LEDEdit 2021 Tutorial

New LED Edit software is out. So many new features and functions has been added. So, we decided to create a new LEDEdit 2021 software tutorial .Since it's first release back in 2012 a lot   LEDEdit has been changed.LEDEdit versions discontinued after 2014 release .But ,There where some 3rd party modified versions such as LEDEdit 2018.After 2014 , Started to release the LEDEdit -K software with new interface and focusing on K series pixel LED controllers.However, New LEDEdit 2021 version have features of both LEDEdit and LEDEdit-K software versions.Here is the tutorial of LEDEdit 2021.

If you don't have LEDEdit 2021 installed in your system yet. [ Here is how to install and LEDEdit 2021 download links ] .

Download LEDEdit 2021

Year 2021 is already here and new version of LedEdit software available for download .This LED Edit version has some improved features .LEDEdit is the most used pixel LED software. Because, It supports large variety of pixel LED controllers and  pixel LED drive chips . Also it's easy to use and has features that other pixel LED programming software doesn't have. Here are some of the added features in this LEDEdit version.

 

• Fixed software bugs .
• Automatic software Updater.
• More supported pixel LED controllers and drive chips .
• Improved custom effects creator .
• More export options.
• Improved MADRIX support.

K-1000C Pixel LED Controller Tutorial

K-1000C pixel LED controller is the successor of T-1000S pixel LED controller  . It can be called a upgraded version of T-1000S . K-1000C comes with a seven segment display .This controller is a single port pixel LED controller that supports over 30 pixel LED chip types . There are basically three types of signal protocols supported by this controller The NRZ , TTL and RX485 (DMX512) . There is a separate port for RX485 (DMX512) pixel LEDs . This controller comes with the detachable terminals (To make controller swapping easy). The SD card has 256MB of memory . User manual has basic instructions in both Chinese and English languages.

How To Select The Pixel LED Type In the Controller

Pixel LED strings or strips named after the pixel led drive chip names that is used in that strip or string . Some pixel led controllers require to select the pixel LED type manually . Since , There limited space in the display , Pixel LED Drive chips represented by two digit numbers .  Here are the chip codes and what are the corresponding pixel LED drive IC numbers . Usually , The first two digits in your pixel LED controller displays the selected drive chip code .

How to use DMX512 Pixel LEDs with T-8000 Controller

As we have discussed in [ How to use DMX512 pixel LEDs with pixel LED controllers ] article , many pixel LED controllers supports DMX512 protocol , But there are very few or no documentation on how to do that .In this article lets look in to how to use T-8000 pixel LED controllers with pixel LED strips or strings. [ Click Here to Know more About T-8000 pixel LED controller ]

How to use DMX512 pixel LEDs with pixel LED controllers

DMX512 Protocol

Digital Multiplex is a communication protocol used to remotely control lighting dimmers and intelligent devices. DMX is an  asynchronous serial digital data protocol .  It’s designed to provide a common communications standard between these lighting devices . So that deferent devises from different manufactures can work together.  

The number 512 after the DMX refers to the number of control channels used on one network segment of devices.  In a simple dimming system, one channel controls the intensity of one dimmer.  A single intelligent device may require several channels to control its various parameters .

The DMX 512 protocol is based on the Standard 485 or RS-485 (EIA/TIA-485 standard), which uses asynchronous, differential data transmission.  This standard supports 32 devices on one network at a distance of up to 4000 feet.  One device functions as the master (the DMX controller) on a network, while the rest function as slaves (dimmers, intelligent fixtures, etc.).  Only the master transmits over the network, and all slaves receive the same data.

Creating Pixel LED Using TM1812

TM1812 is a 12 output RGB LED drive IC , which means single TM1812 IC can drive 4 RGB LEDs.This IC consists of data latch , signal reshape and high voltage regulator circuits. It can be used for outdoor large-screen and color dot-matrix control applications.Since it can control 4 RGB LEDs  ,this IC is most suitable for designing pixel LED strips .

Creating Pixel LED Using TM1809

TM1809 is a 9 output RGB LED drive IC , which means single IC can drive 3 RGB LEDs.This IC consists of data latch , signal reshape and high voltage driver circuits. It can be used for outdoor large-screen and color dot-matrix control applications.Since it can control 3 RGB LEDs at the same time ,this IC is useful when you want less components and more LEDs in your system.

Creating a Pixel LED Using TM1803 / TM1804

TM1803 is a 3 output RGB LED drive IC which consist of  MCU digital interface, latch , signal reshape and high voltage driver circuits.Through networking ,it can achieve outdoor large-screen and color dot-matrix control . It can support up to 24v RGB LED drive circuits .TM1803 supports up to 256 level gray control.It has  a Built-in RC oscillator, signal clock synchronization. While accepting the completed data of this module, data can be auto-shaped and transmitted to next chip through data output pin.

Creating a Pixel LED using WS2821 IC

 

WS2821 is a 3 channel constant current output RGB LED drive IC,which adopts two wire communication. WS2821 have power supply voltage stabilizing circuit, time base circuit, a signal decoder block, data buffer and  built-in address storage circuit.WS2821 have three independent output driven channels, These each individual pin operate at constant current about 19mA, which also can be set using a resistor up to 60mA maximum current. 

Creating a Pixel LED using WS2811 IC

The WS2811 is a 3 channel output IC specially designed for pixel LEDs .It includes an intelligent digital data latch port and a signal reshaping and amplification circuit.It also have a precision internal oscillator and  a 12V voltage programmable constant current output drive circuitry.To reduce the power supply  noise , the 3 output channels designed with delay turn-on function.   

 

Building a Pixel LED Tutorial

Pixel LED is a LED that can Illuminate any color within the RGB color schemes at a given time.The basic RGB LED have a common pin and three other pins for red ,green and blue color anodes or cathodes. If you want to generate a color you need to apply voltages to each RGB pin depending on the RGB color ratio.If the LED is a common Anode the common pin needs to be connected to the (+) positive terminal of the power supply.If its a common cathode the common pin needs to be connected to the (-) or the ground of the power supply .eg- If you need the white color to be Illuminate , You have to apply same voltage level to each R,G and B pins, like wise if you need yellow color , give same voltage to the R and G pins and no voltage at B pin.The voltage level decides the brightness of the Illuminated color.But this method of driving pixel LEDs complicated when it comes to controlling multiple RGB LEDs. That's where the pixel led drive IC's comes to play. using these ICs You can drive given amount of pixel LEDs with only three or four wires.Another benefit of using these ICs is that you can decide the each color with numeric values ( 0- 255) . You can connect these pixel LEDs to the Pixel LED controllers and create animations or videos with the help of software like [ LEDEdit ].

Missing mount option from right click menu fix

Windows 8 and later versions of windows have the ability to mount disk image files such as .iso and .img without installing any 3rd party software. All you have to do is right click on the image file and select "mount" or double click on the file  .Which will mount the image file to a virtual disk drive .Without any 3rd party software you can open a disk image file or write disk image file to a CD or DVD . But , Due to certain reasons this option can disappear from right click menu. Let's check how to get back these options in this tutorial. 

Why mount option not in the right click menu

 

Download LEDEdit 2020

LEDEdit-K 2020 Version 5.4

LEDEdit-K ( Formally known as LEDEdit ) is a pixel led programming software .This software supports large verity of pixel led controllers . LEDEdit-K make Pixel led programming to another level allowing you to customize your layouts . Opening up doors to unlimited creativity. LEDEdit-K supports both offline and online controllers . Here is the version 5.4 that released on year 2020 .This is the fist version released in this year . In this version fixed some bugs in the previous version .

LEDEdit -K Custom Animation Tutorial

Are you tired of looking for an animations for your pixel LED project and looking for a 3rd party software to create an animation? . What if I tell you that you don't need any 3rd party software to create an animation . You can create a custom animation in LEDEdit-K software .Of cause ,This is not for advance animations but for simple effects this is the best way to create an animation since it's quick and easy .The most impotent thing is that it doesn't require advance knowledge in CGI .In this tutorial we will discuss how to create a custom animation in LEDEdit - K software.

LEDEdit-K Split Layout Tutorial

You can split the pixel led layout into different sections and record videos or animations in each section in LEDEdit-K version .This is one of the most useful features of LED Edit software .You don't have to redesign the animation or the video files to get the split effect from your layout .With this feature you can split the screen into different sections and play videos in each section at the same time. In other words simultaneous video playback of different areas of the layout .you can split the layout as much as possible .Best part is that the split screens that you create are not permanent which means you can change the split screens anytime you want .

If you are new to LEDEdit - K software . Please checkout the [LEDEdit-K Basics Tutorial]  .In this tutorial I'm not going in to the basics of LEDEdit - K such as creating new project , creating a layout , Recording/ Programming , Editing and exporting . Please refer to that article before proceeding .

LEDEdit-K Text Effects Tutorial

LEDEdit-K is one of the most popular software when it comes to Pixel LED programming.It has very useful features . The text effect feature is one of them.You can show customized text on your panels without using any 3rd party software  .In this article, I will show you how to use this feature for your pixel led projects .

Download LEDEdit 2019 V5.1

LED Edit software is one of the most popular software used when it comes to programming Pixel LED Displays due to it's ease of use and availability of functions . This software was first came to public on 2012 with the first commercial Pixel LED controller.There are few different versions available LEDEdit , LEDEdit-K  and LED Player .LEDEdit is solely designed to used with offline controllers such as T-1000S ,T-1000AC ,T-4000 etc(LEDEdit software is discontinued after 2018). LEDEdit-K and led player is designed for the online controllers such as T-200K ,T-300K ,T-400K etc.But LEDEdit-K supports both offline and online controllers..Generally they have same features except for few differences.Each software version supports different set of controllers . Here is the 2019 version 5.1 of the software this is the final version released for year 2019.