# ArtNet & DMX Output

Exaplay 3 can transmit DMX512 lighting values over the **Art-Net** protocol, enabling direct control of lighting fixtures, dimmers, moving lights, and other DMX devices — driven by timeline-animated Data Tracks.

## Overview

Art-Net is an Ethernet-based protocol that encapsulates DMX512 (the industry-standard lighting control protocol). Any Art-Net-capable lighting console, fixture, or media server on the same network can receive values from Exaplay.

```
Exaplay 3 Data Track (keyframe values 0–100)
        ↓  (scaled to DMX 0–255)
Art-Net OpDmx packet over UDP
        ↓
Lighting fixture / Dimmer pack / Console
```

## Prerequisites

* A network connection between the Exaplay machine and the Art-Net device
* The Art-Net device configured to receive on the correct universe
* Both devices on the same subnet (or a network that passes Art-Net UDP broadcasts)

## Setting Up a Data Track with ArtNet Output

### Step 1 — Create the Data Track

1. In the Sub-header, switch to the **Data** panel.
2. Click **+ Data Track**.
3. Set **Output Type** to `ArtNet`.

### Step 2 — Configure ArtNet

| Field              | Description                                                   | Valid range |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| **Universe**       | Art-Net universe number                                       | 0–32767     |
| **Channel**        | DMX channel within the universe                               | 1–512       |
| **Destination IP** | Target Art-Net device IP (or `255.255.255.255` for broadcast) | Any IPv4    |

> **Tip:** Most lighting fixtures start on Universe 0. Check your fixture's DMX address map.

### Step 3 — Add Keyframes

Set keyframe values between the track's **Min** and **Max** range. Exaplay automatically scales:

```
Track value 0.0  →  DMX 0    (off)
Track value 0.5  →  DMX 127  (50 %)
Track value 1.0  →  DMX 255  (full)
```

### Step 4 — Play

Press Play. Exaplay calculates the interpolated track value for each frame and transmits an Art-Net OpDmx packet to the configured destination.

## Art-Net Packet Format

Exaplay sends standard **Art-Net 4 OpDmx** packets:

```
Bytes  0–7   "Art-Net\0"  (8 bytes, ASCII + null)
Bytes  8–9   OpCode 0x5000  (OpDmx, little-endian)
Bytes 10–11  Protocol version 14  (big-endian)
Byte   12    Sequence number
Byte   13    Physical port
Bytes 14–15  Universe (little-endian)
Bytes 16–17  DMX data length (big-endian, must be even)
Bytes 18+    DMX data (up to 512 bytes)
```

## Multi-Universe and Multi-Channel

You can have **multiple Data Tracks**, each targeting a different universe/channel combination. All tracks run simultaneously:

```
Data Track "Dimmer 1"    → Universe 0, Channel 1
Data Track "Red"         → Universe 0, Channel 2
Data Track "Green"       → Universe 0, Channel 3
Data Track "Blue"        → Universe 0, Channel 4
Data Track "Moving Head" → Universe 1, Channel 1
```

## Broadcast vs Unicast

| Mode          | Destination IP                    | Use when                                                          |
| ------------- | --------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Broadcast** | `255.255.255.255`                 | Quick setup; all Art-Net devices on the subnet receive the packet |
| **Unicast**   | Specific IP (e.g. `192.168.1.50`) | Reduces network load; targets one specific device                 |

For shows with many DMX universes, use unicast to avoid flooding the network.

## Value Clamping

Values outside the track's Min–Max range are **clamped** before scaling:

* A value below Min is treated as Min (DMX 0)
* A value above Max is treated as Max (DMX 255)

## Combining with OSC and UDP

A single Data Track outputs to one protocol. To drive both a lighting console via Art-Net **and** a media server via OSC with the same keyframe animation:

1. Create two Data Tracks with identical keyframes.
2. Set one to `ArtNet` output and one to `OSC` output.
3. Both transmit in sync during playback.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                  | Solution                                                                               |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Fixture does not respond | Verify universe and channel match the fixture's DMX address                            |
| Intermittent control     | Switch from broadcast to unicast; reduce network congestion                            |
| Values too high/low      | Check Min/Max track range vs expected DMX scaling                                      |
| No packets transmitted   | Confirm the Data Track is on a playing composition; verify destination IP is reachable |


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