Network In. Pixels Out.
SPI Matrix and LEC3 receive lighting data over Ethernet as Art-Net or sACN and turn it into the SPI signal pixel strips run on. Your console, media server or software speaks a standard network protocol, and the strips simply see pixel data.
Decoder
What an Art-Net & sACN decoder does
SPI Matrix receives lighting control data over Ethernet using either the Art-Net or the sACN protocol and converts it into the serial SPI signal that addressable pixel strips run on. Everything upstream of the decoder speaks a standard network lighting protocol; everything downstream just sees pixel data on its output.
Art-Net and sACN both carry DMX-style universes over Ethernet, but different software and consoles favour one or the other. Supporting both means the controller drops into whichever workflow a venue or integrator already uses, without a protocol converter in between.
- Art-Net and sACN on the same device
- Serial SPI pixel data on 4 outputs
- Status LED flashes slowly when Art-Net is detected
- DMX and Art-Net modes set independently since firmware 3.55
In Practice
From live shows to architecture
Because Art-Net and sACN are open standards, SPI Matrix works with any software or console that outputs them, including MADRIX, grandMA, Resolume and MadMapper. See Universal Compatibility for setup notes.
SPI Matrix scales with its performance tier, up to 24 Art-Net universes and 4096 RGB or 3072 RGBW pixels on the PRO tier. Up to 24 Art-Net Universes explains how to size a project.
- MADRIX, grandMA, Resolume, MadMapper and more
- LITE, STANDARD and PRO: 6, 12 or 24 universes
- Also runs without Art-Net, see Standalone Playback & Sync
FAQ
Art-Net and sACN questions
Both carry DMX-style universes over Ethernet. They come from different standards, and software or consoles often prefer one of them. SPI Matrix and LEC3 accept both, so you use whichever your workflow already has.
Yes. LEC3 natively supports Art-Net and sACN, alongside DMX and LED Strip Studio software control.
Yes. It can run fully standalone from its SD card, or be triggered over DMX, without any Art-Net or sACN source. See Standalone Playback & Sync. More in Standalone Playback and Sync from SD.
One universe holds 170 RGB or 128 RGBW pixels. The calculation is in how many Art-Net universes your installation needs. Background in Art-Net Universe Calculator: RGB and RGBW.
Planning an Art-Net or sACN Installation?
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