<< Click To Display Table Of Contents >> You Are Here:  Input, Interoperability, And Remote Control > MA Lighting MA-Net

This topic includes:

▪Introduction

▪Step-By-Step Configuration

▪Protocols [Overview]

▪Important Notes

▪Troubleshooting

 

 

Introduction

MA-Net from MA Lighting is a proprietary Ethernet network protocol. MADRIX 5 supports it natively.

MADRIX 5 supports:

▪MA-Net 1

▪MA-Net 2

 

 

Step-By-Step Configuration

1] Set up networking for your MA product.

2] Set up the correct network settings in Windows.

3] Enable drivers in MADRIX 5.

4] Activate the devices.

5] Set up remote control.

 

1] Setting Up MA Networking

▪Make sure to connect your MA devices and the MADRIX computer in the same Ethernet network over network cabling [and possibly a network switch]!
[For example, use the Ethernet 1 port for products of the grandMA 2 series and the network card of the computer that runs the MADRIX 5 Software.]

▪Consult the user manual of your MA product to set up the correct settings for MA-Net for your MA product.

▪Start Networking for your MA product.
[For example, go to Setup > Network to start or join a session for products of the grandMA 2 series.]

 

2] Windows Network Settings

MA-Net is a network-based protocol. MADRIX 5 will use the network card of your computer to receive data.

▪It is required to set up the correct network settings in Windows, first.

▪You must use the correct IP address and Subnet mask settings. Otherwise, MA-Net might not work!

▪The IP addresses of your computer and your MA-Net devices need to be different.
 

▪Set up an individual IP address according to the IP address range of your MA product.
- Make sure that the first, second, and third part of the IP address are the same. The fourth part must be different from your MA product.
- A general recommendation is:
- 192.168.X.1 ... 192.168.X.254

▪Set up the corresponding Subnet mask
- 255.0.0.0
 

▪Restart MADRIX 5, if you have changed the network settings in Windows while MADRIX 5 was running.

▪Check the settings of the Windows Firewall.

▪Learn more »Tips [Microsoft Windows / Networks / USB]
 

▪Example for PCs that are running MADRIX 5:

 

3] Enabling Drivers In MADRIX 5

▪Go to the menu Preferences > Options... > Devices Network
[Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+O > Devices Network]

▪Activate MA Lighting - MA-Net

 

▪Choose the correct network/network card from the drop-down list.
- Always make sure that you have selected the correct network. Otherwise, no data can be received.
- Please note: A loopback adapter is also available. Learn more »Loopback Adapater [127.0.0.1]

▪ - Defines the protocol version.
- Choose the correct MA-Net here [MA-Net 1 or MA-Net 2].
- MA-Net 1 is used by the grandMA1 series.
- MA-Net 2 is used by the grandMA2 series.

▪Session ID - Defines the session you want to work in. Choose the session you have set up in your MA product also here.

▪Universes (Start / End) - Defines the universe or universe you wish to receive.
- The default Start Universe is 1 and the default End Universe is 1, which means that one DMX universe will be received.

 

4] Activating Devices

▪Go to the menu Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices
[Keyboard shortcut: F4]

▪MADRIX 5 automatically adds the number of MA-Net universes/devices according to your settings for Start Universe and End Universe

▪Your devices are automatically activated.

▪If it is no activated, select your devices in the list.

▪Right Mouse Click on the column State to set it from Off to On [indicated by green light].

▪IN is automatically activated.
 

▪Since MADRIX 5 will receive data, the frame time and frame rate [ms / FPS] are managed automatically by MADRIX 5.
[Please note when checking incoming data via the Task Watcher: A maximum frame rate of 30 FPS will be sent by your MA product over MA-Net.]

 

 

5] Setting Up Remote Control

▪Go to the menu Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Input

▪Select your preferred DMX Universe in the list.
[By default, DMX universe 1 to 8 are listed. If you wish to increase the number of DMX-IN universes, you can change the setting. Learn more »Performance]

▪Select your DMX-IN Device in the section Device by choosing the MA Lighting MA-Net device.

 

▪[If needed, you can disable DMX-IN by deselecting the device under DMX-IN Device and choose the list entry that is empty or disable the interface under Device Manager... > DMX Devices.]

 

▪Make sure that your device is still selected in the list.

▪Activate Remote

▪Select one of the built-in protocols in the section Remote Control [as explained below]
or create your own remote configuration. Learn more »DMX-IN Remote Editor

 

 

 

Mapping is not available for MA-Net and cannot be enabled.

 

 

Protocols [Overview]

There are preprogrammed DMX protocols you can choose from:

▪»DMX-IN [Essential Protocol]

▪»DMX-IN [Standard Protocol]

▪»DMX-IN [User]

 

 

Important Notes

▪Always make sure to have a valid network card active or selected! Otherwise, MADRIX 5 cannot receive MA-Net.

▪Always make sure to have a valid license for your MA product to send out Ethernet data or use a console.
[MA on PC requires an MA 2Port Node or MA onPC command wing, for example.]

▪Please make sure to save your MADRIX 5 Setup file after the configuration process.

 

 

Troubleshooting

If you are encountering problems, please work through the following checklist:

▪Double-check the settings of your network card.

▪Make sure to set up the Windows Firewall correctly. Learn more »Tips [Microsoft Windows / Networks / USB]

▪Double-check the settings of the MA-Net devices in MADRIX 5.

▪Double-check the configuration of your MA product.

▪Check if your MA product has a valid license to send out Ethernet data.

▪Use the DMX Watcher to monitor incoming data.