First attempt at looping through (not full) matrix led strip...

Projects Programming
14

Try splitting these up, I don't know if you can do it as 1 burst like that.

  // bring 'SS' pin low
  digitalWrite (SS,LOW);

  //transfer SPI data to chip/device
  SPI.transfer (DECODE_MODE);  
  SPI.transfer (0x00);  // 0x00 - no-decode mode
  digitalWrite (SS,  HIGH);

digitalWrite (SS,LOW);
  SPI.transfer (INTENSITY_ADDRESS);  
  SPI.transfer (0x0F);  // 0x0F - max on/brightness
  digitalWrite (SS,  HIGH);

digitalWrite (SS,LOW);
  SPI.transfer (SCANLIMIT_ADDRESS);  
  SPI.transfer (0x07);  // 0xFF or 0x07? 0x07 - all display digits on
  digitalWrite (SS,  HIGH);

digitalWrite (SS,LOW);
  SPI.transfer (SHUTDOWN_ADDRESS);  
  SPI.transfer (0x01);  // 0x01 - normal operation mode
  digitalWrite (SS,  HIGH);

digitalWrite (SS,LOW);
  SPI.transfer(DISPLAYTEST_ADDRESS);
  SPI.transfer(0x00);  // 0x00 - normal operation mode
  //bring 'SS' pin high
  digitalWrite (SS,  HIGH);
}

and rearrange here to get rid of the delay between address & data

  for (int x = 0; x < 8; x=x+1){
    Serial.println("");
    Serial.println("REGISTER ADDRESS");
    Serial.println(registerAddress[x]);
    Serial.println("");

    Serial.println("REGISTER DATA");
    Serial.println(registerData[x]);
    Serial.println("");

    digitalWrite (SS,LOW);
    SPI.transfer (registerAddress[x]);  // register to write to
    SPI.transfer (registerData[x]);  // and value 
    digitalWrite (SS,  HIGH);
  }