Before you plug a new strand into your controller, check more than the connector. We want you to know which lights you have, what signal they need, and how they get power. Getting those three things straight saves a lot of guessing when a prop shows the wrong colors or refuses to light.
WS2811, TM1814, and UCS2904B are names you may see when comparing pixels and controllers. They describe driver families, not a complete wiring plan. Here is how we would work through that choice for a Mattos display.
Start with the lights, then match the controller
Write down the exact pixel product and variant: voltage, required pixel protocol, RGB or RGBW, node count, connector, and spacing. Then check the controller's supported output modes for its actual model, revision, and firmware. A familiar brand name does not establish compatibility across every board it makes.
For example, our standard EVO 12mm pixels are a 12V, WS2811-compatible RGB product. The current variants include xConnect / EasyPlug and M-Connect. Choose the connector that matches your installation and verify the pinout; do not assume every EVO package has the same plug.
The network setting and pixel setting do different jobs
Your computer or player can send show data to a compatible controller using a network protocol such as E1.31 or DDP. The controller then sends the required pixel signal out to the lights. Selecting E1.31 in xLights does not make a controller produce every pixel protocol.
Think of your checklist as two connections: player to controller, then controller to pixels. Both must be supported. Our ports, channels, and universes guide explains where those settings belong.
What the three driver names tell you
| Driver family | What to verify |
|---|---|
| WS2811 | A three-output-channel RGB driver family. Confirm the finished product's voltage, color order, and whether multiple LEDs share an address. |
| TM1814 | Commonly used for RGBW. Check explicit controller support for the required mode and how it handles the separate white channel. |
| UCS2904B | A four-channel LED driver. Confirm the fixture's channel layout and controller mode; do not assume it is a three-channel WS2811 replacement. |
The Worldsemi WS2811 description, WLED supported LED list, and UCS2904B datasheet describe those differences. They do not establish the supply voltage or connector wiring of every finished strand using a related chip.
Count color channels, not wires
A standard RGB node uses three color channels. An RGBW node has a separate white channel and uses four. For ordinary ungrouped models, 100 RGB nodes use 300 channels; 100 RGBW nodes use 400. That is data math. It does not tell you the electrical load or approve that many pixels on a particular output.
Four conductors do not automatically mean RGBW. The extra conductor may be backup data or a clock. Our EVO+ listing, for example, identifies a four-wire dual-data arrangement. Use the product instructions to identify wire functions and the required controller configuration.
If one part of the setup expects RGB and another expects RGBW, the data can shift through the strand. Check that format before trying every color-order setting.
Prove the match with one short test
- Confirm the correct voltage, polarity, connector pinout, and data direction with power disconnected.
- Set the controller's documented pixel mode, count, and output. Check whether a setting applies to one port, a bank, or the whole board.
- Connect one short compatible strand and run the manufacturer's supported test.
- Check red, green, blue, off, and the separate white channel when applicable.
- Run a one-node chase from your sequencer and compare the physical order with the model.
- Save the working settings before adding the rest of the display.
xLights can upload settings to supported controllers, but upload capabilities vary. Inspect the controller afterward and test the lights. A green connection indicator only answers whether the device responds; it does not prove that the output configuration is right.
Need a second set of eyes? Send us the exact lights, controller model, firmware, and clear connector photos through Mattos support. We can help you check the combination before you order another box of parts.
Keep learning
- Pixel Power Planning: Voltage Drop, Injection and Brightness
- xConnect vs M-Connect: Match Pixel Cables and Adapters
- Light Show Preflight Checklist: Test, Label and Back Up
Browse all Mattos education and support guides.
Reviewed October 29, 2026. Use the instructions for your exact hardware and installed software version.
