DMXDesktop

sACN Configuration

sACN configurations are stored per Stage, thus you can configure different Artnet endpoints for different Stages.

You can configure different sACN server configurations per active universe, if you add a new fixture mapped to a universe which has never been used then a new config for that universe will become available on the sACN page.

sACN Configuration Screen

The default settings are usually the correct settings, except for the IP address, which you usually need to set for your sACN enabled receiver.

You can enable/disable any sACN configuration via the Enable checkbox button, but remember to click "Save" to store the changes - the change will be applied live!

Sometimes a receiver can lose connection, in this case you can try restarting the sACN service via the green rotation icon in the top right corner of each sACN configuration.

sACN Configuration Screen

Universe-Level Priority

Each sACN universe can have its own priority setting, which determines how data from multiple sources is handled: the source with the highest priority is accepted by receivers. If another source sends data with an equal or higher priority, it will override the current one. Use this feature to manage overlapping outputs or backup feeds.

Using sACN Multicast (Recommended)

To broadcast an entire sACN universe across your network:

  • Set the IP address to match the target interface's subnet, ending in .255.
    Example: If your interface is 192.168.1.0/24, configure 192.168.1.255 as the IP.
  • Upon saving, DMXDesktop will detect that .255 indicates multicast mode and automatically compute the correct multicast group (based on the universe number) and send accordingly.

Specifying a Custom sACN Multicast Address

If you'd prefer manual control:

  • Input the exact multicast IP address for the universe you need.
  • You are responsible for calculating and entering that address correctly (e.g., 239.255.<universe_high>.<universe_low>).
  • Note: When a proper multicast address is provided directly, DMXDesktop respects your input—there's no automatic calculation.

Recommended sACN Nodes

Standard:
CHAUVET DJ Stage Light Accessory

Premium 2 universes with RDM:
Enttec ODE Mk3 Converter Interface

Premium 4 Universes with RDM:
Netron EN4 Ethernet DMX Gateway