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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Would Pebble Pixels work for outlining my railing?
« on: January 28, 2024, 07:13:06 PM »
I'm considering using some of Ray Wu's Pebble pixels on the top row of a railing on my house. I would just zip tie them to the railing Would this work? Does anyone have experience with these or can anyone let me know how reliable they are? Are they as reliable as regular bullet style pixels? Seems like a really easy way to build an outline. I'd use the 5cm between pixels option, so I have enough wire to repair them if needed. also my railing is 252 inches long, so that means I'd need a string of 129 pixels (if my math is right), Do you think that would doable? I'd prefer the 5v versions and would inject power at the end of the string.
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Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Visualizer and reversed models. Potentially a bug
« on: November 28, 2023, 01:13:42 AM »
I have windows wrapped in pixel strips, and so I could turn 90 degrees I have 4 strips, but they are physically connected in pairs, the left and top edges together and the right and bottom edges are connected. I'm starting in the bottom left corner of the window. See Window1.png attachment to see it more clearly.
The bug (maybe a bug) is that I think I would...in the visualizer, order these models in the physical order. Physically the bottom strip is connected to my controller and the right strip is connected to the end of the bottom strip. But since I want clockwise effects to work correctly in my Sandevices controller I've set the 2nd port (bottom+right strip) to reverse order. If you look at the visualizer.png attachment you'll see that in this configuration the visualizer gets it wrong. The controller considers the whole port to be reversed...so in this case the item to the far right in the visualizer should be the next pixel after the top edge (that's the right strip), but instead the visualizer is assigned the first pixel to the first model listed in the port list....which is the bottom strip.
The work around is to reverse the order of the models in the port. I appreciate that you list the pixel numbers in the popups, because that has helped me figure this all out.
The bug (maybe a bug) is that I think I would...in the visualizer, order these models in the physical order. Physically the bottom strip is connected to my controller and the right strip is connected to the end of the bottom strip. But since I want clockwise effects to work correctly in my Sandevices controller I've set the 2nd port (bottom+right strip) to reverse order. If you look at the visualizer.png attachment you'll see that in this configuration the visualizer gets it wrong. The controller considers the whole port to be reversed...so in this case the item to the far right in the visualizer should be the next pixel after the top edge (that's the right strip), but instead the visualizer is assigned the first pixel to the first model listed in the port list....which is the bottom strip.
The work around is to reverse the order of the models in the port. I appreciate that you list the pixel numbers in the popups, because that has helped me figure this all out.
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Pixel Direction for a window frame. In Xlights, controller...or both?
« on: November 28, 2023, 12:00:09 AM »
I have windows wrapped in pixel strips starting in the bottom left corner the lights go up the left side, then along the top edge left to right. That's string #1. Then I have a 2nd string that also starts in the bottom left. This string goes along the bottom edge of the window from left to right then up the right side of the window from bottom to top. This is all controlled via a Sandevices controller. Since I wanted to pixels to be going in a complete circle for string #2 I set it to reversed in the Sandevices controller.
So my question to you is...how should I map this in Xlights? Here's what I did; for the left and top edges, I simply drew those as I think most people would, I started the line at the bottom left and drew the line to the top left, and then drew the top edge line from left to right. That all makes sense. But reversed lines are confusing to think about. I ended up drawing them in the opposite direction. The controller considers the top right line pixel to be pixel #1, so even though physically pixel #1 is in the bottom left, I added the lines in Xlights as Xlights would logically see them. So for the right edge line I drew from top to bottom and for the bottom I drew it from right to left.
It seems to work in Xlights, but I've noticed some of my effects seem off...so I'm trying to determine if this might be the issue. What's really confusing is that in the model settings there is a setting to "Set Pixel Direction" What does that do? If I already have the pixel string reversed on the controller won't setting the pixel direction undo that setting and mess up the pixel order? How do you you all handle this?
So my question to you is...how should I map this in Xlights? Here's what I did; for the left and top edges, I simply drew those as I think most people would, I started the line at the bottom left and drew the line to the top left, and then drew the top edge line from left to right. That all makes sense. But reversed lines are confusing to think about. I ended up drawing them in the opposite direction. The controller considers the top right line pixel to be pixel #1, so even though physically pixel #1 is in the bottom left, I added the lines in Xlights as Xlights would logically see them. So for the right edge line I drew from top to bottom and for the bottom I drew it from right to left.
It seems to work in Xlights, but I've noticed some of my effects seem off...so I'm trying to determine if this might be the issue. What's really confusing is that in the model settings there is a setting to "Set Pixel Direction" What does that do? If I already have the pixel string reversed on the controller won't setting the pixel direction undo that setting and mess up the pixel order? How do you you all handle this?
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Can XSchedule control a remote projector?
« on: January 12, 2022, 09:55:07 AM »
I run XSchedule on a laptop in my basement, connected to a Onkyo receiver and an FM transmitter. Using software magic to output to both at the same time. I also have a Python script running on a Raspberry Pi that monitors a button in my yard. That script controls the volume of my speakers and lets people skip to next sequence.
Two floors above I have a giant picture window. I'd like to...if possible place a projector in that room to rear project a picture in sync with my Xlights light display. Is that possible?
I've never used Falcon Player before, but it has a feature called Virtual Matrix that looks promising, though strangely it seems to not show video as much as create some strange virtual matrix that is a pixelated version of my video. I'm hoping that instead there is some mechanism to just sync the playing of a video along side an xLights sequence.
Is there a way to have an Xlights sequence control the playing of a video on a remote projector? The key here is the REMOTE part. I still need one device connected to the outdoor speakers and my FM transmitter and I need another device to be connected to a projector and displaying an image...and for these 2 devices to be synced. The will both be connected via ethernet to the same network vlan.
Secondly, is there also some way to power on a projector or run other scripts as part of xSchedule? Looks like a few people have attempted to add MQTT support to some projectors, but if there's some known projector brands that have better serial or MQTT support please let me know.
Two floors above I have a giant picture window. I'd like to...if possible place a projector in that room to rear project a picture in sync with my Xlights light display. Is that possible?
I've never used Falcon Player before, but it has a feature called Virtual Matrix that looks promising, though strangely it seems to not show video as much as create some strange virtual matrix that is a pixelated version of my video. I'm hoping that instead there is some mechanism to just sync the playing of a video along side an xLights sequence.
Is there a way to have an Xlights sequence control the playing of a video on a remote projector? The key here is the REMOTE part. I still need one device connected to the outdoor speakers and my FM transmitter and I need another device to be connected to a projector and displaying an image...and for these 2 devices to be synced. The will both be connected via ethernet to the same network vlan.
Secondly, is there also some way to power on a projector or run other scripts as part of xSchedule? Looks like a few people have attempted to add MQTT support to some projectors, but if there's some known projector brands that have better serial or MQTT support please let me know.
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: Clock fill effects
« on: December 25, 2021, 12:49:51 AM »
AHA! I found it! There's a "In Transition" called clock, that does this wipe effect.
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Clock fill effects
« on: December 24, 2021, 10:55:35 PM »
I've got several windows that are wrapped in pixels. Right now they appear as 4 strands, top (70 pixels), right (80 pixels) bottom (90 pixels) and left (40 pixels). I want to fill the window up like a clock. Starting at some location, lets say 12 o'clock, and fill the whole outline in a clockwise manner with the color red, so 12 to 3 to 6 to 9 and back around to 12. It should end as all pixels red. Right now Pinwheel is close, it allows me to circle around the window, but unfortunately it only allows for a fill length to be 100 pixels. Is there a way to achieve this?
I should also mention that I've created a group that represents the whole window, which includes all 4 strands.
I should also mention that I've created a group that represents the whole window, which includes all 4 strands.
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / How can I drop effects on lyric word segments?
« on: December 21, 2021, 12:35:58 AM »
I've imported lyrics into my sequence and xlights allowed me to "break down phrases" which added a new timing track that included each word in the lyrics. Great. I do not have a face, but instead I want to sequence my various lights to each word in the song. But when I drag and drop an effect it starts and stops at the phase level and not the word level. It there a way I can convert the word timing track into a working timing track that can help me sequence? I want to be able to drag and drop and effect and have it start and end according to that word timing track
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: How to simply fill a window wrap with alternating colors?
« on: December 17, 2021, 07:14:30 PM »Use Marquee with a single line render Style.YES! That did it. Thank you. -=Steve
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: How to simply fill a window wrap with alternating colors?
« on: December 17, 2021, 04:44:54 PM »
Yes I tried Marquee and the videos I saw make it looks like the right effect, but it just seemed busted to me. maybe because my windows are not perfectly square, but it would only fill the left and right sides of my window. If I increased the thickness it would sort of work, but the bands would not be the correct side. Playing with it more it looks like Marquee does not work with groups. I tested it on a round wreath group that's made up of 3 models and it just did nothing 
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: Only 50 Pixels?
« on: December 17, 2021, 04:26:51 PM »
The live help really is an awesome, little known "feature" of XLights. It's great and if you can I'd suggest you try to connect to it. I also strongly recommend Falcon controllers. The general approach you want to follow is:
1. Connect the strands to your controller.
2. Get your controller to recognize them. I'm not familiar with the Pixie, but most controllers have a test mode, sounds like that's working for you at least to 100.
3. Once they work in the controller, then you need to add the controller to your XLights setup. I don't like to use the "Auto Layout Models" feature so I usually turn that off. Much more helpful in my opinion is the "Visualise" button. It should show you each port on your controller and what is connected to each port. Also helpful is the Tools/Test feature. For testing your controllers it's very helpful.
If you're willing to talk with a stranger I'd be happy to chat with you. I enjoy the hobby and getting new people into it is a pleasure to me, so if that's of interest send me a DM with your phone number and I'll text you to setup a call.
1. Connect the strands to your controller.
2. Get your controller to recognize them. I'm not familiar with the Pixie, but most controllers have a test mode, sounds like that's working for you at least to 100.
3. Once they work in the controller, then you need to add the controller to your XLights setup. I don't like to use the "Auto Layout Models" feature so I usually turn that off. Much more helpful in my opinion is the "Visualise" button. It should show you each port on your controller and what is connected to each port. Also helpful is the Tools/Test feature. For testing your controllers it's very helpful.
If you're willing to talk with a stranger I'd be happy to chat with you. I enjoy the hobby and getting new people into it is a pleasure to me, so if that's of interest send me a DM with your phone number and I'll text you to setup a call.
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / How to simply fill a window wrap with alternating colors?
« on: December 17, 2021, 04:09:14 PM »
This seems like it should be fairly easy, but I cannot figure out how to accomplish it. I have a window wrapped in LED's. Let's say each side is 50 pixels. What effect can I use to fill this 200 pixel window frame with alternating colors RED and WHITE? I want something that lets me just say here are the 2 colors I want...and give me a way to set how wide each color strip, lets say 5 pixels wide. Single Strand and Spirals almost get me there, but they seem to be direction based, so they cannot wrap a windows both up and across at the same time. what I want is every 5 pixels red then next 5 pixels white all the way around the length of my window wrap.
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: Two strip lights having a mind of their own
« on: December 14, 2021, 01:07:46 AM »
This is unfortunately my experience with LEDs as well. It seems some Pixels just have poor quality. Every year I get a few strips that just "go bad". Here in Seattle I've narrowed it down in a few cases:
1. Water in my connections. I try to use dielectric grease on all my connections. I'm using the weatherproof Ray Wu connectors.
2. Cold weather. When it gets below 20 degrees I've noticed more of my LED's start to go bad.
The other thing to consider is could it be a XLights problem. My first troubleshooting test would be to use the controllers test mode and see if the lights show Red, Green Blue correctly and run using a Chase test to see if they get corrupted after playing the chase for 5 minutes. Bad pixels will show themselves using the controller test mode. If the LEDs function correctly in test mode then I'd suspect the problem is something with XLights. I'm still pretty new with XLights. This year I moved to a new house but left my controllers and lights the same and for some reason I've been tracking down lots of weird "Lights not doing the right things" problems. If you use groups and subgroups like I do you can find weirdness appearing in your sequences when some items overlap in your layout. I have found the Controller "Visualize" tool to be helpful in troubleshooting. That and just looking into the sequence at the node level.
1. Water in my connections. I try to use dielectric grease on all my connections. I'm using the weatherproof Ray Wu connectors.
2. Cold weather. When it gets below 20 degrees I've noticed more of my LED's start to go bad.
The other thing to consider is could it be a XLights problem. My first troubleshooting test would be to use the controllers test mode and see if the lights show Red, Green Blue correctly and run using a Chase test to see if they get corrupted after playing the chase for 5 minutes. Bad pixels will show themselves using the controller test mode. If the LEDs function correctly in test mode then I'd suspect the problem is something with XLights. I'm still pretty new with XLights. This year I moved to a new house but left my controllers and lights the same and for some reason I've been tracking down lots of weird "Lights not doing the right things" problems. If you use groups and subgroups like I do you can find weirdness appearing in your sequences when some items overlap in your layout. I have found the Controller "Visualize" tool to be helpful in troubleshooting. That and just looking into the sequence at the node level.
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / Multiple audio files/tracks in a sequence
« on: December 12, 2021, 03:10:10 AM »
Also I've seen a few xlight videos that describe how to isolate the voice from a song using Audacity. I'd like one model to light up according to the singers voice, but the videos never explain how to use this audio track of the singers voice once you've got it. Does XLights allow me to load up multiple audio tracks per sequence some how? My song is "You're a mean one Mr Grinch" and I'd like one model to represent the singer voice only. Seems like I need the ability to load 2 audio tracks; One track being the whole complete song, and a second track that includes the isolated singers voice only...so that I can use the audio track to configure this one model.
Can someone clue me in as to how to accomplish this?
Can someone clue me in as to how to accomplish this?
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Do You Need Help? Post it here / How to get this VU meter effect?
« on: December 12, 2021, 02:59:18 AM »
I've attached an image of a LED wreath I built. It's built with 24 5 pixel strips around the wreath circle. I'd like to create a VU meter effect where the lights gradually sweep upwards from the 6 o'clock location up to the 12 o'clock position depending on the volume or waveform of the singers voice. The look I'm going for is that each 5 pixel strip needs to be the same at all times, and the wreath is mirrored so that the left and right sides are identical. The strip at the 6pm POSITION is shared between the two sides. So at the first quiet sound only the 6pm strip is lit up. At 50% volume the strips from 6 o'clock to 3 o'clock are lit up (and mirrored on the right side...so 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock is also lit up). At full volume the whole wreath is lit up. Does this make sense? I've been struggling trying to create this effect. Logically it's just 2 bars with 11 levels. I just cannot figure out how to tell it to light up 5 pixels at a time. I would think this could be called something like "Bar width"
Anyway can anyone tell me if this is possible and if so how to achieve this effect?
Anyway can anyone tell me if this is possible and if so how to achieve this effect?