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 synthesizes a pixel-based fixture from the pixel count, color variant, and layout you set, which 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 archetypes cover the common pixel layouts.
The Generic LED Bar is a linear strip of individually addressable pixels. Set the pixel count and color variant when adding. 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 or the colors will 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 offers the remaining permutations of the same channels (every rearrangement of R, G, B, and an optional W), so if your strip uses an unusual order you can still match it exactly.
Patch a generic LED fixture
Open the Add fixture picker from the Fixtures panel. Click Add fixture, then Select fixture…, and 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, then click Continue to addressing. On the addressing step, confirm the pixel count and color variant, and for a matrix set its width, height, and strip order.
Address and patch
Set the DMX universe and address on the left of the form, or click a cell in the Address space grid on the right to set the start, hovering to preview. Both universe and address are 1-based. Click Patch N fixtures. For the addressing options in full, including auto-placement, see Patch a fixture.
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. Universe values are 1-based here, matching the rest of the patch, so the first universe is 1.
When a generic fixture fits
Reach for 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 patch cleanly as generics.
Use a specific profile instead when the fixture has movement, gobos, or many features, or when you need the measured color data that renders accurately onto its emitters. Moving heads and other intelligent fixtures belong in that group. If you need a channel layout 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. Confirm the order your strip expects, re-patch with the matching variant, and check that the DMX address and mode are right.
If some channels do not respond, verify the fixture's real channel count against your pixel count and variant, and confirm 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, and consider a variant with a white channel, such as RGBW, if your fixture has one.
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