more channels added this year...
Printed From: Aurora
Category: The Vault
Forum Name: I'm New From Spectrum And I Need Help!
Forum Discription: General usage questions from former Spectrum users
URL: http://www.aurorashow.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=278
Printed Date: 09 May 2024 at 9:14pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: more channels added this year...
Posted By: TheQueb
Subject: more channels added this year...
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 5:15am
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I added 32 more channels for a total of 64 this year but I have six or seven 32 channel songs from last year. What's the best way to work with what I have from last year and add the new 32 channels to my lineup? ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Replies:
Posted By: deweycooter
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 7:11am
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Don't start over. If your 32 from last year are going to be in the same place this year, all you need to do is add the new channels. Copy and paste will do a lot to fill those in. The rework comes in when you do sweeps and you add channels to them. Ie, 6 mini trees becomes 12, and you sweep the lights across them. I found that reworking the sequences for more channels goes pretty quickly. ------------- http://www.deweycooter.com/wiki/index.php/Aurora - Aurora Lights Wiki http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: TheQueb
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 11:23am
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Right. All last year's stuff will be the same. I've made a new "template" for the 64 channel show already (any new songs I add for this year) but I'm wondering how to get the new 32 channels into the old sequences without adding them to EACH of the old 32 channel songs... Can we not cut and paste between the new template and the old sequences? ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 12:07pm
Ooooo.....  good question! I will be in the same boat. I'll be waiting/watching for ideas on this.
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Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 12:23pm
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When I added more channels to my display I: Took 1 sequence and added the additional channels to it. Then used the 'Import Channels from File' (File|Import|Channels from file) and imported the channels.
Have done this alot this way.. If I make any change to my prieview display, change a channel color, etc.. and want the exact same info and look in all of my sequences.
Still have to add the channels individually, but once it's been done in 1 sequence you can import it into any sequence.
I use much the same method if I import someone elses sequence and try to adapt it to my display. Import, try to match display items, controllers, and channels the way my display is configured, then import channels from one of my own sequences. Has been working well for me.
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Posted By: Slinkard
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 12:29pm
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If I am understanding you -----
What I would do is with you spectrum software open one of last years Seq. then just "Append" 2 more AC-16's to the end. Don't do any of the programming to the new channels just add them then save it.
Import the newly saved Seq and convert to Aurora. This is kinda like creating a new template but atleast you get to work with the old 32 and use the new 32 at the bottom.
This is how I was planning to do it this year too, so if there's another way I am all years
Slink ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
Coming soon www.computerizedlights.com |
Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 12:30pm
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When you import channels, they just add to what you already have in a sequence? or over-write channels?
Sorry for all of the questions. I could probably figure it out for myself..... but why do that when someone else already has!! 
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Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 12:45pm
I agree this works for any one sequence, but I would rather not do this for each and every one of them. I am going from 16 to 128 channels. It could take a while to append each sequence with the new channels. Carey |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 12:51pm
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They'll over write the channel color, channel description, the display picture, and the items you have drawn on the display picture the way you've set then in the 'template file'.
Does NOT over-write any of the events. Will add the channels that you want to add as they were defined in the 'template file'
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Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 1:10pm
That is good news! Thanks for the info. 
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Posted By: TheQueb
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2008 at 3:16pm
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Workarounds... kinda reminds me of Spectrum. lol This would be alot simpler if we could cut and paste between sequences. ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Posted By: wellinge
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 9:39am
| ok heres a question... This year I'm making a 14 minute show, last year was my first year so I only had a one song 4 min show. That same song is going to be in this years show. Is there a way to "copy & paste" that show into this years show? thanks |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 10:15am
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Of course! Just import the sequence to Aurora, save it, and add to the Scheduler.
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: Slinkard
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 11:03am
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Let me take this one step further:
It sounds like you want to use a continues sequence??? meaning 1 sequence that consist of 4 or 5 songs to make one big sequence?? I might be off base but that is what I am assuming.
I would break that into 5 seperate songs then just add those 5 songs to your scheduler. maybe an intro announcement and then a thank you at the end (intro and outro have their own places in the scheduler)
I am prolly off base but that is how I understood you.
Slink ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
Coming soon www.computerizedlights.com |
Posted By: TheQueb
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 4:10pm
I just imported my first (original 32 ch) d-light sequence. It imported fine. Then I tried to import my new 64 channel Aurora template. The only thing that stayed from the original 32ch imported sequence was the song. Events were deleted and channels and their colors were all overwritten by the new 64ch Aurora template.
Looking for a better way... ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 5:00pm
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FYI: The channels are keyed by their Network, Device, and Channel settings, not their position within the grid (which is arbitrary). If those settings are edited between the original and the template then the template will not overlay properly.
Maybe someone less technical than I am can translate this into English for me. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: TheQueb
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 6:05pm
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LOL on the less technical... I did have my original 32ch sequences set as devices 8 and 2 and my new template devices are 1, 3, 5, and 7. Should I change the 1 and 3 to 8 and 2? ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Posted By: peteandvanessa
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 6:16pm
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They should be set logically: AC2 (if you named the first AC16 as ID2)
Channel 1,2,3,4,5 etc upto 16
Then AC3 (if you have a second AC16 as ID 3)
Channel 1,2,3,4,5 etc upto etc)
Irrespective of where you move the channels in the sequencer it will still have the same AC16 IC and channel ID :-)
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Posted By: TheQueb
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 8:41pm
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Oops... mis-spoke.. When I said "device", I meant controller ID... I have 4 acx16's now. I had 2 last year and their IDs were 8 and 2. Now I have the 4 controller numbered 1, 3, 5 and 7. ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 9:00pm
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Use the Bulk Channel Editor to make your changes. This way you can see everything. The editor can be invoked by right clicking on any channel tab and selecting Bulk Channel Editor. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2008 at 9:42pm
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And - for D-Light controllers - don't leave any of the controllers as ID #2. Since that is the default ID number, all new boards and any boards (ACx8, ACx16, DCx16 and FireFly) that get reset or get firmware upgrades go back to #2. If you have a working #2 in the loop, you will get conflicts.
------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: TheQueb
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2008 at 5:47pm
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Here's what I figured out about adding more channels. I made a 64 channel template with the channel colors, the house picture, drawings on the picture, basically everything but intervals and commands. I'm changing my controller IDs this year for no good reason. The controllers will be numbered 1, 3, 5 and 7. (Last year my two controllers were numbered 8 and 2 so all my d-light sequences from last year need to be re-numbered for the controller ID changes.) I saved this work as "default-template.dls" then closed this file. I imported my d-light sequences one at a time and did the following: right click on any of the channel names on the left and click the bulk channel editor. Here I easily and quickly changed the controller IDs to match the IDs in my new "default-template.dls" sequence. I changed the controller channels from 8's to 1's, and the 2's to 3's. I then hit Edit/Import/Import channels from file and navigated to the "default-template.dls" file and imported it. In doing this, it overwrote channel names, (The new names are better to understand, mine from last year were like "C8-channel1" etc) and it brought in my new picture and the drawing on it. I then saved this sequence as an Aurora sequence.
Whew... I'm sure what I typed dosen't make near as much sense as what I meant. lol but it was alot simpler than i thought it was going to be ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2008 at 9:59pm
| can you set up another 16 channels with out having the controller hooked up and labeled? |
Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2008 at 7:54am
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You can put in a lot more than 16 channels when you don't even own the controllers yet. The sequence will even play without error, it will just be up to you to get the right controller and ID numbers matched up during light installation.
------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2008 at 7:56am
I did with no problems.. Knowing I was going to add 32 more channels and what I planned to use them for I added them to my sequences before finishing construction of the controller kits. Don't have to have the controllers attached to sequence.
But you do need to give each channel a unique name, device, and channel number.
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Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2008 at 8:07pm
| ive got one song about done sequenced using the aurora and now want to add another 16 channels but not sure how to add them all at once. Figured it out on spectrum but now im stumped. |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2008 at 8:37pm
| got it! but now i cant watch my show on the visualizer, says i need more virtual memory. What that mean? |
Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2008 at 8:59pm
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Virtual memory messages are caused by your computer running low on available RAM. In WinXP, it is very rare to see that if you have 1GB of main memory. If you only have 512MB, it can happen frequently. When Windows runs low on RAM, it frees up memory by writing unused info to the hard drive (virtual memory). Two solutions - add more RAM, 1GB minimum, 2GB is much better. With Vista, I'd say 2GB min, 4GB is better. Second, I always like to adjust the virtual memory to a fixed amount instead of variable. Rule of thumb is that Virtual Memory should be equal or up to twice as large as your installed RAM. It will use a little extra hard drive space but it improves speed and stops Virtual Memory errors. There are lots of online tutorials with pictures about how to adjust Virtual Memory. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2008 at 10:31pm
| i didnt have any problems until i added the second controller. And i havent programed anything on that controller yet either. I have another song that i havent put the second controller on yet and it still shows the lights working in the visualizer. so something goofy happened when i added those channels. |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2008 at 10:32pm
| and i added another 512 ram and no change. |
Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2008 at 5:44pm
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between this post and the other one, could you describe how you added the new controller? In Aurora? In Spectrum? How in each if you did it in both.
As you may guess, you should NOT be having this problem. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: ChrisL1976
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2008 at 6:07pm
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you have to add individual channels in Aurora. You just set 16 channels to the same device ID to make up a controller. Spectrum you pull a AC-16 into the controller area and label it. ------------- Chris www.lightsonsixth.com |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2008 at 9:16pm
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I added the controller on spectrum from the drop down to a christmas song. Then i imported that song to Aurora, next i use that as a template for the song i had almost completed .The visualizer worked before i added the second controller to my halloween song. Both set on Network 1 and the first controller is ID 3 the second is ID 5. The first 16 channels are all named with my light display functions and the second 16 channels are numbered Track# 17-32. I went back and deleted #17-32 and it still wont visualize.
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2008 at 2:35pm
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Les, could you list the parameters you put into the channels? Not all of them, perhaps, but a few. Things like which controller (LOR Generic, D-Light xxxx, etc...) in the channel properties. Network, Controller ID, Channel, Color. The whole panel. And include your Network settings from the preferences.
Oh, yes - and how do you have the Aurora Virtual memory settings configured? and how do you have the Graphics set in preferences? (Direct Show, etc....). These all make a difference. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2008 at 8:15pm
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D-Light AC 16 1.13+firmware Device name- 1skulls Network segment- 1 Device Id- 3 Channel- 1 Color- white The rest of the channels 2-16 have the same network and device id, few channels have the same color and the are numbered in order 2-16. For the second controller D-Light AC16 1.13+firmware Device named track#17- track#32. Network segment 1 Device ID- 5 Channels are 1-16 Colors are red,blue,red,blue all the way to track #32 Aurora virtual memory settings? Not sure how to find that. Same thing about the Graphics setting in the preferences. We were just running the sequencer. Tonight i put what lil bit of show i got out to the controller and when the song ended all my lights came on and are steady on. Not sure whats going on there either. So i opened the hardware utility and shut then off that way but somethings not right. Thanks for the info, Les -------------
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2008 at 8:32pm
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I don't see anything in your channel setting that look crazy. The Virtual Memory and Graphics settings are under the Settings drop down. Graphics mode is at the bottom of the Playback Configuration menu. Your choices are MSDXM or DirectShow. If you are using XP, you should try both to see if one is better than the other. If you are using Vista, you must leave it on DirectShow. Memory has its own menu at the bottom. Three choices. Try each of them to see if your Virtual Memory problem goes away. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2008 at 8:44pm
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I tried both graphics and all three memory settings and still no show on the visualizer.
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2008 at 8:53pm
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But what about a Virtual Memory crash? Has that stopped? Hopefully??? What about if you just use the "default" picture? (delete the entry for your house's picture in the File Properties menu? The default.jpg file is in the "Aurora Sequencer" folder. Try using it. If it works using the default.jpg from Aurora, then perhaps try replacing their file (by renaming it, not deleting it) with your renamed JPG. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2008 at 9:56pm
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OK so i reimported channel files from another song which deleted the second controller, so im back to 16 original channels and my visualizer is working again. Now i need to add my other 16 channels some how other than going through spectrum. Any suggestions? And still cant get my lights to shut off outside with out using the hardware utility. What causes that? -------------
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2008 at 5:17am
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That sounds like progress though not victory. Your second controller is an ACx16 with an ID of 5, correct? Is that verified by doing a HWUtil Discover? When I play a sequence in the sequencer, my controller LED is flashing up to the moment it starts, then resumes flashing when the sequence ends. Is yours doing the same? The sequencer "releases" the board when it isn't playing so that you can run the HWUtil from the top menu choice. Very convenient. If you are running your show using the Scheduler, and that is when your lights are staying on, then do you have something in the "Run Once" box at the bottom? Can you create a brand new sequence, import your working 16 channels, put in just a minimal amount of intervals and On/Offs and see if that does it also? Don't put anything near the end, though. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2008 at 8:44pm
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I havent hooked up the second controller yet but i will have it as ID # 5 . Ive been running my show through the sequencer not the scheduler. The LED does the same thing as yours. Blinks until i send the show and then is remains solid til its over, back to blinking and all my lights come on. -------------
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2008 at 6:54am
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What kind of lights do you have attached to your ACx16? Are they LEDs or incandescents? What do you have connected? Though it hasn't happened to me (yet), some people have had trouble with very low power lights (like LEDs) staying ON when there is no signal. If that sounds like your situation, know that D-Light is working on a Firmware fix to the "phantom power" phenomenon where the TRIACs never completely turn off. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2008 at 7:13am
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late last night i downloaded the firmware update and it seems that it has takin care of all my bugs. IS it to good to be ture? I think ill might get home eariler tonight and try some more testing.
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Posted By: JonB256
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2008 at 9:02am
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Good News! If you have updated both controllers with new firmware, be sure you reset your ID numbers back to their old values! They got reset back to #2 by the firmware updater. ------------- JonB - D-Light user |
Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2008 at 9:46pm
Well i was going to put together the other controller tonight but, i stopped at Ace hardware to get some thermal grease and the dude told me that it was the same thing as dielectric grease but after further investigating sounds like they are nothing alike.  So maybe tomorrow i will get it together providing i find some grease.
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Posted By: polarass07
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2008 at 9:59pm
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Well got the other controller together and now im adding more channels. Ive been adding one at a time aand every time i save the seq. the channels get rearranged, so ive the new ones getting mixed in to the old. What have i done wrong this time?
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