Basic Effects for AC Lights

[TomL8345]

I have seen a lot of tutorials and videos for using various effects with pixel, which I greatly appreciate.  However, about 60% of my display is AC lights.  How do I do some of the basic effects I am used to in XLights?  I am looking at doing chases in my eight segment arches, candy canes, and a couple of AC Megatrees I have.  I am sure the capabilities are here, but I am just a bit overwhelmed and would appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

Thanks!

[Gilrock]

Some new stuff is coming soon to help but for now you mainly use On effects.  I would create a timing grid that matches your sequence like 50ms and then you can select cells and hit hotkeys to drop effects like O for On, U for ramp up, D for ramp down, etc.

[TomL8345]

Gil,

So I would basically sequence these models using the same methods that I have used with previous sequencers.

That helps!

Thanks.

[Gilrock]

Watch this video Keith just made.  I was helping with a couple details so I got to see this in action while he was working on it.  This should be ready for the next release.
http://videos.xlights.org/a-new-way-to-sequence-ac-lights-in-xlights_2d87c2e19.html

[zeighty]

I just watched Keith's video.  This would be so helpful. 
Being new to xLights I am hopeful that the features like the one he showed will be available it the OS X version.

I have not yet got a handle on the model building for AC light strands and certainly not on all the ins and outs of controlling an LOR controller via xLights. 

[keithsw1111]

We generally don't discriminate between platforms. It works on all three.

[Ebuechner]

I think you did one hell of a job following what LOR does.
After watching the video the only other thing that I can think of that would be helpful would be the ability to have multiple clipboards for copy cut and paste.
LOR has a box with one clipboard and then allows you to add more clipboards to save different items and paste from.
Is this something that could be implemented across-the-board not just the AC stuff if it's possible to do it all?

[keithsw1111]

It's already possible. We call them presets.

[Ebuechner]

It's already possible. We call them presets.

I understand about the presets and I thought of that. The multiple clipboards is something Lor does and I mention it because it's one of the tools that they have if you're trying to follow how they do things.  There multiple clipboards come in handy with that type of sequencing instead of setting up a permanent preset.

[keithsw1111]

I am not trying to duplicate LOR ... just build the things that seem useful ... someone would have to convince us multiple clipboards improve on presets because I dont see why they are.

[Gilrock]

I believe LOR S5 is changing from multiple clipboards to Presets....haha

[Ebuechner]

At this point I've completely cut all my ties to Lor. I know S5 just came out in beta but I don't believe I'm going to even be curious enough to download it and take a look. Xlights keeps me busy enough finding things that are new to me by digging around as well as the new stuff that's coming out on a regular basis.  I think Keith's new AC feature is going to do a really good job at Bridging the Gap.

[deplanche]

With the new AC effects, is the the possibility of being able to turn on all AC channels that are just white, without turning on red, green, or blue?  That is one of the things that I see people still struggling with.

[Gilrock]

With the new AC effects, is the the possibility of being able to turn on all AC channels that are just white, without turning on red, green, or blue?  That is one of the things that I see people still struggling with.

To be honest I'm not even sure how to do that in LOR sequence editor.  If I drag a selection with On selected in LOR it turns on all the channels selected it doesn't skip the color ones.  Is there some option I'm missing in LOR?

Anyways in xLights just put all the white channels in a group and turn them on with one effect.

[TomL8345]

Is the Cascade Effect working in AC Lights?  If so how do you use it?  It is not coming intuitively for me.