How to Use Art-Net
What is Art-Net?
Art-Net is more complex to configure than a simple USB interface, but is a far more flexible way to get DMX data from Show Buddy Active to your lights.
With Art-Net, Show Buddy Active can transmit DMX data directly from the computer via a standard Ethernet network. In practice, this means you can control your lighting wirelessly. You can also control a larger number of universes and have more flexibility on how you design your lighting rig.
To get Art-Net data into your lights, you use hardware devices known as an Art-Net nodes. These can turn the ArtNet data into a DMX signal (which you then plug into your lights). Art-Net nodes are also available which wirelessly convert Art-Net data for strips of pixel tape. With Art-Net, you have much more flexibility in how you design and connect your lighting system.
The following lighting rig uses an Art-Net node instead of a USB-to-DMX hardware box.
Using Art-Net in Show Buddy Active
To add Art-Net connections in Show Buddy Active, follow these steps:
- Select “Configure universes” on the bottom right of the “Controls” tab
- Click “New Art-Net output…“
- Select “Unicast” from the drop-down menu, and enter the IP address of your Art-Net node
- Enable the universe numbers you wish to transmit to Art-Net
Recommended Art-Net nodes
There are many different Art-Net nodes available that would be suitable. Here are some that we recommend: