followspot

[vjjan]

hey is it possible to have a followspot function in freestyler .
i have 4 movingheads and i will like to follow a artist with this 4 movingheads (all 4 at the artist)
is this possible ?
sorry for my english :p

[remco_k]

Try with your mouse in the pan/tilt window.

But you'll find it to be very difficult I think. Say, it may be impossible.
Not because of FreeStyler, but because of your moving heads reacting to slow, then speeding up, and going to fast.
Good luck with that.

[Snowcat]

Try it with Joystick control perhaps? ("How To"s elsewhere in the forum).

Admittedly, I've no idea if there's any way to program a dynamic offset since the heads will be in different locations.

[remco_k]

Try it with Joystick control perhaps? ("How To"s elsewhere in the forum).

Admittedly, I've no idea if there's any way to program a dynamic offset since the heads will be in different locations.

If dynamic offsets are there, that won't be enough when controlling with one joystick (or mouse, or whatever).
Say there are 2 moving heads, 1 on the left, 1 on the right of the stage.
If the target is at the left of the stage, just below the left mvh and walks towards the right then the left mvh needs to pan way faster then the right.
Then, as the target gets closer to the right mvh, the right needs to pan faster and faster, on the other hand, the left mvh need to pan slower and slower.
This is impossible without some pretty intelligent functions in the software used.

The only way to do it really good is to program some fixed positions on forehand, that will work okay ofcourse.

[vjjan]

hey thank you all for the quick reaction
it would be nica but i think i will rent some folowspots

thanks

[Snowcat]

The only way to do it really good is to program some fixed positions on forehand, that will work okay ofcourse.

Yeah, that's how I've been doing it. Just a case of praying that the cast hit their marks. Usually end up with the stage covered in little masking tape crosses. (dark blue on a black floor)

[Tom]

Moving heads make awful followspots. Get some real followspots with real people.

There are devices which cost thousands of pounds where the artist has a little remote device in their pocket, which communicates with 4 receivers placed around the room and allows the artist to be followed. However these are pretty rubbish! For example there is the focus of the light to consider, the iris, the zoom etc.



Tom

[kikabyte]

I don’t for one minute think Raph should waste his time developing this, but I did have a thought on this topic.

If there was some kind of add on feature that would automatically calculate the movements needed for each fixture it would work quite well… as follows:

If you were to place 4 moving heads in different locations around a room.
Load up the add on feature.
Use the normal pan tilt window to individually move each moving head a marked position on the top right hand corner of a wall.
Press ‘Save position 1’
Then do the same with the three other corners, saving them as you go.
You could then use a special pan tilt window to move the dot around with your mouse, and freestyle would adjust the DMX values ratio to make them all point at the same dot….

Don’t think this would work in 3D, but facing just one surface I’m sure this would work!

Or is my thinking wrong?

[Tom0101]

The good old scancommander is able to do this!
Would be an idea, buti think there are more urgent things to do, like an improved FX editor where you can add specific values and curves...

[Tom]

The Avolites Pearl has this feature when used with a graphics tablet. http://www.avolites.org.uk for more info.

You point all the heads to a corner and touch the graphics tablet in the corner they are all pointing at. You do this for all 4. You can then tell the desk the dimensions of the room and it can work out all the point for you and stuff.

However - this is still useless. Do you not think if there was a technology, even if it did cost loads, that could do this effectively, they would be using it on Broadway and in the west end?

If you want a followspot, buy one and get someone to wiggle it around as required.

Also, there are many other things to consider - namely the focus and iris of the moving head. What may be completely in focus on one section of the stage could be completely out on the other. Similarly, if someone is nearer the front of the stage, then you need a larger iris than someone standing at the back of the stage to capture them.

That's view on it from a Theatrical point of view - although I have also done my fair share of gigs!!