help with a RGB mega tree

[bassnbuck]

i built a tree that is proving hard then i thought to  layout.  Some of it is because i had some strands stop working so i took them out.  I am using the holiday coro alphapix 4 and i i have a total of 26 strands that are 75 nodes long.  the first output is hooked up to run 8 strands up and down 4 times.  the second output is only 4 strands up and down 2 times.  the third is back to  8 strands up and down 4 time. and the forth out put will be 6 strands up and down 3 time.

so i am have trouble with how to set up the model because of odd outputs and also how do you do it when your output can do 680 and you are going over multiple universes?  I know about the channel count but those arent all the way from start to finish either.  Any help appreciated. thank you

[Phrog30]

My tree is 24 strands, which is 12 strings of 50 pixels. My model is 24 strands of 25 pixels, I do the fold/up/down in the controller (zig zag). I found this a lot easier. From your description you should be able to do something similar.

[bassnbuck]

ok so i understand about the zig-zag in the controller but how do i do the model with different quantities of channels from each output?

[Phrog30]

The model isn't concerned on outputs, just channels. You can let xlights automatically set the channels, or you can set each string to the desired channels. Creating the model is the easiest part.

[Gilrock]

Try unchecking the box that causes the string channels to auto-number then you will have to figure them out yourself.  That's the price of having an odd configuration.

[bassnbuck]

so the hard part will be done on the controller correct?  the zig-zag and channel outputs.  so i would have for my 1st output 4 universes this is where i get confused.  ea universe can do 170 pixel but when you are using a continuous run of 600 pixels how do you configure that.  On the controller do you just put the number of pixel for ea output and it just continues on.  thanks for the help.

[Phrog30]

I believe what you said is correct, it will continue on. I don't do this, but I'm almost positive most controllers will work like you stated. The only thing that might need tweaked is the number of channels setup in xlights for each universe. Most use 510, but some controllers can rollover so you could use 512.

[jnealand]

This is why I love pixelnet and Lynx/Falcon equipment.  I get 4096 channels per pixelnet universe and my pixel tree from last year which is made of 8 flexstrips in an up/down config is so easy to setup and configure.  In NC I have a 180 tree 8 strings of 180 pixels, 16 strands and a single start channel..  My new tree will be using nodes and the Boscoyo strips.  My model is a 180 tree with 9 strings of 122 nodes in 18 strands with just a single start channel.  All these controllers that cannot cross the dmx boundaries and end up with 510 channels are what confuse me.

[bassnbuck]

i just found out from holiday coro that the alphapix 4 can only do zig zag once on ea output.  so on output 1 that you have 680 pixel capable it only zig-zags once, so up 75 down 75 and thats it.  i have try to setup xlights to do it with 13 strings of 150 nodes with 2 strands per string. in xlights the nodes look correct but when the effects happen on the actual tree they are wrong.  I also think some of it is because of having multiple universes on 1 output and not using all channels per universe.  any suggestions? would a custom matrix work?  would it allow me to scroll text and images?

[bassnbuck]

never mind i have figured it out.  thank you to the ones that tried to help.

[Phrog30]

never mind i have figured it out.  thank you to the ones that tried to help.

Is what you stated about the alphapix and zig zag accurate?

[bassnbuck]

yes holiday coro said that to me in a ticket i opened,but i tested it and had 8 strings of 75 all on one output and 7 were all going one way and the 1st string was reveresed. so whatever you tell the "reverse count" it does it once per output.