I
wrote my own software. My other
alternative was to use more expensive hardware and the Dasher Digital
software. Had've I done this, everything would've costed
HEAPS more (and been less flexible IMO).
My
software suite consits of three programs, a sequencing &
pattern editor, and a controlling app. The reason why I wrote
seperate
programs instead of just one was so I could use any old Pentum
PC.
Program 1 - The 4 Channel Light Pattern
Editor: This is used to define the light patterns
for chasing lights, or a group or 4 channels. All Seqences
must fit in to a 4second time block, so the total sequence
time has to be 4,8,12 or 16 seconds long. Well this was the
original plan. However after putting the lights up and seeing
the results,
a 16step 4 second sequence was actually VERY slow, so the software
was modifed with a "world time" adjustment. This means ALL
the Sequences can be speed up - usually four times faster,
but sometimes
it
looks
good for a 10000000000000 faster strobe light effect! :)
Program
2 - The sequencing Software: A windows based Visual Basic
application with a storyboard style layout, where by chaser/sub-sequences
(with varying timing) can be inserted in to the sequence.
This program then "compiles" (merges) the sequence
in to a one single timing file.
Program
2 - The controlling Software: Originally a DOS based
Qbasic application, however it's now a VB based application. This
was done because Qbasic's timing sucked when it came
to the Millisecond level of timing. VB and API delays
calls have proven to be much much smoother. The controller
app reads the single timing file (from above)
and outputs
the data to send to the controller. This program also
allows manual operation, for testing, so channels can
be turned on/off, or flashing/cycling test patterns etc.
The program can also be used in Client/Server
mode, using UDP IP communication. This means that I can use another
computer/laptop to manual control the lights. This makes testing/demoing
the lights good, since a laptop and a really long network cable
can be used as a gaint remote control :)
As you can see, some of the interface
layouts look a little dodgy. This is because...
Sorry,
this software is not being made public!
Well not yet anyway :) I might
one day, but at this stage even though "it works", there's
very
little things like error handling, and still
contains a very
high risk
of graphical user interface posioning. :-D
