sACN (E1.31) Protocol
sACN (E1.31) — The ANSI Standard
sACN (Streaming ACN, formally ANSI E1.31) is the ANSI standard protocol for DMX-over-Ethernet. It was designed to address Art-Net’s limitations while maintaining compatibility.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard | ANSI E1.31 |
| Transport | UDP/IP (Ethernet) |
| Port | UDP 5568 |
| Max universes | 63,999 |
| Multicast | Yes (239.255.x.x range) |
| IP support | IPv4 and IPv6 |
| Priority | 0-200 (allows merging sources) |
Key Advantages Over Art-Net
- Multicast — One stream reaches all receivers, lower network load
- IPv6 support — Future-proof
- Priority levels — Allows multiple consoles with failover
- Standardized — ANSI standard, more rigorous specification
Limitations
- Slightly more complex setup (IGMP snooping may be needed)
- Fewer legacy devices support it compared to Art-Net
- Less widespread in the hobbyist community