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A high-performance, ultra-reliable, zero-jitter DIY Wireless Art-Net 4 to DMX512-A Converter Node powered by ESP32 Dual-Core (FreeRTOS SMP), built-in Captive Portal Web Config, and 16x2 LCD Status Monitor.
- 🎬 RESULT.png — Live stage setup banner (Acer Swift 3 running QLC+, Box X4 enclosure, 4 PAR LED 54-eye fixtures).
- 📄 REPORT.pdf — Complete PDF project report with all 58 indexed figures, schematics, and build logs.
- 📦 images/ — Catalog of 22 hardware tools & components.
- 📐 schematics/ — 5 High-resolution engineering schematics & architecture diagrams (300 DPI).
- 📸 docs/ — 30 Step-by-step fabrication & testing photos.
- 📋 PRD.md — Product Requirements Document.
- 📑 REVIEW.md — Architectural & Signal Integrity Review.
- 📝 CHANGELOG.md — Version history and roadmap notes.
- ✨ Key Features
- 🛒 Hardware & Bill of Materials (BOM)
- 📐 Schematics & Pinout Wiring
- 🛠️ Fabrication & Assembly Summary
- 🧠 Firmware & Dual-Core Architecture
- 🚀 Quick Start: Flashing the Firmware
- 🌐 WiFi Setup via Captive Portal
- 🎛️ Universal Software Compatibility
- 📊 Test Results & Performance
- 🔮 Roadmap v5.0 (Community Edition)
- 💬 Message to Makers & Forkers
- 📜 License & Credits
-
🚀 FreeRTOS Dual-Core SMP Engine:
-
Core 0 (Dedicated DMX): Generates strict USITT DMX512-A serial timing (Break
$\ge 88,\mu\text{s}$ , MAB$\ge 8,\mu\text{s}$ ) at an ultra-stable 44.1 Hz refresh rate with zero jitter ($<0.05,\mu\text{s}$ ). - Core 1 (Networking & UI): Handles Art-Net UDP (Port 6454), Captive Portal DNS (Port 53), HTTP WebServer (Port 80), and NVS flash storage.
-
Core 0 (Dedicated DMX): Generates strict USITT DMX512-A serial timing (Break
-
🔄 Atomic Double-Buffering (Ping-Pong Memory):
- Thread-safe pointer swapping between
writeBufferandreadBufferprotected by an atomic spinlock (portENTER_CRITICAL), totally eliminating frame tearing and stage light flicker.
- Thread-safe pointer swapping between
-
📱 Smart Captive Portal (Auto Pop-up):
- When disconnected from WiFi, the node automatically broadcasts an Access Point (
ZZLIGHT-APat192.168.4.1). Connecting with any smartphone (Android/iOS) or PC instantly opens the web setup portal.
- When disconnected from WiFi, the node automatically broadcasts an Access Point (
-
📟 11-State Machine 16x2 LCD Display:
- Real-time status display with differential I2C rendering: Booting animation, WiFi status, connected IP, active Art-Net Universe, and live DMX packet counter (FPS).
-
🛡️ 10-Second Fail-Safe Blackout:
- Automatically blacks out all 512 DMX channels if the host lighting software stops broadcasting for >10 seconds, protecting stage fixtures from overheating.
-
📦 Rugged Box X4 DIY Enclosure:
- Compact, road-ready ABS plastic case with metal 3-pin XLR female chassis socket and top-mounted blue LCD screen.
Total estimated cost to build this module is under $10 / Rp 150.000. Here are all 22 parts and tools:
| No | Component / Tool | Specification & Details | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ESP32 DevKit V1 | 30-Pin, Dual-Core 240MHz, 520KB SRAM | Main MCU & WiFi Engine |
| 2 | MAX485 Module | 5V TTL to RS-485 Differential Transceiver | Converts UART TX to DMX512 |
| 3 | LCD 16x2 + I2C | Blue Backlight, PCF8574 Backpack (0x27) |
Real-time Status Display |
| 4 | XLR 3-Pin Female Socket | Round Metal Panel-Mount Chassis | DMX Cable Output Socket |
| 5 | Box X4 Enclosure | Black Matte ABS ( |
Road-ready Protective Casing |
| 6 | Perfboard / Rawboard | Single-Sided Matrix PCB ( |
Circuit Board Base |
| 7 | Pin Headers | 2.54mm Pitch Male & Female Strips | Modular Socket for ESP32 & MAX485 |
| 8 | DuPont Jumper Wires | AWG 24-26 Multi-Color Wires | Internal Power & Signal Wiring |
| 9 | USB to Micro-USB Cable | High-Quality Copper Data Cable (1.0m) | 5V Power Supply & Flashing |
| 10 | Solder Wire | 60/40 Rosin Core Tin (0.8mm) | Electrical Soldering |
| 11 | Soldering Iron | 60W Adjustable Temperature Ceramic | Tool for Soldering |
| 12 | Desoldering Pump | Manual Aluminum Solder Sucker | Solder Cleaning & Fixes |
| 13 | Digital Multimeter | Voltage, Continuity Buzzer & Resistance | Short-Circuit & Rail Verification |
| 14 | Breadboard 830 Points | Solderless Prototyping Breadboard | Testing Circuit Before Assembly |
| 15 | Side Wire Cutters | Precision Flush Cutters | Trimming Header Pins & Wires |
| 16 | Step Drill Bit | Titanium Nitride HSS 4–22mm Cone | Drilling XLR Socket Hole on Box X4 |
| 17 | Precision Screwdrivers | Phillips (+) & Flathead (-) | Fastening XLR & Box Screws |
| 18 | 3m DMX XLR Cable | 120-Ohm Shielded Twisted Pair | Signal Transmission to Lights |
| 19 | Host Laptop (Acer Swift 3) | Windows 11 / Linux Host Running QLC+ | Art-Net Software Controller |
| 20 | PAR LED 54 Fixtures | 54x3W RGBW Stage Wash Lights | Physical DMX Actuation Load |
| 21 | Soldering Flux Paste | Rosin Soldering Flux Grease Paste | Clean & High-Quality Solder Joints |
| 22 | Craft Scissors | Sharp Stainless Steel Scissors | Cable & Heat-Shrink Trimming |
(All component photos are accessible in the images/ folder and indexed in REPORT.pdf).
+-------------------+--------------------+------------------------+-----------------------+
| Source Pin | Source Label | Target Component | Target Pin |
+-------------------+--------------------+------------------------+-----------------------+
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | VIN (5V) | MAX485 Module | VCC (5V) |
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | GND | MAX485 Module | GND |
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | GPIO 4 (D4) | MAX485 Module | DE & /RE (Tied HIGH) |
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | GPIO 17 (TX2) | MAX485 Module | DI (Data In) |
+-------------------+--------------------+------------------------+-----------------------+
| MAX485 Module | Pin A (Data +) | XLR 3-Pin Female | Pin 3 (DMX Data +) |
| MAX485 Module | Pin B (Data -) | XLR 3-Pin Female | Pin 2 (DMX Data -) |
| MAX485 Module | Pin GND (Shield) | XLR 3-Pin Female | Pin 1 (DMX Ground) |
+-------------------+--------------------+------------------------+-----------------------+
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | VIN (5V) | I2C LCD 16x2 Display | VCC (5V) |
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | GND | I2C LCD 16x2 Display | GND |
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | GPIO 21 (D21) | I2C LCD 16x2 Display | SDA |
| ESP32 DevKit V1 | GPIO 22 (D22) | I2C LCD 16x2 Display | SCL |
+-------------------+--------------------+------------------------+-----------------------+
📊 Available Schematics (in schematics/)
- 01_system_block_diagram.png — End-to-end signal flow from lighting software to ESP32 receiver, MAX485 driver, and stage PAR LEDs.
- 02_esp32_max485_wiring_schematic.png — Complete wiring schematic between ESP32 DevKit V1, MAX485 transceiver, I2C LCD, and 3-pin XLR socket.
- 03_dmx512_timing_diagram.png — High-precision DMX512-A frame waveform at 250 kbps (Break >= 88µs, MAB >= 8µs, Start Code 0x00, 512 channels, 44.1 Hz).
- 04_freertos_dual_core_architecture.png — Task separation between Core 0 (Real-Time DMX Generation) and Core 1 (Networking & Web UI) via Spinlock Double Buffering.
- 05_lcd16x2_state_machine_flowchart.png — State machine transition diagram for LCD 16x2 status indicators, auto-recovery, and blackout modes.
The complete step-by-step physical build process (with 30 photos in docs/) consists of 4 main phases:
- Breadboard Prototyping & Testing: Validating UART2 DMX transmission and I2C LCD address (
0x27). - Box X4 Enclosure Machining: Drilling front panel hole with a step drill bit (4–22mm) for the round XLR 3-pin female chassis and rectangular top cutout for LCD 16x2.
- Perfboard Soldering & Internal Wiring: Soldering header sockets, routing 5V power rails, hooking up MAX485 DE/RE pins to GPIO 4, and attaching XLR pins (1: GND, 2: Data-, 3: Data+).
- Final Assembly & Bench Testing: Fastening the PCB inside Box X4 with screws, closing the lid, and connecting to stage lighting fixtures for live actuation.
The production firmware firmware/artnet_dmx_final.ino is optimized for zero-latency stage performance:
// Core 0 Dedicated DMX Generation Loop (44.1 Hz)
void DMX_Task(void *pvParameters) {
for (;;) {
// 1. Generate Break Signal (LOW >= 88 us)
digitalWrite(DMX_TX_PIN, LOW);
esp_rom_delay_us(88);
// 2. Generate Mark After Break (HIGH >= 8 us)
digitalWrite(DMX_TX_PIN, HIGH);
esp_rom_delay_us(8);
// 3. Atomically transmit 513 bytes (Start Code + 512 channels)
portENTER_CRITICAL(&dmxMux);
Serial2.write((uint8_t*)readBuffer, 513);
portEXIT_CRITICAL(&dmxMux);
Serial2.flush();
vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1)); // ~22.7ms period = 44.1 Hz
}
}- Install Arduino IDE 2.x.
- In Arduino IDE Settings, add ESP32 Board URL:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json - Install
esp32 by Espressif Systemsvia Boards Manager. - Install library
LiquidCrystal_I2C by Frank de Brabandervia Library Manager. - Connect your ESP32 to PC with a Micro-USB cable.
- Select board
DOIT ESP32 DEVKIT V1and the correct COM port. - Open
firmware/artnet_dmx_final.inoand click Upload.
- Power on the module.
- On your phone or laptop, connect to the WiFi network:
ZZLIGHT-AP. - A web configuration portal will automatically open (or navigate to
http://192.168.4.1). - Click Scan WiFi, pick your stage WiFi router, type the password, and choose your Art-Net Universe (default:
0). - Click Save & Connect. The node will reboot and join your stage network. The LCD will display its newly assigned IP address!
The node accepts standard Art-Net 4 DMX packets (OpCode 0x5000) on UDP Port 6454 from any lighting console:
- QLC+: Go to Inputs/Outputs ➔ Select ArtNet output plugin ➔ Enter Node IP or Broadcast
255.255.255.255. - grandMA3 onPC: Go to Menu ➔ Network ➔ DMX Protocols ➔ Art-Net (Enabled).
- Resolume Arena: Go to Preferences ➔ DMX ➔ Add Lumiverse ➔ Target Node IP.
- TouchDesigner: Use
DMX Out CHOPin Art-Net mode. - ZZLUXORA: Automated audio-reactive AI lighting control engine.
| Metric | Target Requirement | Measured Test Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMX Refresh Rate | 🌟 Pass | ||
| Serial Timing Jitter | 🌟 Pass | ||
| WiFi UDP Latency | 🌟 Pass | ||
| Fail-Safe Blackout | 10.0s Auto Blackout Trigger | 🌟 Pass | |
| Current Consumption | 🌟 Pass |
💡 Project Status: This project is officially finalized and stable at v4.0.0 (Production-Ready). For anyone wanting to take this project further and build v5.0.0, you are warmly invited to fork, experiment, and contribute! (Silakan dikembangkan sesuka hati!) 🎉
Recommended features for v5:
- 🌐 sACN (ANSI E1.31) Protocol Support alongside Art-Net 4.
- 🎛️ Multi-Universe Outputs (2–4 XLR Ports) using ESP32 UART/RMT peripherals.
- 🔄 Bidirectional RDM (ANSI E1.20) for remote fixture configuration and sensor telemetry.
- ⚡ Hardwired PoE Ethernet (W5500 / LAN8720) for stadium/arena setups.
- ☁️ Web OTA Firmware Update (Drag & Drop .bin).
- 🔍 ArtPoll & ArtPollReply Auto-Discovery for seamless grandMA3 / Avolites integration.
- 📟 OLED SSD1306 Graphic Display & NeoPixel RGB Status Indicators.
- 💾 Standalone DMX Scene Recorder & Playback without needing a PC.
- Feel free to DIY build this node: All schematics, BOM, and step-by-step photos are provided under the open-source MIT license.
- Feel free to fork & create v5: Build custom KiCad SMD PCBs, 3D printed enclosures, or multi-port nodes. We'd love to see your creations!
- Author: Andreas Restuawanta Christwara (@zzdree)
- Institution: Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Computer Engineering.
- Academic Reference: Part of Bachelor's Thesis research in Intelligent Stage Lighting Automation.
- License: Distributed under the MIT License. Free for commercial, personal, and educational use!
⭐ If you find this project helpful, give it a star on GitHub! ⭐
Built with ❤️ for Stage Lighting Designers, DIY Makers, and Engineers Worldwide.
Built with ❤️ for Stage Lighting Designers, DIY Makers, and Engineers Worldwide.