Art-Net How it works and its benefits in large scale installations. Wayne Howell Creative Director

Art-NetHow it works and its benefits in large

scale installations.

Wayne HowellCreative DirectorArtistic Licence

Art-Net at PLASA09 by Wayne Howell

Artistic Licence

Wayne Howell

• Creative Director Artistic Licence• Inventor of Art-Net• Active in ESTA Standards Programme• Member of DMX512 design group• Member of RDM design group


Agenda

• One hour session• The history• What is Art-Net?• How does Art-Net work?• Large scale applications• Good network design


The History of Art-Net


Audience Participation

But first audience participation time:

• What do you do?– End User– Manufacturer– Distributer– Developer– Specifier


Audience Participation

• Who uses DMX regularly?• Who uses Ethernet regularly?• Who uses Art-Net regularly?• Who understands the term

“Collision Domain”?• Who cares whether they

understand the term “Collision Domain”?


History

• 30 years ago – Analogue multicore

• 25 years ago – Analogue multiplex

• 20 years ago – DMX512

• 15 years ago– DMX512 multicore

• 10 years ago – Networking


Analogue Multicore

• Single wire = Single channel• Multiple formats:

– 0 to +5V– 0 to -12V– 0 to +10V

• Incompatible connectors:– DB25– DB37– Socapex 37


Analogue Multiplex

• Single wire = Multiple channel• Driven by theatre industry• Multiple formats:

– AMX192– D54– S20


Digital Multiplex

• Single wire = Multiple channel• Longer cable length• Higher channel count• Improved reliability• Proprietary solutions• Compatibility issuesArt-Net at PLASA09 by Wayne Howell

DMX512

• Developed by USITT• Managed by ESTA• 512 channels per cable• 300m maximum distance• 32 Fixtures per cable• Standardised across manufacturersArt-Net at PLASA09 by Wayne Howell

Networking

• LED technology increases channel thirst exponentially

• 512 channels no longer adequate

• Network technology offers the solution


Early Protocols

• Strand ShowNet• ETC ETCNet• Other proprietary

protocols.• Cast WYSIWYG• Art-Net


Art-Net

• Conceived as a DMX Multicore

• Solved a problem• Published on a royalty free

basis• Widespread industry support


Ethernet Why use for Lighting?

• Existing network protocols• Low cost Cat5 cable• Better contractor

understanding• Higher bandwidth• Existing building networks

can be used



• Progression path to faster systems

• Leverage existing IT market technology

• A 10BaseT network cable can carry approximately 40 times more data than a DMX cable



• Ethernet can be transmitted over a variety of media:– WiFi– LASER– Telephones– ADSL– ISDN– Fibre optic



• All modern ethernet wiring is star format

• Increases system reliability compared to ‘Ring’ or ‘Loop Through’

• Better configurabilityArt-Net at PLASA09 by Wayne Howell

Ethernet The down side

• Star wiring topology makes touring applications more complex

• Cable distance limited to 100m

• Higher knowledge levels required by designers & installers


Art-Net The Benefits

• Remote patching of all DMX512 inputs and outputs

• Allows DMX512 data to be merged in either LTP or HTP

• Simple to implement new features – e.g. remote control of the lighting console


Art-Net The Benefits

• Supports RDM standard • Macro triggering• Open access to protocol• Free and public domain

resources such as:– DMX-Workshop– WireShark– Net-View allows monitoring via a

radio link


Is DMX Dead?

• No!• Art-Net will work

together with DMX• Ethernet would not

work in all applications• Commercial resistance

to change


A Networking Primer


Ethernet How To Use It

• Ethernet is less forgiving than DMX512

• Follow the rules• Use the correct cable• Use the correct connectors


Ethernet Media Types

• Media Type is the physical entity used to carry the data. Copper or Fibre.– Cat1 to Cat4 not important– Cat5: 10BaseT & 100BaseT– Cat5e: Better Cat5– Cat6: Gigabit (1000BaseT)– Cat7: 10 Gigabit


Ethernet Physical Layer

• Physical Layer means the network electrical connection

• Example: 10BaseT– T = Twisted Pair– Base = Baseband– 10 = Multiply by 106 for

bpsArt-Net at PLASA09 by Wayne Howell


• 10Base2• Old style coaxial cable

– Speed: 10 Meg– Max Cable: 185m– Topology: Ring (Delta)– Band: Baseband

• No longer in widespread use



• 10BaseT• Uses UTP Cat5 cable

– Speed: 10 Meg– Max Cable: 100m– Topology: Star– Band: Baseband

• Widely used in Entertainment Networks – particularly for end data delivery



• 100BaseT (Fast Ethernet)• Uses UTP Cat5 cable


• Widely used in Entertainment Networks – particularly for console communications.



• 100BaseFx• Uses fibre optic cable

– Speed: 100 Meg– Max Cable Single Mode: 10km– Max Cable Multimode: 2km– Topology: Star– Band: Baseband

• Widely used to back bones in Entertainment Technology



• 1000BaseT (Gigabit)• Uses UTP Cat6 cable


• Widely used video streaming applications.


Ethernet The Cable

• Coaxial• UTP• STP• Fibre

– Single Mode– Multi Mode


Ethernet The Cable

• Solid Conductor:– Installation– 100m for 10BaseT

• Stranded or Patch– Portable– Patch Bay– 80m for 10BaseT


Ethernet The Connector

• RJ45– Screened– Wire Type– Cat Rating– Industrial – (Neutrik)– Waterproof –

(Woodhouse)


Ethernet Wiring Schemes

• MDI– Used on all Nodes– 4 wires used for

10BaseT & 100BaseTX– 8 wires used for

100BaseT4 & Gigabit


MDI

Pin Name Purpose

1 Tx+ Transmit Data

2 Tx- Transmit Data

3 Rx+ Receive Data

4 BD3+ Not used in 10BaseT

5 BD3- Not used in 10BaseT

6 Rx- Receive Data




• MDI-X– Used on all Hubs,

Switches & Routers– MDI-X is MDI with built

in cross over cable


MDI-X

Pin Name Purpose

1 Rx+ Receive Data

2 Rx- Receive Data

3 Tx+ Transmit Data



6 Tx- Transmit Data




• Auto-MDI– Many products now

automatically detect and correct MDI / MDI-X wiring errors

– Hubs usually have an ‘UpLink’ port that has MDI wiring



• Auto-Polarity– Auto-Polarity is

different to Auto-MDI– It corrects for a mis-

wired pair.


Ethernet Straight or Cross?

• Straight Cable– Hub to Node– MDI to MDI-X

• Cross Cable– Node to Node– Hub to Hub– MDI to MDI– MDI-X to MDI-X


Ethernet Cable Colours

• Colours:– Yellow = Straight– Red = Cross– Green = DMX


Ethernet Data Distribution

• Hub:– Just an electrical

repeater– Analogous to DMX

Splitter– Follow 5-4-3 Rule


Ethernet Data Distribution

• Switch (Bridge):– Intelligent repeater– Retransmits data– Terminates Collision

Domain– No 5-4-3 Rule


Ethernet Hub or Switch?

• Hub:– Faster– No configuration– No broadcast blocking

• Switch:– Bandwidth

management– No 5-4-3


?

How does Art-Net work?


Under the hood

The ArtDmx Packet• Contains 512 bytes of

data from DMX512.• The destination

Universe• A few control fields for

error checking


Broad – Uni- Multi - Casting

• Broadcast– One to All

• Unicast– One to One

• Multicast– One to Many


Broadcasting

• Original concept of “Digital Multicore” used Broadcast

• Benefit of simplicity for users

• Burns network bandwidth


Art-Net II

• Needed as universe count increased.

• Uses simple algorithm to Unicast

• Fully compatible with Art-Net I


Polling

• ArtPoll – Console broadcasts

“Who is there?”• ArtPollReply

– Dimmers and lamps reply with their information and status


Sensing

• ArtTod – End devices broadcast

their list of connected RDM devices

• ArtRdm– Art-Net is used as a

carrier to route RDM messages over the network


What is RDM?

• RDM is a new way of sending data in two directions over the DMX cable

• Set the start address or personality remotely

• Retrieve sensors and status


How does it work?

• It uses pins 2 & 3 just like DMX512

• The direction of the DMX cable occasionally switches to let data return


Conclusions

Art-Net leverages the following technologies to provide a public and royalty free solution to today’s lighting control needs:

• DMX512• RDM• Ethernet• TCP/IP


Large Scale Applications


• Colour Changing Fixtures• Control System• Installation• Training• Programming• Maintenance


Broadgate

• Colour Change• In-Ground• Waterproof• Low Power• Low Maintenance• Long Life• Remote Configured

• Control System• Installation• Training• Programming• Maintenance


The Fixture

• Line Voltage• Temperature• Water• Start address• Lamp on time• Fixture on time• FirmwareArt-Net at PLASA09 by Wayne Howell

The Sensors


The Network

Colour-Tramp PCEthernet

Iso-spit #1

DMX-Cat #1

Ether-Lynx #1

Ether-Lynx #2

Ethernet Hub Ethernet

DM

X U

niv

erse

1

U1

-10

5-122

U1

-11

1-122

U1

-11

7-122

U1

-12

2-123

U1

-10

5-120

U1

-11

1-120

U1

-11

7-120

U1

-12

3-122

U1

-10

5-118

U1

-11

1-118

Iso-spit #2

DMX-Cat #2

U1

-11

7-118

U1

-12

3-120

U1

-10

5-116

U1

-11

1-116

U1

-11

7-116

U1

-12

3-118

U1

-10

5-114

U1

-11

1-114

U1

-11

7-114

Iso-spit #3

DMX-Cat #3

U2

-12

3-116

U2

-10

5-112

U2

-11

1-112

U2

-11

7-112

U2

-12

3-114

U2

-10

5-110

U2

-11

1-110

U2

-11

7-110

U2

-12

3-112

U2

-10

5-108

Iso-spit #4

DMX-Cat #4

U2

-11

1-108

U2

-11

7-108

U2

-12

3-110

U2

-10

5-106

U2

-11

1-106

U2

-11

7-106

U2

-12

3-108

U2

-10

5-104

U2

-11

1-104

DM

X U

niv

erse

2

Ballymore Properties Landmark in London


Pan Peninsular


Knoxx Nightclub

Largest club light feature in Europe


UB40 Dub Sessions

So is DMX dead?


City of Dreams - Macau

Bubble Theatre is one part of massive control network


O2 Dome

A holistic approach to lighting control


Hotel Puerta de America Madrid

Control and streaming video


Aspire Tower Doha

High speed animation

Still confused about ethernet?

• Rock Solid Ethernet about ethernet in entertainment technology

• Written by Artistic’s Wayne Howell

• Available from ET Press

• See us on Stand E32Art-Net at PLASA09 by Wayne Howell

Art-NetVisit Artistic Licence on Stand E32

Wayne Howell

Creative DirectorArtistic Licence


Artistic Licence

Documents

Art-Net How it works and its benefits in large scale installations. Wayne Howell Creative Director