MIDI-MT Documentation in English
Currently, at reasonable prices, a large number of lighting equipment that support control via the DMX512 protocol has become available.
The DMX512 protocol is designed to control lighting
fixtures. It allows you to control 512
channels
simultaneously via one three-wire communication line. Depending on the
capabilities of the lighting device, you can change the color,
brightness, position of the light beam, switching effects and many other
characteristics. As a rule, several channels are used on one lighting
fixture. Several devices switched on simultaneously allow using the
DMX512 control protocol to create light patterns and
design elements of varying complexity.
The ArtNet protocol is a network version of the DMX512 protocol. Distributed over a local network by sending to broadcast addresses. In this case, the final equipment must support the ArtNet protocol, or a gate must be installed to convert to the DMX512 protocol.
MIDI-MT supports both of these protocols, both simultaneous and separate operation is possible. Support for both standard 8-bit channels and 16-bit channels has been implemented. They can be used simultaneously, but when designing a network, it must be taken into account that a 16-bit channel takes the place of two 8-bit channels. For example, if you assign a device with four 16-bit DMX channels address 10, then the next free DMX address will be number 18 and not 14.
You can read more about the protocol on the website dmx-512.ru.
Allows you to control lighting devices and equipment using the «DMX512», «ArtNet» and «BobLight» protocols.
You can assign 8 or 16 bit channels in the configuration editor. To
assign a channel, select the required item in the
Control refers to light control
:
Channel "8 bit" (standard)
, group number “251”Channel "16 bit" (extended)
, group number “250”In the last column of settings, in the target
group, you
need to specify the DMX channel number (address).
Possible values range from “1” to “254”.
It is also possible to edit the configuration file in any editor you are familiar with. The main section of lighting control settings looks like this:
...
"lights": {
"pool": true,
"dmx": {
"enable": true,
"send_bobonly": false,
"port": 4,
"type": "AdaLight compatible (momo)",
"baudrate": 115200,
"stopbits": 1,
"timeout": 3,
"smoothly": 5,
"name": "USB Serial Port"
},
"artnet": {
"enable": false,
"port": 6454,
"universe": 1,
"ip": "192.168.22.105",
"mask": "255.255.255.0",
"broadcast": "192.168.22.255"
},
"boblight": {
"enable": true,
"port": 19333,
"ip": "192.168.22.105",
"start_dmx": 0,
"reverse_dmx": false,
"brightness": 0,
"direction": {
"colors_type": 5,
"screen_start": 0,
"screen_directions": [ 12, 12, 14, 14, 28 ],
"screen_height": [ 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 ],
"screen_padding": [ 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ]
}
}
},
...
To implement the integration of ArtNet,
MQTT and DMX512 network technologies
into a single lighting control system, you can use not only equipment
from well-known manufacturers. It is much cheaper to use
Arduino
-like boards for these purposes that support
WiFi
technology, designed on ESP
chipsets, for
example ESP8266
, ESP32
, etc.
At the same time, it turns out to get a device with maximum
capabilities at a minimum price. The budget of such a device will cost
about the cost of one track lamp, in other words, its cost will be
approximately 10-15%
of the price of similar branded
equipment.
One of these designs, which serves to expand the coverage of a network of controlled devices, runs under the control of the MIDI-MT program, for which it was specially developed. Simplicity of execution and the wide availability of electronic components make it universal. This is a “repeater” that collects control information about the switching status of lighting fixtures from the ArtNet and MQTT networks, then the information is summarized and transmitted via the DMX protocol to the wired network, through which the actual lighting control occurs. Use requires the presence of a wired DMX512 network and a connection point to it.
The repeater can be connected to a DMX512 network consisting of one segment. If the control network is divided into unconnected segments, you can install “repeaters” in each network segment, thereby combining them into a single network. At the same time, the distance of the segments from each other does not matter; it is important that all “repeaters” are connected to a single local network, which implies control via the ArtNet protocol. If it is not possible to provide all “repeaters” with a single local network, you can use control via the MQTT protocol. The standard operating mode of MIDI-MT is the simultaneous use of the ArtNet and MQTT protocols to generate an outgoing DMX stream.
In each lighting network control segment where a “repeater” is installed, it becomes the “Master”, with MQTT control signals taking precedence over ArtNet signals. If the source was enabled using MQTT control, it can only be disabled by it. This applies to any adjustments, both on and off, and to adjusting the brightness or changing the color. On the contrary, if the lighting fixture was turned on by signals from an ArtNet source, further control can be taken over by control signals via the MQTT protocol.
You can read more about multi-protocol “repeaters” and “endpoints” here.