Need help creating new CCR arches please!

[chowell]

Currently I have three 16' long leaping arches consisting of 7 channels each. They are simply wrapped with clear lights. This year I am replacing the lights with CCR's! The actual construction of the arches should be easy. However, the challenge I am having is knowing how to program them and build them in the visualizer. Should I program them as more channels (or segments) or should I stay with 7? I am not sure what to do here. It looks like each pixel is about 4" long so do I make these arches have 50 channels? What have you all done? Just need some guidance on what has worked for you all and how you went about it.

Thanks in advance!

Corey

[Ron Boyd]

Here is a 3 CCR, 3 Arch visualization and a single chase to go along with it just to give you an idea how to make it happen.

This is how it was done in the visualizer.

Visualizer and Arch wizard;

Type of arch->"Arch"

Number of Segments->"1"

Light type->"CCR"

Pixels Per Segment->"50"

In my opinion, it's very simple to create arch sequences in the Superstar program. The program is a little intimidating at first, but after you get the hang of it, it's real simple to work with.

Hope this helps.

Ron

[chowell]

Thanks for the reply Ron! What program can I use to open the files you sent me? Looks like the Vis files are .LEE files? Your are lpf and las files.

I appreciate your help!

Corey

[chowell]

OK, realized the lpf was a prop file and checked it out. I noticed the three arches are 1 prop in this file. Is that the best way or is it ok to create three separate arches, or does it really matter? My arches are right next to each other in my display just like the ones you sent me. Thanks again for the help thus far! I would have been way wrong the way I was thinking I needed to create these.

Corey

[Ron Boyd]

Corey,

I created 3 seperate arches as fixtures, (just a CCR arch), then I grouped them into a prop. So yes, you can create each arch separately and put them where you want. Most displays I've seen have them lined up like this, mine included, thus the reason for creating them as a prop.

The .las file is just a simple color change chase so you could see what it does with the visualizer file. I picked 2 colors from the color fade tool, spread it across a few blocks on the grid, selected the chase tool and dragged it down across all three sets of CCR channels. If you notice in the file, where 1 CCR chase ends, the program ignored the Macro channels and started where the previous left off. I'm pretty sure that's by design. I think I read it in a post a few months back.

Now, if you have the Superstar add-on, you can sequence arches very quickly. Since the arches, as you already know, are mostly chases, all you really have to do is to pick your colors. It's worth looking into, I promise. Once you get through the learning curve and understand how it works, it's a breeze.

My RGB arch is made up of a single string of Rainbow pixels (42), but I can sequence a full 3.5 minutes of song in Superstar in about 15-30 minutes, or less ( as long as it's only the arches I'm sequencing). Doing it manually, I'd guess an hour or more and I can't get the acceleration and deceleration like I can in SS. Also, there are the meteors and comets, just some really cool effects.

Sorry, I can sometimes get a little long winded when it comes to Superstar. I just love the program.

Anyway, I hope I've been some assistance. I'm only in my second year of synchronized lighting, but as someone said in a post I read this morning, "This Lustful Addiction" is very close to what I'm feeling towards this hobby.

Good luck. If I can help further, I'll be happy to.

Later,

Ron

[chowell]

Ron, not long winded at all! In this hobby, the more input.....the better! I have been sequencing for 5 years now but the CCR's are new for me this year and the Superstar add on will be too of course. I feel like I am starting all over again with the new visualizer. I am glad I'm starting now but wish I would have started in June! I just can't seem to make the time to start that early with all the summertime projects going on. Anyway, I will definitely look into the add on and thanks for all your help!

Corey