Add Singing Faces, and LOR purchased sequence. Question

[scubanimal]

Hello All,

    Life threw some curves so have not done a show for several years.   I am upgrading and need to relearn.    One area is the singing faces.  I disposed of my old faces and have new pixel based ones (still need to assemble).    I have purchased a few RGBPlus LOR sequences and am currently planning my 2024 show (yeah a bit late... I know).     Looking at the string summary in the preview the LOR version of the preview has each element of a singing face as a dumb RGB thus only needing 3 channels, with a single unit ID per face.  Yet the description states there are 190-200 pixels.  That math doesn't work for me. 

 Is there some trick to treating a string of smart pixels as a string of dumb pixels?       

Please could someone explain?     If I change the layout to smart RGB then I can't match the recommended network layout.   I expect to grow to a very large show eventually and would like to simplify what I can.  

 

Thank you very much for any help,

      Ian 

Edited September 5 by scubanimal

[Jimehc]

Just copy the Face Motion Effect Rows into Dumb, Smart or AC Face Rows....

The LOR Faces use Smart Pixels - but they are configured as Dumb Pixels in the Hardware (Controller)

[scubanimal]

Thank you very much. I did not know I could configure as dumb pixels.  Interesting.  
Thank you! 

[scubanimal]

Is there a write up or another source of information that explains using smart pixels but configuring them as dumb pixels?   I get that it means that 'strand' is all the same color.  But sounds like a great way to save on channels.  For instance, on snowflakes and other props that are typically a single color.  

 

 

[Orville]

On 9/5/2024 at 4:30 PM, scubanimal said:

Is there a write up or another source of information that explains using smart pixels but configuring them as dumb pixels?   I get that it means that 'strand' is all the same color.  But sounds like a great way to save on channels.  For instance, on snowflakes and other props that are typically a single color.  

 

 

My 3 snowflakes are sometimes a single color, but they are also used and sometimes have multiple colors when doing some effects.  So all my props are kept as smart.

The only dumb "smart" pixels are the LOR V1 singing trees I have, and only because there is a defined definition set up for them.

I've never even tried to set up props I made by adding RGB Smart pixels to them as dumb pixels.  Mainly because, like with my snowflakes, I'll do chase effects and I like to do that as a multicolor bulb effect.

Just my preference, otherwise I'd have just bought dumb pixels and a dumb pixel controller for props that would never be used with smart pixels and multicolor effects, but only be a single color along the string.  Just seems to be a waste of having a smart pixels string if you're not using it to its full potential.

Again, just my personal preferences, others may differ.

Would have answered your question about smart to dumb if I'd have set up a smart string as a dumb one, but, like said, I only have pre-configured LOR singing trees set up like that via a prop definition file built into the HU for them to be setup that way.  If anyone knows how to do this and explain it here, I'd think jrdibble would be the one to ask.

He's helped me a lot when I first started using Pixels just a few years back. Now almost my entire display is smart pixels with the exception of my blow molds, but I'm working on those to figure out how I can convert them to smart pixels.

[scubanimal]

Hi Orville,

  thank you for the comment, and I felt as you described for my prior years.  But now I’m running up against the limits  of  networks, @ 3000 pixels / per network.  I am seeing latency in some of my props that at are at the far end of a network.  My new home has a very large front yard ( >2 acres)  so props are big.  Now I’m trying to conserve channels where I can.  Thank you though for taking the time to comment

   Ian

[Orville]

2 hours ago, scubanimal said:

Hi Orville,

  thank you for the comment, and I felt as you described for my prior years.  But now I’m running up against the limits  of  networks, @ 3000 pixels / per network.  I am seeing latency in some of my props that at are at the far end of a network.  My new home has a very large front yard ( >2 acres)  so props are big.  Now I’m trying to conserve channels where I can.  Thank you though for taking the time to comment

   Ian

I don't know if you are using anything like an F Amp before your pixel strings, but I had similar issues, although my display is nowhere as large as yours, wish I had that kind of yard space.

But after adding in F Amps before the pixel strings that were requiring extenders or further out, this helped a lot of my latency issues with props not working as they should.  Some of my props required up to 4 F Amps/Null Pixels due to having to use extra extender cables.  If I have a long run, I use the F Amps at 15-25 foot distance between each F Amp.

Just something to consider, if you haven't tried them.

I got mine from Holiday Coro, started using them last year when I started having issues with props not lighting properly, lagging behind and sometimes effects not working correctly or data getting corrupted in some way causing strange and weird lighting effects that weren't even programmed in a sequence.

I know channel counts can get quite high, and I've lost count of mine, just know I have a lot of RGB channels to deal with, but nowhere near yours I'm sure.

[scubanimal]

_{Thank you very much  Orville,   I had not heard of F Amps before, and will look into that!} 

Ian 

 

[stevehoyt]

@Orville

I also never heard of these and have a few situations where they might help. 

Are they compatible with LOR pixels? i.e. can I just plug them into my LOR pixel strings, or are the plug pin configs not the same

Thanks

[TheDucks]

1 hour ago, stevehoyt said:

@Orville

I also never heard of these and have a few situations where they might help. 

Are they compatible with LOR pixels? i.e. can I just plug them into my LOR pixel strings, or are the plug pin configs not the same

Thanks

NO,

They need to have connectors that are compatible with what you are using. (or you need to splice them into the cable. I believe the Falcon ones must be spliced 👍)

HC is also compatible with x-connect. 

[stevehoyt]

a bit of a kludge but if I bought 2 of the LOR dangle to XConnect connectors and put it on either end of the F-amp would I be ok? Not very good at splicing here

@Orville @TheDucks

[k6ccc]

The F-amps are available with either Ray Wu or xConnect standard pigtails, or with just unterminated wire pigtails.

 

[TheDucks]

Wired Watts has xchangers. Thes are connector brand adapters 

[Orville]

On 9/12/2024 at 10:25 AM, stevehoyt said:

@Orville

I also never heard of these and have a few situations where they might help. 

Are they compatible with LOR pixels? i.e. can I just plug them into my LOR pixel strings, or are the plug pin configs not the same

Thanks

Yes, they certainly will work with LOR Pixels,but you need an XCONNECT/HC EZ3 CONNECT ADAPTER.

I use them on my LOR singing trees, and LOR 12V RGB pixel strings, but I use the HC to LOR Pixel adapter. My pixies all have XCONNECT connectors so in my case it's

Controller

XConnect-->XConnect 20' Extender Cable-->F AMP -->Xconnect2LOR Adapter-->LOR Pixel string.

You may need 2 adapters as the HC F-Amps have XConnect/HC EZ3 Connectors, so if you have a LOR Controller with LOR Dangles you'll need 2 adapters, for example if I use a Pixie 2 Controller it's 

Pixie2:

LOR Dangle-->LOR2XConnect adapter-->F AMP-->XConnect2LOR Adapter-->LOR Pixel string

So, yes, these F AMPS can be used with LOR Controllers and LOR Dangles as long as you get the correct adapter(s) to use with them.

I am using these with all my 12V RGB controllers.  I'm not sure if HC makes F AMPS/NULL PIXELS for 5V pixels that use 4 wires.

I have one old CCB100D 5V controller in my display that is used for some small candy canes I converted to single C9 5V RGB, and that's on its own network by itself, so no need for them.

But I do have them on every output on my 2 Pixie 4's, my Pixie 8 and my Pixie 16.  And, also on my 3 Pixie 2's if I use them.

 

Edit: Forgot to mention HC does sell the adapter cables you'd need.  The adapter cables are about a foot long(possibly shorter).  If using LOR Connectors you'll need a LOR to XConnect(HC EZPLUG3) Adapter and an XConnect(HC EZPLUG3) to LOR Adapter.  These adapters ARE NOT reversible, they are wired for a specific mating so they function as intended between the different products.

Edited Saturday at 06:18 PM by Orville

[Box on Rails]

On 9/5/2024 at 10:34 AM, scubanimal said:

Hello All,

    Life threw some curves so have not done a show for several years.   I am upgrading and need to relearn.    One area is the singing faces.  I disposed of my old faces and have new pixel based ones (still need to assemble).    I have purchased a few RGBPlus LOR sequences and am currently planning my 2024 show (yeah a bit late... I know).     Looking at the string summary in the preview the LOR version of the preview has each element of a singing face as a dumb RGB thus only needing 3 channels, with a single unit ID per face.  Yet the description states there are 190-200 pixels.  That math doesn't work for me. 

 Is there some trick to treating a string of smart pixels as a string of dumb pixels?       

Please could someone explain?     If I change the layout to smart RGB then I can't match the recommended network layout.   I expect to grow to a very large show eventually and would like to simplify what I can.  

 

Thank you very much for any help,

      Ian 

Are you using the LOR singing trees? If so then to answer your question. LOR has a setting in the Pixie controllers that are set up specifically for each of their 4 singing tree and Pumpkins. This simulates Dumb RGB on specific groups of pixels in a string of smart pixels. for example pixels 1 to 20 are set up as one dumb string for the Upper Mouth. pixels 21 to 49 are set up as dumb pixels for the lower mouth and so on within the 200 pixels to create all the Dumb Channels. These Dumb RGB simulation channels are set up within the Pixie controller Hardware. If you are using LOR singing Props you have to use the Hardware Utility (S6.3.0 or higher uses the Control panel) to configure the controller for the named tree or Pumpkin prop you are using. They use the 190 to 200 pixels but some pixels on the prop are skipped because of the reach distance between pixels.

If your singing faces are not LOR then hopefully there is a premade prop preview that has the Motion Effects row set up for the singing prop. I believe Gilbert Engineering and Boscoyo are among the companies that have pre-made prop previews to download right in the preview editor.  Motion Effects rows will allow you to select pixel groups in a smart pixel string. Those selected pixels can be a sold color like dumb pixels or use Motion effects also. So in the preview editor. click on green PLUS sign on the top left. Then select the prop manufacturer that you are using and find your prop. Then click add prop. By right clicking on the Highlighted prop in your preview you can select WIRING VIEW to see the wiring diagram of the prop. You can use this to put your pixels in the correct order in the physical prop to match the preview if the prop has no wiring diagram on the back. If you can't find a preview for your prop available then there is a little bit of work to do in the preview editor to create the prop. To much to explain in writing here. I'll just figure something in my post will help a little. 

 

[scubanimal]

@Box on Rails thank you. Yes I’m using the LOR faces.  

[Box on Rails]

9 hours ago, scubanimal said:

@Box on Rails thank you. Yes I’m using the LOR faces.  

If you want to use the LOR tree prop set up as all smart pixels you can but, you will have to create a custom Prop as described above.  To help understand how to do this just create a separate preview and Download one of Gilbert Engineering singing Tree and look at how it was created in the Custom Prop selection. This will give you an Idea on how the pixels are numbered in the spread sheet and how the Custom Motion Effects rows are set up. Maybe down the road LOR will have a downloadable prop preview that utilizes the smart capability as a option to the default Dumb set up.