Simple Guide to ArtNet
Art-Net was created by Artistic Licence to overcome the channel restriction of DMX while still utilizing its structure. It allows multiple DMX universes to be transported over a single Cat5 cable using ethernet technology. Using DMX over ethernet is something we are going to need more and more.
First thing to realise with ArtNet is that all equipment must be in the IP address range 2.x.x.x or preferably 10.x.x.x with a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0. Use the 2 or 10 address range but not both on the same network. Turn off any DHCP settings or auto IP addresses.
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Every item on the network will require a unique IP address. For example, your console may be on 10.0.0.1, and your nodes may be on 10.0.0.100, 10.0.0.110, 10.0.0.120. Its a good idea to leave gaps in the addresses you use as some equipment uses more than one IP address.
Each DMX universe is then given an ArtNet assignment on the network, this is two numbers in hexadecimal. The first digit is called the ArtNet Subnet and the second is the ArtNet address. They start at 0 and continue to 15 or sometimes in alphabetical letters from 9, A, B, C, D, E, F. The first ArtNet universe is 0.0 then 0.1 all the way to 0.15 then 1.0, and then 1.1 etc. Some equipment start at ArtNet 0 and keep counting to 256, most use the two digit format. These number have nothing to do with the IP Address or Subnet mask of the network.
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After you get your DMX on to the network as ArtNet you will need a way to convert it back to DMX. Most media servers and some lights can take ArtNet directly in. However most lights will need DMX and that's where you use a "node". This is basically a piece of equipment you give an IP address to and then assign an ArtNet address to one of the outputs. Some nodes need a laptop to assign ArtNet values to an output most can be set via a front menu. Some nodes with more then four outputs will use two IP addresses, these must not be the same and must be unique.
This is a very simple guide to get you started but if you want more, feel free to contact us as we often run ArtNet and sACN network training sessions.
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Terminology:
Node: A device that translates DMX512 to or from Art-Net is referred to as a Node.
Port-Address: one of the 32,768 possible addresses to which a DMX universe can be directed. The Port-Address is composed of Sub-Net + Universe.
Sub-Net: A group of 16 consecutive universes is referred to as a sub-net. (Not to be confused with the IP subnet mask).
Universe: A single DMX512 frame of 512 channels is referred to as a Universe (or some times refered to as a Stream).
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