Color Kinetics [KiNET]

MADRIX 5 natively supports Color Kinetics [KiNET]. The protocol is implemented in the software, which makes it easy to use Color Kinetics fixtures and Color Kinetics power/data supplies with MADRIX 5.

There are several steps required to set up KiNET products in MADRIX 5. 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.].

KiNET is a network-based protocol. MADRIX 5 will use the network card of your computer to send data.

▪You must use these IP address and Subnet mask settings. Otherwise, KiNET might not work!

▪The IP addresses of your computer and your KiNET devices need to be different.

▪Set up an individual IP address in the following IP address range:
- 10.0.0.1 ... 10.255.255.254

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

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

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

▪Time To Detect Devices (s) - Defines how long MADRIX 5 searches the network for devices during startup. Type in a value in seconds.
- The default value is 30.
- We recommend to utilize at least a value of 30 to allow for a sufficient search. Higher values are recommended for larger installations.

▪Discovery Repetition To Detect Devices - Defines how often MADRIX 5 repeats to search for and discover devices in the network within the Time To Detect Devices (s).
- The default value is 3.

▪Acquire Universe Assignment From Devices - If activated and if KiNET devices have been fully configured, MADRIX 5 reads the assigned DMX universe from newly found devices and automatically sets it in the Device Manager for these devices.

▪Scan For Attached Fixtures - Is enabled by default. If activated, searches for fixtures connected to the ports of power/data supplies [a so-called BlinkScan].
[If this flag is disabled, it cannot be guaranteed that undiscovered fixtures will work correctly.]

▪Send Sync Packets - Is enabled by default. If activated, sends out synchronization packets together with data packets.

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

▪MADRIX 5 automatically adds network devices it has found during startup to the list.

▪Click if the devices have not been found.
- MADRIX 5 disconnects all DMX512, Art-Net, and other 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.

▪Right Mouse Click on the column State to set from Off to On [indicated by green light].
[Alternatively, you can perform a Left Mouse Double-Click]

▪There is a difference between KiNET V1 and V2. KiNET V2 makes sure that the panels will receive the data at the same time. This is particularly useful for large installations.
Please see the Color Kinetics documentation to see which protocol is supported by your power/data supply.

▪Set up Universe
- Right Mouse Click or Left Mouse Double-Click on the column Universe and enter the required number.

▪This setting assigns a specific DMX universe [of the Patch] to the device or the port of the device. Learn more »Virtual DMX Universes

▪Make sure to assign the correct universe according to your requirements.
Learn more »Glossary

▪Set up the frame time for your device.
- Right Mouse Click or Left Mouse Double-Click on the column ms / FPS and enter the required number.
- The frame time [in milliseconds; ms] affects the frame rate. The frame rate specifies how fast data is sent to the device or received from it [in Frames Per Second; FPS].
- Increase the frame time in order to decrease the frame rate [e.g., 40 ms = 25 FPS].
- Decrease the frame time in order to increase the frame rate [e.g., 20 ms = 50 FPS].
- The default value is 30 ms / 33.3 FPS.
- Some LED fixtures might have problems with a low frame time / high frame rate. Then, it is recommended to increase the frame time / decrease the frame rate.

▪Set up a delay in milliseconds if required.
- Right Mouse Click or Left Mouse Double-Click on the column Delay (ms) and enter the required number.
- Valid values range from 0 ms to 1000 ms.
- The default value is 0 [meaning that there is no added delay].
- Delay can only be set for output devices.
- This is a highly specialized feature, where an output delay may be wanted to achieve certain visual results, such as creating a video backdrop for more realistic illumination in a video-production setting.

Learn more about setting up devices under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices here »DMX512 [DMX-OUT]

LED Fixtures	Comments
Color Kinetics eW Flex SLX Color Kinetics iColor Flex SLX	If your are using a PDS-60ca with one or two strings per controller, a PDS-150, or sPDS-480ca, please select the correct fixture in the »Matrix Generator

▪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.

▪It is not recommended to operate KiNET and access to the World Wide Web/Internet in the same network! It is recommended to run it in a separate network without internet access.

▪Check if all network cables are connected and if Gigabit network components are used.

▪Check if your light matrix is configured correctly in the Matrix Generator or Patch Editor.

▪Have all devices been found under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices?
If not,
1] Check if the IP address and Subnet mask are configured correctly in Windows and your devices.
2] Go to the menu Preferences > Options > Devices Network. Select Color Kinetics - KiNET.
3] Go to the menu Preferences > Options > Devices Network. Select the correct network card in the section Color Kinetics - KiNET.
4] Go to the menu Preferences > Options > Devices Network. Increase the value for Time To Detect Devices (s) in the section Color Kinetics - KiNET.
5] Click Search For Devices under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices.
6] Try and deactivate your Firewall in Windows.
7] Make sure that the network is not forming a ring, were the start point is also the end point, and that data is not sent back to the source [the computer].

▪Are all devices activated under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices?
Check if devices are set to On and OUT

▪Check if all ports you are using on your device are configured correctly. Please check if ports, that are not used, are deactivated in MADRIX 5.

▪Check if the DMX addressing and DMX universes are assigned correctly. Also check the Patch.

▪Test if MADRIX 5 is connected to the devices. Use Highlight Device for each of your devices.

▪Go to Tools > Logfile. Check if any error or warnings occur regarding the network or KiNET.

▪Regarding the configuration and addressing of Color Kinetics lighting fixtures and power/data supplies, the company offers extensive information on the following website: »https://www.colorkinetics.com/global/support/documentation

▪In addition, there is a software tool called QuickPlay Pro for configuration and multiple addressing. Here is an excerpt from the website:

▪Assign base light numbers to power/data supplies, allowing automatic fixture configuration

▪Demonstrate a lighting system using four built-in light shows: fixed color, color wash, rainbow, and streak"

▪For example, the tool can be used to change the IP addresses of Color Kinetics lighting fixtures.

▪Please note: Working with such a tool is only recommended for advanced users because settings can easily be adjusted wrong!

The PDS-60ca is a well-known and often used power/data supply from Color Kinetics. Three different versions are offered:

You can identify your version of the device using the following item numbers written on the case of the PDS-60ca:

▪The PDS-60ca DMX supports DMX512 via an extra interface [controlled by MADRIX 5] or Color Kinetics DMX controllers.
The PDS-60ca ETHERNET uses KiNET and can be controlled via MADRIX 5 without an extra interface.
And the PDS-60ca PREPROGRAMMED does not support external data input.

The official website now only lists two PDS-60ca. The second power/data supply now automatically switches between DMX and Ethernet mode.