See Rear Panel in Hardware Overview for port locations.
Cognito has two DMX512 output ports and one DMX In. The output ports transmit DMX control data to the lights and other equipment capable of receiving and responding to DMX. Setup which port is assigned to which range of DMX slots in the patch in SETUP | INPUT / OUTPUT | DMX OUTPUT.
You can also set the DMX Flavor. Typically you should use Fast, but some legacy DMX products may perform better with Medium or Slow speeds. Newer LED products perform best on Maximum.
The DMX512 Input allows Cognito to receive DMX from another source to run Memories and Actions. See DMX In .
Cognito also supports DMX-over-Ethernet protocols. These protocols transmit the same DMX information as the XLR ports, at the same time, through the Ethernet port. The Starter model supports only Pathport Protocol, while the Pro models also support the Art-Net, E1.31 sACN and KiNet. Additional hardware, such as a Pathport gateway, is required to convert this signal to DMX512.
Each protocol may be turned off, or its base universe offset changed, from SETUP | INPUT/OUTPUT | NETWORK DMX. If more than one protocol is active, identical DMX values are transmitted on each.
MIDI ports are enabled on Pro models.
MIDI Show Control (MSC) commands can link two Cognitos together so that a Go on one desk triggers a Go on the backup console. Many other lighting console manufacturers and other show control devices can send and receive MSC. See MSC - Midi Show Control.
Cognito can receive Timecode from other devices and Playlists can be synchronized to chase that timecode. See Midi Timecode
Cognito can send user-specific MIDI Notes, data or MSC strings whenever a cue is triggered, using Actions.
The serial port is enabled on Pro models. You may use RS232 to control the console through its API.
The Contact Closures are enabled on Pro models. The same DB9 port provides three dry contact interface to trigger Memory bump buttons.
NOTE: You can add up to 16 Actions to any Memory to perform many different functions from running a cue, disabling outputs to even shutting down the console. This is the pinout for the three contact closures:
To assign a Memory to contact closure, go to SETUP | INPUT/OUTPUT | CONTACT INPUT.