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Raspberry PI DMD (rpi-rgb-led-matrix)

Related Config File Sections:

The rpi dmd platform can be used to control a RGB LED matrix on your Raspberry Pi (any model).

1. Connect the hardware

We suggest that you follow the tutorial in the rpi-rgb-led-matrix library.

2. Install the extension

You need to install the rgbmatrix extension on your RPi using the following command:

git clone https://github.com/hzeller/rpi-rgb-led-matrix.git
cd rpi-rgb-led-matrix
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install python3-dev python3-pillow -y
make build-python PYTHON=$(which python3)
sudo make install-python PYTHON=$(which python3)

3. Configure your DMD

This is an example config:

hardware:
  platform: rpi_dmd
rpi_dmd:
  cols: 32
  rows: 32
  gpio_slowdown: 2
  pwm_lsb_nanoseconds: 300
window:
  width: 600
  height: 200
  title: Mission Pinball Framework
displays:
  window:   # on screen window
    width: 600
    height: 200
  dmd:   # source display for the DMD
    width: 32
    height: 32
    default: true
    round_anchor_x: left
rgb_dmds:
  rpi_dmd:
    source_display: dmd
slides:
  window_slide_1:   # slide we'll show in the on-screen window
    - type: display   # this widget shows the DMD content in this slide too
      effects:
        - type: color_dmd
      width: 512
      height: 128
    - type: text
      text: MISSION PINBALL FRAMEWORK
      anchor_y: top
      y: top-3
      font_size: 30
      color: white
    - type: rectangle
      width: 514
      height: 130
      color: 444444
  dmd_slide_1:   # slide we'll show on the physical DMD
    - type: text
      text: IT WORKS!
      font_size: 30
      color: red
slide_player:
  init_done:
    window_slide_1:
      target: window
    dmd_slide_1:
      target: dmd
##! test
#! assert_text_on_top_slide "IT WORKS!" dmd
#! assert_text_on_top_slide "MISSION PINBALL FRAMEWORK" window

The size of your dmd (32x32 pixel in the example) should match your physical matrix. Also make sure to configure the rpi_dmd: section accordingly.

Note that the Using an RGB full-color LED DMD guide has more details on the window and slide settings used in this machine config.

4. Start MPF as root

For this library to work you need to start MPF as root like this:

sudo mpf game

This is needed for the matrix to access the hardware and it will drop privileges after it started.

Related How To guides

What if it did not work?

Have a look at our hardware troubleshooting guide.

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