PRG Mbox Remote Manual 3.9 - Manual (Page 51)

MBOX ® REMOTE USER MANUAL 45
PIXEL MAPPING
Overview
What is Pixel Mapping?
Pixel Mapping is a feature that allows mapping of specific functions of sACN, Color Kinetics KiNET, or Art-Net-
controlled fixtures (RGB, Intensity, CMY, etc.) to each of the pixels in Mbox’s composite video image. Pixel mapping
data is generated from the onscreen imagery of the server and may be output from one or more Ethernet interfaces of
the Mbox computer. While pixel mapping, Mbox retains the normal video output so a video signal can still be sent to a
display device.
Pixel mapping data is typically used to apply color to LED or moving light fixtures by taking color info from a video
source rather than programming the fixtures as discrete light sources using a lighting console.
What Can Be Mapped?
Pixels from the Mbox final composite rendering surface (pre-keystone/warp) can be mapped. These pixels can be
sampled (individually or in averaged, rectangular groups) to determine an average RGB value for the sample. The RGB
value can then be used as-is (RGB) or converted to a different color format (CMY, Intensity, etc.) and output as one of
four different entertainment protocols.
Depending on which Mbox output mode is used, the following screens can be mapped:
+ Single Output mode - the entire screen can be mapped.
+ Panoramic Wide and Panoramic Dual modes - the entire width of the two screens can be mapped. *
+ Dual Independent mode - only first screen (Output1) can be mapped.
* It is not recommended to use pixel mapping with Panoramic modes if you have an overlap.
How is the Pixel Map Output?
Data is output from the Mbox server as an Ethernet signal using one of four different entertainment protocols: Art-Net,
sACN, KiNET Portout, or KiNET DMXout. The Mbox computer’s Ethernet interfaces must be configured correctly to
talk to the attached equipment.
When pixel mapping, it is typically advisable to use one or more additional Ethernet interfaces on the computer to
output the pixel mapping data. If the control input and the pixel mapping output share a single Ethernet interface, the
volume of network traffic generated by complex pixel mapping configurations can affect the reception of control data.
This problem is far more prevalent when using Art-Net (versus sACN or KiNET) since it is typically broadcast.