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Thread: Layers across multiple mixes

  1. #1

    Layers across multiple mixes

    Hi,

    I often have requests to 'map' media across 4 or 5 surfaces (which currently are 4 or 5 individual mixes) on stage.

    I am trying to achieve the effect of masking all the gaps between the surfaces and only display content on my mixes. But rather than one piece of content be duplicated 4 or 5 times I want it to appear as a whole across the 4 or 5 mixes.

    Is this something to do with Exact Map?

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by Trench117 View Post
    Hi,

    I often have requests to 'map' media across 4 or 5 surfaces (which currently are 4 or 5 individual mixes) on stage.

    I am trying to achieve the effect of masking all the gaps between the surfaces and only display content on my mixes. But rather than one piece of content be duplicated 4 or 5 times I want it to appear as a whole across the 4 or 5 mixes.

    Is this something to do with Exact Map?
    You can create a canvas of mixes by offsetting mixes from each other. Doesn't matter what mix type it is.
    Route the layer to all mixes
    in the mix options window adjust the x and y offset (a mix is 2 units wide and tall)
    you can now move the content around mixes or spread it across all of them.

    For example: mixes 1 2 and 3 side by side. (this will work whatever the resolution of the mixes)
    give mix 1 a x offset of -2.000
    give mix 3 a x offset of +2.000
    leave mix 2 with an x offset of 0

    put your one piece of content onto a single layer
    route the layer to mixes 1, 2 and 3
    now adjust x position on the layer and the content should pan across all the mixes. Adjust scale and you can fill all 3 mixes with a single image.
    Paul Kenah
    Catalyst Expert

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Winter Garden, FL USA
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    77
    I would like to jump in on this as well. Lets say I have 2 LED walls. One stage right, one stage left. What I would usually do is set mix 1 to take care of the SR wall, Mix 2 to take care of the SL wall, and Mix 3 to cover both walls. I have run into the problem of one of the mixes "stepping" on the other mixes. I usually have to set the mix that is doing that to "Flat - locked to corners", and at that point it will allow the other mixes to be seen. Am I going about this the right way? Its working for me, just thought there might be a better way of doing that.

    Sorry to hijack the thread, but I thought this will add to the topic. Thanks

  4. #4
    Thanks Paul that works great.

    If I now want to send a layer direct to one of those mixes I have to offset the layer to compensate for the mix offset. Is it worth setting up another set of mixes that are not offset for times when I don't want to have content across all outputs? Perhaps this is making it more complex than it needs to be.

    Cheers.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
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    UK - Milton Keynes
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    807
    could do - or just set up a preset to change between offset and not offset...


    s
    Simon Pugsley

    SNP Productions Ltd. (UK)
    Lighting & Video Control Solutions
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  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by MattMills View Post
    I would like to jump in on this as well. Lets say I have 2 LED walls. One stage right, one stage left. What I would usually do is set mix 1 to take care of the SR wall, Mix 2 to take care of the SL wall, and Mix 3 to cover both walls. I have run into the problem of one of the mixes "stepping" on the other mixes. I usually have to set the mix that is doing that to "Flat - locked to corners", and at that point it will allow the other mixes to be seen. Am I going about this the right way? Its working for me, just thought there might be a better way of doing that.

    Sorry to hijack the thread, but I thought this will add to the topic. Thanks

    Hey Matt, That's currently How i've always done it as well, for me seems to work the easiest for on the fly changes that way.

    I avoid using Mix's 1 and 2 as those are default tied to Screen 1 and 2 IIRC, but it always gives issues so I normally start at mix 3.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by MattMills View Post
    I would like to jump in on this as well. Lets say I have 2 LED walls. One stage right, one stage left. What I would usually do is set mix 1 to take care of the SR wall, Mix 2 to take care of the SL wall, and Mix 3 to cover both walls. I have run into the problem of one of the mixes "stepping" on the other mixes. I usually have to set the mix that is doing that to "Flat - locked to corners", and at that point it will allow the other mixes to be seen. Am I going about this the right way? Its working for me, just thought there might be a better way of doing that.

    Sorry to hijack the thread, but I thought this will add to the topic. Thanks
    Matt, do you have screen shots of your mix set up?
    Paul Kenah
    Catalyst Expert

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Trench117 View Post
    Thanks Paul that works great.

    If I now want to send a layer direct to one of those mixes I have to offset the layer to compensate for the mix offset. Is it worth setting up another set of mixes that are not offset for times when I don't want to have content across all outputs? Perhaps this is making it more complex than it needs to be.

    Cheers.
    It depends on how your programming and how you like to work. Catalyst is very flexible so there can be multiple ways of achieving the same result.

    I usually program in a theatrical environment using a hog 3.
    Using offsets means I can create positioning palettes in the hog and not have to worry about routing and de-routing mixes from layers.
    However if you're programming in presets then you would understandably want a quicker way to position content on a mix, in which case creating a second set of mixes without offsets is a very viable solution. Or as Simon pointed out you can change what the offsets are storing them into a preset.

    You have to experiment a bit to find what suits your programming style, system and the requirements of your production best.

    Paul
    Paul Kenah
    Catalyst Expert

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Sandals512 View Post
    I avoid using Mix's 1 and 2 as those are default tied to Screen 1 and 2 IIRC, but it always gives issues so I normally start at mix 3.
    Mix 1 and 2 are tied to screen 1 and 2 if you have them in "full screen mix" mode, but they aren't set to this by default.
    Otherwise they function the same as any other mix.
    Paul Kenah
    Catalyst Expert

  10. #10
    For about 5 years now I have been stacking mixes. Imagine the following scenario:

    3 screens on a stage

    For content:
    • Mix 3 is a mix spanning all 3 screens
    • Mix 4 is screen 1
    • Mix 5 screen 2
    • Mix 6 screen 3


    For IMAG through phoenix capture:
    • Mix 7 is a mix spanning all 3 screens
    • Mix 8 is screen 1
    • Mix 9 screen 2
    • Mix 10 screen 3


    Layer Assignments:
    • Mix 3 Layers 1-5
    • Mix 4 Layers 6-10
    • Mix 5 Layers 11-15
    • Mix 6 Layers 16-20
    • Mix 7 Layers 21-25
    • Mix 8 Layers 26,27
    • Mix 9 Layers 28,29
    • Mix 10 Layers 30,31


    In this scenario, the three screens can be any size and any distance between each other including 1 big screen. It's the perfect festival style because a daily workflow is adjusting each mix to each new wall. Then there is practically no reprogramming of palettes.

    In all cases, my cue stack had all layers of each mix 4,5,6 pointing to the same stack number from mix three. IE 6,11,16 reference 1, 7,12,17 reference layer 2 etc. Then all it takes is bump buttons and dimmer effects to create dynamics.

    This is all programmed from a lighting desk. If you notice I did not use Mix Layer Assigns as it would just over complicate. Actually this is a bit of a lie because I would mix layer assign to group IMAG layers on to mix 7 when I needed more than 2 full screen effects. However, this was only for specific needs.

    This is exactly how I programmed GnR six months ago and the show is bullet proof no matter what operator comes on after me because I kept it simple and intuitive.
    SourceChild
    TODD SCRUTCHFIELD

    ...if it ain't broke...
    gimme 5 and then don't act surprised

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