ELM HUB: the reference platform for the world’s largest pixel-mapped installations
Media facades that wrap entire buildings. Light trails along a whole waterfront. Citywide installations with millions of pixels that play every night, for years. ELM HUB is the platform ENTTEC built for this end of pixel mapping: ELM Server running on hardware matched to it, specified to drive up to 32,768 universes per output protocol (around 5.5 million RGB pixels) from one 3RU unit in the rack.
Large-scale pixel mapping is a different problem
Mapping a few thousand pixels is a question of software. Mapping millions, across a facade, a district or a city, is a question of the whole system: content rendered, split into tens of thousands of universes and delivered across the network many times a second, with no operator watching, every night for years.
At that scale, the computer running the pixels is not an office PC with lighting software installed. It is part of the installation’s infrastructure, as critical as the gateways and power behind it.
ELM Server: software and hardware built for each other
Running ELM at full scale is not simply a question of a fast computer. Every frame has to be rendered and sent across the network on time, continuously, for months on end, and that level of stability only comes when the software and the hardware are built for each other.
That is why ELM HUB runs ELM Server: a dedicated edition of ELM, matched to ELM HUB’s hardware and optimised for 24/7 operation under continuous, extreme workloads. Every unit is assembled, configured and tested as a complete system before dispatch, so each project starts from a platform already proven at the scale it was built for, not from a parts list.
Scale in numbers
- 32,768 universes per output protocol, the ELM maximum that ELM HUB is specified to deliver
- About 5.57 million RGB pixels or 4.19 million RGBW pixels per output protocol
- Art-Net, sACN and KiNET output, with ArtSync and sACN sync where timing matters
- 2 x 10 Gigabit network ports, independently addressable
- 1TB internal SSD for media libraries, show files and content
The number of universes a project can output is set by the ELM edition chosen. ELM HUB’s hardware is specified so that it is never the limit.
Designing a citywide pixel installation
Large pixel systems are network systems. 32,768 universes is well over 8 Gb/s of output, continuously. ELM HUB splits that load across two independently addressable 10 Gigabit Ethercon ports, so each carries half onto its own leg of the network and no single switch has to absorb the whole show.
From the rack, ENTTEC gateways and pixel controllers turn network data into light across the site: Storm 10 for Ethernet-to-DMX conversion, Pixelator Mini Mk2 for high-density pixel output, and PLink Injector for long-distance data distribution. On multi-site rollouts, every location starts from the same validated hardware and software, so the tenth site is commissioned the same way as the first.
Inside ELM, a built-in scheduler runs shows without an operator, and DMX, OSC and HTTP control let the installation respond to the rest of the site.
Built for the show that never stops
ELM HUB is a robust steel and aluminium 3RU unit for a standard 19-inch rack, rated for continuous, unattended operation from 0°C to 50°C. Forced-air cooling and dual ventilation paths manage heat inside the rack, and the universal 100-240 VAC input simplifies deployment in any region.
A built-in front-panel monitor shows the status of the whole installation at a glance. Two front USB 3.0 ports take a keyboard and mouse during setup, and three Mini DisplayPort outputs drive external screens for commissioning and control. A three-year return-to-base manufacturer warranty and CE, UKCA, FCC and RCM certification come as standard.
Where ELM HUB fits best
- Citywide and district-scale light installations running millions of pixels
- Media facades and architectural lighting with scheduled, high-capacity playback
- Immersive spaces, attractions and nightclubs where content runs without an operator
- Permanent public installations that need a documented, maintainable place in the rack
- Multi-site deployments that need the same validated foundation at every location
For smaller installations, temporary productions, or users who already have suitable hardware, a conventional ELM computer may remain the natural choice. ELM HUB is built for the other end of the spectrum: the largest pixel-mapped shows, where the computer itself must be a fully specified part of the lighting-control system.
ELM at scale, around the world
ELM already drives landmark installations worldwide, from building facades and bridges to theme parks and public spaces. See them on our projects page.
Frequently asked questions
ELM HUB is specified to drive up to 32,768 universes per output protocol: around 5.57 million RGB pixels, or 4.19 million RGBW pixels. The count a project can output is set by the ELM edition chosen.
ELM Server is the edition of ENTTEC LED Mapper (ELM) that runs on ELM HUB. It is matched to ELM HUB’s hardware and optimised for 24/7 operation under continuous, extreme workloads.
For permanent installations running tens of thousands of universes, a purpose-built platform removes the guesswork. ELM HUB pairs ELM Server with hardware specified to support every ELM feature at its maximum rated capacity, so there is no processor, graphics or network calculation to make.
No. It is rated for continuous, unattended operation, and ELM’s built-in scheduler runs shows 24/7.
Explore ELM HUB
ELM HUB is available now. Visit the product page for full specifications and resources, or contact ENTTEC to discuss your project.
Explore ELM HUB
See ELM projects
Download the ELM HUB datasheet