What is the difference between Art-Net and sACN?

Art-Net and sACN (Streaming Architecture for Control Networks) are both protocols that transport DMX data over standard Ethernet networks instead of dedicated DMX cables. They solve the same problem: getting DMX data to fixtures across a large venue or complex rig without running individual DMX cables everywhere.

Art-Net was developed by Artistic Licence and has been the de facto standard in entertainment lighting for years. sACN (also known as E1.31) was developed by ESTA as an open standard. Both are widely supported by modern consoles and fixtures. In practice, the choice often comes down to the console platform and network infrastructure already in use. Many consoles output both protocols simultaneously.