Need help stringing 8-channel DMX floods together in sequence

[jwilcox767]

Hello all, I am new to this forum, but not to xLights (been running ws2811 for a loooong time).  Now I have 6 RGBW DMX floodlights (8 channel) that I am trying to string together with no success.  I searched forums/youtube/google/etc and mashed buttons for hours. 
All I want to do is have have them act like regular pixels and apply the usual effects.  The lights themselves work fine when manually controlling via DMX in xLights.  So far the closest thing I can get to an executable idea is to use "Single String" channels that mirror the DMX RGBW channels so that xLights knows how to use  RGBW.  That still fails to work properly, only the first light works and the rest randomly flash like the channel data is incorrect.  On the lights themselves, channel 1 is brightness and 5/6/7/8 are RGBW. 

Am I crazy, or should this work just fine and I'm just doing it wrong?  If anyone is interested in getting on a call with me I'll GLADLY reimburse you for your time.  All help is much appreciated!

Thank you!

[Gilrock]

You'll need to model them each as a DMX Floodlight model.  Configure the red, green, and blue channels...I forget if I included white channel.  You can then group the models.  Change the group Default Layout to Single Line.  When dropping effects on the group you may need to use a Per Model blending mode.  You'll need to use a DMX effect to control channel 1.  You can also create a custom model that maps all the channel 1's into a single model and then turn them all on at once.  Too much to explain how to do that here.

[jwilcox767]

Getting close - I created 6 DMX floods, set the RGBW channels, and added them to a group.  Then I put my DMX channel 1 setting on a layer under the "Flood Group", but they are still all stuck on Red when I try a simple "On effect". 

I don't know where to set "a Per Model blending mode".  Under the "Layer settings" under "Render Style"?  I tried "Per model default" and the lights shut off.

Lastly, I added 6 floods, but the preview is only showing me 3, and if I adjust the start intensity, they start flashing random colors while ramping up (to Red).  Maybe that's part of the problem?  What I see is attached.

Thank you!

[Gilrock]

Is the model group Layout set to Single Line?

[jwilcox767]

Yep, that is correct.  What else should I check?

[jwilcox767]

The layout of the group is indeed single line.  What else could be the problem?

Thanks!

[Gilrock]

Not sure.  You should create a sample sequence, package it and post it.  Hopefully someone with experience will take a look.  Unfortunately I'm leaving for the mountains and will be gone 11 days.

There should be a way to use a different model also where you can treat each light as a new string and then use individual start channels to space the 8 channel gap between start channels for each rgbw section of channels.

[ozaz]

If you post a packaged sequence I can have a look at if if Gil's gone. I'm nowhere near the guru Gil is but have got various DMX devices working in groups before.