Anyone else trying out the new Firefly units?

[tboerjan]

If you just want random twinkling and multiple colors; I have been experimenting with my fades that I use in mini-trees and leaping arches, and then offsetting them by a few tenths of a second as I cut and paste them into the FF channels. So far I've been getting all different shades of colors and randomness; still kinda in sync with my other stuff. One could make one color (16 ch) in sync and then go ahead and behind of that group .2 to .3 seconds which I think would be "closer to your other lights" and still give you a variety of colors. Which is a "nice effect" and quickly done; especially considering individual programming 48 channels/controller... if you want/need more control, it will take considerably more energy times ones songs.

I'm hoping someone comes out with something soon to speed up the process.

[Paul Roberson]

tboerjan wrote:

If you just want random twinkling and multiple colors; I have been experimenting with my fades that I use in mini-trees and leaping arches, and then offsetting them by a few tenths of a second as I cut and paste them into the FF channels. So far I've been getting all different shades of colors and randomness; still kinda in sync with my other stuff. One could make one color (16 ch) in sync and then go ahead and behind of that group .2 to .3 seconds which I think would be "closer to your other lights" and still give you a variety of colors. Which is a "nice effect" and quickly done; especially considering individual programming 48 channels/controller... if you want/need more control, it will take considerably more energy times ones songs.

I'm hoping someone comes out with something soon to speed up the process.

I think we all are hoping this will happen soon;)

[thebaronn]

So! I talked a new friend into purchasing a Firefly unit last week and he received the unit and was very excited. He sends me a PM that pixels 9-16 all stick with his sequence so he emailed it to me. and OMG!!!!! Here is a screen shot, it is a simple sequence for 15 sec that goes back and forth, it is very slow. I tried and jeez.....

Pixel 9-16 stay on after they are turned on.

I changed them to fades and it worts just fine, but I thought that the sticking pixel was only an issue for fast ramps, but this is slower than molasses!!!!


Attached files

[thebaronn]

and here is the sequence

Attached files test.las

[dman776]

Go to network preferences and turn off compatibility mode.

[thebaronn]

dman776 wrote:

Go to network preferences and turn off compatibility mode.

You are a genius! I have never messed with the preferences!

Thank you

[thebaronn]

1 post since 2007?

Well its the best post ever!

[thebaronn]

dman776 wrote:

Go to network preferences and turn off compatibility mode.

just got confirmation of your secret identity! I know who you are!!

(thats right, you told me)

[dman776]

It's no secret. I am dman776 pretty much everywhere. I just don't normally post here out of "competitive respect".

[thebaronn]

dman776 wrote:

It's no secret. I am dman776 pretty much everywhere. I just don't normally post here out of "competitive respect".

I think you get a pass in this thread!

[dman776]

Just trying to help. :-)

[thebaronn]

dman776 wrote:

Just trying to help. :-)

Well it helped me very much, maybe others just knew about that sort of thing, but I have no clue there was even a "network preferences"

Learn something new everyday!

Thank you again!

[rstephenrrtx]

thebaronn wrote:

dman776 wrote:

Go to network preferences and turn off compatibility mode.

You are a genius! I have never messed with the preferences!

Thank you

I assume you mean to go to

Edit->Preferences->Network Preferences then ensure that the compatibility option is unchecked, correct?

I have that unchecked with a v3 FF string. I have found that any pattern I have in a .las file with a loop gets messed up. The first time it goes through the loop ok but on each subsequent loops, the string seems to think it continues on past the loop section...but the loop portion continues to play. Ugh. I've tried it with different network speeds set as well.

rns

[thebaronn]

rstephenrrtx wrote:

thebaronn wrote:

dman776 wrote:

Go to network preferences and turn off compatibility mode.

You are a genius! I have never messed with the preferences!

Thank you

I assume you mean to go to

Edit->Preferences->Network Preferences then ensure that the compatibility option is unchecked, correct?

I have that unchecked with a v3 FF string. I have found that any pattern I have in a .las file with a loop gets messed up. The first time it goes through the loop ok but on each subsequent loops, the string seems to think it continues on past the loop section...but the loop portion continues to play. Ugh. I've tried it with different network speeds set as well.

rns

Could you post the sequence? Others could run it and see if we get the same result!

Eric

[rstephenrrtx]

If you only "Play the selection" and select the area of the loop, all is well. If you "Play the full sequence" I see the problem on the 2nd loop.

The configuration is for unit 6, 7, 8

The sequence is here:


Attached files FireflyWindow.las

[thebaronn]

Ok you will have to bear with me (just got off a triple) so I downloaded the file and ran it. Now I have some questions.

You have 2 tracks, correct?

Now I do not use loops so I really have no clue but here is what I see.

On track 1 you have a 10 sec loop, but then after the loop there is more sequencing?

And then on track 2:White a loop does not show up (Is that correct?) and when I click play here is what I see:

The two track run simultaneously for the first 10 seconds. At 10 sec, track 1 jumps back to the beginning while track 2 just keeps chugging along. (so when track 2 is at 15 sec, track one is back on 5 sec because of the 10 sec loop) but then the player never loops track one again??? It only loops once and then no more? So then track 2 plays out until the 1:00 mark and is done, and then track 1 follows up and ends 10 sec later?

Is this what you are getting?

If so, then here is the thing. If you click on the loop and click on loop info, the loop count is only 1. So it is only going to repeat the loop once, that is it. And on the 2nd track loops are turned off. If you turn them on, no looping information is there for the 2nd track. It looks like the problem could be in the way the sequence is set up.

Hope this helps.

Eric

[rstephenrrtx]

thebaronn wrote:

Ok you will have to bear with me (just got off a triple) so I downloaded the file and ran it. Now I have some questions.

You have 2 tracks, correct?

Now I do not use loops so I really have no clue but here is what I see.

On track 1 you have a 10 sec loop, but then after the loop there is more sequencing?

And then on track 2:White a loop does not show up (Is that correct?) and when I click play here is what I see:

The two track run simultaneously for the first 10 seconds. At 10 sec, track 1 jumps back to the beginning while track 2 just keeps chugging along. (so when track 2 is at 15 sec, track one is back on 5 sec because of the 10 sec loop) but then the player never loops track one again??? It only loops once and then no more? So then track 2 plays out until the 1:00 mark and is done, and then track 1 follows up and ends 10 sec later?

Is this what you are getting?

If so, then here is the thing. If you click on the loop and click on loop info, the loop count is only 1. So it is only going to repeat the loop once, that is it. And on the 2nd track loops are turned off. If you turn them on, no looping information is there for the 2nd track. It looks like the problem could be in the way the sequence is set up.

Hope this helps.

Eric

Although I'm at work and can't see the sequence...what you are saying seems correct.

Yes, I have 2 tracks. I use track 2 as my "white" view of Firefly. This is a duplicate of track 1 but I have each pixel per unit next to each other. (U1.1, U2.1, U3.1, U1.2, U2.2, etc...) It is a faster way to sequence the color "white" or "all on" for me. You mileage may vary.

I believe you have found my problem in that I assumed that a loop in track 1 (the main track) would repeat the same time frame in track 2 (regardless of the individual timings). What you describe does sound exactly like what I'm seeing - good eye!

I suppose now I need to go and duplicate my loops on track 2. Not sure if this is a "feature" or a bug. Either way, I've dealt with worse issues with LOR software. This should set me straight for Memorial day. Thanks a heap!

rns

[thebaronn]

rstephenrrtx wrote:

thebaronn wrote:

Ok you will have to bear with me (just got off a triple) so I downloaded the file and ran it. Now I have some questions.

You have 2 tracks, correct?

Now I do not use loops so I really have no clue but here is what I see.

On track 1 you have a 10 sec loop, but then after the loop there is more sequencing?

And then on track 2:White a loop does not show up (Is that correct?) and when I click play here is what I see:

The two track run simultaneously for the first 10 seconds. At 10 sec, track 1 jumps back to the beginning while track 2 just keeps chugging along. (so when track 2 is at 15 sec, track one is back on 5 sec because of the 10 sec loop) but then the player never loops track one again??? It only loops once and then no more? So then track 2 plays out until the 1:00 mark and is done, and then track 1 follows up and ends 10 sec later?

Is this what you are getting?

If so, then here is the thing. If you click on the loop and click on loop info, the loop count is only 1. So it is only going to repeat the loop once, that is it. And on the 2nd track loops are turned off. If you turn them on, no looping information is there for the 2nd track. It looks like the problem could be in the way the sequence is set up.

Hope this helps.

Eric

Although I'm at work and can't see the sequence...what you are saying seems correct.

Yes, I have 2 tracks. I use track 2 as my "white" view of Firefly. This is a duplicate of track 1 but I have each pixel per unit next to each other. (U1.1, U2.1, U3.1, U1.2, U2.2, etc...) It is a faster way to sequence the color "white" or "all on" for me. You mileage may vary.

I believe you have found my problem in that I assumed that a loop in track 1 (the main track) would repeat the same time frame in track 2 (regardless of the individual timings). What you describe does sound exactly like what I'm seeing - good eye!

I suppose now I need to go and duplicate my loops on track 2. Not sure if this is a "feature" or a bug. Either way, I've dealt with worse issues with LOR software. This should set me straight for Memorial day. Thanks a heap!

rns

Sorry, if I came across as "questioning" your method. I was just being very methodical. Because Since FF take up so many channels it is hard to "see" the everything. I have have done things where I inserted a track but forgot to take it out later (when I didnt like the sequence) and I forgot all about it (because I cannot see it anymore when working with one 48 channels chuck for one firefly) And then spent hours looking at the squence trying to figure out where I am wong only to accidentally click and have the new track come up and say "oh, guess I should have deleted this" and violla! It works and hours of troubleshooting for a problem in a sequence that didnt exist, LOL!

I do the same, I have a track for all the firefly grouped in the reds, green, and blues and then another track where the red green blue of each pixel is grouped together.

Goodluck with your sequencing!

Eric

[rstephenrrtx]

thebaronn wrote:

rstephenrrtx wrote:

Sorry, if I came across as "questioning" your method. I was just being very methodical. Because Since FF take up so many channels it is hard to "see" the everything. I have have done things where I inserted a track but forgot to take it out later (when I didnt like the sequence) and I forgot all about it (because I cannot see it anymore when working with one 48 channels chuck for one firefly) And then spent hours looking at the squence trying to figure out where I am wong only to accidentally click and have the new track come up and say "oh, guess I should have deleted this" and violla! It works and hours of troubleshooting for a problem in a sequence that didnt exist, LOL!

I do the same, I have a track for all the firefly grouped in the reds, green, and blues and then another track where the red green blue of each pixel is grouped together.

Goodluck with your sequencing!

Eric

Nope, not questioning my methods...me explaining to (myself and) others what I did.

Since loops aren't used in musical sequences...I haven't had the need until Easter/now for them. It does explain why my Easter rabbit had "issues" last month.

It also gets me ready for using FF at a convention in July.

rns

[beeiilll]

Well I finally got around to setting up my new FireFly string and playing with it last night!

These things are pretty cool I must admit. However I did run into a problem with it when I installed the D-Light hardware utility to set it up, it screwed up my comm setup for LOR's USB adapter.

That was fun to figure out - NOT. Just an FYI for anyone who is going to try out one of these. Don't use The D-Light hardware utility! You will still need the Firmware updater though.

Now a question for all you "veterans" who are using these strings.

Does anyone have a "cheat sheet" or listing for the pixels to allow one to somewhat quickly determine which pixels to turn on for various colors when sequencing these? There has to be something out there that helps do this quickly I'm sure.

Other than that I am having a lot of fun watching the lights go around me here as I figure out some of the basic setup and running of the string. I can't wait to see how this is going to look as a Martin star on my mega tree this year!

Thanks for all the info in this thread and the hard work that you all have endured with getting these things going. 48 channels of sequencing to get one string is certainly a daunting task.

Bill