Author Topic: cannot get AC lights effects to work  (Read 1431 times)

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
cannot get AC lights effects to work
« on: October 16, 2017, 09:42:40 AM »
I have worked extensively with Xlights and pixels. now trying to get a couple of guys going with their AC lights. I set up a renard and have it working. I created a model with a single color type for the lights.

I then started a sequence, activated the AC lights toolbar and cannot drag ramps or any effect to the sequence. What am I missing.

thanks for any help you can provide.

Offline Gilrock

  • Supporting Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6946
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2017, 09:46:24 AM »
If you are using the AC toolbar the way it works is you click on the type of effect you want like click Ramp Up then you drag a selection in the cells and it will create a Ramp Up where you selected.  So its select the operation, create a selection.

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2017, 09:50:07 AM »
that does not seem to work for me. I thought it would be the same as the pixel effects. when I try to select and drag an AC effect, nothing happens.

Offline JonB256

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 832
    • View Profile
    • My Christmas Website
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2017, 10:12:47 AM »
You did click on the "AC" button on the left of the toolbar? That activates the tools. Until then they are just grayed out.

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2017, 10:18:30 AM »
thanks, yes I did. I can click on effects like a ramp, but they will not pull down to the sequence. could it be something in the layout config? I did set them up to be single color and I did specify the port and renard as the type. I hope I can get this going, I have the guys coming over in a couple of hours to show them.

Offline JonB256

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 832
    • View Profile
    • My Christmas Website
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2017, 10:29:52 AM »
I don't use the AC much (yet) but just tried.  If I click on the effect, then click in a timing interval below, it applies the effect. It doesn't "drag"   Its click, then click.

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2017, 10:31:28 AM »
thank you. I just tried that and it does not work either. is there something special I need to do with the model?

Offline Gilrock

  • Supporting Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6946
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2017, 10:36:27 AM »
You probably don't have any timing marks.  You keep saying you cannot "pull them down".  Well that's right I told you it doesn't work like that.  Look at this GIF for how I used the Cascade feature.   The same method would apply to using Ramps.

https://giphy.com/gifs/26vIdz7IlT0cyCAiA

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2017, 11:02:10 AM »
I think it may have something to do with timing marks. I have the normal New Timing track and I created another one. but I do not have any timing marks like you have in your example. I vaguely remember havin gto create those in the past, but in looking at the manual the process to do so seems to have changed? I cannot get marks like you show.

sorry but sure appreciate your help.

Offline keithsw1111

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2733
    • View Profile
    • Kellyville Christmas Lights
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2017, 11:20:07 AM »
Go to sequence settings (the gear icon) and then the timing tab and add a timing track. Use Papagayo or one of the more regular timing marks.

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2017, 11:26:51 AM »
Sincere thanks to you all. that worked. I will be making a donation to the Xlights in the next few days.

thanks,

jon

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2017, 02:05:18 PM »
Well that was short lived. I cannot get it to put effects in again. it will only draw a white rectangle around the time that I try to put in a ramp effect or any other effect. any idea what I am doing wrong? I am feeling pretty ignorant.

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2017, 02:20:53 PM »
NEVERMIND. just figured it out. I discovered that I had to have the green ON box '"on" to get effects on the timeline.

thanks for everyone's help.

Offline Gilrock

  • Supporting Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6946
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2017, 02:24:25 PM »
Well it should be the green On box when you want On effects but if you click on the Ramp tool it should create ramps when you drag out the box.

Offline stenerso

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 12
    • View Profile
Re: cannot get AC lights effects to work
« Reply #14 on: October 16, 2017, 03:06:50 PM »
it is working and apparently I did not discover why it was not, as I am not able to replicate the problem anymore. I am baffled, but it is working and all's well that ends well. thanks