Connecting lighting software to an Art-Net node#
Every console and lighting app lays its settings out differently, but they all come down to the same four things: the network, the protocol, the universe, and where the packets are sent. Get those right and the node will output DMX. This guide uses the dualETH's defaults as the example; the same steps apply to any node.
1. Put the computer and the node on the same network#
The node and the machine running your lighting software need addresses in the same range.
- On a network with a router (DHCP): plug both into the same switch. The node takes an address automatically; find it in your router's list of connected devices.
- Direct cable, no router: the dualETH falls back to
10.0.0.1with mask255.0.0.0when it can't find a DHCP server. Give your computer a manual address in the same range, e.g.10.0.0.2/255.0.0.0.
Check you can open http://<node-ip>/ in a browser. If the node's web page loads, the network side is done. (More detail in dualETH network setup.)
Lighting software picks a network card. Many apps output Art-Net on one network interface only. If your computer has Wi-Fi and Ethernet, make sure the software is set to the Ethernet interface the node is on.
2. Choose the protocol#
Set your software's output to Art-Net or sACN to match the node's port. If you're not sure, use Art-Net — see Art-Net vs sACN for when to switch.
3. Match the universe numbers#
This is the step that catches most people out. Art-Net and sACN number universes differently:
| Art-Net | sACN | |
|---|---|---|
| Addressing | Net / Sub-Net / Universe | single number |
| First universe | Net 0, Sub-Net 0, Universe 0 | Universe 1 |
Some software shows Art-Net universes as a single number starting at 0, some starting at 1 — check which your software uses. On the dualETH, Port A's first universe is Art-Net 0:0:0, or sACN universe 1.
4. Broadcast, unicast or multicast#
- Art-Net broadcast sends to every device on the network. Easiest to set up — nothing to configure — and fine for a small rig.
- Art-Net unicast sends to one node's IP address. Less traffic on the network; enter the node's IP in your software.
- sACN uses multicast: the node subscribes to the universes it needs, so there's no IP to enter.
5. Patch a fixture and test#
Plug a fixture into the port, patch it in your software at the right DMX address on that universe, and bring up a channel. On the dualETH, the port's TX LED flashes blue as packets arrive — if it's flashing but the fixture does nothing, the network is fine and the problem is the universe, the DMX address or the cable.
Nothing lights up?#
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Node's web page won't load | Network: the computer and node aren't in the same address range, or the software is on the wrong network interface |
| Web page loads, no packets arriving | Protocol or universe mismatch, or the software is sending to a different IP |
| Packets arriving, fixture dark | Fixture's DMX address, mode, or the DMX cable |
| Works, then flickers or drops out | Two sources sending the same universe — check the port's merge setting |
See Troubleshooting for the dualETH's own diagnostics.