Messages

1

Nutcracker Effects / How? Smooth single strand effect

« on: November 24, 2021, 06:40:46 AM »

I have a problem where during fast sections of a sequence and using something like the single strand effect causes the rendering to skip lights.  If I have a 70 node strand and a single strand effect, it will light up 10 lights, skip 5, then light the next 10 and so on until the end.  I currently build my sequences using 20fps (50ms).
I see some sequences where the single strand effect is super smooth and lights up every light in order, still in time to the fast tempo of the music.
Any suggestions on how to smooth out my animations? 
Is a matter of sequencing in 40fps?  If so, does the SanDevices E684 and E6804 support 40fps?
Or, is it a case of creating submodels?  If so, what submodel could you create on a single strand of 70 lights?
Something my inexperience hasn't thought of?

2

Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: 2 Gradient glitches. Bug?

« on: October 20, 2021, 02:16:21 PM »

Thank you Gilrock for taking the time to look at these issues and responding.  I will figure out the Github reporting.

3

Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: 2 Gradient glitches. Bug?

« on: October 19, 2021, 06:44:32 PM »

Link to video: https://youtu.be/eT13ee1Pw7k

I did some more testing and found that a lot of the effects lock the color gradient to the clock.
Effects that allow the gradient arrows and don't lock on the clock are:
On
Bars
Fan (This has the angled & circular arrows)
Pinwheel (This has the angled & circular arrows)
Shimmer
Shockwave (This has the angled & circular arrows)
Single Strand
Spirals

All the others lock the gradient to the clock.  As seen in the last part of the video.  I did not test things like Faces, Piano, etc., just the common effects.  This makes me assume that these were written this way and is not a "glitch".  But, there are certain effects that the gradient would be helpful

This first part of the video does show the gradient glitch on the Single Strand effect.  I was just trying to have a smooth transistion from the first color to the second.  I did some further testing on this issue.  I found that if I remove the first color, in this case the first white, the problem goes away, but it doesn't give me as long of a head as I wanted.  If I try it with different colors I get the same result.  Red to blue gradient results in the second color, blue, to show bright blips.  Adding a 2nd color, blue, with a red to blue gradient in between results in the same issue with blue blips on the red.  Adding and/or removing colors have different results. Sometimes the bright bands go away and sometimes they don't.  My ppicture in the first post shows 3 solid reds and the issue is there.  I can't reproduce that.  But, If I have 4 reds and issue returns...  Weird.

You've put out a great piece of software and offer it to the community and for that I thank you. 

4

Do You Need Help? Post it here / 2 Gradient glitches. Bug?

« on: October 18, 2021, 07:03:12 PM »

I'm looking to do a smooth transition.  I can edit the color palette for a gradient, but when applied to a single strand, it results in flashes of red in the animation.  Image 1 is a zoomed in view down to the nodes and you can see the bright red blips in the gradient.

If I try to use a gradient on a morph, the gradient color, on the palette changes and locks to the clock, and I'm unable to select the left/right transition arrow.  Image 2 show the clock locked under the color when the morph is selected.

Is there a reason behind these or is this a glitch?

5

Nutcracker Effects / 2 shader effects color change

« on: September 23, 2021, 07:57:56 PM »

My apologies if this has been answered before, I have not been able to find and answer searching the site.
First, love the "Black Cherry Cosmos" shader.  But, by default, it's dark red.  So, adding a "On" effect and using "1 is Unmask" allows me to change the color.  Great.  But, how can I get 2 different color shader effects on the same model? Basically, in the areas of black in between the first color, sometimes show the other effect color?  In the picture, I've got the On colors set to "Normal" and the shader effects set to "1 is Unmask".  The black On effects are used to fade in the effect.  This arrangement only shows the top most shader/color effect.

I've watched Keiths and PPDs videos on Layers and Buffers (great videos), but still have difficulty blending more than 2 effects.

6

Xlights Setup / Re: P10 Resolution, Separate vs Combined

« on: November 05, 2019, 08:34:13 AM »

I think I've answered my own question.  I created a custom model that was larger than my actual panels by 4 pixels (approx 2").  So, the custom model is a matrix of 100x32.  Then, I used Excel to generate the grid with the channels where I wanted and copied and pasted the channel grid into xLights.  I followed this by creating sub-models to make my individual Left Right panel panes.  I'll test this some more, but first tests seem to have solved my problem.  Gilrock, thank you for your insight

7

Xlights Setup / Re: P10 Resolution, Separate vs Combined

« on: November 05, 2019, 07:37:59 AM »

Thank you for your reply.  In the group model, I've tried a lot of different combinations of settings.  I've changed, "Default Layout Mode", "Max Grid Size", and "Preview" settings.  In combination with the "Render Style" in the Layer Settings of the editor.  I thought changing the max grid size to the max size of my matrix would do the trick, but alas, I just don't know the workings of the software that well.  Doing my best.  I can do a custom model like you suggest (48x96 matrix is a lot of mouse clicks).  I just don't know exactly how to create that.  Do I create a custom model with extra pixels and just "skip" them?
e.g.  1  2  3  4   . . . . .  5  6  7   8
       9 10 11 12 . . . . . 13 14 15 16

and so on, up to 4608?  Is there a way to select a row and say "go" and have it fill in the channels or do I have to click each individual square on the model?

8

Xlights Setup / Re: FPP Proxy field

« on: November 04, 2019, 08:15:29 PM »

This is a great feature.  My show network is completely separate from my home network.  Only the Master FPP has wireless access to my home network for configuration.  Now I can configure all my controllers w/o having to break out the laptop and connect to the show network separately.  Great job!

9

Xlights Setup / P10 Resolution, Separate vs Combined

« on: November 04, 2019, 07:49:35 PM »

I'm still new and testing some P10 Panels.  My front windows is made up of 12 (4x3) small panes.  A 3x1 matrix of P10's fit in the small window panes.  There is about a 2in gap in between the panes.  For this reason, I've decided to setup 2, 3x1 matrices vs. 1, 6x1.  This way, when setup in xLights, it will take in consideration the gap between panels and render the pattern correctly.  The image will not leave the first matrix and immediately show up on the second.  It should render the image in a nice straight line with a gap "in front" of it (I hope that makes sense).  I setup 2 separate matrices in xLights 32x48.  I also setup a group that only has the 2 matrices in it.  That way I can apply a pattern across the matrix as a whole.  When applying a pattern onto each matrix, the pattern looks great.  But, and here's the problem, when I use the group to apply a pattern, the resolution is extremely poor.  It's like comparing 8-bit 1980's graphics to modern day computers.  The fire pattern when using the group looks like it came straight from Minecraft.  I've attached 4 images, 2 of the patterns applied to the panels separately and 2 when applied as a combined group.  How can I fix the group resolution?

10

Xlights Setup / Re: Brightness Slider vs. Dimming Curve

« on: January 06, 2019, 05:45:11 PM »

Thank you for the replies.  My lights just outline my house and I just have about 10 30 sec. animations right now.  Next year, I plan on adding some props and syncing it to music.  So, there isn't much I would have to re-render. 

I really commend the guys who write the xLights program.  Way beyond my meager programming skills.   I've watched many of the videos and it seems like xLights is always a work in progress (I'm mean that in a good way).  They keep fixing bugs and adding more great features.  I wish the dimming curve/brightness slider was the other way around.  To me, it seems more logical to set the dimming curve and use the slider to override.  That way, you don't have to worry about setting the brightness for each and every effect, only the ones you know you want different.  The current way almost seems to diminish the power, or the use, of the dimming curve.  But, who am I to complain, I didn't write the program.  Maybe, in some future release, there will be an option to chose which way.

But, now that I know it doesn't work that way,  I'll set the dimming curve back up and use the brightness slider on all the effects to lower them.  Then, when I want the lights to "pop"... 100% baby!  The only draw back to that method is when you have a the light strings in a "group", you can't control the brightness of the individual strings when they are different types.

11

Xlights Setup / Brightness Slider vs. Dimming Curve

« on: January 04, 2019, 05:37:27 PM »

I would like some clarification please. This may get confusing, so bear with me.

I have several 12v c9 technicolor pixels and some 12v 3-LED modules. The dimming curve for the c9's is set to -30 and the modules are set to -40. I understand that this reduces the overall power/brightness of the pixels. Kind of like a global reduced setting. These are settings I chose to equalize the brightness of the c9s vs. the 3-LED modules.

The brightness slider, in the effects color window, goes from 0 to 400. I've read posts about the maximum behind the scenes value being 255 and setting the brightness slider to 400 will not burn out the bulbs, I get it. But... does the dimming curve set the maximum brightness of the pixels that can not be overridden? Or, does the brightness slider, if set to a higher value (e.g. brightness 200), override the dimming curve and allow the pixels to achieve their true maximum brightness?

For example, if the c9 bulbs dimming curve is set to -30 (70% power) and during a show I want to really "flash" the bulbs at their true maximum 100% brightness, would setting the brightness slider to something like 200 on an effect allow them to flash at their maximum brightness or would they be limited to a maximum of 70% by the dimming curve?

In other words...
Is it better to only use the dimming curve to equalize the overall brightness of different strings and use the brightness slider to manually lower the power on each effect in the show...

or, use the dimming curve to handle the brightness of the entire show and use the brightness slider to, on occasion, override the dimming curve setting to make part of the show "pop"?

I think I asked the same question like 3 different ways so please help me understand.