FTSLED Cerise: The Compact CRMX Transmitter
Wireless lighting control has come a long way in recent years, but the tools gaffers actually use on set haven't always kept pace. Bulky transmitters, dead batteries at the wrong moment, fiddly Bluetooth connections that fall apart the second you're on a busy set... it's a familiar list of frustrations. FTSLED set out to address all of that with the Cerise.
What Is the FTSLED Cerise?
The Cerise is a compact CRMX transmitter designed to work with an iPad (or Mac/PC), connecting via a single USB-C cable. Plug it in, open your lighting control app of choice - Blackout Lighting Console, Luminair, or similar - and you're transmitting CRMX wirelessly. No pairing rituals, no Bluetooth dropouts, no batteries to charge overnight. It boots in around seven seconds and simply works.
It comes in three variants - the 1U, 2U Pro Wired, and 4U Pro Wired - each stepping up in universe count and connectivity depending on the scale of your job.
The Models
The Cerise 1U is the entry point - one CRMX universe, USB-C connection, and external antenna in a remarkably small package (82 × 77 × 20mm, 125g). Clean, reliable wireless output from your iPad with nothing unnecessary on your cart.
The Cerise 2U Pro Wired adds a second CRMX universe and four additional wired DMX universes via an included RJ45-to-XLR breakout adapter - six universes total from one device. It also gains an Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet support, so it can be run from a console network or a PoE switch in your rig with no separate power cable needed.
The Cerise 4U Pro Wired is where things get serious. Four CRMX universes plus four wired, giving you eight universes total from a unit that's barely larger than a big phone. Same PoE-capable Ethernet, simultaneous Art-Net and sACN support. Strap it to the back of your iPad and you're walking around with a genuinely powerful wireless console in your hand.
The Web GUI
The built-in web interface, accessible from any browser at the device's USB IP address, gives you per-universe settings, universe merge modes, a 512-channel DMX console per universe, RF spectrum analysis, and CRMX linking key management. The linking key feature is particularly handy for larger rigs: pre-configure fixtures with the key before the transmitter arrives on set, and they'll automatically lock on when it does. No need to carry the transmitter around for the link process.
RDM support is also in development - when it arrives, it will allow fixture stats (temperature, battery level, etc.) and remote address/mode changes directly from the web GUI, without anyone needing to climb a ladder or cross a set.
App Compatibility
Cerise has been validated with Blackout Lighting Console and Luminair, with detailed setup guides available on the FTSLED website for both. Via its Ethernet port it's compatible with all major console brands using Art-Net or sACN, and it also works with LumenRadio CRMX Toolbox for linking and firmware updates.
Available Now from Pro Gear
The Cerise 1U, 2U Pro Wired, and 4U Pro Wired are all available now through Pro Gear - your UK source for the full FTSLED range.
In addition, we also stock G-Works iPad cases specifically made for use with the Cerise. It comes with a 3/8" mounting thread for stand use, an included micro V-mount plate, and a carry strap, and is available in sizes to fit most current iPad Pro and iPad Air models. If you're building a proper walk-around rig with the Cerise, this is the natural companion piece.