Addressable LED strips, where do I even start?

[Jakke]

Okay, I bought a 2m addressable LED strip just for fun, and found a DMX controller for these as well. Now, I have no idea where to even begin, its 288 LEDs, is this something I would use LEDTrix for, and setup for the fixture, will this use as many channels as there are LEDs times 3? Or can I cheat a bit so I don't use all my channels just on one LED strip.

If this works, I might these at work where I use FreeStyler (Bowling center), if not I'll just use my WiFi controller and phone app at home with this strip!

Thanks for any response, I'm a DMX noob and use it just to control the lights over the pins and one laser, this increases the difficulty for me by 288!

[Partyman]

The problem with freesyler, pixel strips, and DMX is that it only supports 1024 channels. Yes you can use them with freestyler (and use ledtrix)but you can only address individual pixels and you cannot access all the programs with DMX. Each of my strips are 300 leds and require rgb channels for every led (900 channels per 16 feet).My run needs 40 ft so there are not enough channels to support. I truly wish someone could show a way to integrate with freestyler AND be able to access all the macro programs of the programmer box

[Jakke]

Okay so its not me, its actually DMX that is the limiting factor? I had a fear that was true. Should have been a way to limit the range of each LED so you could fit more LEDs per channel somehow, but that has to be done on the controller side of things...

What other ways are there to control these then? None? :O

[SiGNe]

This maybe: https://www.syncrolight.co.uk/software.aspx ?
There are more programs like that and you can use an adruino too.

[Jakke]

My biggest issue in a way is that my pindeck lighting is normal RGBWW LED Strips over DMX and FreeStyler, which I use Sound 2 Light to control different effects, like rainbow and such. Anyways, the best would be to have something that can actually triggers by beat, like FreeStyler with Sound 2 Light. Fiddling with the settings in Sound 2 Light, I can easily get it to consistently trigger on house, hardstyle and other electronic genres. It is too handy to let go of!

[Rod_Horning]

Freestyler can control 2 universes of 512 channels each. With the introduction of strips such as yours I hope the developer does and Xn version.

Others will need to address Sound to Light.

If the address range of a strip can not be changed then a single universe will control all your strips. The corresponding LED in each strip will have the same color. I did this for Ariel's Grotto in The Little Mermaid - nice effect.

If the address range of a strip can be changed then Freestyler can control 2 strips independently (the -X2 versions of Freestyler). You would need multiple instances of Freestyler running to control more - not a great solution but ...

Remember, what ever software you choose, each Universe requires its own DMX controller.

Hope this helps.

[Jakke]

For me it wouldn't be a problem, but this needs to be as close to automated as possible, in the terms that I have employees that aren't too good with a computer. I can't take it too far, we have enough to teach in a bowling center from the get-go!