Author Topic: Channel/universe setup xlights vs pixlite4; Best practices?  (Read 2116 times)

Offline ccrowder

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Channel/universe setup xlights vs pixlite4; Best practices?
« on: November 07, 2016, 09:19:17 AM »
So trying to do this right my first year and had a few questions.  I understand mostly the channel/universe setup for xlights and my pixlite4.  My question I wanted to ask is there a better/right way to setup items?

Here is what I have for year 1 display in terms of pixels in continuous runs on each output of my pixlite 4.  Choose this arrangement based on where the strings were going to run.

Output 1:  92 pixels for 2nd story (so 276 channels)
Output 2:  70 pixels for garage (210 channels)
Output 3:  180 total pixels for tree, arch, and front wall (540 channels)
Output 4:  50 pixels for wreath (150 channels)

My current thought was to set the channel/universe numbers for the pixlite4 as follows so there was only enough channels for each item:
Output 1: Universe 1; 276 channels
Output 2:  Universe 2; 210 channels
Output 3:  Universe 3; 240 channels; Universe 4 300 channels
Output 4:  Universe 5; 150 channels

In xlights I would then setup my channels in the same manner and manually put the starting channel for each model.

My biggest question is will this make adding stuff next year harder since I will have to reorganize all the channels.  Is there a better way to do it?  Still learning how the universe/channels really work or how overlap of one to the next works.

Any suggestions/comments/tutorials if I should be setting stuff up a different way?

Offline markrvp

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Re: Channel/universe setup xlights vs pixlite4; Best practices?
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2016, 09:34:27 AM »
Everyone has different thoughts on this.  If I had your setup, here is how I would set it up:

Output 1:  510 Channels (Universe 1)
Output 2:  510 Channels (Universe 2)
Output 3:  1020 Channels (Universes 3-4)
Output 4:  510 Channels (Universe 5)

There are great arguments for and against this way of setting your channel assignments.  For me it keeps things nice and tidy and I don't have to worry about universes starting on a channel other than 1.  If I add a node to a model, it won't effect the channel assignment of everything after it 
« Last Edit: November 07, 2016, 09:36:05 AM by markrvp »

Offline ccrowder

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Re: Channel/universe setup xlights vs pixlite4; Best practices?
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2016, 10:47:11 AM »
So if I go with full universes on the pixlite I would also go with full universes on xlights correct?

Would I just then manually set the xlights start channel for each model according to the appropriate universe and output on the pixlite?

Offline markrvp

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Re: Channel/universe setup xlights vs pixlite4; Best practices?
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2016, 12:05:51 PM »
So if I go with full universes on the pixlite I would also go with full universes on xlights correct?

Would I just then manually set the xlights start channel for each model according to the appropriate universe and output on the pixlite?

Yes, that's exactly right.  So starting channels would be:

2nd Story - 1
Garage - 511
Tree, arch, front wall - 1021
Wreath - 2041

Be aware that on output 3 where you have 3 different models using 180 nodes, you will have to power inject.

Offline ccrowder

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Re: Channel/universe setup xlights vs pixlite4; Best practices?
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2016, 12:39:07 PM »

Be aware that on output 3 where you have 3 different models using 180 nodes, you will have to power inject.
Yep.. already planned on that.  Thanks.