DVI Patch

This chapter is an addition to the chapter Patch. Please read the chapter Patch in order to learn more about the Patch in general. This chapter DVI Patch focuses on working with DVI fixtures.

Patch and DVI Patch are one and the same tool in MADRIX. The chapter DVI Patch specifically refers to using DVI fixtures.

To open the Patch, go to the menu and click "Preferences" -> "Patch" or simply press the key "F3".

Working with DMX-based fixtures is relatively easy and can be managed with the help of the MADRIX Patch without much difficulty. You can simply add rotated fixtures or add space between fixtures, for example. Without the MADRIX DVI Patch it would not be possible to add rotation or spacing to DVI-based fixtures, because of how DVI hardware controllers work.

DVI controllers receive a signal (input) and map it to the LED fixtures (output). But due to their construction, DVI controllers need to receive the input images in a linear way, in one whole block of information (often like a rectangle) — no matter how the actual LED installation looks like.
You could also say that DVI controllers expect DVI fixtures to be installed in a predefined way. If you install them differently, you need to change the input, too.

Then your DVI controller will probably need the input signal to look comparable to this:

MADRIX will transform the signal for your DVI controller according to your Patch configuration.

While the DVI fixtures represent your LED installation in MADRIX and its Preview Windows, so-called DVI Maps represent how the controller should receive the signal. As shown above, DVI fixture and DVI map often are two different things if you add rotation, flipping, or spacing. That is why in MADRIX you will have to configure both DVI fixture and DVI map separately. The DVI Patch provides a normal view and a view called "DVI Map Mode", which makes it possible to configure both.

Step 1) Position your DVI fixtures in the workspace of the Patch according to your LED installation.

Step 2) Set up the size of your virtual matrix (the Patch Size). It normally includes all of your DVI fixtures.

Step 4) Position the DVI Map of every DVI fixture according to the requirements of your DVI hardware controller. (The first DVI Map normally starts at position x:1, y:1.)

Step 1 and 2 are explained in more detail in the chapter Patch.
Step 3, 4, and 5 will be explained below.

Step 3, 4, and 5 are only necessary, if you wish to add spacing, rotation, or flipping to your DVI fixtures.

DVI Maps represent the fixture configuration for the DVI hardware controller. DVI Maps have the same size as the fixture, but they have their own position, rotation, and flipping settings.

In order to work with DVI Maps, you need to activate DVI Map Mode. You can activate DVI Map Mode in the Patch menu "View" -> "DVI Map Mode" or by using the shortcut "Ctrl+M".

You only need the DVI Map Mode if you are using DVI fixtures in a different way than what the DVI controller expects.

DVI Maps in Normal Mode	DVI Maps in DVI Map Mode
DVI Maps are inactive in Normal Mode. They are shown in grey with a grid. (Column 1 shows a selected fixture and DVI Map. Column 2 shows a non-selected fixture and DVI Map.)	DVI Maps are active in DVI Map Mode. They are shown in yellow with a grid. (Column 1 shows a selected fixture and DVI Map. Column 2 shows a non-selected fixture and DVI Map.)
When DVI fixture and DVI Map have the same position, the DVI fixture is shown.	When DVI fixture and DVI Map have the same position, the DVI Map is shown.
By default, DVI fixture and DVI Map are linked together. If a setting, such as rotation, is set for the fixture or the DVI Map, the opposite element (which then is the DVI Map or the fixture) will receive the same setting or a corresponding offset. Deactivate the feature in the menu "Preferences" -> "Link DVI Maps and Fixtures" or "Ctrl+L". If activated, the icon glows green in the toolbar.	By default, DVI fixture and DVI Map are not linked together and can be set up separately. If a setting, such as rotation, is set for the fixture or the DVI Map, the opposite element (which then is the DVI Map or the fixture) will not receive the same setting or a corresponding offset. Activate the feature in the menu "Preferences" -> "Link DVI Maps and Fixtures" or "Ctrl+L". If activated, the icon glows green in the toolbar.
DVI fixtures can overlap, that means they can be positioned over another. You need to activate "Allow Overlapping" from the menu "Preferences". If activated, the icon glows green in the toolbar.	DVI Maps can overlap, that means they can be positioned over another. You need to activate "Allow Overlapping" from the menu "Preferences". If activated, the icon glows green in the toolbar.
DVI fixtures can be easily copied. Enable or disable "Copy DVI Maps With Fixtures" in the Patch menu "Preferences" to decide how DVI Maps are handled when copying a DVI fixture. 1) Disabled: If a DVI fixture is copied, the copied DVI Map is reset to its default settings, that means to the position of the newly copied DVI fixtures. In fact, a new DVI Map will be created for the copied DVI fixture. 2) Enabled: If a DVI fixture is copied, the copied DVI Map matches the settings of the source DVI Map or a corresponding offset. If activated, the icon glows green in the toolbar.	DVI Maps cannot be copied like DVI fixtures in DVI Map Mode. Please switch back to normal mode.
Reset one or several selected DVI Maps by choosing "Reset Selected DVI Maps" from the "Edit" menu. If pressed, the icon flashes shortly green in the toolbar.	Reset one or several selected DVI Maps by choosing "Reset Selected DVI Maps" from the "Edit" menu. If pressed, the icon flashes shortly green in the toolbar.

DVI Maps can be used in the Patch just as any other fixture. In other words, they can be positioned with the mouse or keyboard, for example. Please have a look at the chapter Patch for more information on how to work with fixtures and thus DVI Maps.

You may also edit the properties of a selected DVI Map with the help of the section "DVI Mapping" to the right. You may change the flipping, rotation, or position of the DVI Map. You can also use an "Offset" for each of these items.

At the same time, the section DVI Mapping shows all necessary information for the DVI Map.

Please activate DVI Map Mode for your external DVI Preview window.
Activating DVI Map Mode for the external DVI Preview window is only necessary for screen-capturing.

Please note: More information about using DVI output can be found in the chapter DVI.

In this example we will configure the two fixtures to be installed like this (schematic):

First, we create a new Patch. Please go to the menu "File" -> "New" or use "Ctrl+N".

Second, we add the two fixtures. Please go to the menu "Edit" -> "Add Fixtures..." or use "Ins". Make sure to not select "Merge Fixtures".

(If you receive the error message "The DVI mapped positions are out of the valid range! Please change the settings", then move your fixture or DVI Map towards a free space on your workspace. )

Now, go to the menu "Edit" -> "Patch Size". Enter 128 for Dimension X and 32 for Dimension Y. The virtual matrix now matches the size of both fixtures in total.

Select the first DVI Map and position it at the center of your workspace. Change the "Rotation" to "Original" in the section "DVI Mapping". Press "OK".

Now, select the second DVI Map and position it at the center of your workspace. Change the "Rotation" to "Original" in the section "DVI Mapping". Press "OK".

Then, arrange both DVI Maps next to each other in the upper left corner. DVI Map 1 is positioned at x:1, y:1 and DVI Map 2 is positioned at x:33, y:1.

As you can see, all DVI fixtures and DVI Maps are visible. The DVI fixtures and therefore the three internal Previews will represent your LED installation:

The DVI Map needed to be patched separately because the DVI hardware controller expects to receive the input signal like this (also shown above in the Normal Setup).

The EUROLITE LSD 37.5 works with the EuroLite T9 protocol. No screen-capturing is needed and therefore DVI Map Mode does not need to be activated for the external DVI output window for this example. (In most cases you should activate DVI Map Mode for the external DVI output window for other fixtures and controllers.)

Make sure that DVI Maps and DVI fixtures are not linked in DVI Map Mode (Disable Link mode).

If you receive the error message "The DVI mapped positions are out of the valid range! Please change the settings", then move your fixture or DVI Map towards a free area on your workspace.