Creating your own custom effects

[Sam M]

Hi there, 

 

I know that you can create your own custom effects by using a sub-master (playback) using chase or something like that, but can you then save this as an effect to use in a master playback?

 

Cheers

[kgallen]

Yes but maybe not in the way you describe. 
 

You can create any sequence of cues on a playback then you can trigger that playback from any other playback(s) when you want to trigger that sequence. When you start programming the sequence, when you go to record the second cue, the desk will ask if you want to create a sequence, where you can set the speed. 
 

Effects are something slightly different. On FLX S (compared to ‘full’ FLX) they are a little more limited on how you can create your own. But nonetheless you can setup say some movers in a position pattern with some colours and gobos then you can record that as your own Effect palette. You can use this effect palette in the same way you can use any other palette type. 

[Sam M]

On 7/1/2022 at 7:03 PM, kgallen said:

Yes but maybe not in the way you describe. 
 

You can create any sequence of cues on a playback then you can trigger that playback from any other playback(s) when you want to trigger that sequence. When you start programming the sequence, when you go to record the second cue, the desk will ask if you want to create a sequence, where you can set the speed. 
 

Effects are something slightly different. On FLX S (compared to ‘full’ FLX) they are a little more limited on how you can create your own. But nonetheless you can setup say some movers in a position pattern with some colours and gobos then you can record that as your own Effect palette. You can use this effect palette in the same way you can use any other palette type. 

Cheers, if I wanted to make the lights move, could I do that, or pulse every 5 seconds say?

I'll have a look on Phantom, but any response would be appreciated

[kgallen]

Yes of course. (I was hoping Edward might chip in here as I’m not fully familiar with the restrictions on Effects on FLX-S!).

You could approach this several ways. I think with FLX-S you mostly have to use the preprogrammed effects palettes.

It’s probably easier to deal with the intensity and movement parts separately. So I’d select your fixtures and have a play with the Effects marked ‘I’ which are intensity effects and see if there is something there that suits. You should be able to adjust the speed and ‘size’. I think there is a 1/8 intensity effect which might be a start.

On the movement side it depends what you want to do. Again, look at the Effects marked ‘P’ which are position effects. There are circles, figure-of-8, fly-in etc. maybe one of them suits with adjustment to speed and size. 

If the existing Effects palettes get you something you like, you can layer each type onto your fixtures. When you’re happy you can then RECORD this new composite effect to a new effect palette. Ensure the palette when recorded is marked with I and P.

If you want to do something quite different on intensity and movement than what’s available from the Effects palette then you will need to go down the route of programming a sequence. You could do this all on one playback, but if you wanted independent control of intensity and movement you might want to put each on a separate playback then overlay the two, maybe triggered from another playback.

Maybe time to have a read of relevant parts of the manual and have a search on this Forum for similar questions as there are details you’ll need to understand (like tracking and only recording certain attributes).

Good luck!

[Edward Z88]

20 minutes ago, kgallen said:

(I was hoping Edward might chip in here as I’m not fully familiar with the restrictions on Effects on FLX-S!).

(I’m currently on holiday as I’m moving house, so can’t give this my full attention!)

All of @kgallen’s comments are, as always, very helpful. Regarding Effects, the main difference between FLX and FLX S is you don’t have the Waveforms engine on FLX S.

See the link below for more information…

 

Edward

[kgallen]

26 minutes ago, Edward Z88 said:

(I’m currently on holiday as I’m moving house, so can’t give this my full attention!)

Sorry Edward! Hope it's going ok! You seem to have found your laptop at least. Hope you also found the bread and baked beans! 😆