Introduction to ARTNET

Art-Net is a DMX-over-Ethernet protocol that carries DMX and RDM data across standard Ethernet networks using UDP packets, allowing a single network to manage multiple DMX universes at once. Introduced in 1998, the protocol addresses up to 32,768 universes through the combination of Net, Sub-Net, and Universe values, with each universe carrying 512 DMX channels.
Chromateq software detects Art-Net nodes on the network and lets users map each of its software universes to the physical ports of connected fixtures. Illustration 1 : General wiring diagram

Illustration 2 : Stand-alone Art-Net wiring diagram

Illustration 3 : Master/Slave Stand-alone wiring diagram

Chromateq software and hardware solutions are designed to facilitate the process of designing and programming ArtNet-based lighting systems. Becoming familiar with the terminology used when describing ArtNet systems will be helpful to understanding the functionality and features of Chromateq control solutions, which are based on industry-standard rules for ArtNet implementation.

The Artnet Protocol

Version	Year	Key change
Art-Net 1	1998	Data broadcast over 10BaseT networks; simple configuration but the number of universes was limited by bandwidth
Art-Net 2	2006	Unicasting introduced to reduce network load, increase bandwidth, and control more universes
Art-Net 3	2011	Further increase in the number of controllable universes
Art-Net 4	2016	Enabled combined use of sACN with Art-Net (and RDM) for enhanced control capabilities

Basic Artnet Deployment

Configuration:
ArtNet protocol typically requires a subnet mask setting of 255.0.0.0 with an IP address in the range of 2.x.x.x.

As such, ArtNet compatible fixtures tend to have a default IP address of 2.x.x.x. But, in reality, default addressing may sometimes differ, and for this reason, Chromateq software allows Art-Net frames to be sent over any network configuration. However,
it is necessary to check the compatibility between the configuration of your ArtNet fixtures and your computer. Be careful to apply the same subnet mask with common class for each fixture on the network or the fixtures will not be discovered.

Examples:
If you are using an Art-Net fixture with the IP address 2.0.0.4. and a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0, your computer should have a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0 with an IP address 2.x.x.x (for example, 2.0.0.5).

If you are using an Art-Net fixture with the IP address 192.168.0.4 and a subnet
mask of 255.255.255.0, your computer shall have a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 with an IP address 192.168.0.x (for example, 192.168.0.5)

Fixture IP address	Fixture subnet mask	Computer subnet mask	Example computer IP
2.0.0.4	255.0.0.0	255.0.0.0	2.0.0.5
192.168.0.4	255.255.255.0	255.255.255.0	192.168.0.5

Configuration From Windows

Open the Network and sharing center and click on the Ethernet link (you have to connect a device to the Ethernet port of your computer to allow the Ethernet network to be visible).

Click on Properties, then double click on Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) :

Finally, select Use the Following IP address and enter your IP address and the correct subnet mask:

Your computer is now configured and you can use our software to communicate with Art-Net devices.

Software Settings

From the Tool/Options menu, select the Art-Net page.
To detect the devices on the network, click « Refresh».

An Art-Net device is represented by a node which contains many ports, each port can receive 1 DMX universe. A simple Art-Net fixture shall be shown as a single port while an Art-Net convertor/ DMX with 4 DMX outputs for example shall be shown as a 4 ports.

Add a virtual Node

Add a virtual node will depend on the equipment installed,

It is possible that the Art-Net/DMX converter does no respond to all the node and respond only to its first
node (refers to the manufacturer notice). In this case, user must add a virtual node manually from the
software to create the other nodes (not detected).

To manually add a virtual node from the software, you must specify the correct IP address of the fixture, its
sub network, its Art-Net universe and the number of ports used (Universe DMX).

NB: With a fixture of several node, the Art-Net protocol uses consecutive universes for each of its ports.
That is why it is needed to inform one universe only (the one which belongs to the device, same as for the SubNet).
However, it is possible to send any software universe to each used port.

DMX Universes

For each fixture, you can choose the DMX universes of the software you want to send on the network.

Select the relevant node in the list, then for each port choose which software universe should be applied