Set Default Intensity Per Channel

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version

   Wanted to ask here before I posted this over in the suggestions...

Let me preface this by saying, for Halloween, I use primarily spotlights. For each light, I aim it and decide what intensity looks the best for each light on it's own. This year I have about 20 different spotlights that turn on and off a lot throughout a 10 minute show.

This is my first year using Aurora, and I haven't really had time to figure out everything about it. Last year was the first year doing this and I used the Spectrum software from D-Light which I don't think was any better at this. So my issue is this, I turn on the lights a lot and each time I turn it on I have to set the intensity using the sliders which can be tedious. I realize I can use the "Recent" settings bar to paste in settings, but each channel is a different intensity and I would like to work chronologically and not go through and set up each channel through the whole sequence.

What I would like to be able to do is have a maximum intensity setting for each channel. For each spotlight I have, I want to be able to tell it that it can't go above a certain percentage intensity. I think what would be easiest to program would be to have a setting on each channel that sets the max intensity (defaults to 100%), and then when playing back the program, use the intensity set in the grid to reflect off that max intensity setting in the channel. So if the max intensity is set to 50% for the channel, and something in that channel is set for 100% intensity in the grid, then it comes out as 50%, and if set to 50% in the grid then it would come out as 25%.

Does this make sense to anyone? Am I just using the software wrong and making everything way more complicated than it needs to be? (I have a tendency to do that.)

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version
Sven Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Oct 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Quote Reply Topic: Set Default Intensity Per Channel Posted: 29 Oct 2008 at 1:03pm
	Wanted to ask here before I posted this over in the suggestions... Let me preface this by saying, for Halloween, I use primarily spotlights. For each light, I aim it and decide what intensity looks the best for each light on it's own. This year I have about 20 different spotlights that turn on and off a lot throughout a 10 minute show. This is my first year using Aurora, and I haven't really had time to figure out everything about it. Last year was the first year doing this and I used the Spectrum software from D-Light which I don't think was any better at this. So my issue is this, I turn on the lights a lot and each time I turn it on I have to set the intensity using the sliders which can be tedious. I realize I can use the "Recent" settings bar to paste in settings, but each channel is a different intensity and I would like to work chronologically and not go through and set up each channel through the whole sequence. What I would like to be able to do is have a maximum intensity setting for each channel. For each spotlight I have, I want to be able to tell it that it can't go above a certain percentage intensity. I think what would be easiest to program would be to have a setting on each channel that sets the max intensity (defaults to 100%), and then when playing back the program, use the intensity set in the grid to reflect off that max intensity setting in the channel. So if the max intensity is set to 50% for the channel, and something in that channel is set for 100% intensity in the grid, then it comes out as 50%, and if set to 50% in the grid then it would come out as 25%. Does this make sense to anyone? Am I just using the software wrong and making everything way more complicated than it needs to be? (I have a tendency to do that.)

LightsOnLogan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3187	Quote Reply Posted: 29 Oct 2008 at 1:38pm
	You are using the software properly (per the "normal" methods), but you might not have considered the "grabber" tool ('G' key). If you have an event of the correct intensity nearby then you can "grab" it and start using it without the tedious sliders. A 'max' setting has been discussed, however it has not found a specific date in the project plan yet. There are also some neat tricks planned for the 'B', 'S', E', and 'F' shortcut keys in 2009 (think key combinations for a quick switch of hues and intensities without leaving the grid). As with all of these feature enhancements, keeping the plumbing simple is key right now (until 1.2 or 1.3)... adding the extra details too soon makes for slower development of the primary features since there is more to break.


ChrisL1976 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Beta Testers Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Location: Kankakee, Ill Online Status: Offline Posts: 1341	Quote Reply Posted: 29 Oct 2008 at 1:45pm
	I dont think Aurora has that at this particular time because you can set the intensity from the ON function. If you want , for example, no greater than 50% for 16 channels....you can go into D-light hardware utility and set the controller itself to go no higher than 50%. Then 50% on Aurora would be 25% on the controller and the lights.
	Chris www.lightsonsixth.com

jberner Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Location: Ruther Glen, VA Online Status: Offline Posts: 85	Quote Reply Posted: 29 Oct 2008 at 7:01pm
	I have found it easier to leave them at full and just move the forward and back to get the brightness i want at max, and then if i want, I can still cut them to lower intensities.