Crossfade Ramp

[DanielArkley]

Hello again,

 

I have been toying with Artist (a bit of software that outputs DMX for lights, and has chase generators and the like in it). I have been toying with music-to-light by having a chase which alternates between a set of lights, one set being red, the other being blue. These lights are set in a way that they wash the entire stage. What I am after is an opinion on the best ramp to use when crossfading from red to blue and vice versa.

 

I guess our Alcora probably uses a Linear Fade, but Artist supports many more:

Linear

Sine 1

Sine 2

Parabola

Inverse Parabola

 

I guess it's a bit of a trivial question without seeing the fades in real life - just wondered if anyone had used the same kind of ramps and which one worked for them.

 

Thanks,

Daniel

[Tomo]

There is no single answer.

 

It depends on the dimmer packs curve, the fixture in question and what you want(!)

I'd recommend getting some time with a pair of fixtures and playing with the different crossfades until you find one you like.

 

As a general rule linear doesn't look too good. However, some dimmer packs already adjust for tungsten fades so although it's linear on the desk the power supplied doesn't vary in a linear fashion anyway.

[Bryson]

I always leave our dimmers set to Linear. Although, I suspect that it makes something like bugger-all difference in the real world, particularly when running a chase. :)

[NickLee]

Well, as far as I can tell this is how the (idealised) curves would look:

 

http://www.spaced-out.org.uk/tmp/curves.gif

[DanielArkley]

Thanks for your words of wisdom and even drawings, much appreciated.

 

So basically I just gotta try stuff?

[smeggie]

yep.

play and it will all become slightly less muddy.

[DanielArkley]

Just need a lil DMX out gizmo from the PC (we are getting one from ShowCAD for the Talent Show I have mentioned, hopefully), or one hell of an expensive lighting desk to play with :o