What is Art-Net?
Art-Net is an Ethernet-based protocol for transporting DMX512 and RDM lighting data over IP networks.
Introduction
Art-Net is an open protocol developed by Artistic Licence for transmitting DMX512-A and RDM lighting data over Ethernet. It is widely used in entertainment lighting, architectural lighting, media systems, and installations that need to connect lighting controllers to networked gateways or fixtures.
Art-Net allows a lighting console or software application to distribute DMX channel data across an IP network. An Art-Net node can then convert the network data into physical DMX512 outputs for connected fixtures.
How Art-Net works
Art-Net uses UDP communication, normally on port 6454. Lighting data is organized into universes, with each universe carrying up to 512 DMX channels. A network node subscribes to the universes it needs and maps them to its DMX inputs or outputs.
Universe addressing uses the Art-Net Net, Sub-Net, and Universe fields. The addressing plan should be documented so that the controller, network nodes, and fixtures all use the same universe assignments.
Art-Net can use broadcast or unicast delivery depending on the implementation and network design. Unicast can reduce unnecessary traffic when only a few nodes need a particular universe. Managed switches and network segmentation should be configured to support the selected delivery method.
Discovery and synchronization
Art-Net includes discovery messages that allow controllers to identify Art-Net nodes and inspect their available ports. This can simplify commissioning and help operators confirm which devices are present on the network.
Synchronization features allow a controller to coordinate updates across multiple universes. This is useful when several DMX outputs must change together without visible timing differences between universes.
Art-Net can also transport RDM messages for supported devices. RDM provides bidirectional communication for tasks such as device discovery, status monitoring, and remote configuration.
Art-Net and DMX512
DMX512 is the physical lighting interface commonly used between a gateway and fixtures, while Art-Net carries DMX data across Ethernet. An Art-Net-to-DMX gateway converts one or more network universes into physical DMX512 outputs.
A reliable installation should document DMX addresses, fixture modes, universe assignments, channel offsets, output ports, and the network topology. Art-Net transports the channel data but does not define the fixture functions or the meaning of every channel.
Art-Net and sACN
Art-Net and sACN are both commonly used to transport DMX512 data over IP networks. Art-Net uses its own packet format, addressing model, discovery tools, and UDP port. sACN is defined by ANSI E1.31 and provides features such as stream priority and synchronization through the ACN framework.
The protocol should be selected based on the controller and gateway capabilities, network requirements, interoperability needs, and the features required by the lighting system. Avoid sending the same universe from competing sources unless the system has a deliberate priority or source-management strategy.
Art-Net in building and architectural lighting
Art-Net is useful for architectural and entertainment lighting systems distributed across multiple rooms, floors, or buildings. For dependable operation, document the universe plan, delivery method, switch configuration, backup behavior, and the fallback state used when a controller or network connection is unavailable.