ws2812-over-artnet

ws2812 over artnet with a raspberrypi

Note: The Documentation is unfinished and still in work.

Setup:

0. Flash your SD-Card for the Raspberry-pi.
   I recommend using the Raspberry Pi Imager.
   You can use the Raspberrypy pi os lite, because there is no need for a gui.
   I used the Version "Raspberry Pi OS Lite (32-bit) Debian Bullseye"
   By pressing Crtl + Shift + X you get a options menu, in which you can set the host-name and enable ssh.
   (of course you can also use balena etcher, and create a ssh-file)

1. Connect the ws2812-Strip to the raspberry pi.
   This is a very simple way to connect the ws2821-Strip:
   

   ws2821-LED-Strip	Raspberry-pi
   GND	GND (e.g. pin14)
   Din	GPIO 18 (pwm) (i.e. pin12)
   5V	+3,3 V (e.g. pin1)

   But this method may not work for long strips, for other connection methods see this article by Tony DiCola from Adafruit.

2. This is an optional step to improve the communication with the ws2812 LED-Strip
   (This step is not necessary, and can also be done later)

   1. open the file:

      sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/snd-blacklist.conf

   2. and add:

      blacklist snd_bcm2835
      

      save and exit with Ctrl + O and Enter, and the Ctrl + X
   3. open the next file:

      sudo nano /boot/config.txt

   4. and change:

      # Enable audio (loads snd_bcm2835)
      dtparam=audio=on
      

      to:

      # Enable audio (loads snd_bcm2835)
      #dtparam=audio=on
      

      save and exit with Ctrl + O and Enter, and the Ctrl + X
   5. reboot the Raspberry pi using:

      sudo reboot

3. Installing ws-2812-over-artnet
   download the script:

   Needs to be updated

   make the file executable and run it with sudo privileges:

   chmod u+x installws2812-over-artnet.sh
   sudo ./installws2812-over-artnet.sh

   (for a manual installation go here)

4. Change the settings:
   open the config.json file:

   sudo nano config.json

   and set the desired Artnet Universe Id (artnet starts counting from 0)
   As well as the number of pixels used.

5. Test the ws2812-Strip:

   sudo python3 ws2812.py

   (It is important to run the script with Root-privileges, so that it can access the pwm-function)
   The first LED should light up in red, and the last one in blue, all in between should light up in green.

   Debug:

   • If no LEDs lights up, but there is no error message in the shell, check the wiring
   • If the LEDs do not light up in the correct colour, but there is no error message in the shell, check the number of LEDs set in step 6 and/or do step 2.
   • If you get an error message check the sudo privileges, the number of LEDs set in step 6, and/or do step 2.

6. Check the Artnet-Network:

   1. Setup your DMX software.
      (I used QLC+, for a tutorial how to set up QLC+ go here)
      If you need the IP-Address of the Raspberry pi use:

      hostname -I

   2. start the Artnet-test-script:

      sudo python3 artnet.py

      (Sudo must be used, because the library is installed in the Root-directory, to later function in combination with the ws2812-module)

   3. stop the script, by pressing any key

7. Test the ws2818 over Artnet script:

   sudo python3 ws2812Artnet.py
   

   stop it with Ctrl + C (the script will then crash with an error message, which can be ignored)

8. Setup the auto-startup of the script:

   1. Create a artnet service in systemd:

      sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/artnet.service

   2. Add the following serivce configuration into the file: [Unit] Description=Start a script to control the LEDs via artnet

       [Service]
       Restart=always
       ExecStart=sudo python3 ws2812Artnet.py
      
       [Install]
       WantedBy=multi-user.target
      

   3. Set the correct file permissions for the file:

      sudo chmod 644 /etc/systemd/system/artnet.service

   4. Then enable the service with:

      sudo systemctl daemon-reload
      sudo systemctl enable artnet.service

   5. Now restart the device in order to test if it worked:

      sudo reboot

9. Setup a shutdown button:
   will follow

Additional Stuff:

QLC+ Artnet Setup:

will follow

manual installation:

1. Update apt-get and install python3 and pip3:

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install python3
   sudo apt-get install python3-pip

   confirm if necessary with y (yes)
2. Install the following python modules:

   sudo pip3 install rpi_ws281x adafruit-circuitpython-neopixel
   sudo python3 -m pip install --force-reinstall adafruit-blinka
   sudo pip3 install stupidArtnet

   (And Yes, the libraries need to be installed in the Root-directory, more on that later)
3. Copy the python files from the repo on your pi.