Decoder? controller?

Beginners
1

To connect led strips to touchdesigner.
I need a DMX ARTNET controller, can I recommend a product?
Is it different from DMX DECODER?

2

Hi @kijhome,

it depends how you want to address the LEDs.

Often times a LED Pixel Controller that can be addressed via sACN or ArtNet is a straight forward process and can be extended easily to support large quantities of LEDs. One producer of such is Advatek https://www.advateklighting.com but there are many other producers out there as well. As you connect directly via ethernet to these, no DMX interface is required which would be necessary when using a DMX Decoder.

Others, also here on the Forum, have used Arduinos or Teensy for LED strip control.

cheers
Markus

3

So, do I only need one decoder or controller? Separately, do I need to use Arduino or Teensy together?

4

Hi @kijhome,

You need a LED Controller.

  • This can be a ready build controller like the above mentioned advatek products or you roll your own using a Arduino or Teensy
  • Arduino and Teensy are two separate microcontroller development boards. You can choose either to create a LED controller from.
  • Advatek’s pixlight is a LED pixel controller which accepts ArtNet or sACN as an input.
  • A DMX Decoder is a LED pixel controller that requires a DMX signal as an input.

Art-Net is a communications protocol used to transmit DMX512-A lighting control data over Ethernet networks. Hence you do not require a separate DMX output device which would be necessary for a DMX Decoder.

Hope this helps
cheers
Markus