Pixel Mode – SPI LED Controller
The most valuable feature of Pixel mode is that it allows you to control your strips with your favourite DMX signal source. Our program, your favorite console or software, it doesn’t matter. Our controller can work with either and you don’t have to add more devices to your controlling set-up.
Pixel mode in LSS Software
First of all, by pixel we mean single diode or group of diodes, depending on your settings. If you open LED Strip Studio Software, in the top panel you have “Settings” tab. Here, open LSS SPI Settings. Following table appears and you have two options for DMX Pixel settings:
In LSS SPI Settings, you can find Pixel mode settings.
Pixels
In pixel mode, you can control one single diode by only 3 DMX channels. We prepared simple table below that shows how to set up your DMX signal source’ channels values in case you are using RGB strip.
DMX signal source settings for 1 pixel / RGB strip
As shown below, our console now controls single diode on a strip by 3 channels. Next 3 sliders would control 2nd pixel in a row, next 3 sliders controls… You get the point.
DMX console controls 1 diode by 3 channels
LEDs per Pixel
Ability to control 1 pixel is awesome. You can however make groups of pixels consisting of as many diodes as you want. This is super useful in case you want to control only few segments on a strip. Example below shows how to setup your DMX signal source in case you are using RGB digital strip.
DMX signal source settings for 3 pixels / RGB strip
DMX console controls 3 diodes by 3 channels
For RGB strip, you use 3 DMX channels. In case of RGBW strip, you need 4 channels. DMX has 512 channels, thus your limit for the number of Pixels you can create is 512/3=170 (RGB) or 512/4=128 (RGBW) . Also remember that SPI LED Controller has limit of 1024 RGB or 768 RGBW diodes on a strip. Above that, you have to use additional controller.
At every stage and in every mode, you have to have SD card with correct settings file inserted in your controller. Check our previous articles and video for more instructions.
Complete knowledge base with user’s manual can be found on this link – http://ledstripstudio.com/tutorials/spi-led-controller-tutorial
Previous articles – DMX Trigger mode; Standalone mode; Introduction