Messages

1

Enhancement Requests / Re: RGBA

« on: March 09, 2022, 12:15:07 PM »

In the Layout_String Properties, there is a dropdown for 'RGBW Color Handling' (which I just noticed, and is probably what Keith was alluding to).

The default is R=G=B->W, which describes the behavior I'm currently seeing.  I'm presuming that RGB Only ignores the W channel, and White Only ignores the RGB channels.

Is there any information/documentation on what Advanced option refers to, and how that can be used?  I'm guessing that's probably what I'm looking for...but it's not apparent how it's used.

2

Enhancement Requests / RGBA

« on: March 09, 2022, 07:48:47 AM »

Exactly the problem.  The software can't read your mind to know what you want when.  You need to read what Dan said.  It takes 2 models and you tell it exactly what to do when.

Yeah, I understand what Dan said.  However. Keith seemed to indicate that what I?m asking about IS possible, so I?m looking for a bit more clarification on what I?m missing.

And also asking if it?s possible, as an enhancement request, to have the 4th channel controlled independently, and not merely activated whenever R=B=G.

3

Enhancement Requests / Re: RGBA

« on: March 07, 2022, 09:53:11 PM »

I've had some time to explore this more, and have created a 4-channel RGBW Cree LED on a WS2814 (4-channel) LED driver (pict below).  I then modeled this as a single RGBW node in xlights.

Below is a short video of 100% R->G->B->W, followed-by a cycling color-wash of White and Blue.  As you can see, the WHITE die "blips" on at the 100% white portion of the cycle (instead of merely using the RGB die).

How exactly would I go about directly controlling the WHITE (die) discretely?  There are times when I would like to have white generated by RGB, and other times by the WHITE die.  There are other times when I would like to mix one of the primary colors with the WHITE die.  I'm not seeing any method in the COLOR panel that would grant this type of control.  Thoughts?

https://youtu.be/aUsfdTfGahc

4

Enhancement Requests / Re: RGBA

« on: February 08, 2022, 08:09:47 PM »

Granted, I have little/no particular use for W (white).

I'm actually going to re-tract that statement.  It appears that DJ/lighting systems do utilize the W (white) channel, in addition to the RGB:  using the W channel layered with an RGB color can create somewhat "pastel" colors (that can't necessarily be created with RGB alone).  Examples I found were adding R to the W can create various shades of pink.  So there might be some use for a discrete W (4th) channel after all, instead of a mere replacement for R=G=B.

As far as using the RGBA(amber) in place of RGB--there doesn't appear to be any simply conversion.  Closest I could find is this (including here for future reference):
https://www.nlfxpro.com/ben-stowes-rgbaw-color-mixing-chart/

Would it be possible to "simply" have a 4th channel slider in the color window in xlights?  RGB would behave as regular, but the slider could simply be the 4th channel intensity (on top of the RGB).  This slider would allow the user to add W on top of whatever RGB output is selected.  Or if that 4th channel were A (amber), this would give the user the flexibility of adding Amber at whatever level they choose (again, on top of the RGB selection).

dkulp's proposal does also seem like a reasonable method to achieve this.  However, the current design of the RGBW nodes in xlights (where W is only active when R=G=B) doesn't seem to capture the full potential of these 4-channel elements.

5

Enhancement Requests / RGBA

« on: February 03, 2022, 08:59:51 PM »

I see that nodes can be set up as RGBW.  From what I've read here, it appears that the W channel is only ON when R=G=B.  Does this work across all the levels?  Does the W channel come ON in addition to the RGB channels?  Or does the W channel turn ON and the RGB channels turn OFF?  Just trying to envision exactly how the W channel is managed.

For example, if R and B are set to 50%, and G slowly ramps from 100% down to 0%.  What exactly happens when G hits 50%?  Does W turn ON and RGB turn OFF at that precise moment?

Granted, I have little/no particular use for W (white).  My question is really in context of the 4th channel and how it operates:  is there any way (or any plans) to support RGBA (amber)?  I can easily create floods that could use this Amber channel (and thus theoretically allow a broader color palette).  But I'm just not sure how that would exactly work in xLights.

6

General hardware / Re: Moving Head LED conversion help

« on: February 24, 2021, 07:07:18 PM »

Any idea the parts I need to buy to do it?

You'll basically need a constant-current LED driver, likely one that is WS281x controllable.  Similar to what I just posted here:

https://diychristmas.org/vb5/forum/hardware-software/developers-hw-sw/11138-

7

General hardware / Re: Moving Head LED conversion help

« on: February 22, 2021, 07:24:20 PM »

CURRENT is the primary concern for driving LEDs (and what controls the brightness) not VOLTAGE.  You'll need a constant-current driver, and/or one that allows you to control the CURRENT.

8

Enhancement Requests / Re: 10 suggestions for sequencer!!!

« on: February 02, 2021, 08:06:54 PM »

Also, if there is anyway to hook up a midi keyboard to insert "On" notes into the sequence  Right now I am inserting them manually, copying groups of them when in place.  It would be so much easier if you could designate which effect, and hit a key on the keyboard or a midi controlled keboard, that would insert the events...Notes as I call them.....with the song/sequence.  And snapping them to the grid would be helpful too.  Looks like there is some function in xLights like that, but don't know how that works yet.

There are ways to use MIDI files within xLights.  I've used a MIDI file (generated external to xLights) to "map" each note to a specific prop, turning it on/off.  That's how I generated this sequence:
https://youtu.be/lBAW9TOZq3I

So while this doesn't get you exactly what you're hoping for (ie., press a keyboard and an effect drops into the sequence), it is a means to let a pre-generated MIDI file handle a lot of your manual sequencing.

9

Falcon Pi Player / Re: V2 Sparse: Zstd versus Uncompressed

« on: February 01, 2021, 02:45:30 PM »

To clarify?does the ?decompressing? only occur once, after the file is newly-uploaded?  Or does it actively decompress as the sequence is running (each time)?

10

Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: Yep, another newbie

« on: December 30, 2020, 03:21:54 PM »

Start with what you want for your display to LOOK like (both immediately, and potential expansion).  House outline (ie, just the roof, or every nook-and-cranny)?  Props (arches, large trees, small trees, stars, toppers, etc)?

Draw/map that out, so you have a sense of what your needs are (versus what your budget is).

THEN you can spec out the details to make it happen (LEDs, controllers, etc).  Software-wise, there?s nothing you need to buy.  But play around with the software some too (before building anything)?you?ll get some ideas there too, if what you may want in your show (before you commit to anything).

11

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Tree Model - Rotation Error

« on: December 22, 2020, 12:53:09 PM »

No clue what a DEGREE=1 would be for a spiral tree, but I it didn't appear to affect the model (so I could never figure out what it was doing).  However, I now see that it was limiting the rotation.

Setting DEGREE=360 didn't change anything in the appearance, but it allowed me to rotate back to where I needed it.

12

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Tree Model - Rotation Error

« on: December 22, 2020, 11:52:18 AM »

Seems that DEGREES and ROTATION are both rotating the spiral in the same manner (not sure if there is any difference between the two, that applies to my model).  But by playing with both of them, I was able to spin it around to where I wanted.  Odd that I haven't touched these models in several years, but at least seem to have it working now.

13

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Tree Model?Rotation Error

« on: December 21, 2020, 02:26:16 PM »

On my set-up, Rotation=0, puts the 'starting point' at the very front.  180 moves the 'starting point' to the left side (90 degrees), and 360 moves the 'starting point' to the very back (180 from the front).  I need my starting point on the right side...which I can't get to.

14

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Tree Model?Rotation Error

« on: December 21, 2020, 07:48:32 AM »

Correct. rotation for the starting point of the tree (2nd example). The field labeled Rotation under the tree model.

I obviously don?t need it to rotate 360 to the starting position.  But I do need to rotate 270, to align my model with my props.

Right now, setting the Rotation field to 180 only moves the model 90.  I could also accomplish what I need, if the value could accept a negative number.

15

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Tree Model - Rotation Error

« on: December 20, 2020, 11:00:14 PM »

Using the most recent xLights on a Mac, it doesn?t appear that I?m fully able to rotate a tree 360.

When I model a single-stranded, spiel tree, it only appears to actually rotate 180 (instead of the 360 as entered).

Seems this was something I was able to do before (to properly map the starting-point of my spiral to mirror the actual prop).  Has something changed here, or is there something else I need to do to get the full360 rotation?