Thunder effect
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Eddie
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:02 am
- Real Name: Nahuel
Hi to everyone ! I have 4 RGB Led Pars. I need to create an effect that mimics the light of a thunder, you know, the tipical bust of light that produces a thunderstorm. I imagine something similar to a flash like in the strobe light but it´s not quite the same. I guess the light of a lightning it´s a little more long because of several lightnings occuring one after the other and with different intensities. So maybe I should be a little bit longer that just a flash. So, thanks again !!! See you !
Last edited by Eddie on Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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sbenejam
- Posts: 608
- Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:28 pm
- Real Name: Santiago Benejam Torres
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Have you tried anything?. QLC+ has chasers, sequences, shows and many other tools to simulate a thunder effect. Can you share a workspace of the tests you did to achieve this lightning effect?.
The art of lighting a stage, a play or a concert is very similar to the art of writing a poem, a novel or a song, it depends on the mood of the creator of the play, the indications of the director of the show.
The art of lighting a stage, a play or a concert is very similar to the art of writing a poem, a novel or a song, it depends on the mood of the creator of the play, the indications of the director of the show.
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kenact
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:43 am
- Real Name: Ken Coughlin
What I typically do is set up a Show, where I can add the sound effect, and add a lighting scene that uses all of the LEDs I plan to use for the effect.
On the track that includes my LED scene, I add a lot of steps, then adjust the length and intensity of each step, most only a few milliseconds long. What you're trying to do is replicate type of flickering that goes on with lightening, so the intensity has to go up and down, but with an overall dimming type of arch, and the flickering isn't consistent through the entirety of the effect. Some flickers are long than others. You should also think about how lightening will seem to be dying down, then a flash will occur, followed almost immediately by another flash, which may brighter than the previous flash, but may be longer or shorter in duration.
In order to make it look as realistic as possible, I've created shows that include a scene track with more than 100 steps. It's time consuming, but the affect on the audience is worth it.
On the track that includes my LED scene, I add a lot of steps, then adjust the length and intensity of each step, most only a few milliseconds long. What you're trying to do is replicate type of flickering that goes on with lightening, so the intensity has to go up and down, but with an overall dimming type of arch, and the flickering isn't consistent through the entirety of the effect. Some flickers are long than others. You should also think about how lightening will seem to be dying down, then a flash will occur, followed almost immediately by another flash, which may brighter than the previous flash, but may be longer or shorter in duration.
In order to make it look as realistic as possible, I've created shows that include a scene track with more than 100 steps. It's time consuming, but the affect on the audience is worth it.
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kenact
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:43 am
- Real Name: Ken Coughlin
One more thing, since light travels faster than sound, if the thunder is supposed to be a distance away, say 5 miles, I will make sure the initial flash happens at least 2 or 3 seconds before the first boom is heard. Obviously, if the storm is right overhead, they can be almost simultaneous, with the light coming just milliseconds before the boom.
Good luck with your project.
Good luck with your project.
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crashdox
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2018 1:47 am
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Real Name: Jim Ostrosky
- Contact:
Ken, did you ever post your thunder & lightning setup ? I have to do the same thing, and really dislike re-inventing the wheel (but will if needed, I'm experimenting with the thoughts you've given.) This is for a high school musical.