Xnode, Braincell, and CoolDotz blur the boundaries between architectural, entertainment, and digital signage sectors. Vivid Effect Ltd, UK-based sister company to LED Effects, Inc. introduces its latest LED products running on its Stream control system. On the control side is X-Node and Braincell. X-Node packages up the Stream network control system, and Braincell is launched in various flavors; Stream, Smart, and DMX.

X-Node is a rack-mount integrated unit designed for architectural lighting, entertainment, video wall, and video sign applications. As part of a modular control and network distribution system, X-Nodes can drive video and lighting effects on the complete range of LED Effects’ Stream LED fixtures.

Each of the eight ports on the X-Node drives 100 CoolDotz or DingDotz via the Braincell slave protocol converter. That’s 800 RGB pixels total, or the equivalent of 2,400 RGB DMX channels.

The CoolDotz fixture is a next generation LED pixel, sealed in a 15mm square IP66 plastic housing. The chip has onboard gamma correction, produces true 16-bit color, and gives two-way control over the fixture. CoolDotz can be configured in custom arrays to form VideoGridz or three-dimensional abstract shapes.

The Braincell is a new super small controller capable of driving 120 individually addressable LED Stream, Smart, and DMX fixtures. Braincells can be configured for large complex applications where the Braincell is the slave controller component, and in smaller systems it can be used as the master controller, storing and playing lightshows and animation independently. The new standalone capability of the Braincell makes color-changing LED addressable video and animation available to those with smaller applications and limited budgets. At 80mm x 40mm x 20mm in size, the Braincell is one small controller.