This topic includes:
▪Data Output Over Ethernet Network [Streaming ACN / sACN]
▪3] Fixture Patching In MADRIX 5
▪6A] Configuration Of Single Devices
▪6B] Configuration Of Multiple Devices
▪8] Optimized Frames Or Full Frames
Data Output Over Ethernet Network [Streaming ACN / sACN]
You can connect the NEBULA over Ethernet network to the network card of your computer that runs the MADRIX 5 Software. Data is distributed to the device over network cabling [Ethernet] and sent to the output ports [Port 1 and Port 2].
▪Put MADRIX NEBULA into operation by connecting the LEDs, supplying power, setting the output protocol, and setting the network data sources as described above. Learn more »Putting The Device Into Operation
▪Connect MADRIX NEBULA to your computer using Ethernet network cabling.
▪It is highly recommended to use Gigabit Ethernet network components [network card, switches, etc.].
▪Set up the corresponding settings in the »Configuration Using A Web Browser
▪MADRIX 5 automatically sets up Streaming ACN network settings for you.
[MADRIX 5 supports multicast Streaming ACN. Data is automatically sent to all corresponding sACN devices in the network. Unicast is also supported.]
▪You only need a computer with a network card and a valid IP address.
▪You do not have to change the IP address settings in Windows for Streaming ACN!
▪The IP address range for sACN devices is 239.255.X.X according to the Streaming ACN specifications. MADRIX NEBULA automatically works this way.
▪Make sure that your Firewall does not block data of the 239.255.X.X IP address range!
▪Check the settings of the Windows Firewall.
▪Learn more »Tips [Microsoft Windows / Networks / USB]
3] Fixture Patching In MADRIX 5
▪Start MADRIX 5.
▪Configure the virtual LED matrix using the Matrix Generator or Patch Editor.
▪Go to the menu Preferences > Options... > Devices Network
[Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+O > Devices Network]
▪Activate ESTA - Streaming ACN
▪Choose your network card from the drop-down list. Make sure to select the correct network adapter that will be used for Streaming ACN!
[The IP address and Subnet mask label should help you select the correct adapter. It is not necessary to change any of these networks settings.]
▪ACN Device Count - Set up how many you are going to use. MADRIX NEBULA requires 8 sACN devices per unit.
[This is the total amount of devices. Please set the exact number of devices you are using. If the count is higher, this creates unnecessary network traffic.]
▪Click Apply
▪ACN CID - Being a network protocol, Streaming ACN sends a so-called CIDs [Component Identifier].
- Every single ACN device has such a unique ID.
- When using Streaming ACN, your MADRIX 5 Software is one of those devices.
- When you start MADRIX 5 for the first time, this ID will be generated automatically for you. From this point onwards it will be used on your PC.
- With this ID your MADRIX 5 Software can be easily identified in the network. Interfaces can detect this unique ID and can be configured to receive data from this particular device. Please note that the ACN interface must support this feature.
- Do not change the ACN CID, unless you are an experienced user!
▪Click OK to close the window.
Each of the ports need to be activated if that is not already the case.
▪Go to the menu Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices
[Keyboard shortcut: F4]
▪Select your devices and their ports in the list. 8 output universes will be shown.
▪Right Mouse Click on the column State to set from Off to On [indicated by green light]. By default, the devices are already activated.
▪[In the screenshot above, one NEBULA is connected. If more devices are connected, please use the different universes of different devices to identify them in the Device Manager.]
▪Universe - Defines which universe of your MADRIX 5 Patch is sent to this particular device.
- Right Mouse Click on the column Universe in order to enter a different number.
6A] Configuration Of Single Devices
▪Select a device in the list and click 
▪A new window will open.
Set up the following settings for your devices:
▪Source Name - Allows you to set up a specific name for the device. This name is send via network as well. Therefore, interfaces may be able to retrieve this name and can be configured to receive data from this source.
- If you are using the default name MADRIX U:X, the universe will automatically be displayed in the name [represented by X: 1, 2, 3, etc.].
▪ACN Universe - Defines the DMX universe of the device.
- Set up the same universe that is set up in your sACN device, which is MADRIX NEBULA.
- According to the Streaming ACN specifications, MADRIX 5 will automatically change the ACN IP Address according to the ACN Universe.
▪ACN Priority - Was implemented for backup solutions. Valid values range from 0 to 200, which is the highest priority.
- For example, you may have set up two MADRIX PCs. One gets a priority of 100. The second PC gets a priority of 50. If the first PC fails and only if it malfunctions, data will be automatically received from PC #2.
- Data will always be received from the device with the highest priority. Please note that the ACN device must support this feature.
▪ACN Protocol - Automatically selects the ANSI 2009 standard.
▪Use Multicast
ACN Multicast IP Address - Displays the IP address of the device as automatically assigned by MADRIX 5 according to the Streaming ACN specifications. The last 2 digits match the assigned DMX universe.
▪Use Unicast
ACN Unicast IP Address - Uses a specific IP address to send data to.
▪Click Apply to confirm your changes.
▪Click OK to close the window.
6B] Configuration Of Multiple Devices
▪You can configure several interfaces at the same time.
▪Follow the steps of 6A, but select multiple devices and click
▪A new window will open.
▪Set up the settings as described under 6A].
▪For ACN Universe, you have now additional options for Numbering:
Click the button and MADRIX 5 will automatically increase the ACN Universe number for all the selected devices [which can be seen in the DMX Devices tab of the Device Manager], starting with the value you have entered.
▪Click Apply and OK to confirm your changes.
▪Make sure that your device is still selected under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices
▪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.
- The minimum value is 1000 ms / 1 FPS.
- The maximum value is 5 ms / 200 FPS.
Please note: If you want to output high frame rates, make sure to set Main Mixing FPS in the Options to the same value in order to render the same frame rate [It is set to 50 FPS by default. Otherwise, frames will be duplicated].
Please note: If you want to input high frame rates, make sure to set DMX Controller Input FPS in the Options to the same value in order to process the same frame rate [It is set to 50 FPS by default. Otherwise, frames will be duplicated].
- 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.
8] Optimized Frames Or Full Frames
▪Make sure that your device is still selected under Preferences > Device Manager... > DMX Devices
▪Choose how to send data.
- Right Mouse Click or Left Mouse Double-Click on the column Frames to choose between Optimized and Full
- Per DMX512 standard, MADRIX 5 only sends the number of DMX channels that is configured [optimized frames]. For example, if you are using 312 DMX channels on a DMX universe, only 312 DMX channels will be sent with every single frame on this universe.
- Activate Full Frames if devices should always send full frames on a particular universe, instead of optimized frames. Sending full frames means that always the full 512 DMX channels of a DMX universe will be sent with every frame [even when you are using less than 512 channels on the universe].
- Activating Full Frames is recommended if problems with the data output of your devices occur.
▪In addition, you can activate Full Frames for the device and each MADRIX NEBULA output universe separately.