First 100 Pixels: Baldrick Project Download
Give your first Baldrick bench test a clear beginning and a result you can check. This original Mattos download pairs one MD1500 Baldrick8 RTR xConnect with one 100-node 12V EVO xConnect / EasyPlug strand. You get an editable xLights project, a short test sequence, a planning workbook and printable bench sheets.
Prepared October 29, 2026. The project was rendered with official xLights 2026.19, and all 800 output frames were checked for the expected colors and node order. It has not been tested on physical hardware. The files help you perform and record that test on your own equipment.
Download the project and worksheets
- Download the complete First 100 Pixels project ZIP — xLights model, 20-second animation sequence, separate example show folder, port map, instructions, workbook, printable PDF and vector diagram.
- Download the editable Baldrick Build Planner — an Excel workbook with Parts, Ports and Test log sheets.
- Download the printable bench sheets — connection diagram, checklist and eight controller/cable labels.
Extract the ZIP before opening the project. Start with START-HERE.md. Use the included xLights-Show directory as a separate show folder; keep an existing show's configuration files backed up and intact.
The exact first-100 recipe
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| Item | Selection for this exercise |
|---|---|
| Controller | MD1500 Baldrick8 RTR xConnect; use physical output 1. |
| Pixels | EVO 100ct / 4-inch spacing / Black / xConnect / EasyPlug; verify the 12V label and strand input. |
| Extension | Single 5 ft Black xConnect cable, if the direct connection does not reach comfortably. This is an example route, not a guaranteed distance limit. |
| Other essentials | A suitable computer, Ethernet connection, the completed controller's required AC supply, and matching caps for unused outdoor outputs. |
The MD1500's listed supply, enclosure and output pigtails are part of its assembly; check the current product page before purchasing duplicates. For the selectable shopping list, open Build This Light Show Project and choose My First 100 Pixels.
First preview, then assign your controller
- Open the separate example folder. Keep Output to Lights off. Confirm one Single Line model named Mattos EVO 100, with one string and 100 RGB nodes. Open Mattos-First-100-Test.xsq, render it and play the preview. No music file is required.
- Prove the physical strand locally. Follow the MD1500 quick start. Check voltage, documented connector compatibility, strand input and the controller's own low-brightness test.
- Add your actual Baldrick in xLights. The supplied controller is an inactive offline placeholder with no physical destination. Replace it with your actual controller record and assign the model to output 1. Follow the Baldrick xLights setup guide for discovery, profile selection, visualizer checks and configuration uploads.
- Render again after assignment. Stop other senders and controller test effects. Enable output deliberately, observe the whole test and turn output off when finished.
The example uses logical channels 1–300 while offline. Your own controller plan can assign different channels. The pack includes editable sequence instructions, so you create a fresh rendered playback file after mapping the model to your equipment.
What you should see
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| Time | Expected strand behavior |
|---|---|
| 0–2 seconds | Dark. |
| 2–4 seconds | All 100 nodes red. |
| 4–6 seconds | All 100 nodes green. |
| 6–8 seconds | All 100 nodes blue. |
| 8–18 seconds | One white node moves from node 1 through node 100. |
| 18–20 seconds | Dark. |
The sequence uses 25 ms frames and a maximum encoded channel level of 51 out of 255, or 20% of the digital range. Controller brightness and gamma settings can change the visible result. This is a color and node-order exercise; it does not establish full-load power, fuse or cable capacity.
If colors differ, verify the actual strand's color order. If the moving node starts at the wrong end, verify model direction and strand input. If the local test works but xLights does not, use the Baldrick troubleshooting guide to inspect the network and channel path.
Use the workbook as your installation record
Parts calculates quantities to buy from needed and owned quantities, then totals the items for which you enter prices. Prices begin blank so the file stays useful when the catalog changes. Ports records the eight output routes, node counts, voltage, connector, cable length, brightness setting and measured current. Its RGB-channel calculation is data planning, not an electrical-load estimate. Test log records the result you actually observed and the action still needed.
The printable PDF contains an original connection schematic, a bench checklist and eight general cut-out port labels. Print the label page twice to identify both ends. These are general tags, not a pre-cut adhesive-label template.
After the first strand passes
Repeat the test with the actual installed cable route, save the working configuration and add one model at a time. When you are ready for scheduled playback, follow Run Your Baldrick Show Every Night with FPP. In that arrangement, an external FPP Player owns the playlist and clock; the Baldrick receives its Ethernet lighting data.
References: Baldrick8 manufacturer manual, official xLights releases and official FPP manual. The ZIP contains a detailed software-validation record and its practical limits.
