Create chase the slows down!

[Stan Vigurs]

I commonly create a chase to create a passing train effect which is very affective, but I have been 'requested' to create an arriving train that slows down and stops and other than to cross fade a chase into a static cue I cannot think how to do this.

Any ideas? 

[kgallen]

Put the speed parameter onto a playback fader and do it by hand?

I think you can do that… or is that Global Tap Tempo… 🤔

[Davidmk]

@Stan Vigurs I don't think a chase's speed can be controlled from a fader, you can set the speed to Tap Tempo and use the PB button to control it or (as @kgallen alludes) Global Tap Tempo and use an MFK or another playback's button. Speed Override simply changes the speed of a running cues transition.

These options would allow the rate of speed to be varied manually but it would depend on the skill of the operator. 

To get something repeatable (that will always run with the same timings) I think you would have to program lots of identical cues each with an Auto After trigger and a different time on each (nightmare, especially bad as you'd need different sequences for speed up and slow down).

Perhaps something clever could be done with macros @Jon Hole could advise?

[Jon Hole]

19 hours ago, Stan Vigurs said:

I commonly create a chase to create a passing train effect which is very affective

Please can you provide a bit more context on what the end result looks like, and how you get there? For example, what is the chase actually doing (just intensities? pan?). What's the end goal, to emulate the headlights of the train passing, or something else? What fixtures are you using? How many? From what direction onto the stage?

(Or, even better, a video of the effect).

Then we can get our thinking hats on regarding how you could achieve this.

[kgallen]

This forum is like a train. Nothing for months then everyone is prepping for a Christmas show 🤣.

At least Santa is back from his holidays to help us out. 😎

[Stan Vigurs]

Ok, let me pack out the context a bit!

I create a passing train, or (using some dramatic license), being in a train carriage compartment when the train in moving effect, by having an array of three spots each with a train carriage window gobo fitted, focussed in three positions across the stage and then creating a chase that steps from one spot to the next sequentially. Believe it or not this is quite effective.

What I have in our next production is a scene with characters in a carriage that is travelling and then stops! 

I thought that if I could create a slowing chase and then cross fade into the next cue which would be all three spots live across the stage then this may achieve an acceptable effect of the train being static. 

The challenge is the slowing chase.

So, any ideas? I'm open to an alterative approach in anyone has one!

Video's are not an option!

[Jon Hole]

That's super helpful, thank you!

If you could add a fourth light into the mix, you could use the "Chase (1/4)" effect instead of a chase. This has an advantage of a "Speed" channel, which you could then programme at "0" on the second cue, and set the fade to whatever length you want. The only issue is that you wouldn't be easily able to guarantee which of the four it would stop on permanently - not sure if that's an issue?

[Stan Vigurs]

Thanks Jon, sounds if I could do something with that. I can certainly add an additional spot and I could add an additional cue that brought up all spots to the same level after the previous cue.

I'm not familiar with your Chase (1/4), what that means or how I achieve it. Could you fill that out a bit for me please? 

 

Many thanks.

[kgallen]

Just select your 4 spots (order matters) and light them, Effect, pick chase1/4, use encoders to set speed and size to adjust depth of fade. Select Forwards/Backwards as required.

I’d record that into a new effect palette so you can grab it quickly. (Won’t store the intensity unless you green stripe that option in the record settings).