Art-Net Setup

Art-Net is the standard protocol for sending DMX over Ethernet. This guide covers setup and configuration.

What is Art-Net?

Art-Net sends DMX512 data over standard Ethernet networks:

• Multiple universes over one cable
• Long-distance runs (100m per segment)
• Easy integration with network infrastructure
• Industry standard compatibility

Requirements

Hardware

• Mac with Ethernet (built-in or adapter)
• Art-Net node (converts to DMX)
• Ethernet switch (for multiple nodes)
• Ethernet cables

Network

• All devices on the same subnet
• Recommended: 2.x.x.x or 10.x.x.x range
• Static IPs for production use

Basic Setup

Step 1: Physical Connection

1. Connect your Mac to the network switch
2. Connect Art-Net nodes to the same switch
3. Power on all devices

Step 2: Configure Mac Network

1. Open System Preferences > Network
2. Select your Ethernet interface
3. Set to:
   • Configure IPv4: Manually
   • IP Address: 2.0.0.1 (or your preference)
   • Subnet Mask: 255.0.0.0
4. Click Apply

Step 3: Configure Art-Net Node

Using your node's configuration tool:

1. Set IP in same subnet (e.g., 2.0.0.2)
2. Configure universe assignment
3. Set to Art-Net output mode

Step 4: Configure Spectralite

1. Open Settings > Network
2. Select your Ethernet interface
3. Enable Art-Net Output
4. Set the subnet and universe

Step 5: Verify Connection

1. Open Window > Discovered Clients
2. Your node should appear
3. If not, check network settings

Universe Configuration

In Spectralite

1. Go to Settings > Output
2. Add universes as needed
3. For each universe, set:
   • Net: Usually 0
   • Subnet: Usually 0
   • Universe: 0-15 per subnet

Art-Net Addressing

Art-Net uses a hierarchy:

• Net: 0-127 (usually 0)
• Subnet: 0-15
• Universe: 0-15

This gives 32,768 possible universes.

Simple Setup

For most shows:

• Net: 0
• Subnet: 0
• Universe: 0, 1, 2, 3...

Multiple Nodes

Same Universe to Multiple Nodes

For backup or distribution:

1. Configure both nodes for the same universe
2. Both receive identical data
3. Useful for redundancy

Different Universes

Each node handles specific universes:

1. Node A: Universes 0-3
2. Node B: Universes 4-7
3. Configure in each node's settings

Broadcast vs. Unicast

Broadcast (Default)

• Sent to all devices on subnet
• Simple setup
• Higher network traffic

Unicast

• Sent to specific IP addresses
• Lower network traffic
• Requires configuration per node

To configure unicast:

1. Go to Settings > Output
2. For each universe, set Destination IP
3. Enter the node's IP address

Troubleshooting

Node Not Discovered

1. Verify physical connection
2. Check IP addresses are in same subnet
3. Disable firewall temporarily
4. Try pinging the node

No Output

1. Verify universe configuration matches
2. Check fixture addresses in Spectralite
3. Confirm node is in output mode
4. Test with node's built-in test function

Intermittent Output

1. Check for IP conflicts
2. Verify cable quality
3. Monitor network traffic
4. Consider dedicated network

Latency

1. Use wired Ethernet (not WiFi)
2. Reduce network congestion
3. Use gigabit equipment
4. Consider unicast for large installations

Advanced Configuration

Multiple Network Interfaces

If using multiple networks:

1. Configure each interface with different subnet
2. Assign universes to specific interfaces
3. Isolate traffic for reliability

sACN (Streaming ACN)

Spectralite also supports sACN:

1. Go to Settings > Output
2. Select sACN for the universe
3. Configure multicast or unicast

RDM over Art-Net

For RDM-capable nodes:

1. Enable RDM in node settings
2. Discover fixtures via Spectralite
3. Configure fixtures remotely

Related

• Discovered Clients - View network devices
• Address Space - Manage universes
• Troubleshooting - Fix common issues