What do we use CONVERT for?

[sean]

The CONVERT tab of xlights is almost a universal converter between all the sequencers.

you can import

Vixen 2.x, Vixen+ *.vix
LOR *.lms, *.las
LSP is brought in as a conductor file, *.seq
DLA Conductor files, *.seq
HLS *.hlsdata
xlights *.xseq
pi player *.fseq

you can convert any of the above into
Vixen 2.x *.vix, *.vir
Vixen+ *.vix
LOR *.lms, *.las, *.lcb
LSP UserPatterns.xml
HLS *.hlsnc
xlights *.xseq
DLA Conductor *.seq
Pi Player *.fseq

One Note: No matter what the import frame timing this conversion will create fixed 50ms time frames.

[Buckeyelights]

Have you or would you consider creating a conversion process for Aurora software?

I'm very impressed with what I've seen and read about XLights/Nutcracker, it would be great to be able to utilize my existing 200+ channel sequences and combine the Nutcracker affects with it.  The thought of starting over with a new sequencing software is not a pretty thought.

Thank you for considering this request.

[dpitts]

A web search yielded this program.
http://gleannlochchristmas.com/aurora/publish.htm

I think it may have been written by Matt of Xlights. Is that is use name DowdyBrown?

[Buckeyelights]

Thanks dpitts!

It's my understanding that program would convert an Aurora file to a LOR file.  I know of two Aurora users that weren't very happy with the result after converting.  I'd like to be able to continue sequencing with Aurora, I know it, it's very user friendly, plus I have 20+ sequences done, just would add pixel affects to it. If XLights/Nutcracker could import an Aurora file, then I could continue sequencing "regular" channels, import those to XLights/Nutcracker, add the really cool affects to pixels and I'd be happy, happy, happy.

Looking ahead, the future of Aurora doesn't look good, which is unfortunate because it is a solid program.  I think (my guess) is that many current Aurora users will be looking at alternate sequencing software. XLights/Nutcracker could capture that market with a converter

[dkulp]

Writing an import in xLights is not hard at all PROVIDING there are some details about the file format and the data is time slice + channel driven and not effect driven.   For the XML based formats like LMS and HLS, the files themselves provide enough information.   However, Aurora seems to use some sort of binary format for which we don't have any details.   If the Aurora developer could provide some information about the file format, we could likely do it, but reverse engineering a binary file format sucks and not something I think many of us would want to tackle.

[Buckeyelights]

Thanks dkulp,
I'm waiting on a reply from the developer of Aurora to my initial inquiry if he'd be willing to work with XLights to develop a convert.  I'm going to follow-up that with a copy of our response and ask about the file format. 

Thanks!

[sean]

i talked to matt brown (who wrote the converter that dave posted).
He said this is going to be very hard to do.

aurora used a feature of .net where binary files are encrypted. This means that you must install .net in order for any encryption to work. we probably are not going to a requirement that you need .net in order to run xlights.

the converter matt wrote is probably your best bet or aurora could produce a file compatible to xlights (lms,lcb,vix,vir,hlsdata,xseq,fseq,seq)

[Buckeyelights]

Thanks Sean.  Not what I was hoping to hear, but I understand.

I received a reply from Aurora, here's a copy of it:
"The plan with version 2 release was to provide an API DLL for data manipulation (much like what deweycooter has used with his utilities with past version 1 APIs). 

There were significant changes to the file format between 1.0.90 (the last available API) and 1.999.307.  The previous API is no longer compatible.  The new internal DLL now assumes that it is running in the BoxedAPP virtual environment and I have not taken the time to create an API that exposes the interfaces to be called from outside of the BoxedAPP environment.  It was on the to-do list, but wasn't a priority for Beta 1 and I simply haven't gotten around to it (plus the thread model was changing and I didn't want to waste much time on code I would be throwing away when beta 2 was introduced).

If someone wants to get at the data now (instead of waiting for an API to become available), there is a way.  They can communicate with a running Aurora APG server process to attach a converter to the virtual environment.  A specific data structure has to be sent to the APG server via Window Message to get the APG server to launch their third party converter with the correct permissions to access the Aurora internal interfaces.  After that is successful their converter can late bind an ActiveX DLL which will provide the necessary interfaces to load/manipulate/save the DLS files.  I don't have documentation for the specifics (although possible this wasn't an intended use case for the APG server), so if someone wants to do this I would have to put together some documentation-- which might take a little time."

I have no idea what this means.  It does appear complicated.

Thanks again!!!

[sean]

i think it means the converter matt wrote is your only choice. it doesnt sound like the developer is going to put much effort into a converter.

The Aurora web site had this dated jan 14,2014
http://www.aurorashow.com/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=529122
"Due to poor sales during the preorder period, the final release of Aurora 2 has been cancelled.  Refunds have been issued to those who purchased Aurora during the preorder.
The plan from here forward is to complete a single bug fix update to Aurora 2 (Aurora 2 Beta 2) which will address some of the major editor bugs identified in the Beta 1 release.  Any features not yet complete (e.g. the new visualizer) will not be included.  This will be the final release of the Aurora 1 and Aurora 2 software.  I will also take a few months away to pursue other projects, after which I will evaluate whether to resume development with Aurora 3."

so it doesnt sound like there will be any new releases of Aurora unless the developer decides to do release 3.

when i have done polls, less than 10% of users seem to be using Aurora currently. We now have over 70 items to prioritize, i will add an Aurora converter but i doubt it will bubble up high to get much focus from the xlights team.

sorry

sean

[Jeff Squires]

If you can find someone who has Light show Pro they can convert the files for you. (They must also have Aurora installed on there computer)

[Buckeyelights]

Sean, I've appreciated your review of my request.  I wish there was a long line of Aurora users anxious to convert their sequences to XLights; but I sense that many Aurora users already have switched to another software.  In my opinion, Aurora is an excellent sequencing software; it's lack of use is due to a lack of exposure and marketing.  So I guess it's time for me to learn another sequencing software.

Jeff, thanks for the heads up on LSP.  I will look into that for sure.  Maybe I can convert my existing sequences with LSP (I'm going to try Matt's program too), then convert the LSP file into XLights and add Nutcracker affects to a planned pixel tree for 2014.

Thanks again for your help!!!