Sean Meighan
Software => Xlights Setup => Topic started by: BLarson on December 23, 2015, 01:12:18 AM
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So this is my first year at automation, and my first year at pixel lights. So I started out with a mega tree with a pixel globe on top. The tree has 24 strands at 360°. Each strand has 25 lights and they loop at the top and the bottom, in pixel strands of 100 lights per output on the e682. So there is a total of 600 lights on 6 outputs. The tree topper pixel globe has 8 rows of 24 lights and it is separated in two 96 light sections per output on the e682 for a total of 192 lights. I want to set up the globe as a pixel matrix. I tried to set it all up but I think I got it all screwed up because the tree just does random stuff when I try out a sequence and only 80 lights on the globe are lighting up. Everything tests just fine on the e682 test sequences. Here are some screen shots of how I have everything set up. I would appreciate any help. Please keep it as simple as possible as I am still trying to learn all the jargon. (http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/cd53e71e12af0c7b2b5cf57c351e291f.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/1249e9893c901f0eb8e74c3ee7002c31.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/73262d79c3fff2640074e9cf6e51dd02.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/235934120112d89d7a85b52ae762d56b.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/a069f8848ac9888762648b2b0ce48fc4.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/972ddbb78189ac99427721f2d2f17eec.jpg)
Thank you in advance.
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start with your tree set up number of strings should be 6 as you are folding them each string 100 nodes and 4 for the number of strands. as for the globe 2 strings 96 nodes 4 strands your set up screen for universes in the xlights setup. go ahead and say 7 universes with 510 channels in each in that setup you will be safe
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For 360 tree use # of Strings = 6, Nodes per string = 100, strands per string = 4
For globe I think you want a horizontal matrix instead of vertical with
# of Strings = 2, Nodes per string = 96, strands per string = 4
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I have two pixel trees, one similar to yours with 600 pixels on the tree 24x25 360 degree and 200 pixel globe. I basically copied verbatim from Brian bruderer (lor). I had to use a custom model for the globe because of the way the pixels were arranged.
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Okay. Thanks guys. I will make those changes tonight when I get home from work and see how it goes.
I have two pixel trees, one similar to yours with 600 pixels on the tree 24x25 360 degree and 200 pixel globe. I basically copied verbatim from Brian bruderer (lor). I had to use a custom model for the globe because of the way the pixels were arranged.
I also loosely modeled my tree after Brian's. But I wanted to simplify the programming of the globe so I took out the 4 pixels on top and on bottom so it would have consistent rows. Next year I think I will double the pixels on the tree though.
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I'm thinking about doubling the pixels as well. The resolution is very poor.
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So I should have the setup page as follows? (http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/b2d9e6efa0ec1b981ebf1e867d099374.jpg)
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Okay and the tree and globe as follows? (http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/454ef01a35e18d6e6aa491b72066995c.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/7aeec3ed60a0202c39aeb6387d5ad481.jpg)
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Yes So how did it work?
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Yes So how did it work?
I am freaking out! It works awesome! I tried with vixen before I knew about the Xlights application for the Mac. And I am loving Xlights. I never got vixen running properly. And with Xlights the tree and globe is running so so smooth now! I can't thank you guys enough. It feels so awesome to finally see the fruits of my labor over the last two months. Thank again for all of your help. I set up a schedule to play a quick three minute sequence but there is a several minute pause before it replays. Is there a way to have the sequence restart immediately after it ends?
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again its hard to say what wrong with out seeing. Lets guess, when you built your first sequence how long did you set it up for and did you fill in the whole time period. if set up for 5 minutes and only filled in 3 minutes then the other 2 are running blank. A quick thing would be a copy and paste. food for thought. It sounds like your just doing animations. No music. That's fine as I also don't have any music this year. Everything in steps. When you setup your sequences I have found not to run any effect any longer than 30 seconds as you will lose the interest of your viewers. That's not a problem with all the choices xlights gives you. Twinkle is good also red and white spirals seems to be a favorite. the manual gives good suggestions under each effect. So what are you going to add to it for next year... You got the bug.....
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The other thing you can look at is when you made a play list did you set a delay there? A picture of your tree?
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(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/9ee2be0a535d6c9986d59cff68069e72.jpg)(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/23/877e5ea92fcf28f40f04e1fcc4ec8c42.jpg)
I thought I set the end of the sequence pretty close to the end of where I stop the effects.
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I see no timing marks.. The line just above the names of the models is your timing line Go into the space just above it start at one end with your mouse and drag to the end. hit the "T" now you can place other marks with in again using the "T" now when you place an effect it will fill between marks. Here again grab that manual. each time you read it you will pick up more and more.
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if you hit the test1 tab that's where a delay could be set.
getting late after midnight I'll see how you made out tomorrow......
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So I just did what you said and copied and pasted my sequence a couple of times and now it is on a nice loop with no breaks in between.
I wanted to thank everyone for there help with my first pixel project/mega tree this year. Because of you all, I was able to get the tree up and running in time for Christmas. I have loved switching over to Xlights! Being able to use my Mac and not have to mess with Windows has been fantastic. And it turned out great. Here is a sequence which I sped up to 1.5 speed for the sake of time.
https://vimeo.com/150395063 (https://vimeo.com/150395063)
I just used all of the XLights preset tools and it worked great. Thanks again!
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It feels good.... We are all glad you were up and running for X-mas. Just remember we are here to help. As for the tree. it looked as the front was facing the side. on a full 360 tree the #1 strand would be all the way to the back center. Nice Job!!!!! Now are you adding more items for next year? A few gift boxes around the bottom. Corrugated Plastic with lights inside. Easy to work with.
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I want to start by saying thank you to all of you for all your help with my first display last year, and I apologize for reviving this thread. I just didn't want to start a new one.
I loved having my mega tree last year and ended up buying a bunch of stuff from holidaycoro to do my gutter and windows in pixels this year, as well as adding more pixels to the mega tree. Well I remodeled the back yard this year and it took up and is still taking my light prep time. So my plan now is just to make the mega tree even mega'er and if I find extra time I will add lights to the house.
So I read that my e682 will handle 1020 pixels in multicast and 2040 in unicast. Right now my tree has 600 pixels on the tree (24 strands of 25 pixels) and 192 lights in the globe for a total of 792 pixels. I still don't really get the multi/unicast thing. So my question is how many pixels can I add to my tree?
What I want to do is to triple my pixels on the tree. So 1800 pixels(30 strands of 60 pixels). So there would be a total of 1992 pixels. Can I do this with an e682? I have a Alphapix 16 v2 which I bought to control the the lights on my house, but I could always use that for my tree if I needed too. But $$.
Thanks in advance for the help.
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So when I started fiddling with XLights tonight, it says I have a max of 7 universes with 510 Channels per universe for a total of 3570 channels or 1190 pixels and it says it's in multicast. Can I run unicast in Xlights to get more pixels out of my e682?
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Sure you can. When you define your e131 controllers choose the unicast radio button and enter your ip address
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Okay. So I've added lights to the tree as previously mentioned. I had 24 strands of 25 pixels in 6 groups of 100.
Now I have 28 strands of 60 pixels in groups of 120 per output. So 14 outputs on the e682 with the last two being used for the pixel globe which hasn't changed since last year.
So I made the following changes (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161115/58ac23433b0f927469777088e4f4c95c.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161115/aec978fad03cfdff1813c1ce977ca790.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161115/c5c68205ce1a52724ccf874f90a2e726.jpg)
And I'm getting the following response (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161115/e5a2c95aa564118a38d053368cf5b764.jpg)
I'd appreciate some guidance for a newbie. I know I have something screwed up.
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It looks like you don't have enough channels defined on your setup tab.
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It looks like you don't have enough channels defined on your setup tab.
Thank you!
I finally finished assembling the mega tree and got it all hooked up tonight. I was able to fix the aforementioned issue but now I have new one. My lights are not behaving as they should. When I go to my e682 test page they will go solid red or blue or green etc. But when I synced up with xlights and tested the tree it wasn't looking right. For example I would use the fire tool and it would do the fire thing but be all sorts of random colors. And some of the other preset tools are not looking right. I have something screwed up but I don't know what you all need to see to help me. Even when I set it to a red and green scrolling bar effect it doesn't look right and isn't solid red and green. I don't think there is proper communication.
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The colors appear to be totally random. Looks cool but not clean. Does anyone know what could cause this?
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(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161126/15b883d9e0d2c3632a2a27b993427726.jpg)
I have it set here to solid green.
And this is how it looks.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161126/15c53910d9d960fafd4893013288f81a.jpg)
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(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161126/4aec51677d0d472ece62f529bb82e190.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161126/ed690eac14017a414f272e73ed6accc6.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161126/d27016ab3cc81d6a47ad541b4f4fc875.jpg)
Here is how I have things set up.
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For a SanDevices controller you need to use 510 for all he universe sizes in the xLights setup tab.
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For a SanDevices controller you need to use 510 for all he universe sizes in the xLights setup tab.
Dude! You are so so awesome! Changed them all to 510 and it is working beautifully now! Thank you so much!