Model Render and Export limitations?

[scuba]

I'm trying to export a matrix model as an uncompressed avi file.

The render and export feature works well when the model is sequenced with effects as a single model.  But if you use a whole house group (as I do) and the model is part of that group, then you may have an issue:

If you don't add an effect to the single model outside of the whole house group, you don't get the models whole house effect exported.

If you copy and paste the whole house effect onto the single model you get the effects as they are applied to the single model only, not what I want.

If you look at strands that's within the whole house group: "nothing.  But if you look at the nodes, you can see the whole house effect.  But you ( at least I ) can't Render and Export that model.  There may be a way to export that whole house effect on a single model.  I've used some of the folks on Xlight.org/Zoom. I've seemed to have stumped the panel.  We tried several methods but no luck.

[Gilrock]

Keith probably remembers better than I.  I thought exporting groups didn't work well because they can easily have huge channel gaps.  Also keep in mind that when you place an effect on a model its global whether that model is isolated or as part of a group.  You can test that by expanding a group to see the models and then drop an effect on a model and then if you have that model somewhere else the effect shows up.

[scuba]

thanks Gil.  But what I want to do is export only the one model effects from the whole house group.  I don't seem to be able to do that.  In fact when you double click on the whole house group, none of the models shows any of the "whole house effects. only if I've dropped an additional effect on the model, does it appear within the expanded group.

[Ebuechner]

Open up your whole house group and right click on the model you want to export and click on convert to affect on the drop-down.
This should generate effects at the node level that you can export.
This may not be what you want but it's as close as I can come up with for what you want.

[scuba]

I tried what you suggested.  didn't work. Please keep in mind the "data" is already at the node level within the strands of the model, but not at the model level within the group.

BTW: if i render and export the program appears to hang.  Export only works fine, but still doesn't export the model within the group.

[Gilrock]

There is a way to do it but its a pain.  You gotta go down to the node level for the model and on every node row use the "Convert to Effect" option then those effects created will export.

[scuba]

Thousands!  (60000+ per sequence) Nope!  I've got to re-think this problem.

[Gilrock]

Well you came up with this complex thing you needed done but you never explained why you need an AVI file and what you plan to do with it nor why the effect must be rendered at the group level and not the model level.

[scuba]

Gil,

Fair enough:
The avi file will be converted and mixed with a mp4 media file I use on my master RPI (which also in connected to a transmitter). This mixed media file is coupled to the sequence file on the FPP playlist.  The group is the whole house RGB group.  I put effects (multiple layers) on this group.  I also put individual effects on certain models to highlight the music or whatever.  The matrix fills a substantial physical space on my display, it's fairly large.

I play the mixed media file on the projector (HDMI) input. This allowed me to include some early messaging in the sequence (and have the resolution that a video file can have on the messaging), followed by a matrix as a physical part of the whole house effect.  Looks very good in preview.  I wish I could export the matrix from the whole house group.  When I include the effects I put on the whole house group on to the matrix model, it doesn't physically match the whole house.

I might be able to this with a virtual matrix, but the file size and resolution would be a trade-off, and rendering time might be too long for my slow computer. I've not tried that yet.  I've also tried to change the Buffer size for the Matrix model, but it will not allow me to increase the buffer size to that I require.  If you have any other idea's I'm willing to try them!

As far as complexity: this idea seemed simple enough, but in actuality appears to be very complex.

Regards
John