An Art-Net universe carries up to 512 DMX channels, and each RGB pixel uses 3 channels (4 for RGBW) — so a single universe holds 170 RGB pixels (512 ÷ 3, rounded down) or 128 RGBW pixels.
To estimate how many universes your installation needs:
- Count your total number of pixels.
- Multiply by 3 (RGB) or 4 (RGBW) to get total DMX channels required.
- Divide by 512 and round up — that’s your universe count.
For example, 1,000 RGB pixels need 3,000 channels, which rounds up to 6 universes. An Art-Net decoder like SPI Matrix then takes that Ethernet feed and turns it back into pixel data on its physical outputs.
For per-output rounding, patch start addresses and network load, use our Art-Net universe calculator.
Planning a larger installation and want help sizing it exactly? Book a free consultation with our team.