Setting Minimacs to sound activated mode from Fat Frog?

[samcoombes]

As above, is it possible to set martin minimacs in mode 4 to SA mode using the Fat Frog desk?

 

I have 4 daisy chanied together on channels 49, 59, 69 & 79.

 

Thanks in advance

[K-Nine]

What does setting the Minimacs to sound activated mode actually require ?

 

If this is simply a matter of setting one of the fixture parameters to a particular value then you could always program that data into a submaster

[samcoombes]

as far as i am aware it involves physically scrolling through the menu on the actual mac to get it to the SA mode

 

Is there a way of setting moving lights to operated according to the sound input of the desk? (Does that make sense!?)

[K-Nine]

You can program chases to have a bass drive - which means that each successive step is triggered by the bass beat of the sound input to the desk or is that something different :?:

[samcoombes]

confused there!

[samcoombes]

how would I set the minimacs to operate according to the sound input then? I dont understand the userguide on how to do it!!

 

I presume i'd also have a way of turning it on and off, say on a submaster?

 

Thanks again

[PatrickK]

Selecting S.A. on a minimac can be done by setting a specific value on the shutter-channel.

The manual specifies the exact value.

Standalone minimacs are synchronised to the master unit, who in itself is sound-triggered, hence they all move sync'ed to sound.

However, if you use dmx to set them to sound activation, they won't be sync'ed at all.

Looks kinda messy really.

 

If you require synchronised movement to sound, you will have to program a sound triggered routine on the desk itself.

[samcoombes]

I can only see in the manual how to set them to SA mode using the martin controller.

 

am i correct in thinking that I cannot make them operated by liasing with the Fat Frog Audio input?

[PatrickK]

I can only see in the manual how to set them to SA mode using the martin controller.

 

If you look in the manual at page 40 (DMX Protocol), channel 1(shutter), you will see 168-177 (66-69%) Stand alone w/ music trigger.

It's not exactly the same as S.A., since the units won't be sync'ed.

 

am i correct in thinking that I cannot make them operated by liasing with the Fat Frog Audio input?

You won't be able to feed the frog's audio input directly to the macs.

The way to use the audio input on the green thing is by writing a chase for the macs like you would normally, but using audio trigger instead.

K-nine will be much better in explaining the correct procedure though.

[samcoombes]

oh yes, found it and tried it - they all went mad!!

 

Ideally wanted all 4 macs to do the smae thing in time with music - but don't think it's going to happen. :cry:

[PatrickK]

oh yes, found it and tried it - they all went mad!!

 

Ideally wanted all 4 macs to do the smae thing in time with music - but don't think it's going to happen. :cry:

 

As I said, not sync'd

And they can't be, regular dmx is one-way only.

You will have to do it the hard way (base triggered chase on the Frog)

[K-Nine]

As suggested above ... if you want all the minimac fixtures to do the same thing in time with the music, and be controlled by the frog desk, then the best way is to program a chase memory and set the drive modifier to Bass. Ensure that the sound input is plugges into the back of the desk.

 

Alternatively, you could set the Drive modifier to beat and then get the operator to set the beat speed by tapping the step button when required.

 

For more info on this function .... CLICK HERE

[samcoombes]

can someone guide me in the right direction on how to set this up please?

[Laubfrosch]

Hi Sam,

the guys above set you up in the right and competent way!!! :twisted:

 

All you have to do is to program a chase memory including your minimacs and set times and trigger like you want. You DO NOT have to set the minimacs to any SA mode (SA sounds even shitty to me!!! :wink: F...up german history)

If you can´t deal with chase programming, try the FROG FUNCTION of the Frogs.

 

BUT REMEMBER all Desks and Movinglights only do what they are told!!! :twisted:

 

 

Cheers Sven

[samcoombes]

thanks sven, kind of makes sense but I still cannot get the macs to do anything, they all jsut sit there quietly!!

 

to be honest I think the manual is the thing that is making me all confused!

[K-Nine]

...

to be honest I think the manual is the thing that is making me all confused!

 

I hope you are referring to the Minimac manual and not the Frog Manual

[samcoombes]

:cry: :? Both :cry:

 

Just read Sam hendersons power point thinggy though, should be able to suss it now!

[K-Nine]

If you have any specific questions on the operation of the frog, programming chases, modifiers etc. then please ask and I will do my best to explain

[PatrickK]

And if you have any questions about the mini's, I'll see what I can do.

 

On a side note,

DMX induced stand alone w/ music trigger is indeed quite useless with more than one mac. Unfortunately, I don't really see how Martin could have done it any other way (apart from not implementing it at all).

Synchronised sound activation would require a single fixture designated as the master unit. In itself this would be possible.

Since it isn't possible to use a doubled link between fixtures (if we stick to the dmx standard), there's really no way for the master to communicate directly to the other fixtures while it is also connected to a Frog.

So it's not so much a badly implemented fixture, it's just not a very useful feature.

Unless you want them to move unsync'ed.

[samcoombes]

ok, thanks people.

 

i'm gonna keep playing and see what I can do!

 

Thanks again!