Lor controllers in xlights?

[Maklights1]

I am 14 years old and I would like to make the switch from LOR s6 to Xlights this year, I have a CBT 16 controller and a Pixie 8 which i would like to use in a show. What is the first step in linking these to my computer and into xlights? How do i add ac models?

 

[merryoncherry]

The first step is to get xLights.

The second step is to open xLights to the controller tab, then you press "Add USB". Pick LOR as the vendor, then choose the model (CTB16PC or Pixie8). Set the other things too.
Then try it out, sometimes it takes some adjusting, if you can't figure out then we'll have to try a few different settings. I recall you don't want to set the speed too low, or too high, etc.,. It can be touchy, someone might have to look at screen shots or help you try it. I succeeded with this in 2021, but would have to dust off the CTB16PCs I have here to get the exact details, or maybe other people who are still using theirs will chime in.

As far as AC models, first decide what kind of a model you want, and add it on the Layout tab. If you have blow ups, blow molds, that sort of thing, you can take a photo of it and create an "image" model for it, but if it is something else use a different model. Depending, you can set "Single Color Intensity" as the String Type. Set it up on the controller; start with the "Controller" field, then in the "Controller Connection" area set the port and the protocol . Try it out, trial and error is a big part of how this usually works.

 

[Maklights1]

Thank you soooo much! I will try tinkering around tomorrow!

 

[Maklights1]

After doing some experimenting I was able to get the controller into Xlights but when I went into layout and tried testing with a single strand the drop box does not list my cbt16 controller and the visualizer in the controllers tab does not list my test strand. (see attached files for pictures)

 

[merryoncherry]

Can I see the screen shot of the controller tab?
I'm expecting something like this...

 

[Maklights1]

Something like this?
The alphapix is not related.

 

[merryoncherry]

Yes. I would give it a bigger ID number to keep them from colliding later, but that won't have any impact at this point.

 

[Maklights1]

Ok I will increase the unit ID, what next? My issue is that if I make a model the controller does not pop up in the drop box under select controller.

 

[merryoncherry]

I seem to be misremembering, sorry, but it's gradually coming back to me. (I switched from a separate LOR network to DMX after 2021, the LOR boxes can go on the DMX ports of a lot of other controllers, and that simplifies things a bit.)

Because one LOR "controller" is actually one "LOR Network" with multiple "controllers" on it, you should probably clear out the "CTB16PC" from the controller. Then use "Use Start Channel" for the controller in the layout. Then hit the 3 dots to pick the start channel.

You would pick the controller/network there, then you need the channel number. Which will be the (unit ID minus 1) times 16 + the plug number...
So the first plug on unit 1 is 1, the second plug is 2, ... the 16th plug is 16, then on unit 2, 17-32, on unit 3 33-48, and so on.

 

[merryoncherry]

Also where it says "Channels 16" on the controller tab just set it to 256, that way it covers all the unit IDs you might have.