Tune To Signs

[Dave Batzdorf]

I have in the past used a LOR channel to light the Tune To signs, that is incorp into the shows. When the shows cycle between songs, there is a one second time span that the lights go out. What would be a better way?

[amcdonald307]

You want the sign to stay on in between songs, right?

What I do is: remove that channel from all your sequences (make sure you don't accidentally turn it on in any sequence, or you'll get bizarre results). Then create an animated sequence with just that one channel. Make it the default 1 minute or whatever it is, doesn't matter. Turn that channel on for the full sequence. When you create your show, add your regular Musical sequences, and add the new animated sequence under the Animation tab. When your show runs the FM channel will stay lit until the show ends.

If you only have the one animated sequence, it doesn't matter if you pick sequentially or concurrently. But off top of my head, I can't remember if you should check or un-check the "Turns unused lights off" check-box in the Animated tab. If you leave it checked, it may flicker at the end of each minute cycle. If you un-check it, it may not shut it off at the end of show(?). Might have to play with that...

Also, you don't have to just turn the power on full for your sign in the animated sequence. I do do a short shimmer then have it go black and slowly fade back up - kind of looks like a power failure.

[Dave Batzdorf]

I kind of thought that. I never just did an animated sequence. As a default I could run an x-10, as i do for the blow ups. I don't use blow ups for Christmas, too much of a pia in the snow. Like you said. Need to play with it.

[Steven]

amcdonald307 wrote:

remove that channel from all your sequences (make sure you don't accidentally turn it on in any sequence, or you'll get bizarre results).

To clarify, this means remove the entire channel from the musical sequences. (Don't just turn it off (clear it), because that will still send it an "off" command.)

and add the new animated sequence under the Animation tab.

For this purpose, it makes more sense to put the new animation sequence in the "Background" tab, rather than the "Animation" tab. Then, it won't turn the light off every minute (unless you want it to). It will still turn it off at the end of the show.

If you actually want to use the radio sign in your musical sequences (I do, because I like the sign to pulse with the beat), then there's a better way, but it takes a little more work (depending on your sequences):

1. In the "Musical" tab, un-check the "Turn used lights off at the end of each sequence." This way, the "Tune Radio" sign won't flash off between sequences.
2. Add the channel for your radio sign to the sequence(s) where you want the light to flash. Sequence it, and make sure to leave it on at the end of the sequence. If the next sequence doesn't contain that channel, then it will just remain on, which is good.
3. Create an animation sequence that you will put in the "Shutdown" tab. Use that sequence to turn off any channels that you might have left on during the show, but don't want to stay on all night, like the radio sign.
   
4. Now that you see how well that works for your "Tune Radio" channel, think about how you can use this idea for other channels. For example, I have the white lights on the eaves fade to 50% at the end of each sequence. Every sequence also starts with the eaves at 50%. This way, there is no "all dark" between sequences, but I still have complete control over all the lights.