A light system interface for controlling an arena light system including a network of arena light system light sources (407a, 407b, 407c), the light system interface comprising: an input configured to receive a first protocol message, the first protocol message being configured to define at least one control parameter associated with an emulated light source (401, 403, 405), the at least one control parameter when performed on the emulated light source is designed to produce an emulated visual effect; a protocol message generator having knowledge on the arena light system light sources with respect to the location and direction of the individual light sources in said network of arena light system light sources and configured to generate at least one second protocol message based on the first protocol message and using a mapping between the emulated light source and the network of the arena light system light sources including said knowledge, the at least one second protocol message being configured to define control parameters for a plurality of arena light system light sources within the arena light system to enable the plurality of arena light system light sources to produce a visual effect based on the emulated visual effect; and an output configured to output the second protocol message to the network of arena light system light sources, characterised in that the protocol message generator is further configured to generate the mapping based on information in an emulated light source DMX personality file for the emulated light source and based on information in at least one DMX personality file for a light source within the network of arena light system light sources. an input configured to receive a first protocol message, the first protocol message being configured to define at least one control parameter associated with an emulated light source (401, 403, 405), the at least one control parameter when performed on the emulated light source is designed to produce an emulated visual effect; a protocol message generator having knowledge on the arena light system light sources with respect to the location and direction of the individual light sources in said network of arena light system light sources and configured to generate at least one second protocol message based on the first protocol message and using a mapping between the emulated light source and the network of the arena light system light sources including said knowledge, the at least one second protocol message being configured to define control parameters for a plurality of arena light system light sources within the arena light system to enable the plurality of arena light system light sources to produce a visual effect based on the emulated visual effect; and an output configured to output the second protocol message to the network of arena light system light sources, characterised in that the protocol message generator is further configured to generate the mapping based on information in an emulated light source DMX personality file for the emulated light source and based on information in at least one DMX personality file for a light source within the network of arena light system light sources.