Pixelblaze - WiFi LED Controller

A Wi-Fi-enabled, live-codable LED controller with a web-based development environment.

At a Glance

Highlights
  • Matchbox-sized WiFi LED controller with mobile or dektop web app control
  • 50 patterns included, over 200 more in the community library
  • Runs a simplified JavaScript where LEDs update live as-you-code
  • Native HDR rendering engine for bright, vivid SK9822 pixels
  • 2D and 3D support via pixel mapping
  • Optional sensor expansion board reacts to sound, motion, light, and inputs such as buttons/knobs/faders
  • Exceptional documentation and support forum
  • $39; saves many hours of coding
Pixels
Max 5,000 per controller, up to 51,200 with output expanders
Rendering speed 48,000 pixels per second typical
Pixels to get >30 FPS ~800 LEDs on single-controller

Performance scales linearly with sync, so 3,200 LEDs achieve >30 FPS using four Pixelblazes

Power
V3 Standard 4-18 V with reverse polarity protection
5 V via micro-USB (e.g. power brick or wall adapter)
Or, back-feed power for the controller from 5 V LEDs
V3 Pico 5 V back-fed from LEDs

See the complete tech specs below.

Pixelblaze: A Wi-Fi Addressable LED Controller and Custom Pattern Editor

Pixelblaze makes it fast and fun to write new LED patterns with its web-based live editor and highly optimized expression engine. You can store a hundred patterns and write new ones by entering mathematical expressions or code that update live as you type.

Pixelblaze was designed to make it easier to both write LED patterns and get an intuitive feel for how code and math impact those patterns.

Made for LED Enthusiasts and Novices Alike

If you aren’t a coding wizard, don’t worry, many people with limited programming experience have found Pixelblaze’s editor approachable and fun to use.

The real-time editor, instant feedback, a variable watcher, and expression-centric pattern generation means you won’t be pulling your hair out trying to find that missing semicolon or curly brace. Even run-time errors that would usually just crash your program are harmless and show up right in the editor.

Pixelblaze isn't just made to be friendly, it's also powerful. It really shines in the hands of someone who is familiar with programming and is comfortable writing expressions in a JavaScript or C-like syntax. If you are already doing this with a microcontroller, Pixelblaze was made for you.

Pattern Demo

V3: More Power, Standard and Pico Sizes

Pixelblaze Standard and Pico side by side

Pixelblaze V3 is available in 2 sizes, with the same powerful 240Mhz dual core processor and pixel rendering capabilities in both. The Standard is small enough for most projects, and the Pico is tiny enough to fit anywhere LEDs can.

The Pixelblaze Pico form-factor is the smallest and most powerful LED controller made. It was designed for minimal size, while having the same ESP32 firepower of its larger sibling. The Pico can be hidden away more easily and used in smaller places. The Pixelblaze Pico is only 11 mm x 33.3 mm (366.3 mm²)!

Pixelblaze V3 Standard has additional interface and expansion capabilities. It can interface with hardware and sensors using the available GPIO, analog, or touch inputs, and has an optional Sensor Board with microphone, accelerometer, light sensor, and a music reactive co-processor that you much more than just volume levels.

Live Code


Pixelblaze has real-time compiler and built-in IDE with inline syntax and runtime error highlighting, and a wide range of language features. It supports a subset of JavaScript for control-flow, loops, functions, etc., and simple-yet-powerful API for generating patterns and procedural textures.

As long as your pattern is valid, it's live and running on Pixelblaze. Your pattern is recompiled and sent to Pixelblaze on every change so you can see your changes live. This is one of the most powerful pattern writing features, and you really get a feel for how your changes impact the pattern - all while it's still installed!

Creating & Sharing Patterns


Pixelblaze is great for anyone making LED art large or small, costumes and wearables, or decorating cars and houses inside and out! With Pixelblaze V3's tools and documentation, it's easy to learn how to write patterns and dissect existing patterns to discover their secrets.

Sharing and finding patterns written by the community is easy, and there are over 200 patterns available that can be loaded as-is, or used for inspiration in your own designs.

And that's not all, pixel maps let you focus on how your pattern looks in 2D and/or 3D space without having to worry about coordinates or scaling for different installations. A pattern that works on one LED setup will work the same on a different LED setup.

Write a generative map in JavaScript, or use real-world coordinates in any unit. It supports arbitrary LED configurations without impacting pattern code. Examples include rings, 2D matrices, walled cubes, and volumetric cubes.

Adding UI controls to a pattern are as easy as writing a function. This lets you add sliders and color pickers to a pattern that can be used to adjust the look and feel of a pattern.

Control Anywhere


Pixelblaze V3 and V3 Pico was designed to be embeddable and integrated into LED art pieces or used in costumes and props. Because it's 100% programmed over Wi-Fi, the pattern can be written or updated AFTER it has been installed without needing to attach any cables.

Lots of LEDs, Lots of LED Options


Pixelblaze has a single output capable of supporting the various LED types up to 5,000 APA102 LED or 2,500 WS2812 LEDs.

Any wiring configuration is supported, including strips, matrix panels, trees, or other configurations. The pixel mapper can be used to take any physical layout and create powerful 2D and 3D animations even for complex wiring scenarios without writing custom code for your arrangement.

Output Expansion Boards can be connected to the output and add from 8 up to 64 channels.

Supported LEDs:

  • APA102, SK9822, DotStar with HDR support for a dynamic range well beyond 0-255
  • WS2811, WS2812/WS2812b, NeoPixel, WS2813, WS2815, GS8208, SK6812 RGB or RGBW.
  • WS2801

Features & Specifications

Software

Pattern control
  • Trigger specific patterns and control brightness.
    Pattern trigger
  • Each pattern can specifiy user interface controls like buttons, sliders, color-pickers. and more.
    UI controls per pattern
  • A playlist runs a subset of the onboard patters. You can define separare durations for each pattern in the playlist, and define a fade-through-black transition time. Random order is also supported.
  • Pressing the onboard button advances to the next pattern in the overall list or within the playlist.
Pattern design and development

Pattern development takes place in the web-based onboard IDE.

  • Realtime compile as-you-type. All syntax and runtime errors are shown in the code editor the moment you type it. Compared to other microcontrollers, this creates an incredible environment for learning and getting results quickly.
    UI controls per pattern
  • The variable watcher area lets you debug and monitor variable values live during pattern execution.
  • Full syntax and API documentation is displayed right within the IDE next to your code.
  • The status bar shows live FPS, connection health, memory, and sync group devices.
  • You can download a backup archive of all patterns and settings on a device, and clone to other devices from an archive file.
  • The Settings tab lets you update the firmware over-the-air, configure daily auto-on and off times, set a brightness limit for current limiting, and set LED parameters. You can also lower the internal processor speed or disable WiFi for extending runtime on batteries, which is useful for wearables.
  • A map defines the location of your individual pixels in space. You can import a JS array of coordinates from CAD or build off the included JavaScript map genrators. Preview the map in 3D. Learn more about mapping.
  • 1D, 2D, and 3D live pattern visualization shows how the pattern you're developing looks when rendered through your map. This lets you develop patterns even when the LEDs aren't visible or plugged in, such as coding while away from your installation or on a flight.

The onboard firmware supports the following regardless of whether a web browser is connected:

  • Run patterns from the entire list or the defined playlist.
  • Pressing the onboard button advances to the next pattern (or random, if configured) in the overall list or within a playlist. If this Pixelblaze is part of a sync group, it advances the patterns for all members of the group.
  • Press and hold the onboard button for 5 seconds to reset WiFi settings and reconnect to the device's default wireless network.

Hardware

Both the Standard and Pico form factors of Pixelblaze V3 support the same ESP32 processor and pattern rendering capabilities, and have the same LED driving capabilities.

Pixelblaze generates 48,000 pixels per second on average, and can drive up to 5000 pixels. For larger installations, multiple Pixelblaze controllers support a seamless WiFi sync. This simplifies wiring and provides linear frame rate scalability.

PixelsFPSApplications
100300-600+Extremely fast/smooth animations, special effects, POV (Persistence of Vision) effects
100030-65+Beautifully smooth animations
50006-13+Gradual animations, fading backgrounds, ambiance
Specs:
  • Processor: ESP32 dual-core, 240 MHz
  • Available memory per pattern: 256 global variables, 256 stack variables (recursive functions supported), and 10,240 arrays/elements - plenty of room for complex patterns
  • LED compatibility: APA102, SK9822, DotStar, WS2811, WS2812 (up to 2,500 LEDs), WS2813, WS2815, GS8208, NeoPixel, and WS2801 actively driven at 5 V with 100 Ω resistors for long-distance signal wiring; also works with 12 V LEDs with a separate power supply
  • Direct connection: output can be connected directly to LEDs, with support for any RGB color order and RGBW/GRBW
  • Adjustable refresh rate: up to 5,000 APA102/WS2801 LEDs can be driven from 250 kHz to 20 MHz
  • User button: press to change LED patterns or hold to enter Wi-Fi setup mode (additional external button can be connected via solder pads on the underside of the board)
  • Status LED: indicates connection, setup, and power states
  • Current draw: 72-145 mA in client mode, 150-172 mA in AP mode

Pixelblaze V3 Standard

  • Dimensions: 34.2 mm x 39.5 mm, including antenna
  • Pattern storage (XL: 3 MB): 200 patterns with previews, preloaded with dozens of patterns and annotated examples
  • LED strip mount: 5 mm screw terminal or 0.1" pin header for connecting 5 V, data, clock, and ground
  • Power supply: micro-USB (1.8 A pass-through) or 5 V back-feed from the LED strip, with an onboard 3.3 V regulator for the ESP32 and expansion boards
  • Power protection: reverse-polarity protection and up to 18 V overvoltage protection to prevent damage from common wiring mistakes
  • GPIO (learn more): three on the expansion header and 15 on the underside of the board
  • Analog inputs: five (pins 33, 34, 35, 36, 39)
  • Touch sensor inputs: five (pins 2, 4, 13, 14, and 27)
  • Expansion header: eight-pin header supports the Sensor Expansion Board or USB Serial Arduino Programmer, carries GND, EN, 3.3 V, RX0, TX0, IO0, IO25, and IO26

Pixelblaze V3 Pico

  • Dimensions: 11 mm x 33.3 mm
  • Pattern storage (1.4 MB): 100 patterns with previews, preloaded with dozens of patterns and annotated examples
  • LED strip mount: directly-solderable castellated pins and 0.1" header for 5 V, data, clock, and ground
  • Power supply: directly from the header, with an onboard 3.3 V regulator for the ESP32
  • Programming pads: six pads on the underside of the board carry GND, EN, 3.3 V, RX0, TX0, and IO0 for factory programming and can be hacked to support the Sensor Expansion Board

What will you make?

Find inspiration in our community's creativity and see what others have made with Pixelblaze.