Sean Meighan
Software => Xlights Setup => Topic started by: jeffl on November 08, 2015, 08:52:22 AM
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I have seen some add their channels to the startup tab like Sean in this post where it's basically 1-X universes all 512 channels. I have also seen where they specifically add each universe and the number of channels exactly as needed.
The question is I currenly left empty universes for future items. i.e I'm using U1-2. 17-24 and 32-35. My question is what happens in xLights when I go to add a universe between this range later.
I'm thinking I would have to redo all my models because they are absolute values. Is this the case? If it is; it seems like I should just do the setup like Sean and do them all 1-512 up front.
http://nutcracker123.com/forum/index.php?topic=5.0
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No, you wont have to redo the models if you are using absolute value.
In the model , you define the channels only
In the setup u link channels to Universes and this should align with what you define on the physical controllers .
To answer your question , xl setup would have assigned the channels sequentially to the universes.
if u go to insert a universe in between later , you will of course need to adjust the setup to use the channels in the range .
So lets say now you have u1 - 1 to 500 , U2 - 501 to 1000 and U17 - 1001 to 1500
In the future , u1 - 1 to 500 , U2 - 501 to 1000 , U3 - 1001 to 1500, U17 - 1501 to 2000
Basically , when u know which controller is supporting what channels , u update the setup then.
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Thanks. I'm going to have to play with this as I can't get my head around it just yet. I'm a LOR user in the process of heading the direction of a Pi which could be part of the confusion.
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Still having a hard time with this but as I test it.... If I add universes between the ones I already have then the start channels in the models are off. They are higher which is what I would expect.
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Jeff,
Where are the start channels off ?
When u add universes in between , the setup will move the Universe to channel mapping after the insertion out , so you need to adjust for that in the setup tab.
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I'll try to attach some images. Instead of defining each universe specific I just added 35 universes fully loaded. Should the model start and end change automatically when I do this?
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No we never alter your models for you. If you change your network setup that is up to you to redefine where you want your start channels.
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Thanks. I'm going to pre-allocate universes up front in anticipation of the future so I don't have to go back and reconfigure things later.
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I leave open / spare channels every where for future expansion, to make sure a model does not cross universe boundaries, etc. I just define 32 universes which gives me 16k channels. Then I assign my models to the start channels I want.
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Jnealand
So that I'm clear you can set up a universe and not use up all the channels...then set up additional universes
Ex U1. Using 240 channels
U2 using 501 channels.
And so on...
My question is if you do that do you need to account for the channels not being used in set up for xlights.
For instance if I used the 240 channels in U1. Would I need account for the 270 remaining channels and have my channel count begin after those 270 for my next model?
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I have two universes for DMX AC channels. U1 = +-300. U2 = +-350.
In xLights I defined
U1 = 512
U2 = 512
My thought then is if I want to grow channels in these two universes I don't have to redo models.
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My question is if you do that do you need to account for the channels not being used in set up for xlights.
For instance if I used the 240 channels in U1. Would I need account for the 270 remaining channels and have my channel count begin after those 270 for my next model?
The answer is yes you need to use the correct start channels for the models. The setup page will show you the start channel for each universe. Or you can just match universe numbers to output numbers and then use the From Output field to begin each universe at 1.
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Ok thank you...now a new problem...
For some reason I never matched up the outputs they all say 1. When I change them the channels say invalid...any suggestions?
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You can't type in an output number higher than the number of lines on the setup tab. And the channel number can't be larger than the number of channels in that output. Either condition will cause it to display Invalid.
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I have never used the output designation, that was added as an option this year. I just define 32 universes, 16000+ channels and assign start numbers. I have an excel spreadsheet where I keep track of my channel usage and what controller the channels are mapped to. I assign my channels based on the nearest controller in the yard that has enough available connections (ports) to support the display element I am working with. Plus I leave channels open because I hope to either expand a display element in the future with more lights or more props, etc., ie. mini trees expansion.
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I understand the simplicty in predefining all full universes. But just want to make sure that everyone knows all those unused channels still get processed at showtime as though they were unlit pixels. It consumes resouces, wastes file space and eats up network bandwidth
Does it work? Sure. But if you care about efficiency I would not excessively pre-allocate universes and channels. Yeah, yeah, file space is cheap. Bandwidth is cheap. Memory is cheap. But in principle I think everyone should at least be aware that these so-called un-used channels are actually being "played" on the network as zeros. At the channel counts most of us run today, this waste goes mostly unnoticed. But we all know how fast the channel counts are growing and this inefficiency may soon become a bigger issue.
I think the "Starts at Output" feature has merit. Especially if you align Universes to Ouput channels in the setup. I haven't had much time to play with it yet, but I'm planning to use this method this year and see how it goes. I will still predefine some 1-channel universes as place holders to keep my universe numbers in sync with output numbers. But if I want to add something in the middle I will just expand that output/universe size without changing the order of the output numbers.
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All good things thank you
I seem to be confused now as to what the output is. My understanding was the output from a controller. Could someone clarify the output please.
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The model setup "From Output" means the row number on the Setup page. Its not universe number because not everyone uses a universe to run a model but if you configure your Setup you can make output number=universe number to reduce confusion. As far as how many channels you assign in setup I don't really care just make sure you understand what you are doing so that later you don't get upset when you decide to add something to a universe and it messes up all the model start channels behind it. The funny part is some people seem upset like I'm wasting the earth's resources if I use unneeded bandwidth or disk space...
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The funny part is some people seem upset like I'm wasting the earth's resources if I use unneeded bandwidth or disk space...
I'm not upset about it. :) There was no judgement in my post, only facts. The fact is it uses unneeded bandwidth and I suspect most people don't realize that. For people who don't care about bandwidth, that's fine. Its your choice on your network. But other people may be interested in conserving network bandwidth or disk space. Informed decisions are what I'm all about my friend. 8)
There is no right or wrong here. Everybody chooses their own way depending on their own needs and preferences. But in order to make informed decisions, I think its reasonable to share all the pros and cons of doing things this way or that way so we each can decide the most appropriate method for ourselves.
The funny part is some people seem upset that I'm sharing factual information... ???
I'm sorry, but I'm an engineer and I can't do things without wanting to know how it works, whats happening behind the scenes, and then decide whats the best way for me. And I believe in sharing all the information so we all understand the full picture when making choices. ;)
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Thank you
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I already quit arguing about this on DIYC so quit trying to bring the fight over to this forum. That's what I didn't like we've already gone over this and you came over here and started posting the same stuff in two different threads. Enough about it...I'm done.