Topics of this chapter:
| ▪ | Note |
MADRIX natively supports Philips Hue.
The protocol is implemented directly in the software, which makes it easy to use Philips Hue bridges and lamps with MADRIX.
There are several steps required to set up Philips Hue products in MADRIX. This chapter is only part of the process. You need to set up other configurations as well [such as virtual LED matrix, DMX Devices, MADRIX Effects, Audio, etc.].
1] Set up the correct network settings in Windows.
2] Enable drivers in MADRIX.
3] Authorize A Bridge.
4] Set up the DMX universe.
5] Set up the Frame Time.
1] Network Settings
Philips Hue is a network-based protocol. MADRIX will use the network card of your computer to send data to the bridges.
| ▪ | Connect the computer that runs the MADRIX software and your Philips Hue bridges with the same computer network. |
| ▪ | To use Philips Hue, you need to have a separate DHCP server. |
| ▪ | This can be a software or hardware DHCP server, which handles and assigns the IP addresses to the Hue bridges and to the MADRIX computer. |
| ▪ | It is recommended that the DHCP server binds MAC addresses to IP addresses. |
2] Enabling Drivers In MADRIX
| ▪ | Go to Preferences > Options... > Devices Network [Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+O > Devices Network] |
| ▪ | Activate Philips Hue > Enable Network Driver |
| ▪ | Time To Detect Bridges And Lamps (s) - Defines how long MADRIX searches the network for devices during startup. Type in a value in seconds. - The default value is 10. - We recommend to utilize at least a value of 10 to allow for a sufficient search. |
3] Authorize A Bridge
| ▪ | Go to Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices [Keyboard shortcut: F4] |
| ▪ | MADRIX automatically adds network devices it has found during startup to the list. |
| ▪ | Click  if the devices have not been found.- MADRIX disconnects all devices and starts to search for new or newly connected devices. - Do not rescan for devices if all of your interfaces have been found correctly. |
| ▪ | Select your device in the list. |
| ▪ | Activate Enable |
| ▪ | Confirm with Apply |
1] When connecting a Hue bridge to MADRIX for the first time, you need to authorize the bridge first. MADRIX will ask you to authorize it:
2] In order to authorize the bridge, press the large Link button on the bridge itself.
3] Click OK in MADRIX in order to confirm that you have pressed the button on the bridge.
4] The authorization process starts. MADRIX will wait up to 30 seconds for the device to respond.
5A] When unsuccessful, MADRIX will provide an error message that the authorization process failed. If that is the case, please try to authorize it again.
5B] When successful, the bridge will be authorized and enabled in MADRIX.
| ▪ | If you wish to deactivate a bridge, select in in the Device Manager > DMX Devices and deactivate Enable und Settings. Confirm with Apply |
5] DMX Universe
| ▪ | Make sure that your device is still selected. |
| ▪ | Set up Universe - Enter the specific DMX universe number |
| ▪ | This setting assigns a specific DMX universe [of the Patch] to the device or the port of the device. |
| ▪ | Make sure the correct universe is assigned according to your requirements. Learn more »Glossary |
| ▪ | Click Apply |
6] Frame Time
| ▪ | Make sure that your device is still selected. |
| ▪ | Set up Frame Time (ms) - The Frame Time affects the Frame Rate. The Frame Rate specifies how fast data is sent to the device or received from it [Frames Per Second; FPS]. - Increase the Frame Time in order to decrease the Frame Rate [e.g., 40ms = 25 FPS]. - Decrease the Frame Time in order to increase the Frame Rate [e.g., 20ms = 50 FPS]. - The default and recommended value is 100 ms / 10 FPS. - Some LED fixtures might have problems with a high Frame Rate. Then, it is recommended to increase the Frame Time / to decrease the Frame Rate. |
| ▪ | Click Apply |
|
Rescan For Devices - MADRIX disconnects all devices and starts a new search for devices. |
|
Highlight - Activates the highlight mode for the selected interface and universe under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices. Select one or more interfaces and click the button. The corresponding fixtures at the selected interfaces will flash for a better identification or tests. This makes it easier to see them on stage. It considerably speeds up the procedure of programming or testing the selected interfaces. |
|
DMX Watcher - Opens the DMX Watcher to monitor your DMX output or input under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices |
If wish to resize the window of the Device Manager to see more devices in the list, simply move your mouse pointer to the bottom of this window. Then, select the border and hold the left mouse button, while moving your mouse downwards.
Remember to configure your virtual LED matrix in the »Matrix Generator or »Patch Editor
Make sure to save your MADRIX Setup after the configuration process.
| ▪ | Keep in mind that network devices, if activated, cause network traffic! |
| ▪ | When using a network-based output protocol and when the Startup option Start MADRIX After Booting Windows is used, it is highly recommended to also activate the Startup option Start With Timeout(s) with a value of 30 or higher. |
| ▪ | A Hue bridge often has several status LEDs. Please consult the Hue manuals for more information. In general, they usually show these statuses: - Power LED Off: No power supplied. - Power LED Permanently On: Power supplied. - Network LED Off: No network connected. - Network LED Blinking: No IP address assigned. - Network LED Permanently On: IP address successfully acquired. - Internet LED Off: No network connected. - Internet LED Blinking: No internet access available. - Internet LED Permanently On: Internet conenction successfully established. |
| ▪ | You can use the official Philips Hue mobile App to update the firmware of your Philips Hue bridges. |