'Matrix Color Send' functionality answer?

[bonemap]

Hi,

I love all the things that Isadora can do! It’s incredible!

I have a project coming up that could use LED strips and large plate diffusion panels. I remembered the functionality of Isadora’s Matrix Color Send when it offered the possibility of mapping video to LED strip lights. Digging a bit deeper it appears I am not the only one missing the features previously available.

Can we return the functionality of working with the 'Matrix Color Send' module in 2024?

The following forum posts are also asking questions about the loss of functionality for the 'Matrix Color Send' in Isadora 3. In particular, it is no longer compatible with mapping video to LED strips. Is there a workaround for this that anyone is aware of? The Isadora tutorial for working with LED strips is really great until, when following it, you get to the matrix colour send examples.

https://community.troikatronix...
https://community.troikatronix...
https://community.troikatronix...

Best Wishess

Russell

[mark]

@bonemap

I just whipped up a quick test file that takes a video of a moving shape in the Shapes actor and connected it to the Matrix Color Send. If you look at the Matrix Value receive actor in the same scene, you'll see the output values changing as the shape moves left and right. So, on this quick inspection, the Matrix Color Send is performing as advertised.

You say "In particular, it is no longer compatible with mapping video to LED strips." but given the attached patch, I can't see how that is true.

How is the tutorial inaccurate?

If you can point me to a specific problem Russel, we can investigate.

Best Wishes,
Mark

matrix-color-send-example.izz

[bonemap]

@mark

Hi Mark,

Thanks so much for looking into this. When I open your file I can see that there are indeed hex values produced - this is great and provides something to work with.

In terms of the tutorial, there appears to be a different version of the Matrix Color Send with multiple reference to “chan/port” and “base port” inputs that are not available in the current release version. There is also a “flip mode” input in the Matrix Color Send indicated in the tutorial screen grab. 

As the tutorial follows a methodology around the “chan/port” input that is no longer part of the module it becomes unclear how to proceed and makes it challenging to arrive at a successful pixel mapping.

Thanks again for your example, I will see if it is possible to extend it.

Best wishes

Russell

[DusX]

@bonemap

I confirm that I see a number of IO available in early versions of the Matrix Color Send actor, are not available in the current Actor.
I have documented the issue, along with some other observations.

I searched our changes database, and don't see any notes regarding the changes made, so it's unclear to me if these were made on purpose.

@mark Issue IS-1840

[bonemap]

@mark, @dusx

I tried a few attempts at a workaround with the current Matrix Color Send to assign consecutive rows from a video stream to LED strip segments. I imagine using a single module is going to be best, but I got as far as using a series of Matrix Color Send modules in the Scene Editor. Then joining the outputs with a Text Formatter before the Artnet Send. The ability to flip and zigzag alternate rows is one of the features missed from the previous Matrix Color Send.

I found that the Matrix Color Send had the behaviour of not being configurable when positioned as a vertical series in the Scene Editor. For example, more than two Matrix Color Send actors placed one under the other became affected by the module above with the pixel indicators moving inside the pixel matrix viewer part of the UI when bringing the module close to and underneath the one above. This appeared to happen with three or more of the modules in the Scene Editor. I don’t know if it expected behaviour- seems odd to me.

Best wishes

Russell