The Lighting Controller II

Generator: Perhaps I am just spoiled with Studio One Pro organization "Drag and Drop" general operation, and "customizations" (while being independently storable as "presets" if desired) being locked to the session (Timeline equivalent) instead of globally and not piling up variants. Something seems very convoluted between Generator and Timeline and Select Lightshow and/or I am just not familiar enough with modern DMX tools yet.

It would seem in edit timeline, right click block->edit in generator... edit, save (as a new preset/generator project) it should propagate into back into the same session it was in as that would be the whole point of doing so, though it does not. Instead, one must then return to the timeline, delete the edited block, then reload the new one. If making a whole new one originating in generator then clearly it would not.

I'm already over 100 scenes and just scratching the surface. I can imagine needing thousands which would be quite unruly and unnecessarily time consuming when injecting them into a Timeline. I would think it cleaner if the generator created "base" or preset configurations then the modifications in Timeline save to that Timeline, not the global generator project pool unless so desired as well. Again, perhaps I am just "not getting" the DMX world yet so please forgive my ignorance if so.

- When Generator's DMX button is set to on, the Timeline does not run, or runs improperly requiring more yet clicking which seems should be automagically handled when moving from operation to operation, such as Generator to Timeline which seems to be frequently needed.

- As well, shouldn't DMX be set to on by default when opening this module except when actively running a "LightShow" or "Timeline"? As mentioned elsewhere, perhaps I am just misunderstanding the logic structure. If so, please steer me.

- Fixtures seem deselected when opening existing generator projects, yet still seem to work when play is pressed. Is this intended? If so, why?
Seems one of the controller modes (Standard or Floating Points) should be set and ready to go for any set to on channel though I can't say I could define a rule as to which without getting into a rather large ifthenelse array.

Thank you,
Mivan

"Drag and Drop" general operation, and "customizations"

The reason is the GUI of our software has to be ok for mobile platforms and our target is one software with the same GUI for all platforms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy4GXQN ... 4AdKM5naDx

It would seem in edit timeline, right click block->edit in generator... edit, save (as a new preset/generator project) it should propagate into back into the same session it was in as that would be the whole point of doing so, though it does not. Instead, one must then return to the timeline, delete the edited block, then reload the new one. If making a whole new one originating in generator then clearly it would not.

You have just to pause in play again in TimeLine and you will see the changes done in Generator.

I'm already over 100 scenes and just scratching the surface. I can imagine needing thousands which would be quite unruly and unnecessarily time consuming when injecting them into a Timeline. I would think it cleaner if the generator created "base" or preset configurations then the modifications in Timeline save to that Timeline, not the global generator project pool unless so desired as well.

Yes, creating a TimeLine project takes a long time. We however do not see how to help for that because all projects are so different.

When Generator's DMX button is set to on, the Timeline does not run, or runs improperly requiring more yet clicking which seems should be automagically handled when moving from operation to operation, such as Generator to Timeline which seems to be frequently needed.
As well, shouldn't DMX be set to on by default when opening this module except when actively running a "LightShow" or "Timeline"?

This may be good for you, but we think that some other users will not like that. We think it is better to let the user to control the "DMX/3D" "on/off" switches.

Fixtures seem deselected when opening existing generator projects

They are selected here. Could you please post a video showing that ?

Seems one of the controller modes (Standard or Floating Points) should be set and ready to go for any set to on channel though I can't say I could define a rule as to which without getting into a rather large ifthenelse array.

Noted, but we are not able to define any rule as well.

Yes... as I mentioned, I am likely spoiled on Fast and Easy in S1Pro and generally do not work on a cell, tablet, etc.

Thank you, I'll try that out and try to keep what I touched last in mind.

I think that is exactly my point, they are so different. Making a "one off" LightShow from component parts as opposed to from scratch each time would save a ton of time and effort. I may just be seeing the hierarchy incorrectly or something. I imagine setting lights to songs (individually)... then for a particular lightshow, selecting the songs I want in that show, assembling them (along with their lighting components, similar to how audio and video connect) into a cohesive whole, saving then running when needed. Swapping songs, the order of songs, dropping or adding songs, improving them at the song level over time, etc. and being able to save those new "lightshows" as/when desired.

I've no idea what workflow would be opposed to such, can you or anyone reading this please elaborate? As stated, I am quite new to the DMX/Lighting world, there is much I don't know. Again, precisely what I am stating... the user should decide, minus all the extra clicking required just to get back where you started. Example: From Timeline (Editing)->Right Click a block->Edit in Generator... to preview your change (which would be the vast majority of the time as near as I can tell) you must set DMX on which you'd need and want for testing, though must then set it back to off in order to return the see it in the context of the TimeLine (or it makes a mess in Timeline) which was the entire goal to begin with, then again, I am the n00b here. I may just not be "getting it" yet. Perhaps a better question is, in what context would others have issues with it? Perhaps there is something critical I can learn. Or maybe "leave in initial state" when switching modules which in our example would be off may resolve it?

I will try to make a video when I have time. In hindsight, I should have just setup and ran the camera over my shoulder from the beginning. I'm certain most of you would nearly die laughing.

Indeed, resolving that one would be a conundrum for sure.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_tUPg_ ... p=drivesdk

I made a screen capture video of "fixtures falling out"... as mentioned, I don't consider it a bug as I'm not sure how it is supposed to work, and it doesn't seem to bother anything I've noticed though it is curious. So long as I reselect DMX ON, they seem to run ok like this.

Thank you,
Mivan

Thank you for the clear video.
This is not a bug.
There is no fixtures selected when loading the scene project.
This selection is used to modify one or some fixtures in the scene.

Ok, so it is intended. I wasn't claiming it a bug. Though I remain curious as to why they'd not be "saved" as made. I'm probably just missing something yet.

Thank you,
Mivan

Additional Thoughts:
- I suppose allowing folders inside of the generator>project folder is not an option to help alleviate the organizational clutter?

- Any chance of getting a few more decimals on the [duration] Time block, or some other way to more readily sync to tempo/bars? Whole numbers work fine for some tempos without much fuss, others they do not. Something just seems incongruent with everything in seconds vs. bars/tempo for the music realm. I'd suspect in other realms seconds would make the most sense... theater comes to mind. Would both worlds be possible?

- The ability to group channels in the "Bar <<channel>>" to do basic setup would be great. Ex: Setting up a single color (enabled and standard type) for all "nodes" on a beam bar for even a single color takes upwards of 10+ minutes. 1 minute or less would be a lot better.

- Some sort of sampler for taking "snips" of sections of auto/animation/sound modes would be super useful. I'd presume a DMX "sniffer" of some sort would be required? As it is, about all I can come up with is trying to mimic sections I like and adjusting to taste. Very time consuming.

Thank you,
Mivan

Whole numbers work fine for some tempos without much fuss, others they do not

If possible, please post a video that shows this problem.

subfolders in Generator folfer.

Noted.

more decimals on the duration

Noted.

group channels in the "Bar <<channel>>"

Board Cretor and Color Board are supposed to do that automatically.

You said Sound2Beat runs global when I suggested I imagined it would be great as a "plug-in" of sorts at a lower level, such as Generator. Which led me to ask for more decimals. I will try to illuminate my problem, from my view. Please do keep in mind I am new to DMX and this tool. I fully contend I may be going about this entirely wrong, or perhaps just very uncommonly.

I'm not sure how I'd make a video of it... It's a math thing. The Light Controller is quite "pegged" on seconds. Music is in Bars "pegged" at a Particular Tempo and Time Signature, or in some styles not very pegged at all, more of a go with the feel and punch light buttons along the way or hit particular cues I'd suppose. In the latter case this wouldn't matter. However, I and many others typically work in time signatures and tempos in blocks of bars... usually 4 or multiples thereof, generally not seconds outside of mastering.

So, an example would be: Tempo= 120bpm + Time Signature = 4/4 = would yield 2 seconds per bar with half a second per beat. So, easy enough to get the lights in a "Generated Block" to "Hit" (i.e. do what you want at a particular beat/rhythm, etc.)... Such as Beat one, light group 1 up, Beat three, light group 1 down, etc. To do that, I'd set the Generator to 2 seconds, or multiples of, like 8 (sec), then place the "point(s)" buttons on the quarter points every half second, and stick the "action" on/between those points, save, and inject into any "song" at 120bpm and it should be "on beat" and do the same thing (which it seems to do nicely), or however I modify it from there... such as a color swap, etc. which it also seems to hold well, presuming of course I can stick it on the right beat to start with... nudging appropriately for latency, which appears quite low with this system. This whole thing is also related to why I asked for another level of zoom.

However, this same block will not work for: Tempo= 128bpm + Time Signature = 4/4 (very common for dance music) because now 1 Bar = 1.875 seconds, and a beat is 0.46875 seconds yet Generators "String Box (sec.)" only allows for a whole numbers and one decimal place, so the entire thing falls out of time, some rather quickly... or you hunt a common whole number.x multiple and work the math. I initially thought perhaps they'd shrink or expand similar to how the snaps work with zoom in and out, though have not found that to be the case. I would also note, I am aware varied different tempos can syncopate quite nicely.

Perhaps I can shoot a video of a 120 and then a 128 (or a larger spread) with blocks made for 120 if you thought that would help any. I'm fairly certain a screen capture won't illuminate it well, particularly since I've yet to get 3D working sensibly.

Awesome!

Awesome!

Hmmm.... Drive the generator from "Boards"? I still have not dug into boards beyond a cursory level. I'll get there eventually.

Thank you,
Mivan