If I use the hardware to do the zig-zag won't that screw up the effects? Wouldn't xLights assume it's a straight line then and the effects would not match up or is there something I'm just not realizing......
Also just to make sure my thought process is correct, since I will be using the 2 AlphaPix-4 controllers for part of my Christmas display but not using the same sequences/layouts/etc. Doing the zig-zag in xLights is the logical route.
You would tell xLights that you have a 48x24 matrix starting in the upper left corner via something like:
Vert Matrix
Actual # of strings: 24
# of lights per string: 48
#of strands per string: 1
From xLights perspective it's 24 individual strings of 48 nodes long.
Your controller would then use the zig zag to say "String 1, which is 144 nodes long, is really divided into 3 virtual strings, one going down, one coming back up, and another going down". The middle virtual string is reversed to match how xlights or FPP will be sending that data.
One reason for doing it in the controller is that it allows you to completely change the physical wiring without having to change the models in xLights or regenerate sequences or remap channels or anything. For example, maybe it's easier to wire it as 12 stings of 96 folded once. Or if you have a controller that can output more than one universe per output and good power injection, it might be easier for 6x192. No changes would need to be done in xlights. It's all how the controller maps them onto the lights.
