Read all on one page

Getting started

Using Cerise with an iPad

Diagram: one USB cable between the iPad and Cerise for data and power, or the included splitter so the iPad charges at the same time

Cerise can be directly powered by an iPad or any computer you plug it into. Optionally you can use the included splitter to both charge your iPad and use Cerise.

Cerise can work with a Lightning iPad using a separate Lightning-to-USB adapter, such as Apple's Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. The adapter requires external power to work. This setup can be unreliable, especially on older iPads, and is not recommended for production use; prefer a USB-C iPad where possible.

Blackout Lighting Console Luminair app

Sidus Link Pro setup guide (Aputure)
This external guide includes older IP examples. For Cerise 1.8.11 over USB, use the current default 172.30.0.1 unless you have customised it.

Using Cerise with a Console

Diagram: three ways to connect Cerise to a DMX console over Ethernet: USB power with an Ethernet cable, a PoE injector, or a PoE switch

Cerise also works flawlessly with DMX consoles, just make sure you power it externally.

The Ethernet port uses DHCP by default, with a static fallback address of 2.0.0.101 when no DHCP lease is available. You can connect it directly to your console, wireless access point or home router; the controller must be on the same subnet as Cerise. Power Cerise externally using USB or compatible PoE. If you encounter DHCP issues, update the firmware.

Cerise CRMX over Wi-Fi: Art-Net & sACN router setup

Using the wired DMX adapter

Both the 2U PRO Wired and 4U PRO Wired provide four wired DMX universes through the dedicated DMX Out RJ45 port and a compatible breakout adapter. This is a DMX connection, not an Ethernet port.

Cerise 2U Pro Wired, top view, its DMX Out port connected to the wired DMX breakout box with four XLR 5-pin outputs

The Wired DMX breakout box is a passive adapter that takes the 4 universe DMX signal and splits it out to 4 individual XLR 5pin connectors. It only works if plugged into the “DMX Out” port.

It uses the same RJ45 connector as Ethernet to save on space but the conversion to DMX is done inside of Cerise itself.

There are two variants of the adapter, the SSNAKE and Stairville, the only difference is that the Stairville requires the small adapter provided to work properly.

RJ45 DMX Output pinout

RJ45 Pin	ESTA pinout / XLR pinout	Thomann Cat Snake pinout / XLR pinout
1	U1 Data+ / pin 3	U1 Data+/ 3/ A
2	U1 Data- / pin 2	U1 Data-/ 2/ B
3		U2 Data+
4		U3 Data-
5		U3 Data+
6		U2 Data-
7	GND	U4 Data+
8	GND	U4 Data-

Product specifications and layout

Detailed product specification table

Model	1U	2U Pro	2U Pro Wired	4U Pro	4U Pro Wired
CRMX universes	1	2	2	4	4
USB C connector	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Ethernet	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅
RF spectrum analyzer	✅ (firmware 1.8.11)	✅	✅	✅	✅
Power Over Ethernet	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅
Wired DMX universes out	❌	❌	4 isolated input/output via second RJ45 connector	❌	4 isolated input/output via second RJ45 connector
CRMX Linking Key	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
USB Power Consumption	5V 0.3A	5V 0.4A	5V 1A	5V 1A	5V 1.5A
Total DMX universes	1	2	6	4	8

USB :

Max power draw : up to 5V 3A (0.5-1A typical)

USB revision compatibility : USB 1.1

Network speed via USB : 10mbps

Ethernet :

Link speed : 10/100

Auto MDI-X NOT compatible

Power over Ethernet compatibility

IEEE802.3af compliant

Input voltage range 36V to 57V

Mode A & B

UI :

1 Status LED / Boot button

1 universe color LED / linking button per universe

DMX :

Output frequency 41Hz

Merging type : LTP (Latest Takes Precedence); more modes will be supported from 1.8.x

Network Protocols supported : simultaneous Art-Net & sACN

BOOT button / status LED
1. Green = Powered
2. Cyan = USB link established
CRMX linking buttons
1. Blinking = waiting for signal
2. Static = sending data
RP-SMA antenna connectors
USB type-C connector
Ethernet 10/100 RJ45 PoE connector
Wired DMX output
1/4” thread mounting point
M4 mounting holes (4.2mm)

Diagram of Cerise with parts numbered 1 to 8, matching the list of buttons and connectors

How to update the device

1. Download and un-zip the latest firmware from here: Downloads
2. Hold your Cerise transmitter and press and hold the BOOT button (1)
3. While holding the button down, plug the transmitter in your computer with a USB type-C cable
4. A new mass storage device should appear called RPI-RP2, drag and drop your CeriseFirmwareXXX.uf2 file onto it
5. Wait until the transfer is complete, then power cycle the unit (unplug it, then plug it back in)

How to factory reset the device

From 1.6.4 and up you can easily reset the device by holding the BOOT button (1) for 10 seconds, then pressing it briefly once when it turns purple.

User Interface / Settings

Config

Connect Cerise to your iPad over USB and leave IP configuration on Automatic in Settings > Ethernet. With firmware 1.8.11, Cerise's default USB address is 172.30.0.1. Enter this address in your browser to open the WebUI, or use your configured address if you have customised it. The iPad's own IP address is not the transmitter's address.

💡Tip : You can disable status LEDs by setting the LED brightness to 0%.

Firmware 1.8.11 improves reliability and sets the default USB IP address to 172.30.0.1 on all Cerise units. We recommend that all users update to 1.8.11 and use this default. The old workaround of changing the first two parts of the IP address is no longer needed.

Changing USB IP address

To change the Cerise’s default USB IP address, just change the USB IP address field and power cycle the device.

💡Tip : You do not need to change any of the Ethernet related settings (Address, Network Mask, Default gateway …).

Changing Ethernet IP address

To change the Cerise’s default Ethernet IP address, just change the Ethernet IP address, as well as the corresponding Network mask and Default Gateway field and power cycle the device.

USB default gateway (only for USB)

The “USB › Set as default gateway” option does exactly what it says: it configures a gateway for the USB interface. Unfortunately, if your device is connected to the internet via a Wi-Fi or wired connection to your router, it will serve as a gateway too, causing conflicts. We recommend enabling this feature if you do not require internet while using the transmitter (i.e. you have a dedicated ipad for set) and wish to use Art-Net Broadcast or sACN protocols via USB.

💡On version 1.6.x and up the option “USB › Set as default gateway” is set to NO by default.

Functional network diagram

Cerise works like any other USB to Ethernet adapter and is supported on most platforms without the need to install any drivers.

The DMX node has 1 (1U USB) to 8 (4U PRO WIRED) outputs depending on the product version.

Console

The Select universe menu lets you choose outputs A to F. The drop-down shows which universe you are viewing and whether it is a wired or wireless universe.

The console can be used as a basic fader board, if there is network data coming in via Art-Net or sACN it will be displayed and the faders will be rendered inoperable.

How to set it up

Blackout Lighting Console

If connectivity is unreliable on iPads running iOS / iPadOS 26 or later, update Cerise to firmware 1.8.11. A typical symptom is Cerise appearing in Settings > Ethernet while the IP address and subnet mask fields are empty; Cerise does not respond and its WebUI cannot be reached. Use the computer-based USB update procedure linked above, then reconnect Cerise.

Open Blackout Lighting Console
Now navigate to your project, and in Link Status (top right)
Select sACN or Art-Net in Link Status. For Art-Net Unicast over USB, enter Cerise's address: 172.30.0.1 by default with firmware 1.8.11, or your customised address.

Blackout Lighting Console Link Status window with sACN selected as the output protocol

Luminair app

Open Luminair
Now navigate to Connections > Art-Net
Make sure U1 Enabled is ticked and Universe and Subnet are both 0
Enable Broadcast, or disable Broadcast to use Art-Net Unicast. For Unicast over USB, enter Cerise's address: 172.30.0.1 by default with firmware 1.8.11, or your customised address.

Luminair Art-Net connection settings with U1 enabled, subnet 0 and universe 0

Troubleshooting steps

Nothing pops up when I plug in Cerise

iOS / iPadOS 26: Cerise is detected but does not respond

Make sure to check which color is the boot LED. Green means there is power but no USB data/connection (this is normal when using via PoE power). Cyan means there is both power and USB data.
No USB data is usually caused by a bad cable, but not always. Try a different known-good USB cable and try without the provided USB splitter. Sometimes certain cables might work one way but not the other, as USB-C connector can be plugged-in both ways, so it’s worth trying both ways.
If the cable works but you don’t get data you might want to check if the USB port of your iPad/computer works. Sometimes these can be disabled in settings or if the ipad isn’t unlocked (see below for more info).
If the issue persists you may want to try updating Cerise to the latest firmware as this will overwrite potentially corrupted parts of the memory.
If none of this fixes your issue, please submit a support request.

Blackout won’t output anything. Cerise is properly detected, displays as a network interface, I can access the WebUI but I can’t get data out of Blackout

Original article : https://help.center.blackout-app.com/servicedesk/customer/portal/3/article/20283396

Follow these steps in order for a swift resolution:

Check Link Status:
1. In Blackout, navigate to the 'Link Status' dropdown. A RED indicator means Blackout is not connected to your hardware.
Update Your Software:
1. Ensure your device runs on iOS 17.x or newer.
2. Verify that you are using the latest release version of Blackout.
Account Verification:
1. Confirm you're logged into a valid account with an active subscription. You can check this by tapping the Blackout logo in the top right corner.
Network Connectivity:
1. Ensure a stable and active wired or Wi-Fi connection to your lighting network.
IP Configuration:
1. Verify that the IP address of your iPad aligns with the range of your network, gateway, or node. For assistance, refer to my video: Troubleshooting Blackout in 5 min or less!
Protocol Alignment:
1. Confirm that you're using the correct output protocol. For instance, if your gateway is configured for sACN but you are sending Art-Net, this mismatch will cause issues.
Art-Net Specifics:
1. Art-Net Offset: Art-Net numbering starts from 0. Ensure that the offset in Blackout matches your Art-Net node's settings. For example:

Art-Net Numbering	Actual Universe
0	1
1	2

If your Art-Net node is set to Universe 1, the offset in Blackout should also be set to 1.

Limited Broadcast Art-Net Nodes:

- Some Art-Net nodes are configured to only receive Limited Broadcast Art-Net (Art-Net broadcast to the IP 255.255.255.255).

While using Limited Broadcast is operational in a closed network, it's important to note that it diverges from the standard Art-Net specifications and might not be ideal in all scenarios.

For more information: Casting

iOS Access Settings:

- When you install Blackout a quick popup appears asking permission for Blackout to utilize connecting to devices on your local network. If you do not click “OK” on this popup Blackout cannot output anything. You can go to iOS Settings->Blackout (scroll down in the left sidebar) and turn ON “Local Network.” Video for reference: Troubleshooting Blackout in 5 min or less!

iPadOS Settings for Blackout, with the Local Network switch highlighted and turned off

iPadOS Settings for Luminair, with the Local Network switch highlighted and turned off

WebUI won’t load in my web browser but I have a Cyan LED/USB/Ethernet link

Certain web browsers don’t work well with certain web pages, we’ve found Safari and Brave aren’t the most compatible. It seems Google Chrome works best in our testing.

Cerise stops working or becomes unreliable when my iPad battery reaches 100%

This is most likely due to the hub/splitter being used that doesn’t support USB PD FRS (Fast Role Swap) which means when the iPad is fully charged and stops sinking power and turns into a power source the splitter doesn’t properly switch mode and needs to be restarted. A simple plug/unplug should fix the issue. We recommend not using the splitter when your iPad is fully charged.

I lose data communication after my ipad goes to sleep or I don’t get anything when I plug in Cerise when my ipad is locked.

Apple has a setting you may want to try to enable.

Otherwise you can make sure background activity is enabled in your app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cerise work on my iPad with a lightning connector ?

On what device will Cerise work ?

So far we’ve tested and validated :

Windows 10 & 11
Apple Mac with an Intel processor or Apple silicon (M-series)
Linux
iPad with USB-C (including compatible iPad mini, Pro and 10th-generation models). Lightning iPads require a separate, externally powered adapter and may be unreliable.

It doesn’t work on :

Samsung Smartphone

I can’t seem to detect Cerise on my iPad

The first step to check is that the BOOT/Update LED is Cyan, if it’s green, this means you don’t have a USB connection between Cerise and the iPad.

This could be due to various reasons :

Faulty USB cable (make sure to use a cable that can at least do both USB 2.0 communication as well as power)
Certain docks/dongles will have a USB type-C input connector for a charger, in certain cases they do not support data; the best workaround is to try one of the USB-A ports with a type-A to type-C cable
Certain docks/dongles will also have a built-in ethernet card which might conflict with Cerise

I’ve changed my IP address but I can’t connect anymore

First, make sure you are using a compatible browser, we recommend Google Chrome as we’ve seen odd behavior with both Safari and Firefox.

If you still can’t connect, try on a computer. If this doesn’t work, proceed to a factory reset.

Can I use CRMX Toolbox with Cerise ?

Yes, just note that Bluetooth is disabled by default so you’ll need to enable it.

To do so, press the link button in the following sequence : 1 short press and immediately 1 long press (3 seconds).

You should now see a Bluetooth device showing up in CRMX Toolbox.

If this doesn’t appear, perform the action a second time.

Once you’ve changed your settings, make sure to disable Bluetooth as this might result in random light flashes to linked fixtures.

This can be done by repeating the same button sequence as to enable it.

I don’t have CRMX linking key on my Cerise

The linking key can be accessed via the WebUI right next to the link and unlink buttons.

If the button doesn’t show up, you might need to update the CRMX TimoTwo module(s) inside Cerise.

To do this you will need to enable Bluetooth and connect with CRMX Toolbox, in the device section of the app, you should have the option to update.

💡Note that you might have to do multiple updates as there is one TimoTwo per universe.

FCC Caution

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Any Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: -Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. -Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. -Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. -Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator & your body.