DMX levels not corresponding

[Mikey851]

I have an Omnisistem Rocket Laser; it wasn't on the list so I added the fixture. It is a 1 channel laser where different dmx levels control the apertures, for instance 96-111 laser 2 and 3 should be on. For some reason this is not corresponding properly. Could this be something I'm doing wrong or possibly an incorrect list in the user manual?

[Mikey851]

So anyways, I manually went through and found all of the levels that matched up with the desired result so the problem is fixed but that's still annoying. I would think it would be the manufacturers list, but maybe it's something I'm doing or Showxpress.

I have one more question that I'll add to this thread because it ties in with editing. I was playing around making a scene with the rocket laser and I set up a simple laser chase. I had it going laser 1,2,3,4 with intervals of .5 seconds and then I wanted it to sweep faster so I made the intervals .1 seconds.

I added this to the live screen and wanted to try to sync up by tapping the bpm on the space bar. For some reason all of the intervals were evenly spaced. I wanted them to maintain the pattern I set up and be changed proportionally according to bpm; is there something I'm doing wrong?

Thanks for all of the help. I may be here for a while until I get the hang of this software.

[tomrbland]

As far as I know, setting the BPM in Live overrides all the timings from builder.

So if you have a scene with timings: 0.1, 0.4, 0.6, 1.0

and you tap the bpm then you might get each timing set to 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5 it won't resize in relation to the original timings.

That is my understanding anyway.

[Mikey851]

Hmmm......so what would be the best way to have a light sweep scene that goes from slow to fast? Would you tap sync to the beat and then tap sync double time or something? If I sound like a complete noob it's because I am, but I have to learn this software.

[tomrbland]

I'm here to help

I would forget about tap sync if I were you and just make a scene that sweeps from slow to fast in builder. If you think about it, if a beam is moving slowly then quickly it's not in time with the music anyway, so how would you sync it with the music?

[Mikey851]

I'm here to help

I would forget about tap sync if I were you and just make a scene that sweeps from slow to fast in builder. If you think about it, if a beam is moving slowly then quickly it's not in time with the music anyway, so how would you sync it with the music?

True. I guess I'm just thinking of parts of a song where there is a drum breakdown and the drums get progressively faster and more intense. At that point I would like the strobes to be able to follow the drums and then when it gets fast enough that all you are hearing is a snare roll the strobes would be all out.

On another forum I asked the same question and thought I should just put the strobes in sound active mode and everyone told me it would be better to use tap sync. I guess I could use the live screen and set up a flash button that controls all strobes and activate them manually.

[tomrbland]

I'm just thinking of parts of a song where there is a drum breakdown

If you are lighting to a specific song then why not use timeline and be really accurate by placing your scenes in exactly the right place?

If this is in a live/busking situation then the tap sync doesn't update quick enough for a break down so a manual flash button is you best option.

Does that help?

[Mikey851]

I'm just thinking of parts of a song where there is a drum breakdown

If you are lighting to a specific song then why not use timeline and be really accurate by placing your scenes in exactly the right place?

If this is in a live/busking situation then the tap sync doesn't update quick enough for a break down so a manual flash button is you best option.

Does that help?

Yes that helps alot. I will be programming on a timeline for a few original tracks but the majority of the set will be a dj playing music in a club setting. That is when I will have many different scenes to choose from and have a flash button for certain fixtures.

Thanks!

[tomrbland]

Good luck