Help with solo frames please!

[Xonxoff]

Going mad here trying to get some functions to do what I want. I think solo frames is the answer. I just can't figure it out. Would really appreciate some help from those more experienced.

I have 12 fixtures in my project and they are logically defined as: LEFT, MIDDLE, RIGHT.

I ran the wizard four times to create 16 colour functions (scenes) and buttons for the LEFT, CENTRE, and RIGHT light groups.

I then ran the wizard to create the same scenes for ALL fixtures. So now I have an ALL set of scenes too.

Easy so far. The attached pic is the result. (I hope the pic works okay. It's a link to Google drive). EDIT - pic doesn't work but here's a link to it: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fsDMiM ... sp=sharing



And the project file is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v0a3OK ... sp=sharing

Annnnnd, you can probably guess what I want to do next

I want to be able to control the LEFT, CENTRE, and RIGHT light scenes independently using the buttons created by the wizard - eg LEFT=red, CENTRE=green, RIGHT=blue.

That works in the present configuration, but then I want to use the scenes for ALL lights to override the LEFT?RIGH/CENTRE scenes - eg set every light to RED but of course, in the current configuration, the ALL light scene just gets added to the current state of the LEFT/RIGHT/CENTRE lights rather than replacing the scenes.

I think the answer lies in the correct nesting of frames and solo frames, but I've tried so many combinations and I just can't get it do work so I'd appreciate any pointers.

Cheers!

Mark

[MichelSliepenbeek]

First you need to understand that the Wizzard basically provides you with "3 roads in the same direction".
In this situation i would only go for the "scenes in a solo Frame"option.

Next i would delete all the Dark and Light Scenes, if you use a Submaster you can achieve the same (and a lot more).

Next i would rename my scenes. In your situation (after using the wizzard 4 times) you end with 4 scenes having the same name: confusing.
Make sure all your names are unique, tell you what they do, end up in a logical sorting order but on the other hand are not too long.


Now the answer to your question.
If you want "the scenes for ALL lights to override the LEFT/RIGH/CENTRE scenes", you can achieve this by changing the Color Channels of your Pars From HTP to LTP.
Be aware though that this is a decision with some consequences, it will have effect on how your Pars will react in all kinds of situations. It will affect Design Decisions you will have to make in later stages.
(It might be that some people are going to tell you not to make this change. )


If you make all these changes your workspace will look like this

MMM lighting project 2.0.qxw

(55.34 KiB) Downloaded 112 times

.


By the way: i've added your fixtures to the Monitor so you can use the 2D View now.
By the way: the Cue Lists and Color Pickers are on the next page of the frame (i did not delete them).
By the way: I renamed your chasers to "6 colors" (so i do not consider White and Black as a specific color. This might be another reason for discussion. ).

Finally: LTP means Latest Takes Presedence.
If you activate a color and then turn it off , QLC will go back to the previous situation.
This works fine, except when you use this the very first time (so it is only an initialisation problem). This is why i use the All Black Scene in Start up (the Green Banner in your Functions Tab).

[Xonxoff]

Thank you for a brilliantly detailed reply. I'm at work at the moment but I will work through this later when I'm at the laptop with QLC+ on it.

Thanks for also taking the time to edit the project file with examples.

Cheers!!

[MichelSliepenbeek]

To continu from here, you could:
- add an option to control your color changes. By using a Speed Dial you can get control over your Fade Times.
- Add some extra colors. Now you use the colors Black (R=0, G=0, B=0), Red (R=255, G=0, B=0), Yellow (R=255, G=255, B=0), Green (R=0, G=255, B=0),
Cyan (R=0, G=255, B=255), Blue (R=0, G=0, B=255), Magenta (R=255, G=0, B=255) and White (R=255, G=255, B=255).
So basically all possible permutations of Full on (255) and Full off.
By introducing the "Half on (128)" option you can easily add another 6 usefull colors (like Orange, Pink, Purple, Lime, ...)
- have a look at RGB Matrices.
You can use them to create Color Changing Effects (like Rainbow, Ocean or Fire).
You can use them also to create Strobe, Flash and Running Light type effects.

If you use those RGB Matrices in Standard BlendMode, you need to select the color it should work with.
So if you use 6 colors and you want a strobe in every situation, you have to create a Red Strobe, a Yellow Strobe, a Green Strobe ... and so on.
It's easier to use BlendMode = Mask. You could say it just does the opposite: it turns your lights off with a certain pattern (so it will work on all the colors and dimmer levels you are using at that moment).
Another usefull option is BlendMode = Subtract. Just use the SubMaster to find out what the difference between those options is.


If you make all these changes your workspace will look like this:

MMM lighting project 2.1.qxw

(84.71 KiB) Downloaded 109 times

.

Notice that the Color Fade Speed Dial is set up to only work on Fade In and Fade Out Times, it does not affect the Running Time (Not Sent).
You also could Change the Presets according to your own preferences.

[Xonxoff]

Thank you, again. This info is so helpful, and again, thanks for taking the time to update my project file.

I worked through your initial suggestions last night after work and got my head around most things. The project file you made for me was particularly useful. I see what you mean about HTP and LTP affecting design decisions.

We're just a small rock n roll music school in a town in New Zealand, but it's my ambition to get a straight-forward lighting project up and running that can be used by a non-specialist during our twice yearly student shows. We're not trying to do anything fancy like sync-ing effects to the songs - we just want to have some generic, simple-ish lighting changes to make the stage look good.

Cheers

Mark

[MichelSliepenbeek]

Funny, i'm 64 now and about 5 years ago i made a "what i always wanted to do but never had time for" decision: i started to play bass.
I joined the local music school (here in 's-Hertogenbosch in Nederland) and there we also had twice yearly student shows.

I still want to join a band but found out that it is not so easy. If i go for Musicians that are about the same age, they usually have a lot more experience, if i go for musicians that are on the same level as i am, i end up playing with kids.

I used the Corona lockdown period to gather and assemble a PA and a Light show. I hope to use it as an extra credit (he is a bad bass player, but we also need a PA and some Lights), but apart from that it is a nice learning experience.

[Xonxoff]

Funny, i'm 64 now and about 5 years ago i made a "what i always wanted to do but never had time for" decision: i started to play bass.
I joined the local music school (here in 's-Hertogenbosch in Nederland) and there we also had twice yearly student shows.

I still want to join a band but found out that it is not so easy. If i go for Musicians that are about the same age, they usually have a lot more experience, if i go for musicians that are on the same level as i am, i end up playing with kids.

I used the Corona lockdown period to gather and assemble a PA and a Light show. I hope to use it as an extra credit (he is a bad bass player, but we also need a PA and some Lights), but apart from that it is a nice learning experience.

This is a great post. We teach so many adults - some returning to something they did years ago, and others trying something new. I salute you for giving it a ago. Two of my bass students who have started as older adults have gone on to be in gigging bands so it is possible to do. I've played bass and guitar for 50 years (I'm 60 now), and gigged constantly in that time. My biggest advice to you is to NOT learn tabs for songs but to learn the play the root notes of the guitar chords. I won't go on too much because this is off-topic for this forum but feel free to PM me if you want to know more

My challenge as an older guy is to learning lighting programming

[MichelSliepenbeek]

Try This:

MMM lighting project 2.2.qxw

(110.85 KiB) Downloaded 112 times

As long as you don't have spots, you can use this to put accent on solos.

[Xonxoff]

That's way cool. Thank you.

I've messed around with QLC+ on and off for a year or two and get get lights showing basic colours, or make a chaser, but it's these little "hacks" and design concepts are golden.

[MichelSliepenbeek]

You need to understand that the DMX protocol is quite simple: a value between 000 and 255 on a number of channels.
So this is not mixing Grey with Red (, Green and Blue), what in real life would result in awfull colors, but just adding or subtracting a value to/from it.
Are you familiar with MIDI (the protocol, not MIDI files)? There you only have values between 000 and 127.

I have 2 All in One PC's, both with 24" Touch Screens. I use one for sound (i use a Soundcraft UI 16 mixer) and one for light (with QLC).
Most cases they end up next to each other, so i'm triying to make my Virtual Console to have a "Look and Feel" that resembles the Soundcraft.
That way it is easier to understand and use (and develop your muscle memory).
i just guess you're an old scool guy, who wants to feel real faders.

[MichelSliepenbeek]

I noticed that you use your fixtures only in 3 Channel Mode.
If you change them to 8 Channel Mode (use the Menu of the Fixtures) you get a Dimmer per Fixture Extra (plus some other Functions).

Try This:

MMM lighting project 2.3.qxw

(155.92 KiB) Downloaded 133 times

[Xonxoff]

I noticed that you use your fixtures only in 3 Channel Mode.
If you change them to 8 Channel Mode (use the Menu of the Fixtures) you get a Dimmer per Fixture Extra (plus some other Functions).

Try This: MMM lighting project 2.3.qxw

Yes, that was mostly intentional to keep things simple - I did realise I was missing out on things.

Thanks for the updated project file. I shall enjoy checking that out after work today.

Cheers!