Sean Meighan

Software => Nutcracker Effects => Topic started by: bigstott on August 31, 2014, 11:06:49 AM

Title: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on August 31, 2014, 11:06:49 AM
Ok. So I got my Matrix sign built but I am having an issue. When I set it up to scroll text on a Vertical matrix it skips and kind of does this funky backtrack. See the video... http://youtu.be/VHSh7JSs4Yw
See how it skips a row and goes back on the T?? Now I just switch it to a horizontal matrix and it works fine...http://youtu.be/m0E8bZTjQ-s

What do you think?? Sean any advice?


It will also do this in other effects like bars. It will skip a row of lights
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: sean on August 31, 2014, 02:16:09 PM
can u paste your xlights_rgbeffects.xml file so i can see what the model looks like?
for the first case, does the preview look correct?
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on August 31, 2014, 07:47:05 PM
Yes either way I configure it the preview looks ok. With some tweaking I got the text to look ok but then all the other effects get screwed up... it is really weird.

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Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: flyinverted on August 31, 2014, 09:21:53 PM
Here's what I see.

Text is supposed to move from column 1>2>3>4>5>6 etc.
The video shows the text going from 1>2>4>3>5>6 etc.

Are you absolutely sure you've got the leds plugged in the right columns?

I had a similar recently with mega-tree legs. Legs 3 and 4 were reversed physically and I had to move them and it all looked great after that.

If you plugged the LEDs into the wrong holes, the preview will still look ok.

Just my guess based on what I can see and my experience.


Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on September 01, 2014, 03:48:39 PM
Yeah it is all one string and its all correct and in the correct holes in the matrix.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: JonB256 on September 01, 2014, 07:51:07 PM
Looking at your XML setup for your Tune To sign, it says Horizontal Matrix, 162 pixels, 18 strands.

First, it should be a Vertical Matrix (based on your video), because your matrix is 9x18 and, starting from the Bottom Left, that means you go UP from the bottom left corner, then over and down, then over and up ... making 18 vertical strings.

If you started at bottom left but went across the bottom, then it would be over, then up.  Still 162 pixels but 9 strands.

So, which way did you actually wire it?


 <model name="Tune To Matrix" offsetXpct="0.1563" offsetYpct="0.3010" PreviewScale="0.1100" PreviewRotation="0" DisplayAs="Horiz Matrix" StringType="RGB Nodes" parm1="1" parm2="162" parm3="18" StartChannel="1" StartSide="B" Dir="L" Antialias="0" ModelBrightness="-44" MyDisplay="1"/>
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on September 02, 2014, 10:26:15 AM
bottom left going up 9 then reverse, so on so forth.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: JonB256 on September 02, 2014, 11:10:51 AM
That is a vertical matrix.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: sean on September 02, 2014, 12:23:30 PM
bottom left going up 9 then reverse, so on so forth.
if strings up and down, that is a vertical matrix.

Have you clicked "Node Layout" while in the Model screen? That will show you how the nodes are being layed out for any model
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on September 02, 2014, 12:28:34 PM
Yes and the node layout is correct with the vertical matrix. But again I get the skipping of a row as you see in the video..... I just don't get it.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: JonB256 on September 02, 2014, 03:31:50 PM
Your XML data also shows a Start Channel of 1

Is it possible that you have "old data" or "conflicting data" in the XSEQ file that is disrupting the output?

Can you try creating a brand new 20 second or so sequence with nothing but scrolling text on the Tune To sign and ONLY the Tune To sign as a model?

If you have another model that overlaps/conflicts with an address between 1 and 486, you can get weird artifacts. (I didn't look at all your models, just the Tune To)
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on September 02, 2014, 04:22:39 PM
ok well I redid the nodes and switched it to a horizontal matrix and that didn't help. I deleted and re created the model again an no change. I tried every config with the software and hardware and started getting even weirder things happening.....

I final built a custom model in x lights.. again exactly how it is built.... and it works.... FINALLY.... I am not sure what the root of the problem was but it has to do with the matrix model. As soon as I crated a custom model and set everything back up the original way I had it, it began to work fine. http://youtu.be/_VgEdk7SPyY


Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: sean on September 02, 2014, 04:57:09 PM
can you paste the custom model that works. i want to compare it to the model you had. it must be a vert matrix, bottom left corner.

I have you tried going to the TEST tab and turning on one channel at a time
channel 1 is RED on bottom left strand
channel 28 is RED on top of second strand and so on.

no one else has seen this issue, but not many people use one strand for their matrix. I want to understand what is different with your vertical matrix model and your custom mode. you can have two models, and easily switch between them. multiple models can have  the same start channel
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: sean on September 02, 2014, 04:58:15 PM
this was your horiz matrix model changed to vert matrix.

 <model name="Tune To Matrix" offsetXpct="0.1563" offsetYpct="0.3010" PreviewScale="0.1100" PreviewRotation="0" ModelBrightness="-44" DisplayAs="Vert Matrix" StringType="RGB Nodes" parm1="1" parm2="162" parm3="18" StartChannel="1" StartSide="B" Dir="L" Antialias="0" MyDisplay="1"/>

Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on September 02, 2014, 10:02:33 PM
custom model with 18 Height 9
Node layout:

145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162
127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144
109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126
91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108
73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90
55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72
37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54
19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36
1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18

Remember I switched the physical layouts of the nodes from going up and down to left and right. I did this before building the custom model and had all sorts of problems with it too. Again once I built the custom model... it works great.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: sean on September 02, 2014, 10:19:49 PM
seeing that layout shows that you were not wrapping the strings up and down. you go one row and then start over for the next row.

If you do that you would need a model like this
  <model name="Tune To Matrix" offsetXpct="0.1563" offsetYpct="0.3010" PreviewScale="0.1100" PreviewRotation="0" ModelBrightness="-44" DisplayAs="Horiz Matrix" StringType="RGB Nodes" parm1="9" parm2="18" parm3="1" StartChannel="1" StartSide="B" Dir="L" Antialias="0" MyDisplay="1"/>


in order to get each row to start again at the left side you need to enter that you have 9 strings of 18 instead of 1 string of 162.

This layout should give you the same nodes as your custom model.
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/bigstott.PNG)
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: JonB256 on September 03, 2014, 04:59:47 AM
A picture of the back side of your panels would be useful.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: flyinverted on September 03, 2014, 09:39:47 AM
Hey Hey Hey now, this is a family friendly forum.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on September 03, 2014, 12:36:00 PM
Ok let me clarify a few things. First when I originally posted the matrix was wrapped vertical meaning 9 up 9 down across the matrix for 18 vertical lines. That's when I was having the original problems and you can see the results in the first post in the two videos. After I had tried almost everything I could think of, like switching it froma vertical to horizontal matrix, which scrolled correctly but turned 90 degrees, I pulled all of the nodes off the matrix and set it up as a horoztial matrix. So 18 across 9 up. I started getting even weirder results almost as if the matrix was split in the middle and going from the middle out..... after tweaking every setting there I finally created the custom matrix and it worked fine.


As far as doing it this way I will try it in a duplicate matrix and see.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: JonB256 on September 03, 2014, 12:45:51 PM
Ok I am working on a matrix project. MY pixlite 16 board is asking my for a universe for the start of my matrix. I know the my channels start at 9555ix x lights but how do I know what universe to set it to?

From an earlier post - I have never worked with a Pixlite 16 board or seen its configuration screens.

After re-reading this whole thread and what you've done, I'm getting suspicious about that controller and how you have it configured. Can you describe that board setup?  (and I'll go look at HolidayCoro since I think they sell the Pixlite).

JonB
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: bigstott on September 03, 2014, 12:57:20 PM
Its a pretty easy setup.

Set the universe: 11

Set start channel 1

Number of nodes 162

Null pixel 0

zigzag 18

Reverse no

So I had it set to zigzag every 9 pixels when it was vertical. Other than that setting being changed everything else stayed the same. So when I physically changed the layout to zigzag every 18 pixels I changed it on the controller.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: sean on September 03, 2014, 01:15:12 PM
Do you have just one string of 162 plugged into your pix lite-16? If yes, do not tell the pixlite that you are folding the string, do not tell it you have a matrix. Just setup one string of 162. Let xlights handle the wrapping. It sounds like you may have the pix lite trying to help. Again, one string of 162 nodes on the pix lite. Some software cannot handle lights that are wrapped various ways. Xlights will do all the mapping for you.
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: sean on September 03, 2014, 01:16:57 PM
A check that it is configured correctly is go to the TEST tab and turn on channel 1 and channel 29. First node should be red, 10th node should be green. If that doesn't work I would to the pixlite setup
Title: Re: Issue with scrolling text on matrix
Post by: JonB256 on September 03, 2014, 01:48:51 PM

zigzag 18



I just looked in the PixLite 16 manual and saw ZigZag as an option and thought you had probably configured it that way.

The PixLite will then try to "undo" the ZigZag that xLights/Nutcracker does with the "# of Strands" option. You could use one or the other, but using BOTH will not work well.

(ps, I think Sean beat me to it, but I had to answer.)

Do you have just one string of 162 plugged into your pix lite-16? If yes, do not tell the pixlite that you are folding the string, do not tell it you have a matrix. Just setup one string of 162. Let xlights handle the wrapping. It sounds like you may have the pix lite trying to help. Again, one string of 162 nodes on the pix lite. Some software cannot handle lights that are wrapped various ways. Xlights will do all the mapping for you.