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are 16 bit shapes possible EDIT: even positions?

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Doug86
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are 16 bit shapes possible EDIT: even positions?

Post by Doug86 »

Hi all,

I've just started playing with freestyler (with the valleman interface) using a couple of mac 250s on the bench.

Is it possible to make the shape generator output 16 bit positions? I like to do really slow movements on trade stands etc. And with 8 bit positions the movement is very stuttery.

Appart from this problem i'm very impressed with the software!

Many thanks,

Doug
Last edited by Doug86 on 05 Jan 2009, 16:36, edited 1 time in total.


Doug86
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Posts: 4
Joined: 31 Dec 2008, 09:53
FreeStyler Version: 3
I Use FreeStyler for: Church

Re: are 16 bit shapes possible

Post by Doug86 »

Hi Onge,

The heads are in 16 bit mode and the right fixture profile is selected (pan FINE and tilt FINE are available on the sliders on the right and the heads respond correctly when they are adjusted) but thanks for the response anywho!
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LJ_krede.dk
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Re: are 16 bit shapes possible

Post by LJ_krede.dk »

Doug86 wrote: Is it possible to make the shape generator output 16 bit positions? Doug
If you go to "edit --> show output" it looks like the shape generator are using 16 bit positions when you are running a shape.

/Kristian
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Re: are 16 bit shapes possible

Post by remco_k »

Doug86 wrote:Hi all,

I've just started playing with freestyler (with the valleman interface) using a couple of mac 250s on the bench.
Some time ago I started using FreeStyler also with the Velleman interface. Within short time I noticed the biggest problem ever about that interface.
It is slow on its input side (lets say, the USB connector). Read this post from me where I describe the exact source of the problem.
The more DMX values other than zero are send, the slower its get, the crappier things are working.
I don't know how many fixtures you try to control. But you need to scale down to just 1 for testing this. (be sure that all DMX values are 0 except those needed for your one fixture). Maybe only then it will work good for you.
Then scale up to more mac 250s (or just make more DMX channel values other than zero). You will see that latency/stuttery gets overhand. And fixtures will start to respond later or badly.

There's no solution for this, other then to buy another better interface like I did last week. The velleman hardware is just to slow.
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Doug86
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Joined: 31 Dec 2008, 09:53
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I Use FreeStyler for: Church

Re: are 16 bit shapes possible

Post by Doug86 »

Hi All,

Thanks for the responses,

The Shape generator (in my setup) is definitely only using 8 bit pan & tilt positions (the "show output" window shows the pan FINE and tilt FINE staying at zero). Ive also noticed that if I set the "resolution" to be very insensitive I still can't get the fine position adjustment the heads are capable of ( i.e the pan will go from 133 -> 134 without adjusting the pan FINE).

I don't think I'm stressing the abilities of the velleman interface (only one mac, 11 channels). The problem is most obvious at VERY low shape speeds where the head will stay at one position for a second then move to another for a second then the next for a second etc whereas the fine pan/tilt adjustments should be utilized to produce a smooth path.

Is this a limitation of the software? i.e no real support for 16-bit positions? or do I need to enable it in a setting somewhere (I cant find one)?

Many thanks,

Doug
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LJ_krede.dk
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Re: are 16 bit shapes possible

Post by LJ_krede.dk »

Doug86 wrote: The Shape generator (in my setup) is definitely only using 8 bit pan & tilt positions (the "show output" window shows the pan FINE and tilt FINE staying at zero).
what fixture are you using in freestyler? are you using the "mac250" or "250+" fixture file, yes, the panfine and tiltfine wont work. in the fixture files they are set to channel 0 which is wrong, of course. if you use "Mac250Krypton", "Mac250Entour" and/or the mac250 wash. it should work.


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LJ_krede.dk
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Re: are 16 bit shapes possible

Post by LJ_krede.dk »

Onge wrote: This is my 100th post :)
congratulations :P

about the 250 and 250+ fixture files... is there a reason that the fine channels is set to 0 or should it be corrected?
Last edited by LJ_krede.dk on 05 Jan 2009, 19:04, edited 2 times in total.
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Doug86
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Re: are 16 bit shapes possible EDIT: even positions?

Post by Doug86 »

hey guys, once I changed to the mac250-m2 fixture profile all worked correctly! Many thanks.

Should the bad fixture profiles not be removed from the librury?
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Re: are 16 bit shapes possible

Post by LJ_krede.dk »

Onge wrote:
LJ_krede.dk wrote:
about the 250 and 250+ fixutre files... is there a reason that the fine channels is set to 0 or should it be corrected?
The Mac250 and 250+ have four mode of operation plus Martin mode ?. The modes 2 & 4 plus martin mode ? have 16bit pan/tilt.

A copy of the manual can be found here http://www.showlight.nl/service/handlei ... %20250.pdf
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