12 universes on RJ45 Artnet 4

[pierotec]

Hi, I need to connect my FLX S48 to a lighting setup that uses 12 universes. I'd like to confirm that the console can manage the 12 universes on the RJ45 connector using ArtNet 4. Obviously within the limits of the fixtures that the Flx S48 can handle.

Thank you 

[kgallen]

In theory you can put channels across 64 universes.  Might depend more on the ArtNet node handling two controllers. 

https://www.zero88.com/manuals/zeros/patching/available-channels

[pierotec]

OK, it seems there's no limit up to 64 universes, even though the specs mention up to 4 universes. But going into more detail, I can, for example, manage 96 fixtures of 40 channels each across 12 universes and therefore manage 3840 channels, because in this case too the specs mention a maximum of 2048 channels.🤔

[DALX]

With the release of ZerOS 8 the number of licensed channels in a FLXS48 is 2,048. https://www.vari-lite.com/global/news/releases/zeros-8-0 which can be patched across 64 universes. https://www.zero88.com/storage/downloads/manuals/zeros-en.pdf "On all ZerOS consoles, including FLX, FLX S24 & FLX S48, ZerOS allows fixtures to be patched across 64 universes without wasting unused channels. Any two of these universes can be sent out over the two DMX outputs. The total number of used channels across the 64 universes must not exceed the number of universes your console is licensed to output. All 64 universes can be distributed over an Ethernet network using either “Art-Net”, “Streaming ACN” or “CITP”.'

[Davidmk]

I know that, in theory, ZerOS desks can handle a maximum number of DMX addresses spread over upto 64 universes but I'd be really interested to know the number of channels people are actually using without problems.

Anyone using over 1024?

[pierotec]

All clear, I'd already done some tests in the meantime. With current fixtures, it's very easy to manage a significant number of channels, but 2048 channels is a good number for a console of this type. I was more interested in being able to use many universes.
Thank 

[pierotec]

On 7/20/2025 at 5:31 PM, Davidmk said:

I know that, in theory, ZerOS desks can handle a maximum number of DMX addresses spread over upto 64 universes but I'd be really interested to know the number of channels people are actually using without problems.

Anyone using over 1024?

Why, have you noticed problems with more than 1024 channels?

[Davidmk]

2 hours ago, pierotec said:

have you noticed problems

No, but I've used nearly 1024 and that was OK although it was a few versions ago. Just wondering if anyone has gone further.

[pierotec]

41 minutes ago, Davidmk said:

No, but I've used nearly 1024 and that was OK although it was a few versions ago. Just wondering if anyone has gone further.

I'll let you know soon 😉