Q Light Controller+

So I work with kids for a show choir building props and sets as we engineer our show. This year we decided to make new "Stage boxes" that we will have our Villains stand on as parts of the show.
https://sandsite.org/downloads/IMG_3276.m4v
https://sandsite.org/downloads/IMG_3277.m4v
https://sandsite.org/downloads/IMG_3278.m4v

To do this we

• used 4 8x32 matrixes on the front of the box
• controlled by some ArtNet -> Pixel controllers we've used for years. These little things have been hella reliable.
• A simple 5v 60A power supply
• We are using simple TRS cables to transfer power and signal from the "control prop" to the boxes. ( eventually we're replace this scheme with local controllers and batteries )
• We also setup the tops of the units with clear plexiglass and we have Battery Wireless DMX Uplights in them so we can have a cool effect
• The students design and build the boxes, solder all the wire harnesses and program the controllers.
• Given the number of pixels .. this ended up using 5 Universes each. The reason is the pixel controllers i use can have multiple U per output; however it SKIPS the last incomplete pixel and starts the next pixel on U+1, Channel 1. So there are 2 spare pixels in the last U.

The QLC side of this was a challenge and I ended up making some mistakes that I had to fix thru config-file manipulation. Wanted to share these thoughts

• When planning a design that will use RGB Matrix to configure Multiple matrixes that cross universes. There's bias in current design to having things start in UPPER LEFT vs anywhere else. So when designing the layout(s) of the pixels .. keep this in mind .. it will be *Way* easier if you start upper left. I didn't and this lead to a lot of by-hand maniuplation of pixels
• When creating a single RGB Matrix .. QLC does a good job of following the "starting point", "pattern" and "direction"; however when combining these matrixes into another Fixture Group.. you can only go DOWN or RIGHT .. and it doesn't wrap; so you have to add one row or column at a time
• There's no facility for creating RGB Matrix with a "skip partial pixels". This would save huge amounts of time as I'd be able to add all the pixels at once.
• Within a single Fixture Group, you can move a single pixel to another position and they will swap; however there's no way to do this with more than one pixel.
• I wrote tools a while ago that export/import Fixture Groups as .xls spreadsheet files as it's easier to move things around in there. This saved me alot of time allowing me to refactor things correctly. I am also gonna try to use this tool to generate the other two boxes with the same patterns and different universes

I am gonna put in feature requests for : "skip partial pixel" for RGB Matrix Create, "multi-select move" and "add fixture group" for Fixture Group editor

Very nice. Always love seeing what folks do with pixels.

Very cool!