FLX feature request / Chase and effects help

[O Thompson]

Morning folks,

 

I've  jumped on a few threads to try and get a few answers to my questions etc... however i thought i'd list them here in case anyone can offer any insight, or the responses may help others.

 

1. Is it possible to change the speed of an effect (not a chase) by using the global BPM option?
   • allowing effect speed to be altered on the fly
2. Is it possible to "synchronise" the steps of multiple chases, so that again, they could be mixed on the fly during a gig - for example, steps 1-3 of PB1 are in sync with 1-3 of PB2
   • I'm thinking a Par chase with playbacks for R,G and B versions of the same chase, that can be mixed on the fly.
3. Is it possible to set a HTP (highest takes precedence) option for the colour parameter of a fixture (and other parameters for that matter) other than intensity
   • So that RGB colour mixing could be possible without having to tag specific colours in the playback recording. This would also allow for effects and chases to be "mixed" for rock and roll / busking gigs
   • I have seen the RGB tutorial for colour mixing on playbacks, but this has limitations when applying the same rules to chases that utilise RGB to achieve the required results. 

To add some clarity to this... We are using the FLX in a school theatre. For some "rock and roll" gigs, its really useful to have a preset show file that students can load and busk with. Previously, the venue had a Zero 88 Jester 24/48 with which most of the above could be done with the push of a button, but we hit limitations with channel count.

 

I understand that most of my questions don't really follow the normal way of thinking in a professional lighting environment. I am actually biased towards audio, and my modest lighting experience is pre LED in any professional capacity... so colour mixing was just gel'd pars or scrollers and life was simpler...

 

I would appreciate any input.

[Edward Z88]

Hello,

On 6/7/2019 at 10:55 AM, O Thompson said:

Is it possible to change the speed of an effect (not a chase) by using the global BPM option?

• allowing effect speed to be altered on the fly

Not by using the Global BPM, however the Speed Override control on the console allows you to speed up/ slow down programmed effects on the currently viewed playback. Speed Override can be found on the second encoder wheel by pressing Z, or can be configured to an empty playback by holding SETUP and tapping an empty playback. The currently viewed playback can be selected by holding VIEW and tapping the playback's button.

On 6/7/2019 at 10:55 AM, O Thompson said:

Is it possible to "synchronise" the steps of multiple chases, so that again, they could be mixed on the fly during a gig - for example, steps 1-3 of PB1 are in sync with 1-3 of PB2

• I'm thinking a Par chase with playbacks for R,G and B versions of the same chase, that can be mixed on the fly

 

Global BPM will allow you to do this. More information can be found here...

http://support.zero88.com/1011580981

I would then record a blank dummy playback, that contains triggers for both chases, in order for them to start at the same time. To do this, tap RECORD, and tap an empty playback. View this playback, and then tap the cue's Settings button. Then tap Macros... -> Trigger Cue Stacks, and select each chase. Click OK on the Macros window, and OK on the Settings window. Now when you raise this playback's fader, your chases will run together, at the speed of the Global BPM.

On 6/7/2019 at 10:55 AM, O Thompson said:

Is it possible to set a HTP (highest takes precedence) option for the colour parameter of a fixture (and other parameters for that matter) other than intensity

• So that RGB colour mixing could be possible without having to tag specific colours in the playback recording. This would also allow for effects and chases to be "mixed" for rock and roll / busking gigs
• I have seen the RGB tutorial for colour mixing on playbacks, but this has limitations when applying the same rules to chases that utilise RGB to achieve the required results. 

 

The simplest way of doing this, is to enable "Fader controls colour" on your colour playbacks you wish to mix. Information on how to do this can be found here...

http://support.zero88.com/1011405471

Hope this all helps, if you have any questions just let us know.

Edward

[O Thompson]

Thanks Edward,

An additional question if i may...

After creating chases that can be mixed in an RGB fashion. is it possible to set the way the colour parameter fades? to elaborate, i know can set the intensity to cross fade, ramp up / down from the chase setting on the playback. But is there a way to do this with the colour parameter too? rather than just jumping to 100% in each step of the chase? When i run the chase over a black stage, its fine, but if i run the chase over a wash using the same LED fixtures at 100% intensity, then the cross fade effect is lost and the chase is "jumpy" again...

[Edward Z88]

Hello,

You can configure colour parameters to fade between cues in a chase in the same way you can configure intensity. To do this hold SETUP and tap your chases’s button. At the bottom of the window you can configure the colour fade percentage for the cue transition.

All the best,

Edward

[O Thompson]

Thanks again Edward.

I have done that, but it doesn't seem to have any effect? In this case, i am running a red chase over a blue wash, but using the same LED fixtures for both the chase and wash. When the chase runs without the wash, the fade is obvious, but when run over the wash, the chase "jumps" without any fade. I have attached the show file for you if this helps. PB 13 is a red chase in this example, and the washes are on PB's 6-8 (RGB).

Further to this... I cant seem to get the Speed Override to work either. If i program all my pars to use the "smooth" effect recorded to a playback, no speed override shows up when i press the Z button? Any ideas?

 

Capture Example.isf