DiyLightAnimation
Software => Nutcracker: RGB Effects Builder => Topic started by: smeighan on January 23, 2013,
-
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.
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.
b) 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
b) 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?
-
Great list of items, sean!
One thought: it would be nice to have a "project" level view objects to allow you to separately define your trees, marty fans, coroflakes, and arches -- and join them together in one all-encompassing project.
-
Those are a great list of possible options.
If they all get implemented then maybe a sequence like this could be easily developed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W7L41D_2ns
-
two more areas i am going to add to Nutcracke rin 2013.
1) Documentation. A wiki page, a pdf document, vimeo tutorials. I hate to use software that is not documented. I hate software that is not intuitive and takes too much of your time to learn. Unfortunately easy, intuitive and good documentation takes a lot of time. Time is the most precious commodity for myself and for all of the developers. This is not an excuse, i am just saying that i do recognize the need for this and will work to get it better in 2013.
2) Stability and performance. Nutcracker is still too complicated. Wamp, xampp, create a songs worth of effects in 20 minutes. Many things here i want to improve.
So i will be working on these two items no matter what the vote above.
thanks
-
Those are a great list of possible options.
If they all get implemented then maybe a sequence like this could be easily developed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W7L41D_2ns (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W7L41D_2ns)
+1 :) -- nice video!
-
Those are a great list of possible options.
If they all get implemented then maybe a sequence like this could be easily developed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W7L41D_2ns
yep some of those effects will be available this year. specifically i want to look into allowing you to draw a shape on the screen using your mouse and then you give that drawing a vector (direction and speed) and it gets animated.
-
You mean I gotta learn wxWidgets?! LOL. Always the slave driver....
-
Sounds great as usual.
I love the open model you have created here ... but it would be worth it to me, if LOR offered an add-on (paid) which would allow me to apply nutcracker effects to my sequence from within the sequencer itself. My vision would be to purchase the add-on, and then you supply your personal nutcracker123 account info and then could apply effects from your library to the currect sequence and the model would merely be the range of cells selected in the sequencer itself. So If I selected say "meteors123" and then painted a range of cells ... it could apply that effect inline, so to speak.
Again, thats not really an enhancement per se ... and may very well NOT fit your model or goals ... but I'd like to see sequencers consider provide enhanced nutcracker compatibility which could perhaps give you some compensation, while allowing you to stay with your current model, which is very open and free.
-
Sounds great as usual.
I love the open model you have created here ... but it would be worth it to me, if LOR offered an add-on (paid) which would allow me to apply nutcracker effects to my sequence from within the sequencer itself. My vision would be to purchase the add-on, and then you supply your personal nutcracker123 account info and then could apply effects from your library to the currect sequence and the model would merely be the range of cells selected in the sequencer itself. So If I selected say "meteors123" and then painted a range of cells ... it could apply that effect inline, so to speak.
Again, thats not really an enhancement per se ... and may very well NOT fit your model or goals ... but I'd like to see sequencers consider provide enhanced nutcracker compatibility which could perhaps give you some compensation, while allowing you to stay with your current model, which is very open and free.
I would love to come up with a way that the effects that i create can be used in LOR and LSP. Of course also in Vixen 3 and HLS and xLights.
-
Thats awesome. ;D ;D
-
Here are some the new stars that will be available as targets soon
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/sample_stars.png)
-
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
3D LED RGB Cube 16x16x16 (b) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3K8i0JQzx2w)
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 led in a ping pong ball and spacing them 5" (20cm) apart would give us a 6 1/2" cube.
yeah, 3d would be fun.
-
we discussed this before :)
I am planning to build one of these with a conductor to drive it.
11x11x11x3channels=3993 total channels -- under the 4096 in a single hub.
-
Minelon already has an RGB element in a little plastic ball (already weatherproof) that would adapt to that type of square very well.
Having that as a possible display element would be excellent.
-
Here is yet another idea for an element... an infinity mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkdQeevJu0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkdQeevJu0)
Going beyond what is in the video, imagine the actual circle of lights being a line (circle) of smart string pixels. The kalaidescope effect would be fun, breaking the lights into quadrants ( 4 ), or sections of 8... or more/less.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-An-Infinity-Mirror/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-An-Infinity-Mirror/)
-
Here is yet another idea for an element... an infinity mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkdQeevJu0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkdQeevJu0)
Going beyond what is in the video, imagine the actual circle of lights being a line (circle) of smart string pixels. The kalaidescope effect would be fun, breaking the lights into quadrants ( 4 ), or sections of 8... or more/less.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-An-Infinity-Mirror/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-An-Infinity-Mirror/)
this would be easy to write effects for ...
let me know if you build one...
-
Here is yet another idea for an element... an infinity mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkdQeevJu0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkdQeevJu0)
Going beyond what is in the video, imagine the actual circle of lights being a line (circle) of smart string pixels. The kalaidescope effect would be fun, breaking the lights into quadrants ( 4 ), or sections of 8... or more/less.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-An-Infinity-Mirror/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-An-Infinity-Mirror/)
this would be easy to write effects for ...
let me know if you build one...
Wouldn't this simply be a four segment single strand? If you built a circular one, it would just be a single segment single strand? Seems easy enough.
Kurt
-
Here are some the new stars that will be available as targets soon
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/sample_stars.png)
Awesome!
Sean would it be possible to make the stars 4 section Exploding stars or give the option?
This is what I have... http://store.3glightingcreations.com/large-exploding-star-green/ (http://store.3glightingcreations.com/large-exploding-star-green/)
Thanks!!
-
Here are some the new stars that will be available as targets soon
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/sample_stars.png)
Awesome!
Sean would it be possible to make the stars 4 section Exploding stars or give the option?
This is what I have... http://store.3glightingcreations.com/large-exploding-star-green/ (http://store.3glightingcreations.com/large-exploding-star-green/)
Thanks!!
i think you misunderstood the drawings, maybe i wasnt clear
You will create stars, as an example the 5 point star on the right above:
Number of points (3-12)? 5
how many stars to nest together (1-10)? 3
how many pixels on star#1 30
how many pixels on star #2 20
how many stars on star #3 10
Now the star model would be built for you
In other words all of these models will be configurable.
In your case, answer the second question with a 4. I will allow probably any number of nested stars.
-
i think you misunderstood the drawings, maybe i wasnt clear
You will create stars, as an example the 5 point star on the right above:
Number of points (3-12)? 5
how many stars to nest together (1-10)? 3
how many pixels on star#1 30
how many pixels on star #2 20
how many stars on star #3 10
Now the star model would be built for you
In other words all of these models will be configurable.
In your case, answer the second question with a 4. I will allow probably any number of nested stars.
Sean,
Thank you, You always go above and beyond and I sincerely appreciate what you do for our community.
-
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 with what they do would only show up on the megatree. take it from there.
-
Sounds like you have been to Disney. They have those mouse ears that blink to the show music.
-
Sean,
I saw on one of the forums (DIYC I think) where a guy did reindeer hats using a RF protocol. Take a look at that, if you haven't already. It was quite detailed and amazing.
Kurt
-
Sean,
I saw on one of the forums (DIYC I think) where a guy did reindeer hats using a RF protocol. Take a look at that, if you haven't already. It was quite detailed and amazing.
Kurt
Hi Kurt;
I have been following that there's for the last six months or so. That would be cool also. But I was thinking more of an input device.
My kids have a wii, you can connect it to your laptop as a Bluetooth device. Maybe I'll start with two wii controllers and get the interactive software worked out.
I am thinking of or'ing in the wii controllers to the output buffer. Lots of things to work out, like make sure we don't add lag to the playback.
Well see, it will be fun to try
-
Sean,
I saw on one of the forums (DIYC I think) where a guy did reindeer hats using a RF protocol. Take a look at that, if you haven't already. It was quite detailed and amazing.
Kurt
Hi Kurt;
I have been following that there's for the last six months or so. That would be cool also. But I was thinking more of an input device.
My kids have a wii, you can connect it to your laptop as a Bluetooth device. Maybe I'll start with two wii controllers and get the interactive software worked out.
I am thinking of or'ing in the wii controllers to the output buffer. Lots of things to work out, like make sure we don't add lag to the playback.
Well see, it will be fun to try
I understand. This sounds cool. You might also look at a lot of the hacks that have been done to the Kinect. The Kinect can definitely understand body movement and distinguish between multiple people moving around. Perhaps you have an area where the kinect views the movement of arms and body and responds accordingly. Just a thought of alternatives (not trying to talk you out of the Wii control).
Kurt
-
Sean,
I saw on one of the forums (DIYC I think) where a guy did reindeer hats using a RF protocol. Take a look at that, if you haven't already. It was quite detailed and amazing.
Kurt
Hi Kurt;
I have been following that there's for the last six months or so. That would be cool also. But I was thinking more of an input device.
My kids have a wii, you can connect it to your laptop as a Bluetooth device. Maybe I'll start with two wii controllers and get the interactive software worked out.
I am thinking of or'ing in the wii controllers to the output buffer. Lots of things to work out, like make sure we don't add lag to the playback.
Well see, it will be fun to try
I understand. This sounds cool. You might also look at a lot of the hacks that have been done to the Kinect. The Kinect can definitely understand body movement and distinguish between multiple people moving around. Perhaps you have an area where the kinect views the movement of arms and body and responds accordingly. Just a thought of alternatives (not trying to talk you out of the Wii control).
Kurt
Also, you might want to baby step using the Conductors trigger. This might be too constraining to what you do, but it would be relatively simple to create a signal generator that feeds into the triggers. This would limit you to a max of 15 odd sequences, so as I said might be too constraining to what you want to do. Just typing out loud here. *grin*
Kurt
-
Sean,
I saw on one of the forums (DIYC I think) where a guy did reindeer hats using a RF protocol. Take a look at that, if you haven't already. It was quite detailed and amazing.
Kurt
Hi Kurt;
I have been following that there's for the last six months or so. That would be cool also. But I was thinking more of an input device.
My kids have a wii, you can connect it to your laptop as a Bluetooth device. Maybe I'll start with two wii controllers and get the interactive software worked out.
I am thinking of or'ing in the wii controllers to the output buffer. Lots of things to work out, like make sure we don't add lag to the playback.
Well see, it will be fun to try
I understand. This sounds cool. You might also look at a lot of the hacks that have been done to the Kinect. The Kinect can definitely understand body movement and distinguish between multiple people moving around. Perhaps you have an area where the kinect views the movement of arms and body and responds accordingly. Just a thought of alternatives (not trying to talk you out of the Wii control).
Kurt
The problem with Wii it that you need to secure the batons/controllers so that people don't walk off with them, or be on-hand to monitor their use. I like both of the ideas, but Kinect might cause less frustration with human natures.
-
Sean,
I saw on one of the forums (DIYC I think) where a guy did reindeer hats using a RF protocol. Take a look at that, if you haven't already. It was quite detailed and amazing.
Kurt
Hi Kurt;
I have been following that there's for the last six months or so. That would be cool also. But I was thinking more of an input device.
My kids have a wii, you can connect it to your laptop as a Bluetooth device. Maybe I'll start with two wii controllers and get the interactive software worked out.
I am thinking of or'ing in the wii controllers to the output buffer. Lots of things to work out, like make sure we don't add lag to the playback.
Well see, it will be fun to try
I understand. This sounds cool. You might also look at a lot of the hacks that have been done to the Kinect. The Kinect can definitely understand body movement and distinguish between multiple people moving around. Perhaps you have an area where the kinect views the movement of arms and body and responds accordingly. Just a thought of alternatives (not trying to talk you out of the Wii control).
Kurt
The problem with Wii it that you need to secure the batons/controllers so that people don't walk off with them, or be on-hand to monitor their use. I like both of the ideas, but Kinect might cause less frustration with human natures.
For me, i would always be there. As a scoutmaster, divemaster and EMT i am concerned about safety with people getting excited on my sidewalk. It will be a supervised activity. I am thinking like 6-7pm each night , advertise the interactive show. I would need to demo how it works and monitor. Then i would take equipment back inside.
I would like to see an interactive paint program. Also i would want a solution that works on all the hardware people use. For me, i will work on a design using xlights as the player and feed the input stream to the data being output.
-
Greetings,,,
You could always use a Twister type input on the sidewalk itself, either switch input or a scanning solution, optical or otherwise. Even with a projected keyboard or other display on the sidewalk. Which could change for different songs. Lots of options. ...
Keith
-
Greetings,,,
You could always use a Twister type input on the sidewalk itself, either switch input or a scanning solution, optical or otherwise. Even with a projected keyboard or other display on the sidewalk. Which could change for different songs. Lots of options. ...
Keith
Yep, that could get the kids moving.
make a 6'x6' square on the ground, 1 foot square pads.. kids standing makes the pattern that overlays on the song.
-
Depending on how in depth you want to get you might want to think about using a digital accelerometer like this
http://www.mouser.com/new/sensors/freescale-mma865x/n-5gejZ378bpn to translate the batons location in 3D space combined with some type of wireless communication. I know there is one that plugs directly into Adrino which might greatly simplify design and programming. I worked with a friend who was using one on a hat to control head movements in a skeleton in real time.
-
Dreaming on further, it would be nice if I could make models of all the things in my yard each with a starting channel and an x, y, and z location of each item. Then I would place them all in a “Bucketâ€. From that bucket, Nutcracker would then generate a single model that would represent my entire physical display. I would then select a song for that model and by making some formula choices Nutcracker would generate a Beat model. Then a final pass using some formula choices for color and I have a finished sequence.
As RGB gets more common and costs drop, the number channels in a display will become huge. Nutcracker came into existance to solve the first obvious RGB problem. How do you node by node program a relational RGB mega tree. The extension of that is how do you node by node, program a large relational full display.
Rick S
-
Dreaming on further, it would be nice if I could make models of all the things in my yard each with a starting channel and an x, y, and z location of each item. Then I would place them all in a “Bucketâ€. From that bucket, Nutcracker would then generate a single model that would represent my entire physical display. I would then select a song for that model and by making some formula choices Nutcracker would generate a Beat model. Then a final pass using some formula choices for color and I have a finished sequence.
As RGB gets more common and costs drop, the number channels in a display will become huge. Nutcracker came into existance to solve the first obvious RGB problem. How do you node by node program a relational RGB mega tree. The extension of that is how do you node by node, program a large relational full display.
Rick S
I have plans this year to build
Display is made of elements
Elemsts are megatree, arches, eaves, snowmen
Megatree is made of smart rgb
Snowmen are made of non rgb.
Object oriented, hierarchal model
this is not a small amount of work, but that is the general direction. I recently found a thread here with a program called Prancer. This is the direction i would like to take.
we will see
-
I'm going to play devils advocate here.
I have given this some thought. I have enough trouble keeping traffic flowing by my display as it is. If more people got out of their cars to participate in an interactive display I'd end up with a lot of very upset neighbors. I have no place for people to park much less there is no sidewalks in this community. I know this is probably the same for the general display population. Back in Texas I remember a display that offered a walk by option where you had to park blocks away and deal with dodging traffic to walk by. It could create some liabilities for visitor safety.
While it would be cool to have this technology in our displays but IMHO it is not generally practical.
Light Show Pro has built in support for Wii where you can use a Wii to control a light show. I am not aware of very many people using this interface, at least there has been very support questions ever posted relating to using the interface.
It could quickly become a lot of trouble monitoring the use of the interactive interface, keeping people out of the display and tracking any equipment you might have to provide such as the wands or Wii controls.
IMHO This type of technology is best suited for a commercial display where space and traffic is not a problem.
I particularly am cautious about the personal liability aspect of providing something that could present hazardous (traffic moving by) to a participant.
Just a few things to think about.
:)
-
I'm going to play devils advocate here.
I have given this some thought. I have enough trouble keeping traffic flowing by my display as it is. If more people got out of their cars to participate in an interactive display I'd end up with a lot of very upset neighbors. I have no place for people to park much less there is no sidewalks in this community. I know this is probably the same for the general display population. Back in Texas I remember a display that offered a walk by option where you had to park blocks away and deal with dodging traffic to walk by. It could create some liabilities for visitor safety.
While it would be cool to have this technology in our displays but IMHO it is not generally practical.
Light Show Pro has built in support for Wii where you can use a Wii to control a light show. I am not aware of very many people using this interface, at least there has been very support questions ever posted relating to using the interface.
It could quickly become a lot of trouble monitoring the use of the interactive interface, keeping people out of the display and tracking any equipment you might have to provide such as the wands or Wii controls.
IMHO This type of technology is best suited for a commercial display where space and traffic is not a problem.
I particularly am cautious about the personal liability aspect of providing something that could present hazardous (traffic moving by) to a participant.
Just a few things to think about.
:)
All valid concers. As I mentioned I am a scoutmaster and a former emt. When u have forty 10-13 yo's , you learn what can go wrong.
Our neighborhood has wide streets, adequate parking and sidewalks.
One thing that would keep crowds small isnitbgets could in December.
This would always be supervised and no more than one hour per day (since I have to be outside).
I have checked with my homeowners insurance and I am covered.
It may not happen for technical reasons , but we will see.
Thanks four valuable cautions, I have been thinking safety first before the display.