Slash Lightning support for 2024 models

[seerge]

Hello fellow community,

I want to add support for "slash lightning" introduced in new 2024 models. So I need help from someone with actual G14 or G16 2024.
There is a good chance, it works very similarly to anime-matrix in older Zephyrus devices.

What you need to do

Step 1

Download and run this anciently-looking USB Deivce Viewer

Post a screenshot from it, showing all devices with Vendor ID 0b05 (it's Asus). I need to see if there are new Product IDs for slash lightning here.

Old Anime Matrix has Product ID 193b, RGB stuff is 19b6

Step 2

Then we need to figure out what commands does Armoury send to "slash lightning"

Install https://www.hhdsoftware.com/device-monitoring-studio (will require reboot)

1. Launch Monitoring Studio, pick Asus device with newly detected Product ID from the list and double click on it
   

2. Add Packet View to Procesing and click Start
   

3. Go to Armoury and change Slash Lightning setting to something else (for example turn it ON and OFF, etc)

4. Check if Monitoring Studio catching a lot of data (Armoury spams it like crazy). If NOT - you probably have selected wrong Asus device on step 2 (so need to re-do it)

5. In Monitoring Studio select Tools -> Save to Log, and save data
   

Upload this data here.

Thanks in advance.

[mugiwaraboi]

Hey @seerge , this is the screenshot from USB Device Viewer. As you have said seems that the slash lighting is still 193b.

[mugiwaraboi]

@seerge so when I tried to install the device monitoring studio, and restart, my system hung and would not go off; I had to force shutdown after 10 minutes. Also, the software did not install properly. Also, yes there are only two devices shown from Asus, I am not sure why. I don't know why there's a lot of other stuff as well; I have no usb devices connected. Only external connection is a Bluetooth mouse. (EDIT: Aaah I do use a lot at Uni, they are probably those, hence unactive now)
On G-Helper, I do not see anime matrix at all. I have put a screenshot here.

I was not aware that you can change backlight controls on G-Helper. Where can I do this? Also the keyboard lighting does not seem to be working on G-Helper. Previously on Armory Crate I was not able to change the keyboard lighting settings, it was just I think white while using it, and if I log off the system, it would change colors.

Basically there is a lot to unpack here haha.

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi oke, thanks for checking. I have no idea why device monitoring studio refused to install :|

As for backlight

Previously on Armory Crate I was not able to change the keyboard lighting settings, it was just I think white while using it, and if I log off the system, it would change colors.

So you couldn't change colors or backlight brightness in Armoury as well ? that's weird.

It could be that windows is interfering with it's own "new" backlight controls as well, so try to go to Windows Settings -> Personalization -> Dynamic Lightning and turn it all off there

In G-Helper you should be able to change backlight modes / color straight away from Laptop Keyboard section :)
For backlight brightness you can just use your Fn+F2/F3 to change it as usual, or open Extra section and drag a slider there.

So please let me know if that works or not?

[mugiwaraboi]

@seerge so great news was able to install the monitoring studio. I have attached the log here. I have changed the slash lighting from 'Bit Stream' -> 'Dark' -> 'Transmission' -> 'Bit Stream'. All were in their default settings.

g14slash_log.zip

Ok for the backlight, I turned off the setting in Windows, disabled Armory Crate and everything else, but was still not able to control things from G-Helper. I then tried enabling Armory Crate, and tried changing things, initially it kinda works? (Does the effect for a couple seconds and then stops) But I feel G-Helper is interfering with my inputs in Armory Crate. Anyway for me to disable G-Helper and test in Armory Crate? I can let you know then if it works there and then that would mean there is an issue in G-Helper.

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi

For the backlight G-Helper is not interfering. All backlight settings are just "set and forget" (i.e. they happen only when you literally change them in the app or restart app for example).

You have mentioned that it didn't work in AC as well before? How exactly do you "enable" or "disable" Armoury crate? :)

To "disable" G-Helper you just quit it :) it's a portable app that doesn't install anything in your system.

[mugiwaraboi]

OK you are right it just does not work on AC as well as on G-Helper. It is probably a bug from Asus' side.

By enabling and disabling I just meant start and stop Asus services on G-Helper haha :)

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi ok!

Stopping / Starting services via Extra stops only services that come with MyASUS (or even get auto-installed with clean windows instal), It intentionally doesn't touch main Armoury services :) as I have never designed app to "fight" with it anyhow.

If you will uninstall AC properly using their own official uninstaller, all it's services will be gone as well. But don't do that yet :)

For RGB / Backlight

I have one small guess, what could be different, can you try this build and check if it makes any difference ?
GHelper.zip

If it doesn't can you upload G-Helper's own log from %APPDATA%\GHelper folder ?

For Slash Lightning

Thanks for the log. I have checked it and it seems like protocol is very different to what it was for a matrix :|
I see a lot of packets that AC sends to device, but don't know exactly what each other does.

It may be difficult to decipher it  from scratch w/o actual device. But if you want we can try to figure out at least how to toggle it on or off.
Does lightning has any kind of brightness controls in AC ? if so - can you try to record a device monitor's log only for setting the brightness level to 0, then to 1, 2, max ?

P.S. For disabling windows "dynamic lightning". This is what I mean :

Did you disable it here ?

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi P.S. Can you also make a screenshot of all available Slash Lightning options that you have in AC ?

[seerge]

I have tried to decode data from your log, what I have so far

DARK
5E D7 00 00 01 AC                                     < --- INIT ?
5E D2 02 01 08 AB                                     < --- CLEANUP ?
5E D3 03 01 08 AB FF 01 [00] 06 FF FF                 < --- BRIGHTNESS [0] 
---------

TRANSMISSION
5E D7 00 00 01 AC                                     < --- INIT ?
5E D2 02 01 08 AB                                     < --- CLEANUP ?
5E D3 03 01 08 AB FF 01 [01] 06 FF FF                 < --- BRIGHTNESS [1]  
5E D2 03 00 0C                                        < --- CLEANUP MODE?
5E D3 04 00 0C 01 [1A] 02 19 03 13 04 11 05 12 06 13  < --- TRANSMISSION MODE [1A]
5E D3 03 01 08 AB FF 01 [01] 06 FF FF                 < --- BRIGHTNESS [1]  
5E D4 00 00 01 AB                                     < --- SAVE 
5E D4 00 00 01 AB                                     < --- SAVE 
------------

BITSTREAM
5E D7 00 00 01 AC                                    < --- INIT ?
5E D2 02 01 08 AB                                    < --- CLEANUP ?
5E D3 03 01 08 AB FF 01 [01] 06 FF FF                < --- BRIGHTNESS [1]  
5E D2 03 00 0C                                       < --- CLEANUP MODE?
5E D3 04 00 0C 01 [1D] 02 19 03 13 04 11 05 12 06 13 < --- BITSTREAM MODE [1D]
5E D3 03 01 08 AB FF 01 [01] 06 FF FF                < --- BRIGHTNESS [1]  
5E D4 00 00 01 AB                                    < --- SAVE
5E D4 00 00 01 AB                                    < --- SAVE
-----------


D7 - INIT
D2 02 - CLEANUP
D2 03 - CLEANUP MODE
D3 03 - BRIGHTNESS
D3 04 - MODE
D4 - SAVE

[mugiwaraboi]

I will reply to the previous comment in a bit @seerge .
Basically there are many options available for slash lighting. There are different themes and each theme has different modes like the 'Bit Stream' and the 'Transmission' that I showed you. All these modes from all the themes have two options: Interval and Brightness. There is also one mode called 'Sonic Match' which basically matches the slash to your audio. This has many more options. I have attached 3 screenshots to kinda go over all of these themes and modes.

[mugiwaraboi]

For RGB / Backlight:
So previously I turned off only 'Use dynamic lighting on all my devices' from Windows. Now that I have turned off both, the options work on G-Helper, but I am still not able to control brightness from the application. Armory Crate is supperr buggy in this aspect and there's way to much going wrong for me to write here. The aura sync option has suddenly disappeared for me. From your new update of G-Helper, I am able to see the Anime Matrix menu, but it does not work as expected, and nothing else seems to have changed. I have attached the log here:

log.zip

For Slash Lighting

Ok as asked I have taken a log of making changes in options under 'Bit Stream' mode in Slash Lighting.
The changes made in order are: Brightness from 100 -> 80 -> 60 -> 40 -> 20 -> 100. Then Interval from 0s -> 1s -> 2s -> 3s -> 4s -> 5s -> 0.

Please note that brightness can be made any percentage between 0 and 100.

slash_options.zip

[mugiwaraboi]

@seerge Sorry for the late reply, I have not been well.
It does not seem to be working but I cannot understand the behaviour. With the 'Enable on lid closed' unchecked, the slash light actually still works with the theme I have set in G-Helper on closing the lid. But with the option checked, the slash lighting alternately glows on and off gradually moving into each other in a gradient. I have not seen that in any theme before so not sure what it is doing. The G-Helper log is here below:

slashlidclose_log.txt

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi ok, no worries, get beter :)

Thanks for checking.

I have just recreated 2 payloads from your dump

5E D8 00 00 02 A5 [00] <--- stay ON on lid close (default)
5E D8 00 00 02 A5 [80] <---- stay OFF ?

Do I understand that it's swapped now ? When does this "glowing" happen, on lid close or immediately?

Can you make a small video ?

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi and try this build

GHelper.zip

[mugiwaraboi]

Hey, @seerge this build is working fine! :)

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi great, cause I didn't use that payloads and just turn backlight off when you close lid manually ...

[PixelEnthusiast15]

I made a bug report prior to seeing this discussion (I am new to git hub)

If there is anything I can do to help please let me know! I have a 2024 G14. Slash lighting is not working on 0.155 (not working on 0.154 either)

My logs are in the bug report, but if I can help reproduce anything let me know.

[seerge]

@mugiwaraboi I have one more request to you, if you have time :)

Someone on github complained that they can't turn on slash lightning after completely clean windows install.

My assumption there, that there is some "init" or "wake up" command that I'm not aware of, and most probably Armoury Crate Service or Asus Lightning service sets it on launch

Can you record a log of a following scenario ?

1. Stop all asus stuff (via G-Helper) and also manually stop Armoury Crate Service and Asus Lightning (or something like that) Service via Windows -> Services app
2. Start recording
3. Launch AC service / Asus Lightning service manually from Windows -> Services

Post a record here :)

Thanks in advance!

[seerge]

Or may be @nathancdy is willing to help? I need anyone with 2024 model, as I have returned mine .... :)

[nathancdy]

@seerge Can't seem to find those services along those lines related to the Slash Lighting. All the other ASUS Services are already disabled as well.

[seerge]

@nathancdy those are part of Armoury unfortunately, so you need to install it to try :)

[M-ouse]

Hey @seerge , I just got my ROG g14 2024 (GA403) and I'm willing to help this project, I went through the existed chats to figure things out. Are there any things that my model could help? (Btw, is it possible to diy slash lighting?)

[Classytagz]

Is it possible to fully customize the slash? i know it was possible with the AniMe LEDs with the previous models, but i cant seem to find how to do it with this one

[seerge]

@Classytagz it's just 7 bytes of data, each codes something like 4(?) or 8(?) LEDs (i think).

So FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF - would be full stripe of white LEDs

You can try this build, it supports an optional config parameter (that you need to add to the beginning of config.json after quitting G-Helper)

"slash_custom" : "FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF",

If this param is set for "Static" mode it will use this payload instead of default

GHelper.zip

By default app would set FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF for max brightness, AA-AA-AA-AA-AA-AA-AA - for mid brightness, etc.

[Classytagz]

That's very handy, i'll play around with it for a bit. Thank you!

[seerge]

@Classytagz how many individual elements does slash have ? (i don't have a device atm to check)

I see something like 70+ dots on the laptop pictures, but i can imagine each led can be responsible for like 2 dots at the same time

Cause 7 x 8 would be just 56 leds (meaning each bit is 1 led)

[Classytagz]

That's what im a bit confused about. I counted them, and there's 68 "lines". Idk if each line is its own individual LED though.

[seerge]

@Classytagz but does setting some custom values work ? For simplicity you can treat each letter in a hex as a led (most probably it's 2 .. but that's something i want to know as well)

[henryisu]

I turned off the slash lighting before uninstalling the Asus software, and moving to ghelper, is there a way to turn it back on, as I understand they are working to support it, and be able to manage the light from ghelper. but while it is permanently off. thank you so much,

[seerge]

@henryisu Slash Lighting is supported already :) you should be able to toggle it / change brightness in the app.

[henryisu]

Thanks for responding, that's good news, but I can't get it to turn on, I changed the options and I have the most recent version. What would be the option?

[seerge]

@henryisu it could be that AC service sends some secret "wake up" command, that person helping me implement Slash Lighting in a first place didn't record, so it's not in G-Helper yet.

If you are willing to help - you can try to do that. Just follow steps from main post in this topic.

With the small exception. I don't need to catch all data from AC anymore, but only what it's service sends on start

So for step 3 you need to stop ArmouryCrateService from Windows Services -> start recording -> ArmouryCrateService . And upload record here :)

[jurasssik]

Hi @seerge
Thank you for your work and time. I have GU605MI

log.zip

I stopped ArmoryCrateService in Windows Services. Started recording. Started the service. The result in a log.
Hope this helps.

[jurasssik]

UPD. For some reason, slash lighting didn’t work for me before when Armory Crate was removed.
Now I installed it and saw that it worked. After that I deleted it - and now everything works through g-helper.
I assume that the reason may also be in the windows "system - notifications".

[seerge]

@jurasssik great, thanks.

I have checked the log. It's a couple of init commands there next to what app was sending already

^ASUS Tech.Inc. <--- was sending already (general asus init)
5E C2
5E D1 01 00 01
5E D2 03 00 0C <---- was sending already (mode init)

Now back to initial problem, when slash lighting was refusing to turn on. Can you reproduce it somehow again ? Mb turning it off in AC completely ?

And then check if this build is able to wake it up ?

GHelper.zip

[seerge]

@jurasssik also, since you are already able to record data and have AC.

Can you please do one more record.

AC has a bunch of checkboxes for slash lighting settings, like to turn it on / off on battery, in sleep, etc.

Can you check and uncheck each one of them step by step and record all that ? This is similar to what @mugiwaraboi did already above, but not for all boxes.

But please also write down order of checkboxes in text, so I can guess what is what ... :)

[jurasssik]

@seerge this will take some time as I have already removed AC. But no problem, I'm already installing it again. After that, I just need to download updates for it and reboot. I'll try to record a video.

I also noticed that g-helper seems to have one killer feature missing. To be honest, I would generally keep it turned off all the time, but I really like it if it flashes along with the music I'm listening to.
I didn't find the "sonic match" mode. Or I'm wrong?

[seerge]

@jurasssik try to disable it in AC, and check if G-Helper is able to wake it up now. Ideally you can try old version (from releases page) and compare if that one can't and new one (posted here) can.

As for Sonic Match - it's something I may add later. For AnimeMatrix models G-Helper is already able to show audio-visualisation anyway

[jurasssik]

@seerge please watch the video. let me know if I missed anything or if I can help with anything else.
3rec_2024_05_25_00_13_38_269.zip

Also:

• Turn off slash lighting via AC.
• I turn it on via g-helper. Yes confirm. g-helper (from releases page) awakens slash liighti.
  By the way, exactly the same thing happens in the opposite direction. If I turn off the backlight via g-helper, AC wakes it up.

During the experiments, I stopped the ArmoryCrateService service (via the task manager). It froze several times. But I think this behavior is expected and normal.

"Sonic Match" I'll be looking forward. Thank you.

---

Sorry, after sending the message, a few minutes later I realized that I had not attached the log file.
Thats why file is big. I hope the last lines can be deleted and they will not interfere.
logg_long.zip

[seerge]

@jurasssik great, thanks.

You have recorded quite a lot, but I think I have managed to find a command responsible for this checkbox

Can you test the following:

1. Disable lighting in AC (via that checkbox), and then quit AC / stop it's service
2. Check release version of G-Helper, it shouldn't be able to wake it up at all
3. Check new release GHelper.zip - if it is able to wake it up instead ?

Thanks

[jurasssik]

Hi @seerge
Sure, I can do that. But the problem is, I can't see the slash lighting tab in AC now 0_o.

After I saw that:

• uninstalling AC using Uninstall Tool
• removed g-helper from startup.
  But after reboot (when I installed AC again), it's like AC doesn't recognize this device.
  

However, I can still control SL (slash lighting) by g-helper.
I also tried restarting the service through Task Manager, but it doesn't work. The slash lighting tab in AC doesn't appear. And I got the error a few times:

I'd appreciate any advice on how to bring it back. In the next few days when I have time, I'll try a few more attempts and I think I'll be able to get the AC back up and running, I'll text you results.

[seerge]

@jurasssik looks like a bug on AC side :) I can only advice to uninstall AC again (using it's own uninstaller tool) and install again. Next to that make sure to start all AC services from G-Helper if you have stopped them.

[TitoTito1983]

Hi all! I just installed this fantastic program in my new 2024 G14 laptop. All works great but the slash lightning. Reading this thread it looks like there is probable a bug or something that is preventing G Helper to control the light. Is this a general problem or some of us have the problem?

[TitoTito1983]

Hi @seerge . Good news! yes it is working with that latest version you sent me! I tried with the laptop pugged in, unplogged and work perfectly. Also If I check the option to turn off when running on battery, and it works.
Also, I tried the different designs, and intensity and all works flawlesly.

Sorry for not sending a log, I just dont know how to do it.

So should I keep this version? or go back to 0.170 and wait for a full 0.172 release?

[seerge]

@TitoTito1983 good news. Thanks for checking. And thanks to @jurasssik for recording payloads.

Can you check this build and confirm that both ON and OFF toggles work correctly for Slash Lighting ?

If so - I will push it live

GHelper.zip

[TitoTito1983]

@seerge Yes, turning off slash lightning works and turning it on again works. Also the Dim, Medium and Bright are working properly as well.
Cheers!

[seerge]

@TitoTito1983 great, it's live now https://github.com/seerge/g-helper/releases/tag/v0.173

[TitoTito1983]

@seerge downloaded and I confirm it is working perfectly (just in case). Thanks for the help and for making this amazing software!