Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum

Summary: Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum

Pro AV cabling that installs cleanly and performs reliably
Windy City Wire manufactures low-voltage SmartWire cables in the United States for commercial and industrial ProAV integration. Our shielded, low-capacitance plenum constructions are built to support balanced digital audio, device control, and show-critical communications in air-handling spaces, giving AV contractors dependable signal integrity and consistent, repeatable outcomes on every project.

Built for modern AV signals and control
SmartWire balanced pairs are tuned for 120-ohm applications such as AES/EBU digital audio, DMX512 lighting control, and RS‑485-based protocols used in building systems. Low-capacitance designs help maintain clear, stable transmission over longer runs, while tinned copper conductors support long-term durability in challenging commercial environments.

• Plenum-rated performance: CMP and CL3P/CMP listings support use in return-air spaces while meeting UL requirements (UL Subject 444 where applicable).
• Noise mitigation: Shielded constructions, including options with electrostatic pair shield (EPS), provide effective rejection of EMI/RFI in dense equipment rooms and above-ceiling pathways.
• Consistent installation experience: SmartWire Glide lubrication reduces cable-pulling friction by up to 70%, helping crews complete pulls with fewer reworks.
• Application-ready impedance: 120-ohm balanced pairs align with common ProAV and control protocols (AES/EBU, DMX512, RS‑485).
• Identification in the field: Common pair color codes include Black/Red, White-Blue/Blue, and White-Orange/Orange, with a black overall jacket to streamline device terminations and documentation.
• Custom appearance: Standard and custom jacket/stripe color combinations are available to match your organization’s standards and simplify service identification across projects.
• All low-voltage: Every cable we build is low-voltage, aligning with ProAV, control, and communications needs.

Where these ProAV cables excel
Use SmartWire balanced pairs for digital audio transport between DSPs, amplifiers, and endpoints; DMX512 lighting universes; RS‑485-based device control; intercom and paging triggers; and backbone control lines for AV systems in corporate, education, hospitality, houses of worship, and entertainment venues. For broader system designs, Windy City Wire also supplies complementary categories such as digital coax cable for video distribution, digital antenna wire and cable for RF sources, and automation and lighting cable for building systems—ensuring your pro av cable selections align across the full system architecture. If your projects include signage, streaming, or matrixed AV transport, explore our digital media cable wire options as part of a cohesive, low-voltage solution set.

Why choose Windy City Wire for your next AV build
We focus on products and solutions that reduce risk and streamline installation for professional integrators. SmartWire is manufactured in the U.S., engineered for consistent electrical performance, and supported by construction choices that help your teams design, pull, and terminate with confidence. From shielding options to color identification and friction-reducing SmartWire Glide lubrication, our portfolio is built to help you finish on schedule and maintain long-term system stability.

Summary: Value for ProAV contractors
Windy City Wire delivers ProAV-ready SmartWire constructions that balance electrical performance with field efficiency—helping contractors minimize callbacks, maintain signal quality, and standardize builds across facilities. Count on plenum-rated, low-capacitance, shielded cables with practical features that keep projects moving and systems performing.

Available constructions

• 24 AWG 1 Pair Tinned Copper Shielded Plenum Low-Cap CMP: 120‑ohm balanced pair for AES/EBU, DMX512, and RS‑485 control in plenum spaces; tinned copper conductors support long-term reliability. Optional EPS shielding enhances noise immunity; common pair ID is Black/Red with a black overall jacket.
• 24 AWG 2 Pair Tinned Copper Shielded Plenum Low-Cap CL3P/CMP (UL Subject 444): Two balanced pairs for stereo digital audio, device control, or redundant paths in a single pull, optimized for 120‑ohm balanced data and audio in plenum environments. Pair identification options include White-Blue/Blue and White-Orange/Orange under a black jacket; EPS shielding available.

Talk with our team
Need help matching impedances, capacitance targets, or shielding to your environment? Contact Windy City Wire to configure SmartWire constructions and jacket/stripe colors that align with your ProAV standards and keep your next project on track.

Solutions: Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum

Lighting Control Cable AES/DMX Plenum for Professional AV

Windy City Wire supplies plenum-rated AES/DMX control cabling purpose-built for modern professional AV environments. Designed around 120-ohm digital signal requirements, this low-capacitance, shielded control cable supports DMX-512/RDM lighting control and AES/EBU digital audio with consistent performance in return-air spaces. Tinned copper conductors and an overall shield help preserve signal integrity in electrically noisy commercial facilities, while UL listings for CMP and CL3P address common specification and code requirements for plenum installations.

Where this pro av cable fits in your systems

• Entertainment and theatrical lighting: DMX-512 and RDM control runs from lighting consoles and gateways to dimmer racks, distribution nodes, LED fixtures, moving heads, and architectural controllers in theaters, performance venues, houses of worship, and touring stages.
• Architectural and building lighting control: Reliable control links for tunable white, RGBW fixtures, and façade lighting. Ideal as an automation and lighting cable within control enclosures, plenum ceilings, and equipment rooms, supporting integration with centralized processors and expansion interfaces.
• AES/EBU digital audio transport: 120-ohm balanced links between mixing consoles, DSPs, stage boxes, format converters, and amplifiers. Stable impedance and shielding help minimize jitter and noise in mission-critical audio paths.
• LED walls and experiential installations: Control signal distribution for media-rich environments, museums, attractions, and retail experiences where DMX or AES links run near high-current LED drivers and power supplies.
• Enterprise and education AV: Conference centers, universities, and corporate campuses with plenum returns benefit from code-compliant control wiring for auditoriums, divisible rooms, and lecture halls.
• Hospitality and gaming: Distributed lighting control in hotels, resorts, restaurants, and casinos, including back-of-house equipment rooms and public spaces requiring quiet, interference-resistant control lines.
• Healthcare and government facilities: Plenum-approved control cabling for training rooms, meeting spaces, and auditoriums where documentation, safety, and long-term reliability are priorities.
• Transportation and large venues: Arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and transit hubs where long control runs must coexist with HVAC, VFDs, and other sources of EMI.

Why spec this cable for DMX and AES/EBU

• Signal integrity in demanding spaces: A consistent 120-ohm balanced design and low-capacitance insulation help maintain waveform fidelity for RS-485 (DMX-512/RDM) and AES/EBU digital audio across long runs and multiple fixtures.
• Noise immunity: An overall shield and drain mitigate interference from dimmer racks, LED drivers, elevators, motors, and building electrical systems—common challenges in commercial AV builds.
• Secure, long-lasting terminations: Tinned copper conductors provide corrosion resistance and stable connections at XLR, terminal blocks, and barrier strips.
• Plenum compliance: UL Listed C(UL)US CMP and UL Subject 444 Type CL3P/CMP support use in return-air spaces, aligning with typical consultant specifications and many jurisdictional requirements.
• Clear identification: Multiple conductor color options—such as Black/Red, White-Blue/Blue, and White-Orange/Orange—streamline installation, testing, and service across complex control networks. A black outer jacket blends well with stage and architectural environments.
• 1-pair and 2-pair flexibility: Select 1-pair for a single DMX universe or one AES channel; choose 2-pair for dual-universe DMX, DMX plus a spare, or two AES channels within a single pull, simplifying rack-to-field wiring.

Common AV integrations

• Lighting control networks: DMX-512 and RDM links from controllers and Ethernet-to-DMX gateways to fixtures, splitters, and opto-isolators.
• Audio systems: AES/EBU digital feeds between consoles, DSPs, and amplifiers; sync and control lines where 120-ohm balanced cabling is required.
• Show control and automation: Interface wiring for timecode converters, media servers, and lighting processors where robust, shielded control lines reduce troubleshooting.
• Mixed-technology racks: Complements other signal types (for example, HDMI-over-structured cabling or fiber). While this is not a digital coax cable or digital antenna wire and cable, it works alongside those media types in integrated AV headends.

Installation guidance for contractors and integrators

• Pair count planning: Reserve a second pair for future DMX universes, emergency bypass, or additional AES channels to reduce rework in evolving venues.
• Segregation from power: Maintain separation from branch circuits, drivers, and ballasts. The shield adds protection, but good pathway design further improves reliability.
• Grounding and termination: Follow manufacturer and standards guidance for RS-485 and AES/EBU terminations, including 120-ohm termination at endpoints and appropriate shield bonding practices.
• Connectorization: Compatible with common 3-pin/5-pin XLR, terminal blocks, and barrier strips specified for DMX and AES infrastructure.
• Documentation: Clearly label runs by function and universe/channel to assist commissioning and service teams in complex systems.

Who benefits

• Electrical contractors and AV integrators: A single, plenum-rated control cable type that satisfies both DMX and AES requirements simplifies takeoffs and reduces SKU count.
• Consultants and specifiers: A straightforward path to writing “120-ohm, shielded, low-capacitance, plenum-rated” into project documents with UL listings aligned to common compliance needs.
• Facility and production teams: Stable, interference-resistant control links that support predictable show operation and reduced maintenance.

How this category complements other AV cabling

In full system designs, AES/DMX control lines often coexist with video distribution and RF systems. Use this plenum-rated pro av cable for balanced digital control and audio paths, while specifying the appropriate digital media cable wire for video transports or the correct digital coax cable and digital antenna wire and cable for RF distribution. Selecting the right medium for each signal ensures end-to-end performance across the AV ecosystem.

Key takeaways

• Purpose-built 120-ohm, shielded, low-capacitance control cabling for DMX-512/RDM and AES/EBU in plenum spaces.
• Available in 1-pair and 2-pair constructions to match lighting and audio channel needs.
• UL Listed C(UL)US CMP and UL Subject 444 Type CL3P/CMP for broad commercial acceptance.
• Conductor color options and a black outer jacket aid identification and aesthetics in professional environments.
• Ideal as an automation and lighting cable within multi-discipline AV projects across entertainment, enterprise, education, hospitality, healthcare, and public venues.

For project support, specification assistance, and product selection guidance, our team can help align cable choice with system topology, code requirements, and installation practices for dependable, scalable AV control networks.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum cable?
  24 AWG tinned copper conductors, offered in 1-pair and 2-pair shielded, plenum-rated, low-capacitance constructions (120-ohm for AES/EBU and DMX512).
• What other colors is this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum cable available in?
  Available pair color codes: Black/Red, White-Blue/Blue, and White-Orange/Orange.
• Is this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  Stranded tinned copper conductors for flexibility and reliable signal performance.
• What length is this SmartWire Lighting Control Cable AES DMX Plenum cable sold in?
  1,000 ft. At Windy City Wire we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft length as our standard length.
• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold on spools or in boxes?
  Our SmartWire ProAV cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to streamline pulling and installation. Learn more about our RackPack

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you