Organizing channels

[Brad Riley]

I need to get input on how people set up multi-channeled features, like mini trees in Vixen.

I'm doing 64 ch of dimming using Red, Green, Blue, White.
I set-up my profile / channels like this:

1 Mini Tree Red
1 Mini Tree Blue
1 Mini Tree Green
1 Mini Tree White
2 Mini Tree Red
2 Mini Tree Blue
2 Mini Tree Green
2 mini Tree White
I used this format for 6 Mini's, Fence Rails, Bushes, and some other things.

What I am wondering is if it would be easier to group by colors rather than by feature?
Example:
1 Mini Tree Red
2 Mini Tree Red
3 Mini Tree Red....and so on through 6...then,
1 Mini Tree Blue
2 Mini Tree Blue
3 Mini Tree Blue...

The way I have it now is time consuming to make all trees one color, cause each color is separated by as much as 21 lines.

There must be an easier way.

Thanks in advance,
Brad

[WakeFan]

I have mine grouped by colors. To change the channel order double click where you want the next red tree and gray box will appear. Then hold the control key and click all your red trees in order and Vixen will move them. It takes a little playing with to get it, but once you get it, it's a lot faster then click and dragging.

[Macrosill]

You can also utilize a feature in Vixen called channel order. You can make some custom orders that when clicked will reorganize the channel list as you specified. For instance one can have all the red trees grouped together and another can have each tree grouped with its colors. This way it does not matter which channel is where in the numerical or natural order.

This makes sequencing much easier.

[cobraman44]

Brian, That what I do. I have by color as well as by zone in my yard. Zone is nice when you just want to light a color in just one area of the display.

[Brad Riley]

You can also utilize a feature in Vixen called channel order. You can make some custom orders that when clicked will reorganize the channel list as you specified. For instance one can have all the red trees grouped together and another can have each tree grouped with its colors. This way it does not matter which channel is where in the numerical or natural order.

This makes sequencing much easier.

This does not change the natural order? It's so colors can be grouped for sequencing purposes only? That's cool!!
I'll try it tonite.

Thanks,
Brad

[Macrosill]

This does not change the natural order? It's so colors can be grouped for sequencing purposes only? That's cool!!
I'll try it tonite.

Thanks,
Brad

No it does not change the channel assignments. It only changes the order in which the channels are displayed visually on the screen. It is there to help make sequencing chases and such easier.

[dnesci]

You can also utilize a feature in Vixen called channel order. You can make some custom orders that when clicked will reorganize the channel list as you specified. For instance one can have all the red trees grouped together and another can have each tree grouped with its colors. This way it does not matter which channel is where in the numerical or natural order.

This makes sequencing much easier.

Thanks Brian and Others. The last two nights I have been struggling with this problem as I made a profile that has the groups by item and not color. This will make things a lot easier. After an hour last night, I only had 7 seconds of music. At that rate, my show wouldn't be complete until 2013.

[Brad Riley]

Thanks Brian and Others. The last two nights I have been struggling with this problem as I made a profile that has the groups by item and not color. This will make things a lot easier. After an hour last night, I only had 7 seconds of music. At that rate, my show wouldn't be complete until 2013.


Hey...you are ahead of me:p I got almost 5 seconds:eek:

Brad

[Wayne J]

It was this feature alone that I waited to do any sequencing last year until 2.0 came out. ;)

[Virtus]

What I am wondering is if it would be easier to group by colors rather than by feature?

The way I have it now is time consuming ...

There must be an easier way.

Brad,
A great question...it took me a while to discover the answers that are presented above. And, boy, does it save time! I should have posted something about this when I discovered it...
It is easy to move on without remembering that for every one person who takes the time to post issues/questions (you) and ideas/solutions (guys in above posts) 100+ people benefit from the answers.
Have a great season!

[Brad Riley]

I have mine grouped by colors. To change the channel order double click where you want the next red tree and gray box will appear. Then hold the control key and click all your red trees in order and Vixen will move them. It takes a little playing with to get it, but once you get it, it's a lot faster then click and dragging.


WakeFan,

I can't seem to get this to work. I tried it in an open sequence, also tried it from manage profiles window.
I can select channels from "channel properties", (this must be the gray box you mention) but channel order does not change.

Brad

[rlilly]

I should have posted something about this when I discovered it...


Perhaps we need a 'Discovery' Forum....

I feel it to be an important component of DIY. e.g. I recently remember being elated that I could right click mouse to remove pixels.

I feel there's more in Vixen than what I've discovered. Maybe its the mystery of what in there that's part of the attraction.

[WakeFan]

WakeFan,

I can't seem to get this to work. I tried it in an open sequence, also tried it from manage profiles window.
I can select channels from "channel properties", (this must be the gray box you mention) but channel order does not change.

Brad

If you are using profiles, you must go to edit profile. Otherwise you can do this in the main screen.
1)Go to channel order drop down box.
2)Select define new order.
3)Say, if you want the odd channels in order and then the even ones, double click between channel1 and channel2. A gray line will appear.
4)Now hold down the ctrl key and single click channel3, it moves where the gray line is, and the gray line stays above channel 2. This allows you to keep clicking while dolding down the crtl key. If you click channel5, then 7,9,11 ...., then you will have displayed 1,3,5,7,9... and below that 2,4,6,8,.....
5)Make sure once you get the channels in the order you want, you save it. The save box is on the right beside the drop down box. You can save many different channel orders as you want as Brian stated before.

I was at work the other day, and was trying to explain from memory. I missed a couple of steps.:p And again, do it a few times and it becomes natural.

[Brad Riley]

If you are using profiles, you must go to edit profile. Otherwise you can do this in the main screen.
1)Go to channel order drop down box.
2)Select define new order.
3)Say, if you want the odd channels in order and then the even ones, double click between channel1 and channel2. A gray line will appear.
4)Now hold down the ctrl key and single click channel3, it moves where the gray line is, and the gray line stays above channel 2. This allows you to keep clicking while dolding down the crtl key. If you click channel5, then 7,9,11 ...., then you will have displayed 1,3,5,7,9... and below that 2,4,6,8,.....
5)Make sure once you get the channels in the order you want, you save it. The save box is on the right beside the drop down box. You can save many different channel orders as you want as Brian stated before.

I was at work the other day, and was trying to explain from memory. I missed a couple of steps.:p And again, do it a few times and it becomes natural.

ARRG!!!!

I'm using a profile I set up, so I have to drag and drop. I little time consuming doing it line by line, but I'll get there.
I set up all my Red then did a very stupid thing...I hit "Done", all work gone! SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!

Brad

[WakeFan]

It works when you edit the profile as well. Go to profiles, then manage, double click the one you're working on, and same as before, under drop down box for channel order - define new order.