DMX-512 | Art-Net, sACN and KiNet are listed on the LPC page, along with DMX512 on the local ports. |
| OSC | ✓ | ✓ OSC IO module. The LPC supports the IO module library. |
| MQTT | ✓ | ✓ MQTT Client IO module. |
| Q-SYS | Q-SYS and Symetrix | Q-SYS plugins for Designer. Symetrix is not stated on pharoscontrols.com. |
| HTTP API | ✓ | ✓ Documented HTTP API for Designer controllers. |
| Scripting | JavaScript | Lua in Designer Trigger. JavaScript on the web interface. |
| Integrations you can write | Open plugin SDK | IO module library. Pharos states that developers can build their own integrations with the Lua, HTTP and JavaScript APIs. |
| Permissions | 24 named permissions | Custom web interfaces: access control with multiple user levels. Pharos Cloud: permissions set per user, including per device. |
| Scheduling | Sunrise, sunset and calendar schedules | Calendar and time triggers, plus sunrise, sunset, twilight and lunar phases. |
| Timelines | ✓ | ✓ Individually controllable timelines and scenes. |
| Remote access | ✓ | Pharos Cloud, for remote status, triggers, schedules and project upload. |
| MIDI and timecode | MIDI. Art-Net timecode chase. SMPTE and MTC are not in this release. | MIDI, including MIDI timecode. Linear timecode (SMPTE, film, EBU, NTSC) via a RIO A. |
| Recorded playback | Records Art-Net, sACN, DMX-512 and KiNet, and plays the cue back on DMX Core. | Designer 2 can import DMX Record recordings onto a timeline. |
| Audio with the show | A WAV or FLAC track can be attached to a cue or timeline. DMX Core does not record audio. | The Designer 2 manual documents timeline audio output on LPC X, VLC and VLC+. The LPC page documents audio-level analysis via a RIO A. |
An LPC has many advanced capabilities beyond this list, including Designer Mapping, conditional show control, and the remote devices and protocols on the LPC page. Read those on pharoscontrols.com. Rows we could not confirm there are omitted, not marked absent.
DMX Core prices on this page are recommended prices only, and there is no obligation to comply with the recommendation. Pharos product details can change; confirm them with Pharos.
These are DMX Core 100 features. They are not a claim that an LPC lacks the same job.
DMX Core 100 runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. The same software runs on a dedicated touchscreen appliance. Software is $399 for up to 8 universes or $599 for up to 800 at 40 Hz. The appliance is $999.
Timelines, cue record and playback, sunrise and sunset schedules, and zones. Triggers include HTTP, OSC, MQTT, TCP, UDP and DMX thresholds. Scripting is JavaScript.
Art-Net, sACN, KiNet and DMX-512, plus Q-SYS, Symetrix, MIDI, Stream Deck and an open plugin SDK. Day-to-day access uses 24 named permissions.
DMX Core 100 and the Pharos Designer LPC 1, LPC 2 and LPC 4. Pharos also offers an Express range for smaller projects. This page does not describe Express features. DMX Core 100 is a separate platform: it does not program Pharos hardware. A Pharos LPC has many advanced capabilities that are not in the table.
Pharos Designer 2 is published for Windows and macOS. DMX Core 100 runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and the same software also runs on a DMX Core touchscreen appliance.
Yes. Pharos documents an OSC IO module and an MQTT Client IO module, and the LPC supports the IO module library.
Yes. Pharos publishes Q-SYS plugins for Designer, which is the software used to program an LPC.
Yes. Pharos documents three APIs developers can use to build integrations: Lua in the Designer Trigger engine, an HTTP API, and a JavaScript API for custom web interfaces. Designer also includes a library of IO modules.
Yes, as an add-on. The TPS 5 and TPS 8 are wall-mount capacitive touch panels, and Pharos states they are compatible with any Pharos Designer controller, which includes the LPC.
Pharos documents access control with multiple user levels on a custom web interface. Pharos Cloud sets permissions per user, including separate permissions per device. DMX Core 100 uses 24 named permissions.
Lua scripting in Designer Trigger on the controller, and a JavaScript API on the controller’s web interface. DMX Core 100 scripting is JavaScript.
Pharos lists the LPC 1 at 512 channels, the LPC 2 at 1,024 channels, and the LPC 4 at 2,048 eDMX channels with two local DMX ports. Capacity is described as limited by patched channels, not by universes used, and Pharos states that up to 40 Designer controllers can synchronise. DMX Core 100 supports up to 800 universes at 40 Hz. Pharos prices are not published on pharoscontrols.com.
The demo runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with no DMX Core hardware required to evaluate it.