Pixel LED Address Planner

TOOLS

Pixel LED Address Planner

Plan your pixels, outputs and DMX addresses.

THE BASICS

How pixel LED address planning works

Addressable pixel LEDs (WS2811 / WS2812 / TM1814 style) each carry their own colour data. This planner maps those pixels to universes, outputs and DMX channel addresses. A few concepts make it clear.

PIXEL

What is a pixel

A pixel is the smallest group of LEDs you can control independently. A strip may pack several LEDs into one pixel. Enter independently addressable pixels, not the advertised LED count.

CHANNELS

Channels per pixel

An RGB pixel needs 3 channel slots (8-bit), an RGBW pixel needs 4. At 16-bit control those double to 6 and 8. Total channels = control points × channels per pixel.

UNIVERSE

What is a universe

A universe is a block of channel slots (512 or 510). Once a universe is full the next data goes to the next universe. Each output uses one or more universes depending on its pixel count.

OUTPUT

One run = one output

Each independently wired LED run takes one data output on your controller. Identical runs (same length and type) can be repeated with a quantity without copying them one by one.

GROUPING

What grouping does

Grouping makes several pixels share one colour value, reducing control points and input channels. Physical pixel load, power and wiring stay the same. A shorter group remains at the run end when the length is not divisible.

SIGNAL

Network to pixels

Your controller converts sACN, Art-Net or DMX512 network data into the SPI signal your pixels need. Match the protocol, universe and start address in both your software and controller.

HOW TO USE

Plan your pixels in three steps

Enter your runs

Add each LED run, its pixel count, pixel type (RGB or RGBW), the run quantity and any grouping. Grouping is optional; the planner also works with grouping set to 1.

Set control and addressing

Choose the signal path (sACN / Art-Net / DMX512), start universe and channel, input resolution and universe size. Pick boundary and output-start rules to match your controller.

View and apply the plan

Open the address plan, copy the output table into your control software, then set the same start addresses on the controller. Use the CSV or offline copy to keep with your project.

Your setup

One run per output. Use Qty for identical runs.

Control & addressing

Signal path

Your controller converts network data into the signal your pixels need.

Start universe

Start channel

Input resolution

Use the control input format, not the LED chip’s internal PWM resolution.

Channel slots per universe

At a universe boundary

Starting each output

Match these rules at both ends. Continuing addresses and split pixels require controller support.

Controller capacity (optional)

Enter the limits for your exact model and mode. Blank means not checked.

Output ports

Pixels per port

Total pixels

Input universes

Good to know

Pixel LED addressing, explained

Quick answers to the questions we hear most often from installers and integrators.

What is a pixel, and how is it different from an LED?+

A pixel is the smallest group of LEDs you can control independently. A strip may have several LED packages in one pixel. Enter independently addressable pixels, not the advertised LED count. For example, 60 LEDs per metre with 3 LEDs controlled together gives 20 pixels per metre. Only use this conversion when your product specification confirms the grouping.

Why does RGB sometimes use 510 channels and RGBW use 512?+

With 8-bit control, an RGB pixel needs 3 channel slots and an RGBW pixel needs 4. A 512-slot universe fits 170 complete RGB pixels, leaving 2 slots, or 128 RGBW pixels with no slots left. Some controllers use a 510-slot RGB mapping. Others use 512 slots and may split colour channels at the boundary. Set the same mapping rules in your sending software and controller.

Does one universe mean one physical output?+

No. A compatible SPI pixel controller can combine several network universes into one pixel output. A conventional DMX512 output carries one universe. The DMX512 signal path in this planner checks that each run fits within one physical DMX output; it does not continue an oversized run on another universe. Each run here represents a separate data output.

What changes when I group pixels?+

Each group shares a colour value, reducing independently controlled points and input channels. The number of physical pixels stays the same. Grouping starts again for each run. This planner retains a shorter group at the end when the run is not divisible by the group size. Your controller must support that behaviour. Check the map for the final group size.

Can I use this plan directly in my control software?+

The address table is a configuration reference. Copy its universe, start address, pixel count and mapping rules into your software and controller. The CSV is a general project table, not a universal controller import format. Art-Net display numbering can differ between applications; match actual protocol addresses.

How do I keep or share a project?+

Share plan copies a link containing your current inputs. Save results offers a CSV, a printable plan and an offline copy of this calculator. Calculations run in your browser. Anyone with a shared link can read the settings it contains, so keep private customer information out of run names.