2. DMX Universes Merge
The second step is to merge the DMX Universes you plan to share between ALBION and the grandMA. Doing so will allow back and forth communication and seamless control for both systems.
2.1. Access the Network protocols page on the grandMA
Click (or Press) the [Setup] button.
Click on the [Network Protocols] button.
Click on the [Art-Net] or the [sACN] tab.
2.2. Merge the Universes
You will need to add 3 Configuration Lines in the Art-Net or sACN table for each Universe groups of Fixture Types you want to control.
For example, you would need 3 Configuration Lines have 2 sequential Universes each used for a different fixture type. However, if you isolated the Universes (there would be a gap in their addressing), you might need more than 3 Configuration Lines. If you have done your pre-production and planning phase correctly, you will never need more than 3 Configuration Lines.
The Configuration Lines are respectively used to define how to:
output the data linked to the default Attributes of the Fixture (residing on patch break 1) from the grandMA to ALBION;
input the data sent by ALBION (relating the Fixture) to the grandMA;
output the data linked to the ALBION Attributes of the Fixture (residing on patch break 2) from the grandMA to ALBION.
Create Configuration Line A
Create a new Configuration Line by right-clicking on the [New] button located at the bottom of the table.
Right-click on the Mode cell of the new Configuration Line to open a contextual menu where you will select the OutputBroadcast option for Art-Net or Output multicast/unicast for sACN.
Right-click on the LocalStart cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the first Universe the Fixture is linked to.
Right-click on the Amount cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the number of Universes which are dedicated to the Fixture Type (this is why the Universes dedicated to the Fixture Type should be sequential).
Right-click on the Universe cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the address of the Universe ALBION will listen plus one if you are using Art-Net. Art-Net will require a combination of hexadecimal values (Subnet and Universe) if you need to go above 9. If you are using sACN, you can directly enter the number of the Universe without any offset or conversion. This Universe will be used to stream the data from the Universes set earlier on in step 3 and 4. This Universe should not be used for any other purposes.
If you are using sACN, Priority, Protocol and TTL should be kept at their default grandma values. (Priority: 100, Protocol: Final and TTL: 8)
Create Configuration Line B
Create a new Configuration Line by right-clicking on the [New] button located at the bottom of the table.
Right-click on the Mode cell of the new Configuration Line to open a contextual menu where you will select the Input option.
Right-click on the LocalStart cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the value that was previously input in the LocalStart cell of Configuration Line A.
Right-click on the Amount cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the number of Universes which are dedicated to the Fixture Type (this is why the Universes dedicated to the Fixture Type should be sequential).
Right-click on the Universe cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the address of the Universe which ALBION is using to pass on data to the Fixture plus one.
grandMA2 is limited to a maximum of 10 multicast sACN input lines. If the patch requires the use of more than 10 Universes in input, PHOTON should be set in unicast instead of multicast.
Create Configuration Line C
This Configuration Line deals with the Universes dedicated to ALBION’s patch breaks. This Configuration Line is identical to Line A with the exception that it concerns the patch break Universes used for the ALBION Attributes.
Create a new Configuration Line by right-clicking on the [New] button located at the bottom of the table.
Right-click on the Mode cell of the new Configuration Line to open a contextual menu. Select the OutputBroadcast option if you are using Art-Net. Select OutputMulticast or OutputUnicast if you are using sACN.
Right-click on the LocalStart cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the first patch break Universe the Fixture is linked to.
Right-click on the Amount cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value. The value number has to correspond to the number of Universes which are dedicated to the Fixture Type (this is why the Universes dedicated to the Fixture Type should be sequential).
Identify the Universe that corresponds to the second patch break of all fixtures to control Albion parameters.
Right-click on this Universe’s cell to edit its value. An Edit window will open where you will be able to enter the new value.
Remember that Art-Net Universes start at 0 and use hexadecimal description. sACN protocol Universes start at 1 and use classic decimal system.
2.3. Enable LoTP on the grandMA
You will need to set the grandMA’s Art-Net communications on LoTP in order to merge correctly with ALBION.
Open the grandMA’s Universe Pool.
Right-click on each of the programmed Universes to access their page and set their DMX in Merge parameter to LoTP.
LoTP means the lowest value will take precedent once the DMX streams are merged. This merging mode allows PHOTON to control dimmer values for advanced features like fade on flip and fade on blockers without removing overall control from the light console.
2.4. Network Validation
Since Art-Net is broadcasted from the grandMA, there is no need to specify a destination IP address to receive the messages. However, in order for the messages to get through ALBION and the grandMA need to be connected to the same network. You must verify if the first block of the IP addresses of the grandMA and of ALBION are the same.
Note: Network addresses need to start either by 2.X.X.X or 10.X.X.X since they are residing on an Art-Net network.
If you are using sACN, make sure the settings for unicast/multicast are correctly set in the grandMA and PHOTON. In order to receive multicast input in PHOTON, you need to subscribe to at least one fixture from the Universe you are listening to. If unicast is chosen, make sure to enter in PHOTON a valid IP address that corresponds to the Main GrandMA console IP address where DMX will be sent to.
2.5. Enable Art-Net or sACN in ALBION
Open the I/O Manager module by pressing [Alt-I] or select System > I/O Manager.
Click on the DMX tab
Activate the [Enable Server] toggle
Use the “Select network interface dropdown menu” to choose the interface that will be dedicated to Art-Net or sACN communication. (Its first 3 blocks must match the ones of the grandMA IP address.)
Make sure the Default value is set at 255. This enables the LoTP feature for ALBION.
For sACN, choose between multicast and unicast output. If unicast is chosen, make sure to enter a valid IP address that corresponds to the Main GrandMA console IP address where DMX will be sent to.
DMX communication is now enabled.
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