Twinkle effect for active sunstrips

[(iCe)]

With the 10 cell fixtures made for the active sunstrips, we have the option of producing some nice effects with those strips. Now I was seeking to program a twinkle effect; a somewhat random effect on the bulbs (I hope this description isn't too vague ).

Has anyone got such a shape already? I wondered what would be a good way to make it. I can create some random values, but I don't think that'll do it. The values need to fade in / fade out nicely and the bulbs should all run kind of independantly; the pattern should be invisible.

Anyone there yet?

[niclights]

Two possibilities:

Custom shapes that operate only on individual cells. In other words you would have a 'Dimmer1 spread', 'Dimmer2 spread' thru 'Dimmer10 spread'.
By applying all ten separate shapes to all of your fixtures, but with different speeds you can get a reasonable random effect.

Alternatively you can create a chase for each fixture and then have a single step cuelist that autoloads them all. Simplest version is a ten step chase with each cell on individually in sequence. Set all the chases to random/100% xfade with slightly different speeds. I've used this method with Jarags and found it very effective.
To speed up programming create 20 (shared) palettes - 10 for each cell on and 10 for off. An 'all off' is handy too.

[(iCe)]

Hmmm, I'm not quite sure if this will do it. The multiple shapes still define a repeating pattern, but a spread will still give a recognizable pattern.

The chase option seems like a better idea, though I'm not quite sure if that will get me what I want. I'll try tomorrow though.

Thanks for your other tip on the macro's; I mastered it and now see the power of it Could use that for this one too; will it also record attribute changes so I could program the entire chase for a single strip and then just replay all the steps for the next ones?

[niclights]

It is a repeating pattern but running on one cell across fixtures, rather than all on the same. If each cell number has a different speed and you select fixtures in different orders it is not easy to see the pattern.

Macros will record attribute changes (I recommend via Attribute Options key/menu to avoid attribute page toggle issues), but you 'may' have problems with the numeric entry not working correctly.

Personally I'd probably just setup a macro for [Append Step],'all off' palette. Put the macro on a grey key on the same page as the palettes and the creation would be very fast:

Chase.
Sel fix.
'all off' palette (makes sure all cells are set to zero at start of chase. Important!)
Pal 1 (cell 1 on)
Macro. (stores step, turns off all cells)
Pal 2 (cell 2 on)
Macro
.....
Pal 10
Macro
End

Repeat for each fixture. On a console without wing I'd say this was the quickest way.

For the cue-list I'd turn link on and set playback option [kill at zero]. That way it will run as soon as you raise the fader and stop when you lower it.