I have software, hardware and lights and sequences from others. I want
to have a go at my own sequence building but already becoming
frustrated as there is lots of info on how to all the different parts
on there own but not much on how to put all the different jobs
together in a efficient order. Secondly I can't quite get my head
around how to "set up the sequencing proforma "as it were so I can
just copy my set up and add music then start sequencing. Thanks
Jim.......
One thing to remember is work backwards. Make sure that the number of lights are not over the amps. or electrical available. I think it is best to start with a short song, like two minutes. Make a new seq, add song, use the tapper ,and or the beat, Use the play at 1/2 speed or 1/4 speed, and go from there. Most people say it takes about 8 hours or so for each minute of song. Just have fun with it. It will all work out in the end.
It's kinda like eating an elephant. There are several ways to go about it and no matter were you start, it takes some time. Here is what I do...
First, plan out your display. Channel 1 for left bush, channel 2 for right bush, channel 3 for red roof outline, etc.
Start the sequence editor and create an animation sequence using the appropriate number of channels. Go into the channel property grid (tools) and edit the name, color, device type, unit and circuit. You can print this out for future reference (like when you are outside setting everything up). You can also do this by just clicking on the channel name. I prefer to use the channel property grid. As a side note, it is a very good idea to label all the controllers and the cords from each controller.
Once all your channels are configured, click on the animation icon and build your animator. You can add a picture of your house if you would like.
Once the channels and animator are to your liking, click edit, Export Channel Configuration. Give it a name and save. This is your template for everything else you want to do. This template can be changed as needed. You can also have more than one configuration. Currently, I use 3. 1 for Christmas, 1 for Halloween at home and 1 for Halloween while camping.
Close the animation, no need to save.
To start with someone else's sequence:
Open the sequence. Make the appropriate media file association (edit, media file). This will add the music.
Right click on the first channel and select add multiple channels above, and select number of channels in your configuration. Then click edit, import channel configuration, your saved configuration.
This will put your channels on top of the donor sequence. From here you can cut and paste from the donor to yours. When done, delete the donor channels or set device type to no device via the channel property grid (this will help eliminate any possible conflicts).
Save as and name as appropriate.
Note, it is possible to just reassign the donor channels to your channels using the Channel Property grid or clicking the channel name.
Using either of these methods will allow you to retain your animation.
Hope that helps. For us non-writers, it's easy to think and visualize than to put into words.
Last edited on Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 02:28 pm by iresq
I'll take a stab at this. I like the statement "work backwards" A very good point.
Ask yourself what you want your display to look like. Then, what do you want it to do. If you're working from an already large static display, that gives you a base to work from. If not, take a little bit to go sit in front of your home and sketch a little. Make some very basic block drawings of what you see and what you'll decorate. Keep it simple, you'll have the chance to get complicated using the Visualizer in the Sequence Editor.
Now, give each element in your display a unique number in the following fashion 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc... up to 1.16, then change to 2.1, 2.2 etc and repeat every 16 elements. An element is simply something you want to control as an individual item. If you have a bush that will have 3 sets of lights on it, you have a couple choices for that bush. 1) connect them all together and call it one element. 2) connect each string (probably different colors) to an individual channel and give each one a channel number. 3) add a couple hundred more because this is blinky flashy and we love lights!
As was stated, there are some load limitations that must be considered so read those manuals and see what the rules are for load. (That's another thread IMO)
Then: Take your drawing, and create a new Musical Sequence. Add the number of channels you have to it and choose to add timings at 1/10th of a second. (this is just a basic approach to get started with. It can be changed later, or even removed if you find a better way you're more comfortable with) Open the "Tools/Channel Properties" tool. There you can edit the name of the channel to reflect the element you chose. Try to group the elements that are located near each other in the yard on a specific controller as that will reduce the need to shuffle things around when you go to plug everything in. That also helps to reduce the number and length of cords needed to connect everything up.
Now add a photo of your home to the visualizer. There you can draw the elements of your display onto that photo. That will give you a feeling of what it will look like when played. Go back to the editor and turn on the audio graph and "show fades as ramps" then add some effects.
You can drag a range, right-click and choose a lighting effect. Once you've tried a few of these, re-open the visualizer and play them to see the effects you set-up in the editor.
That is the manual way to create a sequence. There are more advanced tools to edit the timings. There's a tap wizard that will take the moments you press the spacebar (or other things) and apply them in several ways. New timings, short periods of on then off, or then ramp down. There's a beat wizard that will try to find the tempo of the song, that can be divided into multiples of the beat. A VU wizard that will apply timings or lighting effects when the audion levels reace a point set by you. That can include L, R or a mix of both.
But the bottom line here is (IMO) you need to have a base to work from. That is the reason to work backwards. If you choose to edit and use other folks sequences, see if you can aquire a video of that sequence in action. That way you will be able to see what parallels you can draw, and associate the elements in your display to those things you see in action.
Did that make any sense to anyone?
Jeff
____________________ Evan... Are you at home resting yet? I'm very glad you're feeling better!
Thanks Pete and Jeff, It's as clear as murky water now (rather than mud). Just to clarify it's easier to set up your own config in Animation sequence to use as your template for your musical sequences. Because when trying to set it up in musical sequence it always required a media file before you could save it so when you went to another song you would have to import the sequence called "template" and then copy your next song.
When you say 'Template" are you referring to the "Export Channel Configuration" tool? Be advised that this tool also copies the Animation window you create.
Otherwise, there is the possibility you mean to create a blank sequence, that you will copy from to create each sequence. The Export/Import tool nullifies the need to have a template sequence to work from. As you make changes to your config, and animation... you can save with a new name describing the changes and keep various revs of the config file...
Jeff
PS Happy Lighting. I hope your season goes well.
____________________ Evan... Are you at home resting yet? I'm very glad you're feeling better!
What I'm trying to work out is how can I keep a template of all my channels once I've renamed them all in relation to what they are assigned too. eg stairway arch white 1,stairway arch white 2 etc etc. also is there an easier way to set up the channels ie some sort of auto complete/populate function like in MS Excell
I thought I read somewhere that you add a controller say with 16 channels.....you do the 1st one then it sompletes the 16.........which leads to my next question with Cosmic colour ribbon........do you have to add all the 155 odd channels one at a time??
LOR will add the channels when you add a controller and assign them but it still will not name them or choose a color or draw them in the animation. There really is not shortcut for any of that. But at least you should only have to do it once.
Plus a few X-10 channels