Nutcracker in 2013

[smeighan]

Well it is time for 2013 planning for Nutcracker

I am open to any suggestions you would like to see.

This is my current short list

1) Explore making Nutcracker C++. This will give real time feedback while creating effects. Still to be worked out as how these standalone programs can talk to a central database so that we still get the gallery. If Nutcracker can talk to a remote database this will reduce the Nutcracker foot print from 1 gigbyte to < 20mbytes. Today Mysql+Apache=970mbytes + 10mbytes of php Nutcracker code. Future could be just 20mbytes of C++ code. The code would be C++ plus wxWidgets. There would be a Windows, Linux and Mac version available.

This option would eliminate the need for wamp or xampp to be installed on your machine.

2) I want, in the future , new effects that can be easily shared by other sequencers. For example the new fireworks effects (with physics, particles fall), should just be able to be dropped into xLights. I want to see if Vixen 3 and HLS could use effect generation modules in their sequencers. I would hope we could also share nutcracker effect routines with LOR and LSP, this might be harder.

3) New expansion of Music phrases. Beat tracks, Notes, individual instruments. Once a song has been marked up, everyone could use it. Each person would decide what effects to attach to the new meta data.

4) Speaking of #3, enhance current effects to be beat aware. Example: While a spiral is turning, have beat track effects that can highlight that effect. Maybe flash white on spiral on down beat of each beat.

5) Be able to play movies in nutcracker. Start with avi files.

6) Use avi files to create layers open top of your existing effects or have them be effects by themselves

7) Expand targets

a) all targets can start at the left,right,top,bottom corners.

Horizontal matrix

c) Marty Fans

d) Spinners

e) Snowflakes. You will be able to design how many arms

f) Stars. 5 point, 6 point, n point. Have effects specific to stars

g) Each string in your target can be given a starting channel #.

8) Create a msq, asq file export for LSP

9) Expand single strand effects. Model arches, eaves better.

10) Write software that can locate every rgb pixel in your display by capturing a video of your show and mapping each rgb node to x,y,z space. Think cover a tree with strings and then map all the pixels. Now the tree is a "matrix" that we can project all our effects on to. This is a big , fun target

11) Increase effect classes

a) plasma balls

fireworks

c) process a mp3 and great equalizer effects

d) general sound to effects

e) general video to effects

So what would you all like to see this year?

[Shan-Man]

10! 10! 10! A thousand times, 10. Amen.

[hdracer]

I like what I'm reading! Sean your a wizard!!

Thank you for all your time & efforts you put into this hobby!

Will you be attending this years academy in Conroe, Tx?

[Surfing4Dough]

I am a fan of the idea of a snowflake/star target (single prop, like a Bethlehem star, often placed on a rooftop).

[smeighan]

I like what I'm reading! Sean your a wizard!!

Thank you for all your time & efforts you put into this hobby!

Will you be attending this years academy in Conroe, Tx?

Yes I will be in Conroe, Texas for the Academy. I probably will be giving some talks on the new and shiny nutcracker. I have some surprises planned, we will see...

[smeighan]

I am a fan of the idea of a snowflake/star target (single prop, like a Bethlehem star, often placed on a rooftop).

Here are some of the stars you will be able create as new targets soon

[Surfing4Dough]

Here are some of the stars you will be able create as new targets soon

The one with red in the middle is exactly what I am aiming to build this year, so that is perfect. Thanks.

[smeighan]

Fasteddy posted in lsp forum

"To be able to do 3D objects and elements is the next step in this crazy hobby."

My answer

If there is enough demand i will create the effects like you see here

16x16x16 = 4096 pixels. Using $0.80 a pixel (this will come down) it would cost around $3200.

To be effective in a yard, i was thinking of putting each pixel in a ping pong ball and spacing them 5" (20cm) apart would give us a 6 1/2" cube.

yeah, 3d would be fun.

[WilliamS]

Sean, back away from the computer very very slowly. If you start 3d mapping with Nutcracker, your wife will leave you, the kids will forget your name, and we will all be at your house waiting. Keep up the great work. I still only ask for the program to map using my .lee file so that I can make the color sweeps faster. The rest is great work Sean. Finally you know that list, we will be expecting all of those effects before spring to be ready.

[digdeepfundraising]

im just moving into pixels and have just started with nutcracker thank you Sean for such a great help to the pixel world

[smeighan]

Sean, back away from the computer very very slowly. If you start 3d mapping with Nutcracker, your wife will leave you, the kids will forget your name, and we will all be at your house waiting. Keep up the great work. I still only ask for the program to map using my .lee file so that I can make the color sweeps faster. The rest is great work Sean. Finally you know that list, we will be expecting all of those effects before spring to be ready.

lol

yeah, i have a pretty full life.

My children are 40,35,32,21 and 11yo twins.

i am a scout master for the 11yo's, play in 5 bands/orchestra, have a big project at oracle and have a honey do list that is pretty long.

my wife and sons are coming with me to conroe, texas to the academy in july.

i made over a 1000 dives around the world (i am a divemaster), necxt year i want to start my twins in the world of scuba diving and underwater photography.

and i want them to help sequence this year.

Edited January 24, 2013 by smeighan

[smeighan]

I was thinking of making some batons. Have them in different colors. I haven't figured out the electronics, but I need to be able to detect where the baton is, maybe just in vertical space.

I was then going to connect their movements to the lights. Get kids to conduct the music. Effects follow what they do.

It would make the show very interactive

i was thinking of having kids along the sidewalk, so maybe 10'. I want to make it so that they kids who have blue batons, will draw with blue. If they weave among themselves, the colors on my display match their movements.

With Nutcracker maybe going to a C++ program, xlights already is real time. It handled my 12,100 channels with no lag.

I would start wiuth what they do would only show up on the megatree. take it from there.

[WilliamS]

Now your talking about real time mapping and control over your display. That would be interesting, at the same time on the mega tree dangerous. You never know what may get quickly drawn? Im sure it will be a fade cycle but some things are better moderated. I like the idea Sean, no idea how your going to pull it off.