ScreenFX

ScreenFX turns an Alienware laptop keyboard into a low-latency extension of the screen. It captures the primary display, builds a cinematic 10x6 color field, and streams it directly to all 93 keyboard LEDs through the Darfon V5 controller.

Optional Windows loopback audio analysis adds stereo-aware impacts, bass pulses, music movement, and scene-cut emphasis.

Compatibility

Currently verified on:

• Alienware 16 Area-51 AA16250 Advanced Keyboard
• USB VID/PID 0D62:1BBC
• Darfon lighting API V5
• Windows 11

The keyboard ID and 93-key layout are currently model-specific. Other Alienware laptops may use the same protocol but need a new VID/PID and key map. Contributions for additional models are welcome.

Download And Run

Download a build or build the project locally. Keep the generated folder structure intact, then run:

• Start ScreenFX.cmd: stable screen-reactive mode
• Start ScreenFX Audio.cmd: screen and system-audio reactive mode
• Stop ScreenFX.cmd: stop ScreenFX and restart Alienware Command Center FX

ScreenFX temporarily stops AlienFXSubAgent.exe while running because AWCC and direct hardware control cannot safely own the keyboard at the same time. A native ownership guard prevents Dell TechHub from silently relaunching AWCC's lighting processes and taking the keyboard back while ScreenFX is active.

Build

Requirements:

• Windows 11
• Rust stable toolchain
• Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools with Desktop development with C++

Build from PowerShell:

.\build.ps1

The ready-to-run package is created in outputs\.

Command-Line Options

screenfx.exe --fps 20 --lighting-fps 20 --brightness 1.20 --saturation 2.00 --smoothing 0.72

• --fps N: screen analysis rate, 1-60
• --lighting-fps N: keyboard write rate, 1-36
• --brightness N: output brightness, 0.0-2.0
• --saturation N: color saturation, 0.0-2.0
• --smoothing N: previous-color weight, 0.0-0.95
• --no-audio: disable audio-reactive effects
• --preview: analyze and print colors without touching keyboard lighting

Architecture

• src/main.rs: screen capture, cinematic color engine, and audio response
• native/darfon_bridge.cpp: direct 93-key Darfon V5 lighting output
• native/audio_meter.cpp: Windows loopback audio analyzer
• vendor/alienfx-sdk: required subset of the MIT-licensed AlienFX SDK

Safety

ScreenFX sends temporary lighting commands only. It does not flash firmware or save boot-time lighting profiles. Stop ScreenFX before opening AWCC lighting controls.

License

ScreenFX is available under the MIT License. The vendored AlienFX SDK subset is also MIT licensed; see THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md.