S-PLAY SP1-1 — User Manual

Multi-universe DMX and Ethernet lighting controller with cue storage, playlist timeline editor, and multi-protocol trigger and event support.

Get started

Read this section before installing the S-PLAY. Covers electrical safety, system planning, installation guidelines, and typical application wiring diagrams.

Safety

Ensure you are familiarised with all key information within this guide before installing or operating the S-PLAY. If in any doubt about system safety, contact ENTTEC or your ENTTEC supplier for assistance.

Heads up: ENTTEC’s return-to-base warranty does not cover damage caused by inappropriate use, application, or modification to the product.

Electrical safety

• This product must be installed by a person familiar with the construction and operation of the product and the hazards involved. Failure to comply may result in death or serious injury.
• Do not exceed the ratings and limitations defined in the product datasheet or this document.
• Ensure no part of the installation is connected to power until all connections and work is complete.
• Before applying power, check that all power distribution equipment and cables are in perfect condition, rated for the current requirements of all connected devices, appropriately fused, and that voltage is compatible.
• Remove power immediately if accessories, power cables or connectors are damaged, defective, show signs of overheating, or are wet.
• Provide a means of locking out power for system servicing, cleaning, and maintenance.
• Do not ‘hot swap’ or ‘hot plug’ power to the device or its accessories.
• Do not connect any of this device’s GND (V−) connectors to earth.
• Do not connect this device to a dimmer pack or mains electricity.

System planning

• Use twisted-pair, 120 Ω, shielded EIA-485 cable for DMX512 data.
• Conductors should be 24 AWG (7/0.2) or larger for mechanical strength and to minimise volt drop on long runs.
• Maximum of 32 devices on a DMX line before re-generating the signal.
• Always terminate the end of a DMX chain with a 120 Ω resistor to prevent signal degradation and data bounce-back.
• Maximum recommended DMX cable run: 300 m. Keep data cabling away from sources of electromagnetic interference (mains power, air-conditioning units, dimmer feeders).
• All network cabling should be terminated with an RJ45 connector to the T-568B standard.
• This device has an IP20 rating and is not designed for exposure to moisture.

Protection from injury & installation safety

• Installation must only be performed by qualified personnel.
• Always use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) when installing ENTTEC products.
• The device is convection-cooled — ensure sufficient airflow so heat can be dissipated.
• Do not cover the device with insulating material of any kind.
• Do not modify the device hardware in any way.
• Do not use the device if you see any signs of damage.
• Do not handle the device in an energised state.
• Do not crush or clamp the device during installation.
• Do not sign off a system without ensuring all cabling has been appropriately restrained, secured, and is not under tension.

Application & wiring diagrams

S-PLAY to distribute DMX output

The S-PLAY connects to a network switch via CAT6 and distributes DMX output through downstream Ethernet-to-DMX converters such as the DIN Ethergate (SKU 71030), ODE Mk3 (SKU 70407), or Storm 10 (SKU 70057). An automation controller or BMS can send triggers via RS232, UDP, OSC, or HTTP. Power: 12–24 V DC or PoE (802.3af).

S-PLAY playback to pixel systems

For pixel installations the S-PLAY connects to pixel controllers (Pixelator Mini SKU 70067, Octo SKU 71521) using PLink data over CAT6 at up to 300 m. PLink Injectors provide pixel power (5 V SKU 73546, 12–24 V SKU 73544, IP PLink Injector SKU 73924). Each run supports up to 1024 channels of pixels.

S-PLAY application diagram

The S-PLAY sits at the centre of the lighting control system, receiving commands from a lighting console, PC software, automation controller (OSC/UDP/RS232), or the built-in web interface, then outputting Art-Net, sACN, or physical DMX to luminaires and activating relay outputs for external equipment.

Connection to relays

The S-PLAY features two relay outputs for switching low-power devices or triggering contactors. Power connected to the relays must not exceed the relay ratings:

Tip: For mains power switching or high-current applications, use a DMX switch pack controlled by the S-PLAY’s DMX output, or wire the relay outputs to the primary coil of a DIN-mount high-powered relay or contactor.

Connection to digital inputs

The four digital inputs detect circuit completion to GND to send triggers. Maximum cable resistance: 20 Ω; recommended maximum wire length: 100 m (50 m each way). Contact must be held for 3 seconds to ensure a reliable trigger. Run digital input cabling away from mains power or high-EMI sources.

Using motion sensors with the S-PLAY

A 3-wire motion sensor (V+, GND, OUT) can drive any of the four digital inputs. Power the sensor from its own supply (do not back-feed the S-PLAY), then wire its OUT line to a digital input pin and its 0 V to the S-PLAY GND. Step-by-step:

• Connect the sensor OUT to one of the S-PLAY digital input ports (IN1–IN4).
• Connect the sensor 0 V (GND) to the GND terminal of the S-PLAY digital input connector.
• Power the sensor V+ from its own supply at the manufacturer-specified voltage.
• In the web interface, open Triggers, create a new entry, and set Type to Digital Input.
• Set Port to the IN number you wired (e.g. Port 3 if the OUT cable was connected to IN3).
• Use Test Trigger to confirm the sensor fires the input, then click Save Trigger.

Connecting I/O Extender

To link an ENTTEC I/O Extender to the S-PLAY: (1) connect both devices to the same network; (2) enable IOE functionality in the S-PLAY’s Settings page; (3) in the I/O Extender settings, enter the S-PLAY’s IP under MQTT Server IP and save. The status indicator turns green when connected successfully. Refer to the Events and Triggers sections to configure the IOE for your project.

Hardware

Hardware features, connectivity overview, connector pinouts, and the front-panel LCD menu.

Hardware features

• 1U height — half width.
• Two bi-directional 5-pin female XLR DMX ports.
• Colour TFT LCD screen (160×128) with navigation buttons.
• 1× USB Type-A port.
• 12–24 V DC input (8 W max) — do not connect power supplies over 5 A.
• MicroSD card storage (Class 10, 40/10 MB/s, format as Linux EXT3 or EXT4).
• 100 Mbps Ethernet with 802.3af PoE.
• 4× digital inputs (GPI) and 2× relay outputs (NC, NO, COM).
• Versatile DIN-rail, surface, and rack mounting options.
• Solid-state design.

Connectivity

• RS232 — DB9 connector, transmit or receive RS232 triggers.
• DMX In/Out — two bi-directional XLR-5 ports for DMX record, playback, or trigger.
• Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) — PoE port for Art-Net, sACN, OSC, UDP, and HTTP/OSC Device API.
• Relay outputs — two relays (NC, NO, COM) for triggering 3rd-party devices.
• Digital inputs — four GPI inputs for buttons, switches, pressure sensors, etc.
• USB & MicroSD — USB-A for backup/restore; MicroSD for expanded storage.
• DC power input — 12–24 V DC jack.

Connectors & ports

XLR-5 Female (DMX-512)

DB9 Male (RS232)

Digital inputs (GPI)

Four digital input ports (IN1–IN4) detect circuit completion to GND to send triggers. Maximum cable resistance: 20 Ω; maximum wire length: 100 m. See Connection to digital inputs in Chapter 1 for full wiring notes.

Relay outputs

Two relay outputs (NC/NO/COM). Maximum 2 A / 50 V DC / 60 W per relay. On power-up, relays are set to Normally Open. See Connection to relays in Chapter 1 for ratings and example calculations.

LCD menu screen

The front panel features a 160×128 colour TFT LCD with four navigation buttons (Up, Down, Left/Back, Enter).

LCD menus

• Home screen — date/time, IP address, connection status, device name, playback state, Play/Pause/Stop ALL, LCD backlight toggle, soft shutdown.
• Playlists — view all playlists, monitor playback status, play/pause/stop individual playlists.
• Network — enable/disable DHCP, set IP address, netmask, and default gateway.
• Utilities — USB backup and restore, USB firmware update, factory reset.
• Information — IP address, firmware version, CPU temperature, uptime, serial number.

LCD shortcuts

• Flip LCD — hold Up + Down for 5 seconds to flip the screen and arrow directions. Repeat to restore.
• Force unlock — hold Left + Down + Back for 5 seconds to unlock the web interface if the password is lost.

Configuration

Default settings, network setup, and the full web interface reference — Home, Cue, Events, Triggers, Playlists, Schedules, Interfaces, Storage, and Settings.

Out of the box

Default login: User: user  /  Password: 123456. Take a full backup before setting a new password — if lost, a factory reset via LCD is the only recovery method.

Network setup

The S-PLAY uses DHCP by default. If no DHCP server is present, it falls back to 192.168.0.10. Discover the IP on the LCD home screen, via EMU software (​www.enttec.com/sku/70680), or using an IP scanner (e.g. Angry IP Scanner) or Art Poll (e.g. DMX Workshop).

To change the IP via the web interface: navigate to Settings → Network Settings. After saving, the S-PLAY reboots. You can also change IP, DHCP, and netmask from the LCD Network menu. UDP input port default: 5000; OSC input port default: 8000 — both configurable in Settings.

Tip: When setting up multiple devices on a static network, connect and configure one device at a time to avoid IP conflicts.

Web interface

Access the S-PLAY by typing its IP address into any browser on the same network. The interface has nine pages: Home, Cue, Events, Triggers, Playlists, Schedules, Interfaces, Storage, Settings, plus User Management in the top-right corner.

Home

Default landing page. Shows all playback activity and, when locked, serves as the end-user control page — with links to custom Interfaces, Playlist play/pause/stop/intensity controls, and Schedule activation.

Cue

Create up to 200 cues across three types: Static (a single lighting state of up to 32 universes), Dynamic (a recording of up to 32 universes with perfect-loop detection), and Effect (an on-board gradient effect generator for pixel and dimmer arrays).

Static cue

Define channel values manually, use the colour picker, or capture a live DMX snapshot. Choose the source protocol (DMX up to 2 universes, Art-Net or sACN up to 32 universes), set the internal and external universe mapping, then save. Press Preview to send output live while editing.

Dynamic cue

Record a live DMX/Art-Net/sACN stream. Start recording manually or via a Recording Trigger. Enable Perfect Loop to auto-stop when the S-PLAY detects the sequence has looped (matches the first 10 frames). Avoid outputting on the same universes being recorded to prevent loopback interference.

Recording Trigger sources

A Recording Trigger lets you start and stop a Dynamic cue recording remotely. Configure one of the following sources:

• OSC, UDP, RS232 — recording starts on the configured message; the same message received again stops recording (toggle behaviour).
• Art-Net, sACN, DMX — recording starts when the incoming channel value crosses at or above the Trigger Level, and stops when the value drops below it.
• Digital Input — Activate on Break — recording starts when the circuit between the digital input port and GND is broken, and stops when the circuit is made.
• Digital Input — Activate on Make — the reverse of Activate on Break: recording starts when the circuit is made and stops when it is broken.
• Reset / Trigger Button — the physical Reset/Trigger button on the device can be configured to start or stop the recording on press or on release.

Effect cue

Create gradient effects for RGB/RGBW fixtures or single-channel dimmers in 8 or 16-bit. Define LED type, start address, and fixture count. Click the gradient graphic to set colour stops. Set speed and direction with the slider. Toggle per-universe enable switches to define which universes the effect occupies.

Events

Create up to 200 Events to embed in playlists. Events send outgoing commands when triggered during playback. Supported event types:

• RS232 — sends a user-defined ASCII command (up to 1024 chars). Receiver settings: 9600 baud, 8 data, no parity, 1 stop, no flow control.
• UDP — sends a UDP string to a defined IP and port. Internal loopback: 127.0.0.1:5000.
• OSC — sends OSC data (strings, floats, integers). Address must start with ‘/’.
• Relay — sets a relay to NO (Normally Open) or NC (Normally Closed). Relays default to NO on power-up.
• Art-Net / sACN / DMX — sends a frame with user-defined channel states. Avoid using universes assigned for playback.
• I/O Extender (IOE) — sends data to a connected ENTTEC I/O Extender relay.

To create many similar events at once, open the Multiple Events tab and insert the token ADD NUMBER{} in the event name. The S-PLAY auto-increments the number for each entry, generating unique identifiers without manual editing (for example, Stage Cue ADD NUMBER{} becomes Stage Cue 1, Stage Cue 2, and so on).

Triggers

Create up to 200 Triggers. When a trigger is placed on a playlist timeline, playback pauses at that point until the trigger condition is met. Triggers can also start a playlist. Supported trigger sources:

• Digital Input (GPI) — circuit completion on IN1–IN4. Idle is high; trigger fires on low (circuit made). Contact must be held 3 s for reliability.
• RS232 — fires when an incoming RS232 string matches the defined string. Settings: 9600 baud, 8-bit, no parity.
• UDP — fires when an incoming UDP message matches the defined string.
• OSC — fires when an incoming OSC command matches the defined address (must start with ‘/’). Default OSC port: 8000.
• Art-Net / sACN / DMX — fires when incoming channel value meets or exceeds the threshold. Avoid universes used for playback. Note: DMX triggers are disabled when DMX is the output protocol.
• I/O Extender (IOE) — fires on analog or digital input from a connected IOE. Analog supports less-than, greater-than, or between-values thresholds in mV. Digital supports Break or Make conditions.

To create many similar triggers at once, open the Multiple Triggers tab and insert the token ADD NUMBER{} in the trigger name. The S-PLAY auto-increments the number for each entry, generating unique identifiers without manual editing.

Playlists

Create up to 200 playlists by combining Cues, Events, and Triggers on the timeline editor. Playlists support HTP merge, fade-in/out, hold-last-value on pause, and multiple simultaneous playback with priority control.

Playlist configuration

• Start Trigger — start On Power Up, or activate via a configured trigger.
• Stop Trigger — stop when a trigger condition is met.
• Play Count — play once, a fixed number of times, or loop indefinitely.
• Internal Priority — higher priority drives output over lower-priority playlists; equal priority merges via HTP.
• Group — combine playlists in a group with “Play one active playlist per group” to ensure smooth look transitions.
• Fade in / Fade out — configurable per playlist. Set fade out to 0.001 s for a snap to black.

Schedules

Create schedules to play, pause, or stop playlists automatically. Schedule triggers can be set to a specific time, sunrise, or sunset (calculated from the latitude/longitude set in Settings). Frequency options: Per Second, Per Minute, Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, or Astronomical (moon phases).

Schedule status: Green = active; Yellow = suspended; Red = expired. Schedules can be hidden from the Home page using “Hide from Home”.

Note: Always ensure the S-PLAY’s system time and location are set correctly in Settings when using Schedules.

Interfaces

Create up to 20 custom user interfaces for end-user playlist control, accessible from any device on the same network. Each interface can be set as the S-PLAY’s landing page and organised into Interface Groups for easy navigation.

The Interface Editor allows you to set a background colour or image, add Widgets (buttons, sliders, text, play/stop controls, intensity sliders, colour filter controls), and preview the layout at Desktop, Tablet, or Mobile screen sizes. Widgets can be freely positioned, resized, and aligned using the built-in alignment tools.

Interface Editor controls

Widget types

Widgets are the building blocks of the interface. Each can be renamed, bound to a quick functional command, mapped to a created playlist, shown as a circle or rectangle, and styled with custom width and RGBA colour.

Storage

Toggle between internal storage and external SD/USB. Back up and restore all Cues, Playlists, Schedules, and Settings (excluding IP address). Transfer shows between storage locations.

Prepare a USB drive by formatting it as exFAT or NTFS. Name backup files splay_backup.bak (8 GB+ drive recommended). Backup compression can take up to 30 minutes for large shows.

Heads up: FAT32-formatted drives have a 4 GB file-size limit and will fail to write a full S-PLAY backup. Always format USB media as exFAT or NTFS.

For USB firmware update: download the latest firmware from the ENTTEC website, rename the file firmware.bin, copy it to the drive, insert it into the S-PLAY, then select Firmware update from the LCD Utilities menu or the Settings page. Wait for the progress counter to pass 70% before removing the drive, pulling early risks a corrupted firmware image. After the update completes, power-cycle the S-PLAY and clear the browser cache with ++ so the web interface does not load stale assets from the previous firmware.

Warning: Do not downgrade firmware without consulting the ENTTEC support team first, a downgrade can affect saved playlists, schedules, events, and triggers. Always take a backup before any firmware change.

Storage size calculations

Settings

Output settings & protocols

Assign any of the 32 internal universes to Art-Net, sACN, or DMX output. A drop-down sets all 32 outputs to one protocol at once. Art-Net and sACN can be set to unicast, multicast, or broadcast per universe, with refresh rate 1–60 FPS. sACN Priority: 1–200 (default 100). DMX settings control the physical output frame rate.

Multi-Unit Sync

Synchronise multiple S-PLAYs with under 10 ms accuracy for shows exceeding 32 universes. Designate one S-PLAY as Leader; the rest become Followers. All cues and playlists created on the Leader are automatically replicated to Followers with the same ID. Only recording/playback-related events are synchronised — storage, interfaces, and device settings are not.

Worked example — 64 universes across two S-PLAYs

To output 64 universes of Art-Net (universes 0–63) from a controller at 10.10.3.78, pair two S-PLAYs as Leader and Follower and configure each unit to listen to the half of the universe range it owns. The Leader replicates cue and playlist data to the Follower automatically; only the per-unit output and external-universe mapping has to be set manually.

Note: Before recording or playing back across the pair, verify each S-PLAY’s output universes and protocol are correctly configured. After setup, only the Leader needs to be interacted with — Follower units mirror automatically.

Remote access (advanced)

SSH Tunnel remote access allows the S-PLAY to be accessed from anywhere over the internet via a static URL. Requires a cloud server (e.g. AWS). Before connecting to the internet, ensure your local firewall is configured and the SSH Tunnel restricts access to trusted users only. Visit the ENTTEC website for the full application note with step-by-step configuration.

Date, time, location & playback

Set date and time manually or via NTP. Define latitude and longitude for sunrise/sunset scheduling (use a geolocator such as latlong.net). Playback Configuration sets global options including “Restrict to one active playlist per group”.

Reference

Factory reset procedures, user management, shutdown, servicing, cleaning, package contents, and ordering information.

Factory reset

A factory reset returns the S-PLAY to its original factory state. It will:

• Return network settings to DHCP.
• Delete all cues, playlists, and schedulers from internal storage.
• Return output universes to Art-Net (broadcast).
• Return sACN output to multicast.

Warning: Always take a backup before a factory reset. Factory reset cannot be stopped once initiated — do not power off the S-PLAY during the process.

From web interface

Navigate to Settings → Reset and click the Factory Reset button.

From LCD

Navigate to Settings → Reset to Defaults → RESET on the LCD menu.

User management & lock

User management is in the top-right corner of the web interface. From here: shut down the S-PLAY, lock/unlock functions, monitor DMX current in real time, and switch the interface language between English and Chinese.

Lock feature

When locked (padlock icon, top-right), users without login credentials can only see the Home page — with Interfaces, Playlist controls, and Schedule activation. They cannot access Cue, Events, Triggers, Playlists, Schedules, Interfaces editor, Storage, or Settings tabs. A logged-in user can lock the unit for all other network users while retaining their own access. Only one browser can be in the edit view (Home / Cue Library / Playlist page) at a time.

While the unit is locked, end users on the network can still:

• Access any custom Interface.
• Play, pause, stop, and adjust intensity on any playlist.
• Pause and Resume Schedules from the Home page.
• Navigate the LCD to preview cues, activate playlists, and view display settings.

Full editing and configuration require the user account to be logged in.

Monitor DMX current

Click the Monitor DMX icon in the top-right to see a real-time overview of all universe DMX values. Click the expand icon next to each universe to view individual channel values.

Shutting down

Use the Shutdown option in the LCD Utilities menu, or click the red Power icon in the top-right of the web interface. Confirm the prompt before removing power. To reboot: unplug and re-plug the DC jack, or power-cycle the PoE source.

Warning: Removing power mid-boot or while reading/writing to memory risks corrupting internal storage or the external SD card.

Servicing & maintenance

The device has no user-serviceable parts. If damaged, replace the unit. Power down before inspection and ensure no method of re-energisation is available during servicing.

Key inspection points:

• All connectors securely mated, no damage or corrosion.
• All cabling free from physical damage or crushing.
• No dust or dirt build-up (reduces heat dissipation and can cause damage).

Cleaning

• Power down before cleaning and lock out re-energisation.
• Do not use abrasive, corrosive, or solvent-based cleaning products.
• Do not spray liquids on the device. IP20 — not water-resistant.
• Use low-pressure compressed air to remove dust and debris; wipe with a damp microfibre cloth if necessary.

Increase cleaning frequency if the installation environment includes stage fog or smoke, high airflow, high pollution, cigarette smoke, or airborne construction dust.

Revision history

The S-PLAY hardware has been produced in three revisions. Use the serial number on the device label to identify which revision is in use.

Package contents

• S-PLAY (70092)
• Cat5 cable (79102)
• 1× 12 V PSU adaptor with international plugs
• Rack mounting bracket (79161) × 2 pcs + screws × 6 pcs
• Surface/DIN mounting bracket (79162) × 2 pcs + screws × 4 pcs
• DIN Clip × 2 pcs + screws × 4 pcs

Ordering

For further support and to browse ENTTEC’s full product range, visit the ENTTEC website.

Due to constant innovation, information within this document is subject to change.