Feature Suggestions

[samsc]

I think that can probably be done.

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I think you are using an ETC console?

Are you using dmx or Midi show control to activate presets?

[andyv]

We are using an ETC Obsession 2 console, and trigger the presets from DMX. Only posting this as an idea, but perhaps a second DMX channel could be used as a rate control. This could be a different DMX profile, i.e. 1 Channel Preset trigger, or 2 channel preset trigger with rate control. The rate channel could be 50% ( 127 ) the preset recall uses the preset fade times. Decreasing the rate channel would slow down the fade, until you reach 0 at which point it would be stopped. Increasing the rate control channel would speed up the fade until you reach full ( 255 ) at which point it is a snap. This would allow preset recall on consoles like the Obsession 2 to be a little easier for rehersals. In our instance of the production we do have a guy sitting with the Mac programming the presets, but I can see that once programming in complete and they are just running reheasals, stepping back into cues could be a lengthy process if some of the cues have long time. What does anyone else think about the rate channel ?

Andy

[samsc]

i think its a good idea.

but you are looking to solve a technical problem with another system.

the etc console you are using isnt very good at handling moving light type dmx cues at full resolution 16bit res. normally part cues running on the lighting console could handle this.

The problem with my presets - is really that - i have individual timing on each and every parameter- and there is no overall cue time. there is no such thing as 50% fade complete.

But i could come up with a mode selectable for each parameter ( on or off ) that did have a 'complete' time, and was linked to a second dmx channel as part of the preset dmx spec.
Or even a third channel because in this type of scenario you might actually want to have 2 or more handles onto different parameters, with different sets of timing.

intensity, movie speed, and image movement, do not neccesarily have the same 'visual' analogous complete times.

[andyv]

I was thinking of the extra dmx channel being a rate control. It would proportionally scale the current fades in progress. With the DMX channel at 50%, the preset would recall in all it's associated fade time. Changing the dmx channel towards zero would proportionally scale all running fades, equally changing the dmx value towards 100% would proportionally speed up the running fades.

0% = stop
25% = Fade time doubled ( i.e. a 5 sec fade would be 10 sec )
50% = unmodified fade time ( i.e. 5 sec fade would be 5 sec )
75 % = Fade time halved ( i.e. 5 sec fade would be 2.5 sec )
100% = snap

This approach is different to the idea of a timing channel that is found on moving lights.

I only had this idea, as in our situation it would be useful, but in the long run I would prefer a console that enables me to program the layers from the console.

Andy

[samsc]

yes.

this would have to be accessible from my samsc cue list as well.