URC and Axion have announced a new integration that brings Axion’s DMX lighting systems into URC’s Total Control platform. This collaboration is powered by URC’s Unified Modules framework, creating a consistent and intuitive user experience across lighting, climate, locks, shades, and scenes.
URC’s Unified Modules are designed to integrate subsystems from different manufacturers into a single, intuitive interface. For end-users, Unified Modules provide a uniform look and feel across categories, eliminating confusion when switching between lighting, climate, or shading controls. For dealers, Unified Modules streamline programming by consolidating the user interface while preserving the underlying power of two-way modules.
All Unified Modules, including this new Axion Lighting integration, are fully compatible with Accelerator 3, URC’s advanced programming platform. The framework ensures that lighting fixtures, climate systems, shade motors, locks, and scenes all share common interface elements, while still supporting discrete commands, queries, and reactions at the system level.
The Axion Lighting Unified Lighting and Scenes two-way module provides real-time IP-based control and feedback of DMX lighting systems. On startup, the module automatically queries all configured DMX channels and populates fixtures into the Unified Lighting interface. This means recessed lights, strip lighting, and specialty fixtures are presented in a clean, organized format without additional programming.
Dealers define channel assignments in the module parameters, mapping each DMX channel to a fixture name, color/dimmer role, and room designation. The system supports up to 512 channels, offering scalability for large residential or commercial projects. Fixture attributes such as color (Red, Green, Blue, White), brightness, and effect are directly linked to Unified Lighting controls.
Scenes are integrated into Unified Scenes by using the Save Scene two-way module command, which records current fixture states and stores them for recall. Once saved, scenes appear in the Unified Scenes interface alongside other automation events, allowing end-users to activate lighting environments with a single button press.
Advanced support for Axion Pixel Decoders adds flexibility for LED strip installations:
- Mode 1 treats strips as multiple segments, allowing each section to be addressed independently (ideal for architectural or decorative lighting).
- Mode 2 treats the strip as a single segment with global effect, brightness, and speed parameters. Effects can be pre-configured and retained when toggling on/off from the Unified interface.
Dealers can create advanced macros that combine lighting effects with other Total Control subsystems. For example, a macro can trigger a “Movie Night” scene by dimming Axion lights to a preset level, closing motorized shades, and activating AV equipment. The Axion driver supports discrete commands for queries and triggers, enabling conditional programming based on fixture state (power, brightness, or effect).
For more information, visit www.urc-automation.com and axionlighting.com.
