Maybe I'm overthinking what I need for my project. I don't need a matrix at all. What I'm trying to achieve is the phaser buildup effect on an Enterprise (1701-D). Essentially, the charge builds up from 2 opposite ends and moves (ala Knight rider pulsing) along until they meet at the center. At that point, I'd have a laser triggered.
This is for a model Enterprise BTW.
So why analog? Well I don't just want to have 1 LED "travel" the distance along the strip. As the charge moves to the center, I want the LEDs that have lit along the way to fade out slowly.
It will essentially look like a wave from either end, travelling towards where the 2 paths meet, then end with a firing of a laser.
Now that I've stated the problem, maybe there's an easier solution than to just get more analog LEDs via a driver. Or maybe not...I'm new to this. 