FastLED Basics Episode 1 - Getting started

In the first episode of this new mini-series, we look at how to get started with the FastLED library for addressable LEDs. We cover what FastLED is, what hardware we will need and how to start coding. Finally, we get our LED strip to light for the first time and display some patterns.

In the next video we will look at how FastLED handles color as there is rather a lot to cover there!

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00:00 - Intro
00:45 - What is FastLED?
01:56 - Hardware
05:16 - Powering your LEDs
07:10 - Building the circuit
09:26 - First patterns

[Semjasa]

best tut finally someone who actually shows and explains every step and all the material.

[RayVillaraza]

30-seconds in and this is already my favorite tut on YouTube. Thanks so much Scott! I hope you do more tutorials!

[pidge]

Hear ye: if you want to understand this stuff, STOP SEARCHING RIGHT HERE and sub. Straight to the point, comprehensive, zero-fat content. Trust me, I've been working with FastLED for over a year, completed multiple projects, and viewed many hours of tutorials. This is the one.

Thank you, Sir. Fine job.

[zackdattacker]

This is definitively the BEST video I have seen on using WS LEDs. Thank you so much!

[chosen_none]

As someone who is looking to get started with Arduino and addressable LEDs, this is great. Much appreciated

[robbiesmith]

I just made my whole room light up and dance with your video. I used WS2811 straight into my arduino UNO without extra breadboard setups.

[joewheelar]

What a time to be alive! Can't wait to watch the whole series, thanks so much!

[PlamenBoychev]

Two years later and still this blows me away as a newbie in this matter.
Thank you for creating such quality content!

[parallacksg]

It's crazy how hard it is to find proper info on how to set up for power delivery. I've been struggling with a project that uses 300+ LEDS with an esp32 and I had to search forever just to learn about the amount of amps I needed. This is the first tutorial I've seen that mentioned anything about a resistor on the data pin, and a capacitor on the power delivery. Here's hoping that solves the boot looping issue I've been seeing. Thank you!

[mrhomely]

ive been hoping for this type of really good tutorial for several years now! thank you so much for making this. Also very good work too, super easy to understand

[hexopod]

Thank you for this! I was the beginner poster in that reddit thread a few weeks ago. I appreciate you getting on this so quickly and this is a great starting point! Too many of the other beginner videos spend all their time on things like the wiring or getting your first LED to show. Getting all the way to gradients is a great way to start.

[Mikyzo]

the most effective tutorial on FastLED I've seen! 👏👏

[mortaldrumming]

This certainly comes in handy for Christmas. Thank you for your initiative.

[basemh]

You definitely deserve at least 20 times more subscribers
I really can't understand how YouTube promote other videos to be shown more than yours,
Good luck!!

[logankidd]

Thank you so much for this video series! Have had a WS2812b strip for almost 2 years and figured out some basic things with other guides but your videos have covered pretty much everything I've wanted to do with it.

[marioncatlin]

Excellent. Really clear video. I am starting from nowhere with 0.1 knowledge of electronics and coding - that is, I know a few of the principles but not much more. This has really helped, thank you

[marklee_]

This got me going and understanding the basics with the LED strip! Next up is to modify the code for my own personal need. Cheers!

[jeffreykiefer]

Nice video. Just starting and needed this little bit of info to get started. Will be viewing others along the way.

[davidhawkins]

Thank you, The way you explain things is clear (just a little fast for me ), but it taught me to get me started.

[arunbajpai]

Great information provided about ws2812b eagerly waiting for full series