DiyLightAnimation
Software => Light Show Pro => Topic started by: Trevor on February 01, 2011,
-
So last year I used Vixen and had no problems what so ever. I have been hearing some great things about LSP and had a few questions about it. Want to get basic questions answered before i try a demo.
1. Being a vixen user and switching to LSP am I going to have a hard time to the transition? I have heard that LSP is a more in depth program.
2. with LSP you can sequence video?
3. I have been doing some reading and it seems you can transfer vixen files to LSP. However, I have heard that sometimes the files wont work the same way. Has anyone had this problem?
Thanks in advance ;D
-
So last year I used Vixen and had no problems what so ever. I have been hearing some great things about LSP and had a few questions about it. Want to get basic questions answered before i try a demo.
1. Being a vixen user and switching to LSP am I going to have a hard time to the transition? I have heard that LSP is a more in depth program.
2. with LSP you can sequence video?
3. I have been doing some reading and it seems you can transfer vixen files to LSP. However, I have heard that sometimes the files wont work the same way. Has anyone had this problem?
Thanks in advance ;D
1. Some different concepts to be sure.
2. Yes
3. Not sure what you me by "work the same way"
-
3. Not sure what you me by "work the same way"
Sorry. I have heard that the completed vixen sequences would be blank when transfered to LSP.
-
3. Not sure what you me by "work the same way"
Sorry. I have heard that the completed vixen sequences would be blank when transfered to LSP.
If you would send me a vixen sequence I would be happy to try an import for you. I have imported a few of them and they seem to import fine. I am far from a vixen expert however.
e mail is bmulvenna at hotmail .com. If you decide to send the sequence be sure to send the song file also so we are working with the same thing.
-
Trevor,
I built all of my sequences with Vixen last year. I thought Vixen was extremely easy to use
I downloaded the demo of LSP and had a very difficult time trying to use it. I was so used to using Vixen that I was unable to grasp the concepts of LSP. This is an old dog, new trick thing, not the software's fault.
I tried converting some of my Vixen sequences to LSP and never could get them converted. David said there was a problem with the conversion program and that it was going to be fixed, so I assume it has.
As soon as I have some spare time, I am going to try LSP again. Maybe they will come out with a LSP for dummies.
John
-
Trevor,
I built all of my sequences with Vixen last year. I thought Vixen was extremely easy to use
I downloaded the demo of LSP and had a very difficult time trying to use it. I was so used to using Vixen that I was unable to grasp the concepts of LSP. This is an old dog, new trick thing, not the software's fault.
I tried converting some of my Vixen sequences to LSP and never could get them converted. David said there was a problem with the conversion program and that it was going to be fixed, so I assume it has.
As soon as I have some spare time, I am going to try LSP again. Maybe they will come out with a LSP for dummies.
John
John,
Do you know what version of LSP that was? Or at least a time frame and I can glean the version from that.
Do you have a sequence that you can send me so I can verify if it imports or not? I have imported some vixen sequences
Thanks
Mike
-
Trevor,
I built all of my sequences with Vixen last year. I thought Vixen was extremely easy to use
I downloaded the demo of LSP and had a very difficult time trying to use it. I was so used to using Vixen that I was unable to grasp the concepts of LSP. This is an old dog, new trick thing, not the software's fault.
I tried converting some of my Vixen sequences to LSP and never could get them converted. David said there was a problem with the conversion program and that it was going to be fixed, so I assume it has.
As soon as I have some spare time, I am going to try LSP again. Maybe they will come out with a LSP for dummies.
John
I know EXACTLY what you mean! I am having the same problem..I watch tutorials, and look at it and am like HUH!?!?!?!? Im honestly thinking about not fixing whats not broken and sticking with vixen.
-
Guy's,
Please send me a sequence so I can try it so I cant determine what is wrong.
-
Mike,
I don't know which version. It think it was early fall of last year. I posted on the LSP forum when I was having the problem.
I don't have any sequences here at work. When I get a chance, I will send you a sequence from home.
I haven't given up on LSP, I still want to give it a fir shot.
John
-
Mike,
I don't know which version. It think it was early fall of last year. I posted on the LSP forum when I was having the problem.
I don't have any sequences here at work. When I get a chance, I will send you a sequence from home.
I haven't given up on LSP, I still want to give it a fir shot.
John
Great, thanks John.
Lots of updates since then. When you send a sequence, can you send it with the mp3 and both attached and not attached to a vixen profile. For LSP to import it I seem to remember it needs to be attached to a profile.
Mike
-
I messed with both Vixen and LSP.
LSP made sense to me, vixen did not.
Just my thoughts.
-
well last year it was my first year with animation ..and i learned with vixen then i purchase lsp and i could never succeed to make it work ..maybe because i was starting to be used to vixen that i could not get lsp to work ...who knows maybe i am a old dog that is too dummy to learn new trick but it made me very upset when i hear people making a song in like 2 hours with lsp when i spent 2 week and could not past the first 30 sec lol so i give up on it ... this year i am going from 75 channel to close to 200 so i really would like to learn again to make think easier/faster as 200 channel with basic light nothing fancy will be very challenging
cheer
<md..
-
I'll make a disclaimer that I have been sitting at a very low channel count until now.
I like vixen in general when dealing with "strings" since the effects you are building visually correlate to the grid in a logical way. Simple you learn very quickly to correlate visual pattern X to a certain "Squiggle" Y in vixen. However, what I found out when starting to go node based is those squiggles become less and less understandable. For example a mega tree in the traditional sense going in a circle is easy to visualize in vixen. However, going top to bottom (unless you orrentate the channels that way), not so much.
I think it is to early to judge which tool will be better in the long run, but right now LSP with with "layers", makes doing a node based mega tree quite a bit easier.
One thing I've been wondering is if we can go "equation based" (like higher end tools do) for certain complex items (like node based mega trees). As long as people could map their tree to a certain matrix, it would be possible to share equations where you plug in your variables to get certain effects. The cool thing about starting with a mega tree, you can 3d to 2d map to a rectangle.
-
Hi,
You can do the matrixes with LSP. You define the size of the matrix say 30 x 10. You can then populate the matrix grid in any fashion that you want.
It currently does not do equations like you are suggesting however.
Mike
-
I think it is to early to judge which tool will be better in the long run, but right now LSP with with "layers", makes doing a node based mega tree quite a bit easier.
One thing I've been wondering is if we can go "equation based" (like higher end tools do) for certain complex items (like node based mega trees). As long as people could map their tree to a certain matrix, it would be possible to share equations where you plug in your variables to get certain effects. The cool thing about starting with a mega tree, you can 3d to 2d map to a rectangle.
If you'd like to see what is possible using transitions in LSP to sequence thousands of channels, take a look at the developer of LSP's personal display:
http://www.vimeo.com/18138785
http://www.vimeo.com/18240544
http://www.vimeo.com/18240489
Watch how the matrix in the middle is “connected” to the RGB pixel verticals and RGB pixel fasica border – all done with transitions. Doing that my hand is just about near impossible at the speeds shown in his videos.
-
I think I'm basically sold on LSP.
I just want to make sure:
1. That I can use smartstrings with LSP
2. That I can run rainbow floods off of my MR-16s with LSP -- http://www.seasonalentertainmentllc.com/productcatalog.htm
3. That I can control servos (in particular, the controller by Frank Kostyun) -- http://www.kostyun.com/?page_id=68
If all the answers are yes, then I'm totally sold and just need permission from "the boss" to make the purchase.
And yes, transitions is what sold me on the software as well...totally cool stuff.
-
I think I'm basically sold on LSP.
1. That I can use smartstrings with LSP
2. That I can run rainbow floods off of my MR-16s with LSP -- http://www.seasonalentertainmentllc.com/productcatalog.htm
3. That I can control servos (in particular, the controller by Frank Kostyun) -- http://www.kostyun.com/?page_id=68
1 - I seem to recall that the SmartString Protcol was in the last 1.8 version of LSP. It also already supports E131, so I suspect that EtherDongle (?) would work also.
2 & 3 - Yes, LSP handles DMX output just fine using a variety of different output devices (dongles, E131). You can also mix and match, so you could use a standard DMX dongle and a smartstring enabled dongle on the same PC outputting the two different protocols (yes, you could also break off the DMX out of the SS hub also).
-
I would try the free demo for a while first.
The LSP learning curve is fairly steep and the program has some 'features' you'll need
to experience first hand before deciding to buy ... and p.s. -- it requires a heck of a PC to run.
To me I own it and want to love it in the worst way, but even version 1.8 is fairly hard to love.
LSP version 2.x is promising a lot of huge improvements, which I sure hope materializes.
For me, I"m seeing taking my LOR sequences which are pretty well done and then importing them
into LSP and then doing the RGB stuff at the end in LSP, because I can't see doing an entire song in
LSP till the usability stuff gets worked out.
Like I said, the promised 2.x version could change all that and that would make me very happy.
-
When you say "heck of a PC" what do you mean?
Obviously, I won't be able to scale up on the use of LSP until all of my hubs are built and attached to lights.
So, some extra info in this area would be appreciated.
I was going to stay with vixen, but when I saw the LSP transitions and easily importing video and modeling lights around it, well, those were pretty much the features that did it for me.
-
Well, I'd say try out the free trial of it and see how your machine does with it.
LSP does have some features which are 'to die for' ... mainly the RGB stuff and the
object oriented programming (on layers). It also seems to have a fairly nice visualizer.
LSP just needs to improve its fundamentals and performance and stop adding gimmicky
new features.
I have a machine with a Quad Core + 4GB Window 7 ... and LSP is none too fast on it.
Overall, compared to using say LOR S2 ... LSP feels like a turtle by comparison.
It's also not written to take advantage of multiple CPU cores.
Also, the timing intervals make a huge performance difference, so avoid using small fixed intervals,
or it'll kill the performance. Certain operations create tons of intervals and some effects are implemented
strangely, like the chase.
The UNDO is lacking and sometimes troublesome ... and there is no REDO
LSP 2.x is pending and supposedly a lot better.
I can't wait, because I "NEED" and WANT LSP to perform
for me in 2011, since its the only sequencer besides Vixen to support it all
and as you said, its got some killer transitions and RGB toys.
-
Wait...are you saying that DURING a show the performance is lagging, or while CREATING a show the performance is lagging?
I can live with a slow computer while setting up a show. I will not put up with a show program that loses it's sync with the music or hangs or doesn't perform as intended.
-
Wait...are you saying that DURING a show the performance is lagging, or while CREATING a show the performance is lagging?
I can live with a slow computer while setting up a show. I will not put up with a show program that loses it's sync with the music or hangs or doesn't perform as intended.
I run 33 sequences on and old dell desktop with windows XP. Each sequence had a corresponding video. My sequences use in the area of 400 channels using incans and LEDS. I realize that is a small channel count compared to the thousands that people are using with pixels.
I do the sequencing on a laptop running VISTA. Dell inspiron 1420, 3gig ram, 32bit, 1.83 GHZ processors and have no slowness issues.
You will get all kinds of comments on LSP. I would suggest you DL it and give it a run to make up your own mind.
I have used it for 2 years and am a very satisfied user
Best of luck
MIke
-
Just while creating the sequence. I think playback is fine.
-
OK, so its only potentially when creating sequences.
Given the advantage that LSP has over the others, it looks to me like it is worth it.
I have D/L'ed LSP from the website. I've only gone thru a few tutorials.
I was waiting for my Lynx Expresses before giving the D/L a total workout.
-
OK, so its only potentially when creating sequences.
Given the advantage that LSP has over the others, it looks to me like it is worth it.
I have D/L'ed LSP from the website. I've only gone thru a few tutorials.
I was waiting for my Lynx Expresses before giving the D/L a total workout.
Hi,
You dont have to have the actual hardware to start slearning and sequenceing with LSP
I think it would be worth your while to go through the tutorials that are in the TIPS and Tricks Section in the LSP forum. If I can answer any questions or be of any help feel free to ask. I visit this forum often, but not as often as the LSP forum. Questions on LSP will normally be answered more quickly on that forum.
Happy sequencing
Mike
-
Will do, thanks Mike. I'm currently taking some time off of builds and xmas stuff to work on some more important things.
I'll be ready to hit it again in about 2 weeks.
-
Hey, I'm in agreement with Mike. Download it and start learning how to use it. Its demo is fully functional except it can only control one controller, but you can still do all the sequencing you want and experiment with setting up smart strings, etc.
I've already bought LSP and want its usability to increase. Does it work? Yes ... Could it work better? I think so.
Everyone I've talked to who used the 2.x beta says it will be just that.