Controllers

Creating and configuring a Controller

To establish communication with real-world fixtures and send them lighting information, we need to establish a connection with the physical ProtoPixel Controller and specify how the fixtures are connected to the device.

To add a controller, navigate to the Controllers Panel tab and click on the add icon. A new controller will be created with a default number of outlets. You can modify the number of outlets in the Inspector.

There are two remaining actions:

• Adding fixtures to the outlets.
• Connecting the controller to a device.

 

Adding fixtures to Outlets

ProtoPixel Controllers do not have any information about how fixtures are connected to them. Therefore, we need to describe this information in the software. This allows the software to send the color information to the Controller in the correct order.

To begin, we need to add the Fixture to the appropriate Outlet. To do this, first, select the Fixture. This will display its properties in the Inspector. Then, use the list to change the assigned controller and outlet.

If multiple fixtures are added to the same outlet, it is necessary to define the correct order in which they are connected to match the physical setup. To do this, select the Outlet in the Controller Panel and use the inspector to drag and rearrange the fixtures.

As you select the outlet, a preview of its wiring will appear on the workspace. The starting point of the outlet is represented by a vertical line.

Connecting a Controller to a Device

Now that we have added Fixtures to Outlets, we need to connect your Controller to an actual Device. ProtoPixel Controllers are automatically detected when they are connected to the same network as your computer.

To pair a controller with one of the detected devices, select the Controller (this will display its properties) and choose the device from the list. This will also display the Device's properties in the Inspector.

Deleting a Controller

Select the Controller you want to delete and press the "Delete" button on your keyboard.

Notes

☝️ If the Controller cannot connect to the device, its name will appear in red in the Controller Panel until it reconnects again. You might be interested in the DUO Controller documentation. ☝️

☝️ Some Controllers may be inaccessible depending on their connection. While Create may be able to detect them, it may not be able to establish a connection or send data to them. In such cases, a warning with relevant information will be displayed next to their current IP property. This typically occurs when the device is on a different subnetwork. Make sure that all controllers are on the same subnetwork as the computer running Create, and that the network mask allows for connectivity. ☝️

☝️ You can modify certain parameters of the device in the inspector, depending on its capabilities. Refer to the table in the "Configuring the controller" section for more details. ☝️

☝️ Depending on the type of LEDs being used, you may need to adjust their RGB order to accurately represent colors in the real world. To do this, select all affected fixtures and modify their "PPx RGB ordering" property. ☝️