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S2 overview of new features


Tim Herberger

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Here is a good overview of some of the new features for S2, introduced at the NJ mini last weekend, and due to be released by later this summer.

It was written by Steve Lelinsky (user name Dangling Modifiers on LOR forum ) and posted over on PC several days ago and many members here may not have had the chance to read it.



I'm sorry, it's not going to be complete, but here's the best of my recollection of the software update:

Ease of Sequencing This seems to be the number one priority of LOR. They want sequencing to be easy and intuitive. Their end goal is to do things like, "Ok, I from 1.25 to 1.35 in the song, do this." And you sequence that. "From 1.55 to 2.00 do this." Then click a button and have it fill in a transition between those two things. This version isn't quite there, but is a step in that direction.

There's a new "Intelligent" tool. Click and drag from left to right, you'll get a fade up. Click and drag from right to left, get a fade down. Click the area between two fades, it'll turn on between them. Similarly, if you're on an RGB channel and you set it to be red at one point, blue at another, click between them and you'll get a cross fade between the two.

Dan mentioned that it works with shimmers and twinkles but didn't show it so it may not work yet. He did say that he was running the latest "stable" version and that not everything they've done so far was there.

In this same area, there's a lot of copy/paste type stuff. There's a "Repeat" tool. Select a portion of the sequence, hit repeat, and it pastes it right at the end of your selection. There's a "Chase" tool. Make the first object do what you want, then highlight the rest of the objects and the length of the chase and the tool will create your chase.

There's a "Paste Foreground" which will only paste to elements which are off. This preserves the tail end of chases and such as you're repeating them. Dan mentioned working on a "V" tool which would be like the chase, but would chase down and bounce back.

There are similar tools specifically for RGB. There is also an advanced clipboard which allows you to copy an object and permanently save it, so it can be pasted later or pasted in to other sequences. Similarly, there's a custom tool palate. If you do things like fade from 0 to 50 a lot, you can save that as your own custom tool.

Dan's idea is that he never wants something to be more than one click. Anything that currently takes multiple clicks, they're trying to find a way to simplify.

RGB You can add RGB channels to your sequence. They can be something like a CCR which does all the color mixing. It has a palate for color picking. These channels can also be three regular LOR channels. Like a mini tree with Red, Green, and Blue lights could be one RGB element. You can "expand" the RGB channel, to see the three sub channels and sequence them individually, or sequence them as a single RGB element. As I said, you can do fades from one color to another. There's a "Color Fade" tool which lets you pick a start color and an end color, then maps the fade/transition between them. Everything you can do with a regular channel you can do with an RGB channel, including the new Chase, Repeat, and Intelligent tools.

As an example, Dan used the color fade tool on one RGB channel to make it start out red, then cross fade to blue. He then used the chase tool to have that cross fade chase across 8 RGB channels. He then used the chase tool again to have it chase back the other way. He then used the intelligent tool to click in the center of the "V" of the case. That set the channels to blue between the chase. He clicked outside the chase and it set the channels to red. The end result was 8 elements that would come on red, then convert to blue in a chase, stay blue for a beat, then convert back to red in the other direction. All with just a few mouse clicks.

Firmware The firmware upgrade will give you the ability to "hardwire" a fade range in to each channel. If you put LEDs on channel 9, controller 3, you can set custom fade curves for that channel. Basically, if you've been programing your fades for LEDs to go from 10 to 40, rather than 0-100, you can set that for the channel. Now in every sequence, you do a fade like normal, 0 to 100, and it actually does the ramp from 10 to 40. There will be curves for all different colors, different manufactures...

Down the Road Dan also talked about a new visualizer which is vector based. Similar to what I've seen from Holiday Lights Designer, you'll click and drag a line, which will turn into a string of lights. It'll use font libraries to store pre-made elements, snowmen, mini trees... You'll be able to create your own elements. You'll be able to copy and paste. It'll have 16 depth layers to more accurately do front to back type things. I got the impression this was coming relatively soon, though not with the next update.

Dan mentioned he wants to start sequencing elements rather than channels. So you have one line for your mega tree instead of 64. You want to circle counter-clockwise, there's a button for that. Fade the whole tree red to blue, easy. He also mentioned arches as getting that same kind of treatment.

He talked about a project he's been working on using a game controller to sequence. He said he uses one with buttons and analog sticks. You map an arch to the analog stick, listen to the song and move the stick from left to right when you want the arches to jump. This will tie in to the beat wizard to accurately lock your movements in to the right timing.

He also talked a little about a project they're working on for "auto sequencing." The software will listen to the music and interpret it. Not just blink things to the beat, but understand motion. It'll understand the feeling of the music. He said a violin section might trigger blues and purples. That kind of thing.

New Hardware He mentioned they're working on new "Gen 2" controllers which have built in snubbers. This seems to be a way off, as they're still figuring logistics of the circuit board layout.

Upgrades It sounds like they're still not sure what exactly would trigger an "upgrade" which would cost money, or and update which would be free. He did say the price point they're thinking of when they do decide to trigger an upgrade is in the ballpark of $20 (very reasonable, methinks.)

The new software should go to beta testing this month with a goal of releasing it next month. I'm sure I forgot a bunch, but this is what stuck in my head.

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I have one question on the new software.

Was there any mention about having the option of the software outputting either native LOR format or DMX format?

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Dennis Cherry wrote:

Was there any mention about having the option of the software outputting either native LOR format or DMX format?

I don't remember hearing it discussed.
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Guest wbottomley

Frank Picozzi wrote:

Mountainwxman wrote:
Did anyone mention that one "Great" feature?

Oh my... that was the best one.

Shhh, Dan told us not to tell the others.


Lips sealed. :P
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Sounds great. I'd be fine with a $20 upgrade, though for me I think that means it has to be version 2.9 or 3.0. But it's been so long since I've paid for software that I wouldn't mind at all.

I'm loving the new sequencing options!

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I would be more than happy to pay for the upgrade. Anything that makes programing easier would be very welcomed - especially for someone like me who is just starting out.

The new features sound very exciting and I encourage LOR to get the software out asap as I am getting concerned that I am running out of tome for 2010.



Cheers

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dpavisic wrote:

I would be more than happy to pay for the upgrade. Anything that makes programing easier would be very welcomed - especially for someone like me who is just starting out.

The new features sound very exciting and I encourage LOR to get the software out asap as I am getting concerned that I am running out of tome for 2010.



Cheers



I would advise you not to delay your sequencing - if you're ready to begin it - to wait for the new version. The release time isn't carved in stone. Do as much as you can now and when the new version is released, just get it and keep going. This is my plan.
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Mountainwxman wrote:

Greg wrote:
william,

your starting trouble again


Now... I wouldn't do that would I? :D

Jeez William, next thing you know you'll be telling everybody about the special deal we're all getting from LOR that's just for those that attended the NJ mini. Oops, maybe I've said too much. Everyone disregard this post.
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Guest wbottomley

Frank Picozzi wrote:

Mountainwxman wrote:
Greg wrote:
william,

your starting trouble again


Now... I wouldn't do that would I? :D

Jeez William, next thing you know you'll be telling everybody about the special deal we're all getting from LOR that's just for those that attended the NJ mini. Oops, maybe I've said too much. Everyone disregard this post.


I told you Frank.

It's easy to let a secret/great deal to slip out.
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  • 1 month later...

Tim Herberger wrote:

Here is a good overview of some of the new features for S2, introduced at the NJ mini last weekend, and due to be released by later this summer. 

Firmware The firmware upgrade will give you the ability to "hardwire" a fade range in to each channel. If you put LEDs on channel 9, controller 3, you can set custom fade curves for that channel. Basically, if you've been programing your fades for LEDs to go from 10 to 40, rather than 0-100, you can set that for the channel. Now in every sequence, you do a fade like normal, 0 to 100, and it actually does the ramp from 10 to 40. There will be curves for all different colors, different manufactures...


I'm wondering if a firmware update is still anticipated - and with this feature? This will significantly change my sequences (for the better) if I'm not having to set intensities in every sequence for every effect to compensate for the variations in LED intensities.

Any takers?
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