BASIC Artnet/sACN/ethernet help needed - MagicQ

[dzx]

My brain has a glitch in it when it comes to "networking".  I can, and do, engage with all kinds of complex systems and theory in both audio and lighting worlds, as well as in many other areas of life, but for some reason whenever I have to understand anything to do with networking, my brain shuts down and I don't "get it".  So, I'm needing a bit of help with a specific thing....and feel free to explain it to me as if I had the mental capacity of perhaps a 5-year-old (which ain't too far off the mark in this case).

This involves using a Chamsys MagicQ PC Wing (and of course a laptop).  The console itself has two DMX outputs, which I can simply plug two DMX cables into and control two Universes.....easy and simple.  But the software does support control of up to 64 universes.......and does so via ethernet and Artnet or sACN.  The basic question is:  how the heck do I actually go about doing this?

I'm assuming that I would start by connecting an ethernet cable out from my laptop (not the wing), yes?  And that would connect to some sort of "little box thingie" (a node?) that would have a given number of DMX outputs to run cable on to fixtures/dimmers/etc., yes?  Let's start by confirming whether or not I even have this level of understanding right.

Assuming that I do, what EXACTLY do I need (in terms of that little box thingie, cable, etc.) to do this?  Can you recommend a specific model (that is of course compact and not too pricey) that I should try to get?  I'm thinking of being able to control maybe 3-6 universes total.  

As well, what sort of programming/setup do I need to do in the software to make this work?

Every time I try to find some tutorial or guide to doing this, it seems like they always explain it as if the audience (the 5-year-old brained me) is already an expert in the world of networking itself, and I find myself lost and confused.  

Thanks in advance.

Edited September 18 by dzx

[Robin D]

I have never had to do it, but my understanding is that something like this or this does the work. Your laptop simply sits on the network as normal, as does the device, and the DMX lines emerge from the rear. As said, I have never done anything needing more than one DMX universe but have installed and supported very large data networks. How Chamsys deals with it, I don't know, but I am certain their support team will advise. I don't believe you need any specific networking skills per se but someone here will confirm or otherwise. I have just looked at the software solution I use when I don't want or need to lug a desk in. That allows me to load a new device by universe number, start DMX address, and no of channels. 

You may be over thinking this. 

Good luck. 

 

[paulears]

We used to run 4 universes direct from a maxi wing, but now there’s a dedicated console at the back and an artnet node on stage. The only real change was in the patch screen, and its there you do the work. In the pc version it is exactly the same. The only real issues are setting both ends to use the same IP ranges and addresses. The artnet nodes just have the DMX outs, and each one is addressed from the patch screen. The only faff is making sure you enter the right IP address in the right place.

[indyld]

RobinD is correct in that it's just setting up two devices on a network. The lighting part is largely irrelevant. Follow the instructions with the node and in the MQ user manual.

Setting  IP addresses and subnet is the thing that needs very basic networking understanding and this is unrelated to DMX etc.  If in doubt, get a friend who is into IT to help. 

[dzx]

I've been looking at a bunch of nodes available online (including the ones Robin D linked).  The price ranges are pretty wide, many costing a lot more than I would expect.  Is there a specific reason some are so much pricier?

And along those lines.......would this work?  https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DNX545F--hosa-dnx-545f-DMX-extender-5-pin-xlr-female-to-ethernet-cat-5-rj45.  The price is much lower than any others I've seen.  

 

 

[richard_cooper]

11 minutes ago, dzx said:

And along those lines.......would this work?  https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DNX545F--hosa-dnx-545f-DMX-extender-5-pin-xlr-female-to-ethernet-cat-5-rj45.  The price is much lower than any others I've seen.  

That is not a node, it's simply a box for using Cat cable to carry four DMX lines. You would need this on the other end. 

[DrV]

Haven't got time right now to check details but there is a minor gotcha waiting for new players - Artnet universes are numbered from 0 but MagicQ starts from 1 (or vice versa) so watch out for that in the MQ patch window.

[indyld]

17 minutes ago, DrV said:

Haven't got time right now to check details but there is a minor gotcha waiting for new players - Artnet universes are numbered from 0 but MagicQ starts from 1 (or vice versa) so watch out for that in the MQ patch window.

Art-Net starts at 0. sACN starts at 1. So yes, uni 1 is Art-Net 0. It's not really a MagicQ thing specifically, just that we historically have called the first DMX universe "1" when using a numbers based identifier. This includes the common 1.001 for uni 1, start address 1. So in MagiQ, as in most lighting control desks, the first universe is labelled 1. The first uni in Art-Net is called 0.

Edited September 18 by indyld

[indyld]

1 hour ago, dzx said:

I've been looking at a bunch of nodes available online (including the ones Robin D linked).  The price ranges are pretty wide, many costing a lot more than I would expect.  Is there a specific reason some are so much pricier?

The ones that you think are the pricey ones may be the real thing, others may not be what you are looking for. Sure, there are different price points in the market but something way cheap probably isn't what you hope it is. A mid price for a 8 universe node is about £500. Obviously, a 2 output node is gonna be cheaper, but if you want up to 6 outputs then just one of those is no use.

Cham Sys do their own boxes that work well and bring extra functionality but judging by the thread so far, you are unlikely to be keen on the price. And if you have a wing, unlocking the MQ software is already taken care of.

Edited September 18 by indyld

[Robin D]

I guess Art-Net starts at 0, because Ethernet stars and trees start counting at 0. 

Well flagged up @DrV and @indyld. 👍

[indyld]

It's probably in Wayne Howell's book somewhere, but I guess that zero based numbering was and is just how things often are in computing (Djikstra). sACN universe identifiers ( and the computer programming language Lua, in terms of the first index assumed.) are one-based. 

Edited September 18 by indyld

[ninjadingle]

I use ArtNet on MagicQ all the time (laptop and PC Wing).

Get yourself a node - think everyone has covered this above. If you can avoid putting anything else on there it would be good - direct connection between node and laptop is best.

Addressing - I prefer to set everything static, so you know you're connecting to the right box etc. I set the node to 2.10.10.100, laptop to 2.10.10.101. I use a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. (Of course you can change the octets if you want to, go with what works!)

ALSO - ensure your IP address is set in the MagicQ software. To do this, go to Setup, View Settings, Network. If you double click the IP address parameter your IP should appear, click it! You do need to do this manually, another good reason for using static IP's.

You can now set up your universes - Setup, View DMX I/O. You need to change the Universe Status to Enabled (will probably be Disabled by default). This will also show which MagicQ universe correlates to which ArtNet universe. You can check your ArtNet node is online by going to Setup, View DMX I/O, Net Manager, View Art-Net.

Patch and away you go!

[alistermorton]

Don't connect your lighting network to the Internet, especially if you're going to use 2.x.x.x addresses. They're not private addresses. 10.x.x.x is a private range. 

[timsabre]

On 9/20/2024 at 10:39 AM, ninjadingle said:

ALSO - ensure your IP address is set in the MagicQ software. To do this, go to Setup, View Settings, Network. If you double click the IP address parameter your IP should appear, click it! You do need to do this manually, another good reason for using static IP's.

 

 

This is such a gotcha for beginners on MagicQ, I don't use it very often and it's got me a few times  - I don't understand why it doesn't set itself to the IP address that the computer is actually set to by default. You need to manually set the subnet mask to match the computer as well, or it still doesn't work. The console flashes an error but it is not clear what the problem is.

[indyld]

2 hours ago, timsabre said:

I don't understand why it doesn't set itself to the IP address that the computer is actually set to by default. 

Chris usually has a reasoned explanation for most decisions when asked. My total guess includes: which network adaptor do you default to? Other things like preventing the current IP causing changes in the MQ settings without 'asking', which in the case of using MQ PC as an editor may not be desired if you then load those settings back onto the show console.