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    Integrations

    sACN / E1.31 lighting control in WavePhase

    Streaming ACN (E1.31) is the other common DMX-over-IP transport. WavePhase outputs it from the same fixture patch as Art-Net. Prefer a wired show network. Multicast vs unicast is a network choice you make with your nodes — match the receiver.

    WavePhasesACN outVLAN / switchReceivers
    Same patch as Art-Net. Multicast stays on the lighting VLAN; unicast when the receiver requires it.

    Who this is for

    Festivals, houses and installs that already standardise on sACN multicast or unicast nodes.

    Who it is not for

    Anyone planning to ride sACN across a congested office Wi-Fi or an unmanaged consumer mesh.

    sACN versus Art-Net

    sACN / E1.31

    Multicast is efficient on a disciplined lighting VLAN. Some nodes insist on unicast. IGMP snooping mistakes look like 'WavePhase is not sending'.

    Art-Net

    Often simpler on small club switches. Same graph and patch in WavePhase — only the output transport changes.

    Topology and setup

    • VLAN the lighting multicast

      Keep sACN off office and streaming VLANs. A switch that floods multicast everywhere will melt laptops that never needed lighting traffic.

    • Match unicast when the node requires it

      If the receiver is unicast-only, do not 'fix' it with more multicast. Point WavePhase at the node address.

    • Confirm universe numbers

      Use the DMX universe planner, then walk the fixtures. Visualiser success is not node success.

    Implementation facts

    Transport
    sACN / E1.31 from the same fixture patch as Art-Net.
    Network
    Wired lighting LAN. Multicast or unicast to match the receiver.
    Graph
    DSP sources, MIDI and Live Control do not change when you switch transport.

    sACN practice

    1. 01Patch universes to an sACN output on the lighting NIC.
    2. 02Keep multicast off office VLANs; enable IGMP snooping on the show switch if you use multicast.
    3. 03Use unicast when the node or venue requires it.
    4. 04Confirm universe numbers with the planner, then test blackout on hardware.

    When to pick sACN — and what breaks it

    • Shared backbone

      Festivals that standardise on sACN multicast across multiple senders.

    • Same graph, either protocol

      Switching Art-Net vs sACN does not change DSP sources — only the transport.

    • IGMP / Wi-Fi mistakes

      Missing IGMP snooping or a Wi-Fi hop looks like missing output. Wired Ethernet only for show DMX.

    Related

    Limitations and transparency

    Multicast behaviour is switch-dependent. WavePhase can send correctly and still lose the room if IGMP or VLAN tagging is wrong.

    FAQ

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