How does the macro configurator work?

[autonic]

I've discovered the very handy macro movement editor (which has a couple of presets already made) which is great for creating various randomly sweeping patterns.

However I want to create a pattern where my moving heads move from the floor up to the ceiling one after another (and then back again of course).

This can be pretty easily achieved using different steps in a sequence, however that will disable the use of the master speed slider in any useful way (try it out yourselves and you will see that on every step change the sequence will appear to halt for a bit and then change the speed on the moving heads). When using macros the master speed slider affects the movement speed instantly and one achieves the kind of instant control that one would want.

From what I've come to understand the master speed vs sequence steps will always behave this way because of how the dmx technology works, which means that I want to be able to make the moving heads follow a very strict pattern, using only the macro editor - but I can't seem to wrap my head around what the different spots in macro editor actually does. I've tried poking and twisting the different shapes but I don't see the connection between the pattern I've created and how the light beam on the floor moves.

Is there any tricks for understanding it better?

[Shannon D]

but I can't seem to wrap my head around what the different spots in macro editor actually does.

Each spot of the macro is for a channel value. So if your MH has 13 channels, there should be 13 spots for each macro. You assign a channel value 0 to 255 depending on what you want the channel to do. It's more or less, one button to set all channels with just one click.

I personnally don't use P/T macros on my MH's. I do have lots of macros set up on my LED fixtures. It makes running the auto-programs or built-in programs easy.

I've tried poking and twisting the different shapes but I don't see the connection between the pattern I've created and how the light beam on the floor moves.

Not sure what your talking about here.

[autonic]

My bad.... what I meant was the SHAPE editor.... not the macro

[Shannon D]

In older versions of Freestyler, the lil ball in the pan & tilt window would move and follow the dots in the shape editor. The ball doesn't move in the newer version because it was creating a bug. The yellow square is the starting point.

[LJ_krede.dk]

Try to look at the topic: Beizer shapes looks wierd and a wierd "!"

maybe that would help you

[autonic]

Thanks for the tip!

However it didn't still solve my issues. Like the threadstarter in that thread described it "when I select a square it moves in an eight shaped figure".
I completley understand why it's a bitch to configure movements of moving heads, but I was just hoping that someone had found out a good way to "grasp" the concept in ones mind.
I for one would love to be able to plot out moving points on the grid and order them from 1 to infinty and then have the moving head follow them by number (and also make it possible to choose how fast it should move between the different move points)

[LJ_krede.dk]

Correct me if I'm wrong but can't you just make a sequence with different positions (pan/tilt values). Make sure pan and tilt is set to fade instead of snap. Furthermore make sure that fade and step time is the same in the sequence editor, then the moving heads don't stop before they go to next position. Then you can control the speed in the cue window when running the sequence.

[Shannon D]

Does your MH have a channel for vector speed? I have found that using a combination of the vector speed and the step&fade times can produce good results.

[autonic]

Correct me if I'm wrong but can't you just make a sequence with different positions (pan/tilt values). Make sure pan and tilt is set to fade instead of snap. Furthermore make sure that fade and step time is the same in the sequence editor, then the moving heads don't stop before they go to next position. Then you can control the speed in the cue window when running the sequence.

Good tip, kind of... It got better but sometimes the moving heads still stop when i move the master speed level. Any other tips?

EDIT: just kidding, it didn't get any better, it's exatcly the same problem...

[autonic]

Found a clue to the riddle, i think.

When activating the sequence and moving the master speed level I've noticed something peculiar: if I keep on moving the master slider while the moving heads has "locked up" for a few seconds, they won't start moving again until i stop changing the master slider. I've tried jamming it up and down for like 30 seconds while they're hold up and they won't start moving until i let go.

[LJ_krede.dk]

Ok, i Will check it out in the beta version and report it to the developer if the issue appears

[dmxlighting]

Huh??

What are you doing exactly ?

[autonic]

I want to create a chase pattern with a default movement speed.... and then I want to be able to change the movement speed using the slider on my midi controller.

[dmxlighting]

Yup that will work. I do it all the time.

If you speed it up too much it will stop the head / scan moving though. Gentle moves are needed. The speed will go upto 500%. Also if you go too slow it may stop.

What midi controller do you have?

[autonic]

No dedicated DMX controller, but a bunch of other controllers: VCI-100, djtech iMix, NanoPads, Novation Nocturne and two custom built controllers.

[dmxlighting]

I use a BCF2000 - possible the best midi unit to use with FS.

Dont know much about the gear you have. Does any of the gear have faders rotarys or is it all bttons and touch pads ?

A midi button will send the value to its highest position by default, also you may need to turn button from toggle on to toggle off.
Toggle on will mean that once pressed it will keep that state until told otherwise, it may mean pressing it 3 times to change state.
Toggle off will make the button act like a momentery switch so it only affects the value while its being pushed or (depending on how fs deals with the request) latch on or off with one press.

This may be totally irrelivnt to your problem