Use a Generic LED Fixture
Patch pixel-based LED hardware when no specific profile exists for it.
When no profile exists for your hardware, patch it as a generic LED fixture. Spectralite builds a pixel-based fixture from the pixel count, color variant, and layout that you set. This covers most addressable LED strips, rings, and panels. For fixtures with movement, gobos, or measured color, use a specific profile instead: add one from the library or import it.
Available generic types
Three types cover the common pixel layouts.
The Generic LED Bar is a linear strip of individually addressable pixels. When you add it, set the pixel count and color variant. Use it for LED strips, LED tape, and linear wash fixtures.
The Generic LED Circle is a ring of individually addressable pixels. It takes the same pixel count and color variant. Use it for LED rings and circular fixtures.
The Generic LED Matrix is a 2D grid of pixels. Beyond pixel count and color variant, set the grid width, height, and strip order so the pixel numbering follows how your panel is wired. Use it for LED panels and pixel grids.
Color variants
The color variant sets two things: how many DMX channels each pixel uses, and the order those channels sit in. A variant whose name ends in W, such as RGBW, puts a dedicated white channel after the color channels. A variant that starts with W, such as WRGB, puts white first. Match the variant to your hardware's channel order. Otherwise the colors come out wrong.
| Variant | Channels per pixel |
|---|---|
| RGB | 3 |
| GRB | 3 |
| BRG | 3 |
| RBG | 3 |
| RGBW | 4 |
| WRGB | 4 |
| RGBA | 4 |
| RGBWA | 5 |
These are the common orders. The picker also has every other order of R, G, and B, and every order of R, G, B, and W. RGBA and RGBWA come only in the order shown. If your strip uses an unusual order, you can still match it exactly.
Patch a generic LED fixture
- In the Fixtures panel, click Add fixture.
- Click Select fixture… to open the Add fixture picker.
- Search for "Generic".
- Pick the type that matches your hardware: Generic LED Bar, Generic LED Circle, or Generic LED Matrix.
Configure pixels and color
- Choose the DMX mode that carries the pixel count and color variant for your fixture.
- Click Continue to addressing.
- On the addressing step, confirm the pixel count and color variant.
- For a matrix, set its width, height, and strip order.
To have the Preview draw light leaving every pixel, as from an LED bar washing a wall, set a beam in the same form.
Address and patch
Universe and address are both 1-based.
- Set the DMX universe and address on the left of the form. To use the grid instead, click a cell in the Address space grid on the right to set the start. Hover over a cell to preview the placement.
- Click Patch N fixtures.
Patch a fixture has the full addressing options, including auto-placement.
Add several at once
The universe and address fields accept comma-separated values, so one add creates several fixtures at different locations. Enter addresses such as 1,100,200 and universes such as 1,2,3. Each pairing becomes a separate fixture. Universes are 1-based here too, so the first universe is 1.
When a generic fixture fits
Use a generic LED type when the hardware is a plain run of addressable pixels and you do not need feature-accurate control. Unprofiled RGB pars, LED tape, DIY builds, and quick tests all work as generics.
When the fixture has movement, gobos, or many features, use a specific profile instead. Also use one when you need the fixture's measured color data for accurate color on its emitters. Moving heads and other intelligent fixtures belong in that group. If you need a channel layout that no generic type offers, start from the closest generic and create a custom fixture definition.
Troubleshooting
If colors are wrong, the color variant most likely does not match your hardware's channel order. Find the channel order that your strip expects and re-patch with the matching variant. Then check that the DMX address and mode are right.
If some channels do not respond, compare the fixture's real channel count with your pixel count and variant. Also make sure that every channel falls inside a patched range. The Address Space panel shows exactly which channels the fixture claims.
If output looks dim or oversaturated, check whether your hardware expects a separate dimmer channel. If your fixture has a white channel, consider a variant with white, such as RGBW.
Related
- Add a fixture: bring any fixture into your project.
- Patch a fixture: set universes and addresses in full.
- Create a custom fixture: author a layout no generic offers.
- Fixtures and patching: what a patched fixture is.