Well, so obviously we haven't been blogging as much as we could. That's also a snag since the website is the main source of Synchromesh information right now.

I will try harder.

Let's start with talking about the basic ArtNet profile, as currently implemented.

ArtNet is a fairly simple lighting protocol, based on Ethernet and TCP/IP connections. It's quite simple, and uses automatic discovery and fixed IP addresses to save on configuration hassles.

The first step is to get a DDR onto the same network as your ArtNet capable lighting controller (let's call it the 'board'). Connect a DDR's Aux Ethernet port to an Ethernet switch that the board is also attached too. Now you need to see what ArtNet range the board is using. There are three main choices - the 2.x.x.x range, the 10.x.x.x range and 'custom', such as 192.168.x.x. The first two are more common. In your DDR's System menu, set the correct Ethernet address range.

if you changed the address, restart the DDR. On your board, look for new ArtNet nodes. You should see the DDR show up (maybe the board will show it's name as well) with 4 universes in and 4 out - that's the default for a node, we really only use one input universe.

ArtNet uses a simple Universe and Channel system, where a node has multiple universes, each with 512 channels. Each channel is a single value, from 0 to 255. Some lighting systems represent each value as a percentage (0% to 100%), but we'll be working with values. This is more common when channel values aren't just the intensity of lights.

Most ArtNet (and DMX) devices have one or more profiles, which define a mapping between channels (and values) and device controls. Synchromesh currently has only one profile, we call it the basic profile.

Channel 1 is the transition fader. It triggers an auto transition each time the fader goes from zero to any positive value. When the fader is at zero, and subsequent load clip or adjustment commands apply to the preview side of each track.

Channels 2 and 3 are reserved for transport and position.

Channels 4-19 are used to load clips into Tracks A-H. If the transition fader is at zero, this will load into preview. Increase the transition fader to trigger a transition of the clips to program. It's usual to drop the transition fader back to zero after the transition begins.