Strobe - Multiple Fixtures

[Jbadger88]

Hello!

I'm trying to create a Strobe across multiple fixtures without more than one fixture strobe at once. Example, if I just had two fixtures, one would strobe than the second then the first again without them crossing over.

I've tried with the shape generator to coarse spread the fixtures but I'm not getting the effect I want.

I'm going to have 6 alpha beam 700 on the floor in a circle with low fog machine and need a strobe going round that circle of 6! It would be great if it could also have the option to adjust the speed so it moves round the 6 fixtures quicker and quicker!

Please let me know if you don't understand what I'm trying to get at! I'll try and explain in another way!

Thanks!

[Jbadger88]

Sorry - Pearl Expert

[niclights]

Unless I'm missing something this is just a simple 6-step chase with x-fade set to 0.

Either each step sets one fixture to strobe, all others to shutter open/closed as desired or it's a dimmer chase with the strobe already running on all fixtures in the background. Depends on fixture and exactly the effect you meant but should be easy in any case.

[Jbadger88]

I've tried a chase with x-fade set to 0 but it still didn't give the strobe effect i was after, just a fast chase! I also tried a low numbered fixture overlap but that again didn't create the effect I am after!

At the moment I am using 2 x Mac 250s so I then tried having a 2 step chase with the first fixture using a strobe at 50% with the second dimmed down and shutter closed (clear) and then the second step of the chase with fixture 2 stobe at 50% with fixture 1 shutter closed.

I have then tried to adjust and save the tempo to get close to what I am after, but it's still not perfect and is glitchy in places where the strobe has it's shutter closed very briefy as the chase moves to the fixture which should strobe. Could this be because the fixtures can't physically do what I am asking them to do? It's very close to what I'm after, but not perfect!

While trying to find an example on youtube, I noticed that the youtube loading timer in the centre of the video is kind of what I'm after! The circle going round! But with just one light on at a time, very fast so it strobes!

[niclights]

This is the kind of thing that depends on fixture capability.

Often, at least where there are two separate physical elements for dimmer and shutter, it is the dimmer that might be slow (or slower). But some fixtures can also have small delays on initiating the strobe. It's this kind of detail that can make the difference between fixtures and one of the unique abilities of LED (ie. not having mechanical shutter/colour).

I don't use Martin fixtures much so I can't say for sure but I would experiment with two options:

1) Dimmer at 100% all steps. Each step set one fixture to strobe x%, all others to closed. This is for slow dimmers.

2) Strobe at x% all steps. Each step set one fixture to dimmer 100%, all others to 0%. This is for delayed start of strobe.

If neither works at the speed you need then you're doomed. Instead I might look at a chase where dimmer is 100% for all steps and you just step between open/closed shutter. This might work better and still give you the effect at a higher speed.

Definitely don't set fixture overlap less than 100%. This is not what you need here.

[ChiekuRs]

Martin MAC's have a small dimmer delay (some kind of fade out) if speed channel is set to 0. Set it to 3 (or 1%) to get maximum dimmer speed.

[samesam3]

about strobe in multi-fixt, is the shape generator supposed to have "Strobe" shapes? cause all ive got is dimmer / focus / iris..

or isit that my tiger's shape is not up to date?

sorry for the poor english =)
cheers!

[niclights]

There are no factory shutter shapes.

Mostly they would not be of much use because the majority of fixtures have different ranges within their shutter attribute (ie. closed/open/strobe%/random%/pulse etc.).

But you can always make your own. Search this forum for help.

[zahoorjury]

can we create all new shapes by ourself ?, is there any shape builder like personality builder ?.

[niclights]

Yes, no.

Search.

[Tumbleweed]

try this... split the scene into two faders.

one fader has the strobe at the rate you want the strobe to be at, and the other fader has a dimmer chase on it, with all scenes recorded in fixture mode so you're only recording the dimmer parameter.

then, under 'edit times', set all times to 0.

[zahoorjury]

Yes, no.

Search.

. Sir i dont understand, what do you mean by , Yes. No. search ?????

[niclights]

Yes you can create new shapes.
No there is no software to do this.
Search the forum for more information.

[zahoorjury]

@ Nick, if you remember the topic . Kindly send me the link. It is difficult to find a specific from hundreds of posts.

[niclights]

I don't, sorry. There is no specific topic but plenty of discussion about writing shapes. Search consoles forum for 'shapes' or 'shapefile' along with myself as author. That should narrow it down.