The advent of the blue LED in 1993 unlocked the potential for LED technology to be used in the entertainment lighting industry for a variety of applications, one of the most important of which is the RGB LED luminaire. Creative designers quickly discovered that these luminaires could be assembled in a matrix configuration and used for low-resolution graphics. But in the beginning, there were few options for the programmer to ease the tedious task of assigning color and timing to a matrix of RGB LEDs. Today, there are many more software and hardware solutions to make it quick and easy to convert a video file to a beautiful graphic LED display. Madrix is one such software solution from Germany-based Inoage Trade GbR. The system is easy to use and the Windows-based graphical user interface (GUI) allows you to generate a multitude of simple yet creative effects for your LED application in no time at all.
The PC-based Madrix system runs in Windows XP and Windows Vista with minimum system requirements of a 2GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, one free USB port for the USB dongle, a video card capable of at least DirectX 9.0c with a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768 and 24-bit color representation and sound card. The recommended PC specs for large installations are: a dual or quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM; a 32-bit video card; USB; and 16-bit sound card.
The basic version outputs 16 universes of either DMX512 or ArtNet II, and a DMX512 input, MIDI in, and ArtNet input allow remote operation of the software. The professional version has 64 DMX512 outputs as well as a DVI output. The ultimate version has 255 DMX512 outputs as well as a DVI output. It has all the features of the basic version plus it can allow MIDI Timecode to trigger the cuelist. All versions have two effects “pipelines,” an unlimited number of graphics layers and a fixture editor.
With the graphical interface, you can generate a variety of real time “Sound2Light” and “Music2Light” effects for LEDs that can be synchronized to an incoming audio signal. Madrix will accept many audio sources via its external sound card inputs as well as internally played audio signals via software such as iTunes or Real Player.
The front panel of Madrix is a simple A/B switcher. On the left is Storage Bank A with 60 presets and on the right is Storage Bank B with 60 presets. You start by selecting a Storage Bank button, and then you can create effects by manipulating parameters in the effects editing section of the GUI. Layers of additional effects can be applied to the base effect, and the resulting combination can be easily recorded onto any of the 60 storage buttons in the corresponding Storage Bank. Once a preset is stored into one of the presets on either Storage Bank, it can be recalled quickly by clicking on its button. This loads it into the preview window and cues it for playback.
Advanced effects can be built with user-created scripts than can be added and edited through the GUI. Each effect layer is independent of other layers and each can be mapped to the pixel matrix so that they overlap or are separate (like a picture-in-picture effect). Layers can also be linked for global parameter controls as well, making it easy to adjust simple parameters like rate and scale on the fly.
In the center console display is the main output window and directly beneath it is an A/B crossfader. Clicking on the Fade button in this section crossfades into the A or B effect in the cue.
The stored effects can also be triggered via audio sources such as Winamp, Windows Media Player, iTunes, Quicktime, Real Player, Ultramixer, etc., as well as via the audio input of the sound card. External audio devices such as a CD player, DVD player, or an MP3 player can be connected via the line level input of the sound card. While an effect is playing, it can also be manipulated live via MIDI, DMX512, ArtNet, or HTTP. In MIDI mode, it’s compatible with devices such as Numark Total Control, Behinger B Control Deejay, Avid M-Audio and Hercules DJ Control. The cue list can be triggered manually, or via MIDI, DMX512 or audio.
Madrix works with or without an audio signal and includes static color effects in the absence of audio. However, only a third of the effects are usable without an audio signal. None of the M2L or S2L effects work without audio.
For an easy to use pixel mapping LED control interface, Madrix offers many powerful features. For instance, you can import static images in familiar formats including BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG and TIF. You can also input live video, depending on your video card and layer effects over a live image.
In terms of playback, Madrix is extremely easy to setup and use. The GUI is straightforward and the A/B crossfade and cueing section effects include fade to black, fade to white and cross through color. The playback triggering capabilities are extremely powerful and flexible.
Besides having a built-in set of DMX512 fixture personalities that includes generic RGB LEDs and primarily European LED products from Chauvet, CLS, GLP and Traxon, Madrix also includes a custom Fixture Builder that will allow you to create a new fixture personality. A customizable high resolution pixel matrix is allows you to create virtual internal matrices of up to 1000×1000 pixels, depending on the capability of the video card and the power of the PC.
You can import still images but not any type of video clip or movie. Another drawback is that the user manual was translated from German and some of it is a bit awkward.
Madrix is at its best as a pixel mapping visualizer for LEDs. It is easy to use and allows the visualist to record up to 120 presets from a combination of images and effects, crossfade between the presets via an easy to understand A/B crossfade panel and import custom static images for playback and effects layering. Multiple built-in effects can be layered and stored on storage buttons, and then while they are being played back they can be recorded into a cuelist. The cuelist can then be synched to an audio signal for stand-alone triggering or played back manually.
For making maximum use of LEDs for dynamic graphics displays, pixel mapping software is an indispensable tool. Madrix is a good software package for lots of creative visual effects.
Madrix is available in the US through Denver-based Creative Consultants. For more information, visit www.madrix.com.
What it is: Pixel mapping software, effects generator and playback controller for LED matrices.
Who it’s for: The visualist working in live music performance, nightclubs, or permanent architecture installations.
Pros: Easy to use, many playback options, various import formats, built-in fixture library, custom fixture builder allows creation of new fixture personalities.
Cons: Many effects unusable without audio, user manual could be improved.
Retail Price: Basic version — $1,499; Pro version — $2,999; Ultimate version — $5,999.
