You need to get great control of LED tape and pixels. What are the best programs and ways to do this?
Are you curious about how to control pixels from a lighting console? There a couple ways to go about doing this. You just need to decide which way works best for your specific needs.
Getting Control
One of the first things you will need to control your pixels is some sort of controller box. This is essential because it is where you will plug your lights into!
The pixel controller converts network DMX to pixel controlled data.
Power Supply
Another essential is a power supply outside of your controller. You will need to make sure that when your controller gets the DMX data and turns it into the pixel controls that your lighting console, software, or media servers are capable of sending the amount of universes of data that you are going to be needing.
Most common pieces of software etc will be perfectly able to do this with no issues, but if you are using a system that is a bit older then you may find that you will not be able to send out what you need to because you will be lacking network DMX capability. You may find that you have to upgrade if this is the case so that you can have the control you require.
Channels
The next thing to consider is the number of channels you’re using compared what you require to run your pixels. This where your DMX software becomes important. Ensuring that you have appropriate software gives you the ability to control the media, the speed that plays back, the intensity, and so on with ease.
It’s important to keep in mind that just because your controller can support the number of outputs or universes that you need doesn’t mean that it’s going to control it fluidly.
Controller Without Pixel Mapping
If you are working with a controller that doesn’t have pixel mapping or is lacking in channels then choosing a program like Intex-Elm is a great, inexpensive piece of software to use to get started with what you need.
You will find that most software that you purchase to help get you started will be really straight forward with walking you through the setup process. You can create a multitude of shapes and patterns to suit the display you have in mind with ease.
ONYX is another great option to use for your lighting displays. It gives you amazing options to be able to customize everything to suit your artistic eye. You can also use any kind of light with this software, which gives you a wide range of being able to create custom lighting displays.
The only thing to make sure of that could be a potential downside when using programs like ONYX is to ensure that you have the appropriate number of univserses available that you will need to run everything.
Closing
The biggest thing when it comes to pixel mapping is to have fun and be creative! When it comes down to it, the program and method you choose should be what suits your needs the best to be able to make your project as much fun as possible. That is what it’s all about!
