DMX/Art-Net Input
DMX input allows lighting consoles to control FXCanvas color palettes by sending Art-Net or sACN (E1.31) data. This enables a console-first workflow where lighting designers can use their familiar tools—grandMA3, Eos, ChamSys, or any Art-Net/sACN compatible console—to drive FXCanvas visuals.
Why Use Art-Net Input?
Art-Net input brings FXCanvas into your existing lighting workflow:
- Console Integration — Control FXCanvas colors directly from cues, macros, or live adjustments on your lighting console
- Unified Control — Manage both traditional lighting fixtures and FXCanvas visuals from a single interface
- Show Integration — Program FXCanvas colors alongside your lighting looks for perfectly synchronized shows
- Designer Familiarity — Use the console you already know rather than learning a new interface
When Art-Net input is enabled, FXCanvas acts as a "virtual fixture" that your console can patch and control just like any other lighting instrument.
Quick Start
Get up and running with Art-Net input in four steps:
1. Open DMX Settings
Navigate to Edit → Settings, then select the DMX tab.
2. Configure Connection
Enable DMX Input and configure your network settings:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable DMX Input | Master toggle to start receiving DMX data |
| Protocol | Art-Net or sACN (E1.31) |
| Universe | Match the universe your console sends to (Art-Net default: 0, sACN default: 1) |
| Start Address | First DMX channel for FXCanvas (default: 1) |
Art-Net Settings (Network Adapter, Net, Subnet) only appear when DMX Input is enabled.
3. Download GDTF Profile
In the GDTF Profile section:
- Set your desired Color Count using the slider (1-20 colors)
- Optionally enable Color Count Control under Control Channels
- Review the DMX Footprint display showing your channel layout
- Click Download GDTF to save the fixture file
4. Patch in Your Console
- Import the GDTF file into your lighting console
- Patch "FXCanvas Palette" at the universe and address you configured
- Set the Color Mode in FXCanvas to Art-Net (Color Panel → Art-Net button)
You're now ready to control FXCanvas colors from your lighting console!
Console Patching Guide
After downloading the GDTF profile, import it into your lighting console:
grandMA3
- Open Setup → Patch → Fixture Types
- Click Import and select the
.gdtffile - Go to Patch and add the fixture
- Set Universe and Address to match FXCanvas settings
- Enable Art-Net output to FXCanvas's IP address on the configured universe
ETC Eos Family
- Navigate to Browser → Import Fixture
- Select the
.gdtffile - In Patch, add the fixture at your desired address
- Configure Network → Output Protocols → sACN/Art-Net to send to FXCanvas
ChamSys MagicQ
- Go to Setup → View GDTF
- Click Import GDTF and select the file
- In Patch, choose the FXCanvas fixture from your library
- Assign to the appropriate universe and address
- Configure Art-Net output nodes in Setup → Network
These instructions are general guidance. Consult your console's documentation for detailed steps.
General Tips
- Ensure your console and FXCanvas are on the same network
- The console must be configured to output Art-Net or sACN (E1.31)
- Verify the universe number matches exactly between console and FXCanvas
- FXCanvas listens on the standard Art-Net port (6454) or sACN port (5568)
Configuration Options
The DMX Settings tab is organized into sections:
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable DMX Input | Master toggle and basic settings (Protocol, Universe, Start Address) |
| DMX Service Status | Connection state and received color preview |
| Art-Net Settings | Network adapter and advanced addressing (appears when enabled) |
| GDTF Profile | Fixture profile configuration and export |
Protocol
Supports Art-Net and sACN (E1.31). Select the protocol your lighting console outputs.
- Art-Net listens on UDP port 6454 and uses Net/Subnet/Universe addressing.
- sACN (E1.31) listens on UDP port 5568 and joins the universe's multicast group (239.255.x.x). Net/Subnet settings do not apply.
Universe
The universe to listen on. This should match the universe your lighting console sends to.
| Property | Art-Net | sACN |
|---|---|---|
| Range | 0-32767 | 1-63999 |
| Default | 0 | 1 |
Start Address
The first DMX channel within the universe where FXCanvas data begins.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Range | 1-512 |
| Default | 1 |
If you're sharing a universe with other fixtures, set this to an unused address range.
Network Adapter
Select which network interface to receive Art-Net data on.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| All Interfaces | Listens on all network adapters (default) |
| Specific adapter | Shows IP address and adapter name |
Use a specific adapter when your computer has multiple network connections and you want to receive Art-Net only on one of them.
Net and Subnet
Advanced addressing for large Art-Net systems.
| Setting | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Net | 0-127 | 0 |
| Subnet | 0-15 | 0 |
Most systems use Net 0, Subnet 0. Only change these if your console uses extended Art-Net addressing.
GDTF Profile Configuration
The GDTF Profile section defines how your lighting console sees FXCanvas as a fixture.
Color Count
Use the slider to set how many palette colors the fixture profile contains.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Range | 1-20 colors |
| Default | 5 colors |
Choosing a Color Count:
| Colors | Channels* | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 4-10 | Simple single-color or gradient effects |
| 5 | 16 | Default, good balance for most shows |
| 10 | 31 | Extended palettes with more color variety |
| 20 | 61 | Maximum flexibility, complex color schemes |
*With Color Count Control enabled (subtract 1 if disabled)
Control Channels
This subsection contains optional channels that extend the fixture's capabilities.
Color Count Control
When enabled, adds a channel at the start of the fixture that controls how many colors are active.
| Setting | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Enabled (default) | Channel 1 controls active color count |
| Disabled | All defined colors are always active |
Control Channel Values:
| Value | Behavior |
|---|---|
| 0 | Auto-detect: finds last non-black color |
| 1-20 | Use exactly this many colors (black counts as a color) |
| 21-255 | Treated as 20 (maximum) |
- You want to dynamically change how many palette colors are active
- Different cues use different numbers of colors
- You prefer explicit control over auto-detection
- You always use a fixed number of colors
- You want to minimize DMX channels
- Simpler console programming preferred
Global Control Channels (Dimmer, Saturation, Hue Shift)
These optional channels let your console drive FXCanvas's global look in real time. When enabled and DMX is receiving, each channel continuously overrides the corresponding control.
| Channel | DMX Value → Control | Neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Dimmer | 0 = black … 255 = full brightness (0.0–1.0 master dimmer) | 255 |
| Saturation | 0 = grayscale, 128 ≈ normal (1.0), 255 = 2× (2.0) | 128 |
| Hue Shift | 0 = −1.0 … 128 ≈ no shift … 255 = +1.0 | 128 |
These drive the same global controls exposed over OSC/REST (/global/dimmer, /global/saturation, /global/hue). They are placed after the color channels in the fixture (see Channel Layout Reference). Re-download the GDTF profile after enabling them so your console gets the matching channels.
While DMX is actively driving these channels, manual and OSC adjustments are overridden each frame. When DMX input stops, the last received values are held.
DMX Footprint Display
The UI shows the channel configuration:
- DMX Footprint — Total channel count (e.g., "16 channels")
- Address Range — Start to end addresses based on your configuration
- Channel Breakdown — Hover over "(?) Channel Breakdown" to see the detailed layout
The footprint is calculated as:
Total Channels = (Color Count × 3)
+ (Color Count Control ? 1 : 0)
+ (Dimmer ? 1 : 0) + (Saturation ? 1 : 0) + (Hue Shift ? 1 : 0)
Downloading the Profile
Click Download GDTF to save a .gdtf file. The suggested filename includes your configuration:
FXCanvas_Palette_5c.gdtf— 5 colors with control channelFXCanvas_Palette_10c_noctl.gdtf— 10 colors without control channel
Channel Layout Reference
With Color Count Control Enabled
The first channel controls active color count, followed by RGB triplets:
| Channel | Function | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Color Count Control | 0=auto, 1-20=fixed count |
| 2 | Color 1 Red | 0-255 |
| 3 | Color 1 Green | 0-255 |
| 4 | Color 1 Blue | 0-255 |
| 5 | Color 2 Red | 0-255 |
| ... | ... | ... |
Example (5 colors): 16 total channels
- Ch 1: Control
- Ch 2-4: Color 1 RGB
- Ch 5-7: Color 2 RGB
- Ch 8-10: Color 3 RGB
- Ch 11-13: Color 4 RGB
- Ch 14-16: Color 5 RGB
Without Color Count Control
RGB data starts immediately at channel 1:
| Channel | Function | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Color 1 Red | 0-255 |
| 2 | Color 1 Green | 0-255 |
| 3 | Color 1 Blue | 0-255 |
| 4 | Color 2 Red | 0-255 |
| ... | ... | ... |
Example (5 colors): 15 total channels
Global Control Channels Placement
If you enable Dimmer, Saturation, or Hue Shift, they are appended after all color channels, in that order. For example, a 1-color profile (no count control) with all three enabled:
| Channel | Function |
|---|---|
| 1-3 | Color 1 RGB |
| 4 | Dimmer |
| 5 | Saturation |
| 6 | Hue Shift |
Auto-Detection Behavior
When the control channel is set to 0 (auto-detect), FXCanvas scans the received colors to find the active palette size:
- Scans all configured color slots
- Finds the last color that isn't "off" (R+G+B > 3)
- Uses that as the active color count
- If all colors are black, uses 1 color (minimum)
Status Monitoring
The DMX Service Status section shows real-time information about Art-Net reception.
Status Indicator
A colored dot with text indicates the current state:
| Status | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving | Green | Actively receiving Art-Net packets |
| Listening (No Data) | Yellow | Enabled but no data received yet |
| Not Running | Red | Protocol failed to start |
| Disabled | Gray | DMX input is turned off |
Color Preview Swatches
When receiving data, displays the colors as small swatches:
- Up to 10 colors shown with a "+N" indicator if configured for more
- Active colors have white borders
- Inactive colors have gray borders
- Hover over any swatch to see RGB values
Using Art-Net Colors
Color Panel Integration
The Color Panel provides direct control over Art-Net color mode:
Art-Net Mode Button
- Appears when DMX input is configured in Settings
- Click to switch from Palette mode to Art-Net mode
- Auto-enables DMX — Selecting Art-Net mode automatically enables DMX input if disabled
Status Indicator When in Art-Net mode, a status indicator shows the connection state:
- Receiving — Actively receiving Art-Net packets from your console
- Waiting... — Enabled but no data received yet
- Disabled — DMX input is turned off
Color Swatches Preview
- Displays received DMX colors as small preview swatches
- Updates in real-time as your console sends new values
Returning to Palette Mode
- Click any palette in the Palette Panel to return to Palette mode
- Or click the Palette button in the Color Panel
Troubleshooting
No Data Received
Check your firewall:
- Windows Firewall may block Art-Net (UDP port 6454)
- Add an exception for FXCanvas or allow UDP port 6454
Verify network configuration:
- Console and FXCanvas must be on the same network/subnet
- Check that the console is actually outputting Art-Net
- Try selecting your specific network adapter instead of "All Interfaces"
Confirm universe match:
- Console universe and FXCanvas universe must be identical
- FXCanvas uses 0-indexed universes (Universe 0 = first universe)
Wrong Colors or Channel Offset
Check start address:
- Ensure console patch address matches FXCanvas start address
- Verify no channel overlap with other fixtures
Check GDTF configuration:
- The GDTF profile in your console must match FXCanvas settings
- If you change color count or control channel, re-download and re-import the GDTF
Status Shows "Not Running"
- Verify Enable DMX Input is checked
- Try toggling DMX input off and on
- Check the Log Viewer (Tools → Log Viewer) for error messages
Colors Don't Match Console Programmer
Color count mismatch:
- If using control channel, ensure it's set correctly (0 for auto, or specific count)
- Without control channel, all configured colors are always active
Auto-detect picking wrong count:
- Black colors between active colors can confuse auto-detection
- Consider using a fixed count via the control channel
Multi-NIC Systems
If your computer has multiple network adapters:
- Select the specific Network Adapter where Art-Net arrives
- Using "All Interfaces" may cause issues if Art-Net arrives on an unexpected interface
Tips and Best Practices
- Use fixture groups — Group FXCanvas colors for easy selection
- Create color presets — Save common color combinations as console presets
- Macro integration — Trigger color changes via console macros for complex cues
- Test thoroughly — Verify Art-Net connection before the show
- Have a backup — Keep some palettes saved in case Art-Net fails
- Monitor status — Keep the Settings window accessible to check connection status
- Dedicated network — For critical shows, use a dedicated lighting network
- Static IPs — Avoid DHCP issues by using static IP addresses
- Network switch — Use a quality gigabit switch for reliable Art-Net delivery
- Right-size your fixture — Use only as many colors as you need
- Share universes carefully — FXCanvas can share a universe with other fixtures if addresses don't overlap
- Plan your patch — Leave room for future expansion when choosing start addresses
DMX Monitor
The DMX Monitor provides real-time visualization of incoming DMX data, useful for debugging and verifying your Art-Net setup. It lives inside the DMX Manager window as the Monitor tab (in Input mode).
Opening the DMX Monitor
Go to Tools → DMX Manager, then select the Monitor tab and switch to Input mode using the toggle at the top.
Understanding the Views
The Monitor tab has three views, each showing the same data in different ways:
Table
Shows detailed information in a scrollable table format.
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Ch | Channel number (1-512) |
| Value | Raw DMX value (0-255) with mini progress bar |
| % | Value as percentage (0-100%) |
| Type | Red, Green, Blue, or Control for configured channels |
- Show All 512 Channels checkbox to see every channel
- Configured range rows are highlighted
Best for: Precise troubleshooting and seeing exact values.
Grid
Displays all 512 channels in a compact 32×16 grid.
- Brighter cells = higher values
- Your configured address range is highlighted with a blue border
- Hover over any cell to see channel number and value
Best for: Getting an overview of the entire universe at once.
Colors
Shows the actual colors being parsed from your configured DMX range.
- Displays color swatches matching what FXCanvas effects will receive
- Shows color index and RGB values for each color
- Active vs inactive colors clearly distinguished
- Updates in real-time as DMX values change
Best for: Verifying your console is sending the right palette colors.
Status Header
The top of the monitor shows connection information:
| Display | Description |
|---|---|
| Status dot | Green (Receiving), Yellow (Waiting...), Gray (Disabled) |
| Protocol & Universe | e.g., "Art-Net Universe 0" |
| Address Range | Your configured start through end channel |
| Timing | Time since last packet (ms or seconds) |
Troubleshooting with DMX Monitor
Not Receiving Data
If the status shows "Waiting..." or no data:
- Check DMX Input is enabled — Go to Edit → Settings → DMX tab
- Verify universe number — Must match your console
- Check network connection — Console and FXCanvas must be on same network
- Check firewall — Windows Firewall may be blocking UDP port 6454
Wrong Channel Values
If values don't match what you expect:
- Use Grid view to see which channels have activity
- Check start address — Your console patch should match FXCanvas
- Verify GDTF profile — Re-download if you changed settings
Colors Not Matching Console
If the Colors view shows different colors than your console programmer:
- Check control channel — If enabled, channel 1 sets active color count
- Verify color count — GDTF profile should match your console setup
- Look for channel offset — Use Table view to see exactly where color data starts
Related Topics
- Palettes — Learn about FXCanvas color palettes and the Color Panel
- Sources — Visual patterns that use palette colors
- DMX Output & Mapping — Send visuals the other direction, out to real lighting fixtures
- Getting Started — Overview of FXCanvas basics