Show Manager can you trigger a virtual button from a show?

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svsnead
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:08 pm
Real Name: Steve Snead

Hi my name is Steve and trying to get a show for my house automation. I'm a newbie to DMX lighting and QLC+. I have a show which I have synced to music "follow the Yellow brick road". This is for my staircase. I have 16 stairs so I have setup a LED RGB strip for each using a DMX 512 decoder which can do 8 strips. I have 2 of them for the 16 stairs. I have ENTTEC DMX USB Pro2 interface. I'm using QLC+ 4.12.2

I'm also using OSC to trigger the show. That is really great! I have a few questions about the show manager.

1. Can I trigger a virtual button from a show? (like it would be nice to know when the show is a certain time)
2. When the show is over the LED(s) go out why? how can I keep them on after the show? (the show is 1m04s929ms)
3. I don't know how to script but I would like to learn the but I don't see any examples or videos.
4. I not sure how to use intensity for LED RGB strip lights that do not have a dimmer.

It would be nice if the was a video on a setting up a show in show manager (I could not find one).

Thanks for this software it is a bit to learn but I getting little by little. I hoping I can do many different shows in the future have my home automation be able to trigger them.
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Stair Show 04.qxw
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GGGss
Posts: 3052
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:15 pm
Location: Belgium
Real Name: Fredje Gallon

1) No

2) Well ... set infinite time in the last step...
With a show, this last step (infinite time) won't work because the show part 'resets' itself at the end.
If you change your approach having a button in virtual desk enabling your sequence 'Wizard of Oz' then the infinite time does work as long as the button is active. So it will reset after receiving a new OSC command. Starting the music together with this sequence is done by using a collection.

3) Why would you need a script?
4) You already tried using a submaster, I see. So create a frame, put the sequence button in it together with a slider in sub master mode. Now you can virtually dim your strips. (Per OSC you could set the required intensity based on the measured lux with your home automation.)

I took the opportunity to change your project to reflect what I wrote above.
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Stair Show 04.qxw
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svsnead
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:08 pm
Real Name: Steve Snead

Thanks so much! You clear up a lot for me! Light bulb!

I tried the infinite setting thinking that would work but it did not, I see why now. Thank you!

The script I thought would help me with this but I see you shed the light on an approach that will work for what I need to do.

The is great to use OSC to dim the lights. You clear that up!

Thanks again for taking time to modify the project to show me what you were writing about. That really helped.


Steve
svsnead
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:08 pm
Real Name: Steve Snead

GGGss,

I have a question about collections. I put the wav file in the the collection as well as the sequence in it. I then put the collection as the function on the you on the button that you created created in a frame the slider controls the volume as well? Is there a way to stop that? Other than than it starts the music and sequence perfect. Again , thanks again for you help.
svsnead
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:08 pm
Real Name: Steve Snead

GGGss,

I guess the audio is effected by the slider in the frame setup that you created. The fixtures all work as expected. Is there a way to stop the audio from being effected. I did what you suggested and made a collection and put the sequence "wizard of oz" and the wav file in it. Any ideas?
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Stair Show 04 (2).qxw
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GGGss
Posts: 3052
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:15 pm
Location: Belgium
Real Name: Fredje Gallon

Slider inside a frame can act as 'sub master' - I didn't know this affected the playback volume as well ;-)
That has the side effect that you cannot use a collection to start audio and lights inside a frame... hmm
You could solve this by using a loopback channel - but that is an experienced level... You could try to find other posts dealing with loopback channels.
All electric machines work on smoke... when the smoke escapes... they don't work anymore
svsnead
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:08 pm
Real Name: Steve Snead

GGGss,

Thanks so much for the suggestion I will lookup loopback channel.
mlohrey
Posts: 243
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:07 am
Real Name: Mark Lohrey

Just in response to item 2.

To have all the stairs remain lit at the end of the show, create a scene with all the 'stairs' lit and then create a chaser with the show first with a hold time set to the length of the show and then add a scene with an infinite hold.

Use a button to trigger the chaser.

See the attached workspace

cheers

Mark

PS. GGGss does love a good loop back..;-)
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Stair Show_mlohrey.qxw
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svsnead
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:08 pm
Real Name: Steve Snead

mlohrey ,

Thanks I will get that a whirl. Thanks for your suggestion.
svsnead
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:08 pm
Real Name: Steve Snead

GGGss,

I have finally got the loopback working and the lights stay on after the show. I also have a slider that the controls the volume in one frame and lights intensity in another frame. Whew! that took a bit to get going. The problem is I using TouchOSC to trigger the collection (in the future a python program). It works but I guess QLC+ does not have a momentary switch that works with loopback. I guess the flash function does it but it is only for scenes. I had to make another loopback function just to be able to control the flash button from OSC (it iginore OSC command). I thought I got it now. But another problem. I was surprised to see the button stays on as long as OSC button is on. I have to do go to off and then back on OSC to switch the frame buttons. I have check the feedback in the iO line. I also have checked the ports for input and output.

1. is it possible to have a momentary button in QLC+
2. If so can it be controlled by OSC and give feedback to ti. (The sliders give feedback but I guess button don't?)

Thanks for your help. You got me going in the right direction. If you would be so kind to look at my program and see if I'm understanding loopback and all correctly? I must be missing something.

Steven V. Snead, MCSE, CCNA
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Stair Show 08.qxw
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wizardofoz.mp3
(759.29 KiB) Downloaded 28 times
mlohrey
Posts: 243
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:07 am
Real Name: Mark Lohrey

Hi Steve,

Looks like you are having fun with your loopbacks. While it isn't the way I would go, you have learned a lot in a very short time!

Just one thing I noticed. In your show sequence, the last step (step 18) is set to a hold of infinity, at least when I open it. Shows are not designed to have infinite hold times. If fact they used to cause all sorts of crashes but perhaps Massimo fixed that behaviour. Just set the time so the lights stay on for the duration of the show or however long you want them on.

If you want them to stay on after the music stops, then make the last step in the sequence extend slightly passed the end of the song and then if you follow my instructions above, it should be a seamless change.

Feel free to ignore any of my advice ;-) Have fun!

Cheers

Mark
Stair Show_V2_mlohrey.qxw
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