cop gag on the ion board

[carcharhinus]

This is my first show as dimmer board op and so far its been trial by fire and so far I've suffered only 2nd degree burns. My gaffer keeps changing his mind on how he wants this cop gag to look so finally today I got him to narrow down what he wants. Let me give you the lay out so you understand what I'm trying to do. I have three color blasts in a row. first one is red and the second and third are blue. he wants the blue color blasts to be in sync and for the red and blue to never be on at the same time creating purple. So far I've made two effects, both linear, one for the red light and one for the blue lights but because they are different every once in a while they get in sync. when I look at the spread options I don't see where I could have two next to each other be the same unless I simply put numbers one and three together and make it a 2 spread. I like to keep the effect linear because I like how easy it is to change the scale and the time on my wheels. Any advice would be awesome. Thank you.

 

[DaveySimps]

Moving this to the Lighting Forum so it is posted in the proper place.

~Dave

 

[Tex]

I would make one step-based effect. Step one: red on, blue off. Step two: red off, blue on. Loop.

 

[JChenault]

I'm confused as to what you are trying to do.

Your two blue lights are flashing on and off like a cop car. They are in sync with each other and occur at regular intervals.

The red light either:
1-wants to run at a different regular frequency, but should never come on at the same time as a blue light.
2- wants to run on an irregular frequency that never intersects with a blue light
3- wants to run at a regular frequency but when they intersect the blue timing, it turns off.
4- wants to blink randomly. When the blue lights are not on

If [HASHTAG]#1[/HASHTAG] you need to pick appropriate frequencies. Ie Blue. Red red. Blue. Red red. Blue red red. Etc
The red is actually a multi step effect. Two blinks. Wait. Two blinks
If [HASHTAG]#2[/HASHTAG] you need to do more multi step cues on the red color so the pattern is not apparent
If [HASHTAG]#3[/HASHTAG] I have no idea how to easily do this one, except more complex step cues.
If [HASHTAG]#4[/HASHTAG] maybe just flash the red manually.

 

[Dionysus]

If you look at modern police etc lights, even the yellows used for escort "pilot car" drivers they actually would be a very complicated effect to reproduce. I've actually repaired a few of these. The purpose of this odd flashing arrangement is to make them "anti-epileptic" and to help draw attention.

Essentially the system has a set of flashes to choose from and uses them more or less at random (some have selectable settings for which ones to prefer, or to use certian ones and not others, or to add directionality etc).
These set flash patterns are then applied to different sections of the light bar, alternatively.

For instance one section (that may be say blue) will flash the whole section for 2 seconds at a very fast rate, then another section(perhaps red) will give a flash lighting half the section at a time for 4 seconds with different slower timing.

One could have a lot of fun emulating this. I suggest really watching a modern light bar carefully, then have fun with it. You are looking at a very complicated effect.

Most of the time I just do a simple alternating red and blue and have done with it lol.

 

[Lsly]

Interesting post. The timing of steps may work. But you will have to work with that a long time to get it right. I'm guess you don't have that ware with all.

One simple solution into rent a red and blue wirly gag and and use them to achieve the effect. Flashing between both has worked for me in the past.

If you have a decent grip package, you should have some 6" adhesive backed mirror panels. Grab six and make three double sided panels, mirror side out....now use a 1/8 apple box and mount a baby receiver centered on one side. On the other tape the three panels, on edge with one edge of the three meeting together at center of the board. It's best if they are at about 120° spread. Almost there...now place this rig on a baby stand leave it loose. You just made a wirly gag. Focus a S4 or other profile at it, play with the angles of the light and gag so you are hitting the subject. Gel blue. Now make another rig that is red.

So low tech. Looks great. Adds the movement you see in a real gag. Add took 20 mins to set up. Of course it may not be what they are looking for, sometime having a completly different option goes over well in that environment.

FYI the panels are easy to get, home dept and Lowes, if your grip dept looks at you like you're on crack. They should have them.....
Cheers
LS

 

[gafftaper]

You can make the programming a little easier by giving both blue lights the same DMX address so they always act in unison.

 

[carcharhinus]

thanks for all the great advice. I ended up going with a step based effect. step one has channels 1,3, and 5. I set the parameters to red allowing my faders to control the intensity. step two has channels 2,4, and 6 but this time the parameters was set to blue.