Status

Thanks to everyone who participated in the beta run of hand-assembled units via Tindie!

A new revision of the design is now available from Adafruit.

Overview

The Fadecandy Controller is an LED interface board that makes it easier to create better-looking art with addressable LEDs.

• Works with Processing, Javascript, C++, Python
• Controls up to 512 WS2811-style addressable LEDs, as 8 strands of 64
• Attaches to a Mac, Windows, Linux, or embedded computer with USB
• Advanced dithering, gamma correction, and interpolation algorithms for more detailed color and smoother fades
• Compatible with Open Pixel Control

Links

• Tutorial: LED Art with Fadecandy.
• Fadecandy project on GitHub.
• Project documentation
• Software releases

Details

• Controls up to 8 strings of up to 64 LEDs each
• LEDs must use the one-wire WS2811 / WS2812 protocol
• No driver installation required
• Works with Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Raspberry Pi
• 32-bit ARM microcontroller
• High performance block-oriented USB protocol
• Zero copy architecture with triple-buffering
• Interpolation between keyframes
• Gamma and color correction with per-channel lookup tables
• Unique temporal dithering algorithm
• Custom PCB with line drivers and a 5V boost converter
• Fully open source software and hardware
• Device Firmware Update class compatible USB bootloader

Use Cases

• Art installations
• Computer-controlled LED signs
• Interactive lighting

What's Included

Only the Fadecandy Controller board itself. The board ships without any headers attached to the output pins. You'll need your own WS2811-compatible LEDs, a power supply, USB cable, and wire for power and data.