Can't get EFX to fade in chasers

[alexishuch]

Hi everyone !

I am getting more and more familiar with QLC+, but I’m facing issues with chasers containing EFX. I am using two moving heads, and when functions are changing with whatever fade in time, channel values are jumping instead of fading ; let me explain.

I notice two cases :
- I have a chaser made of basic scenes, modifying pan and tilt. I’ve set the fade in time to five seconds for each scene. In the Simple Desk, faders are gently fading till values of the next scene are reached.
- I have a chaser made of EFX, with Relative mode enabled. Fade in time is set to five seconds too. However, in the Simple Desk, faders are jumping when the next EFX starts.

Basically, I wanted to combine scenes and EFX in a single chaser. Thus, I could change speed with a Speed Dial instead of lowering speed with the « motor speed » channel on my moving heads.

I hope I was clear enough. If not, I can of course detail a bit more. I attached GIFs so you can compare !
Thanks in advance !

[sbenejam]

Can you post your workspace project?.

[alexishuch]

Sure, here is a simplified version.
Thanks !

[GGGss]

Missing custom fixture definition... please send the HY-1212 fixture definition also.
(the thing is ... for the intensity to work; intensity channels have to be defined correctly in your fixture definition...)

[alexishuch]

Attached the custom fixture

[GGGss]

Relative mode: You need a 'base' position for the relative to work. (Without you start somewhere around 0,0)
This explains why chasing from one EFX to the next, your values jump.
(IMHO your width and height of your EFX are too big - When using 127 and having a fixture panning over 540°, you use 270° -> 2x hitting the wall or curtain behind it.)
(IMHO it's a bad idea to have a chaser combine EFX - without a preferred position in between EFX.)
You could make the transition between EFX in black. (Move in Black)
With this mechanism, you create a nice transition from one EFX to the other - unnoticeable to the audience.

[alexishuch]

Relative mode: You need a 'base' position for the relative to work. (Without you start somewhere around 0,0)
This explains why chasing from one EFX to the next, your values jump.

I'm confused, I don't understand. Could you please rephrase ?
I thought the relative mode was applying on top of whatever position previously set (for example, when messing around with the XY pad while having an EFX enabled)

(IMHO your width and height of your EFX are too big - When using 127 and having a fixture panning over 540°, you use 270° -> 2x hitting the wall or curtain behind it.)

Would you advise to set the width to 270° directly in the fixture definition ?

You could make the transition between EFX in black. (Move in Black)
With this mechanism, you create a nice transition from one EFX to the other - unnoticeable to the audience.

Could I achieve that by adding black scenes in between two EFX functions in my chaser, or is there a dedicated function ?

Thank you for your time.
Alexis

[GGGss]

I'm confused, I don't understand. Could you please rephrase ?
I thought the relative mode was applying on top of whatever position previously set (for example, when messing around with the XY pad while having an EFX enabled)

Yes, relative EFX values are calculated vs base position. In your (simplified) project, there was not a possibility to set a base position, nor would the chaser start with a base position.
When I use EFX for movers, I create physical knob sliders that set the width & height.

Would you advise to set the width to 270° directly in the fixture definition ?

No, I would not do such a thing. With the next production, you will suffer to find where this limiting function resides, not taking into account that the fixture definition is altered.
To my experience, a circle EFX looks nice on stage with 40x40 width/height; a vertical sweep around 60° so 56 height, and so one. You don't need a high resolution, because EFX uses fine pan/tilt channels also.

Could I achieve that by adding black scenes in between two EFX functions in my chaser, or is there a dedicated function ?

Yes, black scenes in between. A dedicated function would be great but very (very!) complex to implement. It would need MiB settings inside the fixture definition to start with.

[alexishuch]

I tried to set a specific position, but it is still jumping.
If I reduce EFX width & height, I actually notice smaller jumps - makes sense.
If I understand well, the only way of avoiding jumps is that Move in Black trick ?

[GGGss]

If there was a possibility to 'capture' or 'snapshot' the values the EFX sends out, then you could use these values to start the next EFX.
Move in Black will be the solution.

[alexishuch]

At least, I figured out the reason.
Thank you