This is a “How to” make a fixture for a center effect.



Center effects can look a bit complex but in most case it is just a matter of breaking it down pieces that can easily be handled.
The American DJ triple flex which will be used in this example is basically 3 scanners that are to controlled.
Looking into the DMX table they can be one unit using 4 channels or they can be controlled individually as 3 units using 3 channels. ( That’s a total of 9 channels, 3×3 channels )

Here both fixtures are made.
The 4 Channels fixture may seems a bit trivial where the 9 Channels fixture is the more interesting but still just as simple as normal scanner fixture. The 9 channel fixture is made as a combined fixture solution.

4 Channel fixture
9 Channel fixture

The center effect has in this mode chase and movement build-in. There is a speed control for the chases and a strobe control.
The fixture is configured the following way.

Open Fixture Creator in Scanner mode.
Add Image (Find one on the net from the manufacturer) Scale it to the size. Pictures and Icons
Give the fixture a proper name.
Add info in the info box: Creator, 4Ch mode and so on.
Set the Total Channel to 4.

If the fixture is saved at this time then follow the name convention. File name convention

Channel 1 Chase.
goboch.1 = 1, with 16 gobos, 14 chases + off + sound.
The off value also goes into the shutter channel.
Shutterch. = 1 and Closed = 0, Open no value.
Link gobo wheel


Channel 2 Chase Speed
Speed requires fader to get the best control.
For this purpose Gobo wheel control is chosen.
Here is a tradeoff because speed goes from 0 to 249 and from 250 to 255 speed is sound controlled.
When the fader comes to the high end, 98%, then it goes from high speed into sound mode. This is not optimal but usable.
By adding icon is it possible to add speed in steps and a decent control.
10 gobos fit into one row. “Speed” icon = 0, 8 volume icons (249 divided with 7 pr. Step) and node / sound = 255 as the last.
The “Speed” icon is extra, which only to tell what this row are for.
Link gobo wheel


Channel 3 Movement.
This is only fixed values and this don’t require a fader. Here it is placed on goboch. 3 but it could have been made as macro and with the show in “Gobo” function it could be shown in the gobo window.
By not using the macro but only the gobo then the shown control panel will only be lamp and gobo panel. Since no macros are used the macro panel is not present and this gives a solution with only 2 panels to control the fixture.
Goboch.3 = 3, with 10 gobos, 8 movements + No movement + an extra.
The extra have the same value as “No movement” but a “Move” text icon is placed there to tell what this row are for.
Link gobo wheel

Channel 4 Strobe.
Strobe ch. = 4, off = 0, low = 8, med = 132, high = 255.
Lamp Panel configuration
Remember to add channel description.
This is one of the small things that makes the fixture pro.
Channal 1: Chase, Channel 2: ChaseSpeed, Channel 3: Movement, Channel 4: Strobe.
All default values are set to 0.

The fixture is now saved as Americadj_tripleflex, (not tested), exported to have a backup copy and uploaded to the forum so it can be your part of Freestyler.
See the name convention. File name convention