Xlights and video projection

[dreiman]

I have been messing with a projector for a bit trying to figure this out. this is where I am at.

I have a Pi running the projector. I created a virtual matrix, 192x108.  I tried bigger, 800x600 and it lagged the show out of sync. So I backed it down to the default recommended.

On a sequence, I have the matrix, and I added an MP4 of snow falling. I placed the effect on the matrix, I made the effect span the beginning of the song, and wanted to stop at a specific point where I would place another effect. Lets say I had it set to run about 20 seconds. After upload, and test, snow flakes come on, but do not go off when the block ends on the sequence. It places the whole 4 minute video.

I noticed in the video effect, there is a start time in MS. I see a length, but its grayed out. Shows the total length of the video, 4 minutes ish.

So if I want this video to stop afer 20 seconds, do I need to make the actual mp4 20 seconds long? Can I not just make the video blocks a specific size?

[EDIT]
Realizing this is probably more of an Xlights question... But will take any info here if anyone has it.

And if this is the case, do guys just edit a video to sync to the song? and play that?

Also, I want to put a text effect over the snowflake vid at the bottom. Nested the matrix, put the text effect on top, and the snow flakes under. Moved the text to scroll across the bottom. Upload etc. test... Only snow flakes. No text effect... Is this not possible if playing an mp4? Or am I missing something?

One more question...

when I use video effect, and select an MP4, does that render in the frames directly into the sequence? I have been uploading the mp4 to the Pi. But I am now thinking, that, I don't need to do that. Is that the case? I am sure I can figure that out by deleting the video's and seeing if the video still plays.

Thanks,

[dreiman]

Just in case anyone is having a similar issue. I figured out how to get it to do what I wanted.

1. I removed the virtual matrix and matrix from FPP and Xlights. also deleted the video files from FPP
2. I made a full video with the audio file. Putting the video effects where I wanted them in the song.
3. In xlights, I made the sequence audio the video file.
4. I manually uploaded the sequences and video files to all FPP's ( I have found that FSR when using FPP connect, it doesn't always overwrite.)

And boom goes the dynamite. Now it works as intended.