Adafruit RGB Matrix Automatic User Manual

RGB Matrix Automatic YouTube ON AIR Sign

Created by John Park

Last updated on 2021-03-17 01:12:55 PM EDT

2 3

3

6 8

8 8

10

10 10 11 11 12

13 14

14 14 15 15

17

17 17

19

21

23

24

24 25 25

27

27 27 27 27

31

31 31 33 34

Guide Contents

Guide Contents Overview

Parts

Using M4 Airlift Install CircuitPython

Set up CircuitPython Quick Start! Further Information

Build the On Air Sign

Assembly Shields Up Power Connections Data Cable Wall Adapter

Using MatrixPortal Prep the MatrixPortal

Power Prep Power Terminals Panel Power Board Connection

Install CircuitPython

Set up CircuitPython Quick Start! Further Information

Prepare YouTube API Token

YouTube Token

JSON

Keys

Font and Graphics

Glyph Bitmap Distribution Format Glyph Tweaks Shape Graphics

Code the On Air Sign

Libraries Connect to the Internet Text Editor Code

LED Matrix Diffuser

LED Diffusion Acrylic Measure and Cut the Plastic Uglu Dashes Stand

Overview

When your favorite YouTube channel is streaming this sign will let you know, in gorgeous Art Deco inspired style!

You'll code it with CircuitPython, and the board's built-in WiFi will allow it to check the YouTube Data API to find out when a channel is livestreaming! Then, it'll light up the RGB LED matrix display with "OFF AIR" or "ON AIR" depending on the current status.

You'll use a beautiful bitmap font and custom line drawing graphics routines to make if fancy.

Parts

Your browser does not support the video tag. 64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 4mm pitch

Bring a little bit of Times Square into your home with this sweet 64 x 32 square RGB LED matrix panel. These panels are normally used to make video walls, here in New York we see them... Out of Stock

Adafruit Metro M4 Express AirLift (WiFi) - Lite

Out of Stock

Give your next project a lift with AirLift - our witty name for the ESP32 co-processor that graces this Metro M4. You already know about the Adafruit Metro... $34.95 In Stock

Adafruit RGB Matrix Shield for Arduino

Our RGB matricies are dazzling, with their hundreds or even thousands of individual RGB LEDs. Compared to NeoPixels, they've got great density, power usage and the... $5.95 In Stock

Your browser does not support the video tag. Black LED Diffusion Acrylic Panel 12" x 12" - 0.1" / 2.6mm thick

A nice whoppin' slab of some lovely black acrylic to add some extra diffusion to your LED Matrix project. This material is 2.6mm (0.1") thick and is made of special cast... $9.95 In Stock

5V 4A (4000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed

Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 4 Amps (4000mA). 110 or 240 input, so it works in

Add to Cart

any country. The plugs are "US... $14.95 In Stock

Adjustable Bent-Wire Stand - up to 7" Tablets and Small Screens

This handy bent-wire display stand was originally designed to hold up 7" tablets but the rubberized design is great for general purpose electronics & TFT holding. We use it to... $4.95 In Stock

USB cable - USB A to Micro-B

This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or... $2.95 In Stock

Add to Cart

Using M4 Airlift

If you have a Metro M4 AirLift, you can build this project easily - you just need an RGB Matrix shield to help connect!

You will need a Metro M4 Airlift, matrix shield and matrix

Adafruit Metro M4 Express AirLift (WiFi) - Lite

Give your next project a lift with AirLift - our witty name for the ESP32 co-processor that graces this Metro M4. You already know about the Adafruit Metro... $34.95 In Stock

Adafruit RGB Matrix Shield for Arduino

Our RGB matricies are dazzling, with their hundreds or even thousands of individual RGB LEDs. Compared to NeoPixels, they've got great density, power usage and the... $5.95 In Stock

Your browser does not support the video tag. 64x32 RGB LED Matrix - 4mm pitch

Bring a little bit of Times Square into your home with this sweet 64 x 32 square RGB LED matrix panel. These panels are normally used to

Add to Cart

make video walls, here in New York we see them... Out of Stock

Out of Stock

Install CircuitPython

CircuitPython (https://adafru.it/tB7) is a derivative of MicroPython (https://adafru.it/BeZ) designed to simplify experimentation and education

on low-cost microcontrollers. It makes it easier than ever to get prototyping by requiring no upfront desktop software downloads. Simply copy and edit files on the CIRCUITPY drive to iterate.

Set up CircuitPython Quick Start!

Follow this quick step-by-step for super-fast Python power :)

https://adafru.it/EDA

Further Information

For more detailed info on installing CircuitPython, check out Installing CircuitPython (https://adafru.it/Amd).

Click the link above and download the latest UF2 file.

Download and save it to your desktop (or wherever is handy).

Plug your Metro M4 into your computer using a known-good USB cable.

A lot of people end up using charge-only USB cables and it is very frustrating! So make sure you

have a USB cable you know is good for data sync.

Double-click the Reset button next to the USB connector on your board, and you will see the NeoPixel RGB LED (indicated by the arrow) turn green. If it turns red, check the USB cable, try another USB port, etc.

If double-clicking doesn't work the first time, try again. Sometimes it can take a few tries to get the rhythm right!

You will see a new disk drive appear called METROM4BOOT.

Drag the adafruit_circuitpython_etc.uf2 file to METROM4BOOT.

https://adafru.it/EDA

The LED will flash. Then, the METROM4BOOT drive will disappear and a new disk drive called CIRCUITPY will appear.

That's it, you're done! :)

Build the On Air Sign

Assembly

Talking to an LED matrix display can be tricky! The 64 x 32 LED used here has a whopping 2,048 pixels, and each can display RGB colors, which makes for a whole lot of data to sling around. Thankfully, our RGB Matrix shield paired with the Metro M4 Airlift does most of the heavy lifting.

Let's assemble the boards and the display so we can get things running!

Shields Up

First, add the male headers, screw terminal block, and the 8x2-pin socket to the Matrix shield, by

following this guide (https://adafru.it/FBU). Be careful to match the socket polarity to the silkscreen

image on the board.

Be sure to also perform the clock pin mod as shown here (https://adafru.it/FBU).

Then plug the shield into the Metro M4 Airlift.

Power Connections

To provide power we'll screw the wiring harness connectors to the screw terminal blocks of the shield. Be sure to match the black wire to GND and the red wire to +5Vout.

Now, simply plug the other end into the panel's power header. It can only go in one way.

Data Cable

Plug in the two ends of the ribbon cable, note that the connectors are keyed to only fit in the correct orientation.

Adafruit RGB Matrix Automatic User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual