Preferred range of use:

Additionally, the Ethernet / DMX Generator may be configured for some other special modes of operation by means of a rotary switch:
--- Art-Net™ node: supports one universe of DMX OUT. In addition to the Art-Net primary IP and subnet configurations a user defined IP configuration is available, which allows better integration of the box into existing class C networks.
--- serial communication node for TCP and UDP: retransmits any byte received via Ethernet through its serial interface (supported formats: MIDI, RS-232. RS-422) and vice versa retransmits any byte received at the serial interface via Ethernet. The serial or MIDI connection is provided by a special adaptor cable which is plugged on the DMX OUT socket. The wiring of these cables is documented in the manual of the Ethernet / DMX Generator.
Besides PC standard baud rates (9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 - byte format 8N1 no handshake) especially the MIDI interface is supported. A fully featured optoisolated MIDI input is available.

Command-/Control interface for DMX512:

Alternatively the Generator may be operated with binary commands formatted as MIDI channel messages. By means of a special driver direct command transfer is possible from PC-based MIDI software (sequencers for example).
Because Ethernet communication is baudrate independent, this binary data format is even well applicable to control the device by PLC or similar equipment, which has few or no capabilities to convert numeric values into ASCII text.
In a most simple case - preferably for setup or debugging of installations - manual and interactive operation by keyboard and Telnet terminal is possible.

The actual lighting scene is buffered internally. It is permanently transmitted at the DMX bus until it is modified by another command. Interruption of the Ethernet connection has no influence on the DMX bus pattern. After interruption of the power supply, automatically preset no.0 is loaded.

Data traffic is signalled by the red/green dual LED "Data", which shows the active mode of operation, too. Whenever the box is in TCP "connected" state, the blue LED "TCP" is on. It flashes during UDP net transfer.

The most essential command options for DMX control:

• Any DMX channel 1 to 512 can be set to any level by sending a short sequence of ASCII text to the box (8 bit of resolution).

• Any DMX channel 1 to 512 can be set arbitrarily by means of a single or several MIDI channel messages (one MIDI message results in up to 8 bit resolution).

• For any DMX channel a fade ramp can be executed automatically, duration programmable up to 32 seconds. This diminuishes the expense of programming considerably. Any number of fade processes can be active simultaneously on all DMX channels. When a new preset (=lighting scene) is loaded, a soft fade is performed from the actual scene into the new one.

• The actual state of the Ethernet / DMX Generator (actually transmitted DMX levels, mode of operation) can be saved permanently as a preset (=lighting scene) and be reloaded at any time. Up to 384 presets can be compiled and stored. During power-on always preset no.0 is loaded.

• With the flexibly configurable chaser feature cyclic sequences of presets (= lighting scenes) are presented automatically to DMX OUT. Soft fade transitions are possible.

• The cycle of DMX data packets can be set by command between 24 and 512 channels. If a DMX channel out of the active DMX cycle is adressed, the packet length is readjusted automatically.

Configuration:

DMX interface:

The DMX transmitter is NOT galvanically isolated from the controller circuit.

Alternative: assembly with detachable industrial clamps

At the block of clamps is led out: DMX OUT,a standard RS-232 interface, power supply. MIDI IN is not available !

Ethernet interface:

Power supply:

Electromechanical Features:

Similar products made by Cinetix:

• If you want to read or analyse a DMX bus via Ethernet, too, we recommend the Ethernet / DMX512 Control Box. To control and analyse a DMX bus by means of a conventional RS232 interface, we supply the RS-232 / DMX512 Control Box. To control and analyse a DMX bus by means of MIDI channel messages, we supply the MIDI / DMX512 Control Box.

• For applications of computer based lighting control without ethernet access, we supply devices with features similar to those of the Ethernet / DMX512 Generator: the USB/DMX512 Generator, the RS-232/DMX512 Generator and the MIDI / DMX512 Generator.

• The Ethernet / DMX512 GenIO combines the features of the Ethernet / DMX512 Generator with 8 analog inputs and 8 digital I/O lines.

Manual of the Ethernet / DMX512 Generator
     (PDF format)