Forums > Technical Discussion > HyperLight Update (21-11-2006)

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*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
Little update for you all (thought I'd start a new thread as the last one was getting a bit big!!). I've been a busy bee tonight and I now have 4 pairs of the MK4 (dare I say final?) boards soldered together... now to get something to put 'em in ready for Synergy!




Non-Https Image Link




smile

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*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
I'll give that a try tonight if I've time.



I'm sure it's a good application, but seems massively over-complicated for what you'd need to program a set of HyperLights. What did you think of windows movie maker? I made the last vid with that and the fact that I could pick it up and use it within 5 minutes is the sort of thing I thought would be good for the HyperLight interface.



Always remember to KISS wherever possible wink



[Edit] We could always fiddle with the (software) dimmer switch and shoot some more footage? smile [/edit]
EDITED_BY: *HyperLight (1164807563)

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YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
yeah, lol, it would be way too much for that obviously, it's just it's the best implementation timeline layout/editing I've seen, I've seen a few things mimic it (almost identically in some) but they didn't have trials I could get you to DL to play with.

and this straight away puts over the idea of a visual component (the 'light strip' from your pic instead of video footage in vegas) being laid out over a timeline parallel to audio for perfect sequencing.

being able to lay out your sequence, timed perfectly to an imported bit of audio, visually like that would be a HUGE boon to pro use of your toys imo.

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mcpPLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom


Posted:
Dude, you really don't want to copy windows movie maker. Just make it so that a non-computer expert can use it, but also that a light technician and or computer expert can also do the more powerful things they want to too.

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.


Mr ChutneySILVER Member
Tosser
1,712 posts
Location: Bristol,UK


Posted:
So you DO want it to be similar to movie maker, only less helpful and more powerful. Moviemaker is good for the novice user as it allows you to get results quickly, but it is limiting for 'power-users' and is just a little bit pants.

DurbsBRONZE Member
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England


Posted:
Plus WMM would rule out any Mac *spit* users wink

Have a look at Audacity audio editor - full waveform display, lots of er...stuff you can do with it.
Although it's meant for sound editing - sound is just frequencies innit, so I'm sure some clever bod could wangle a translation from sound frequency to colours.

But as Meg will point out, I'm both gay and un-cool so this is probably a rubbish suggestion...

Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude


mcpPLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom


Posted:
*ignores durbs* tongue

yeah precisely, an un-dumbed down, un-crippled and doesn't mollycoddle the user version of windows crap maker.

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.


YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
I wouldn't expect a clone of vega's timeline, I expect it's very complex to do, but I wanted you to see the system.

windows movie maker's timeline just isn't very nice to use imo, the way it represents video fx on it is utterly useless, I can't comment on transitions as it just locks up on me when I try adding one to 2 tiny video clips I have here.

in vegas each one is represented clearly, and you can drag it anywhere, and use drag n' drop to reposition it's start and finish any time also.

On the flip side though *&£$ *$£** *£$£$ Sony have pulled crap AGAIN to mess up importing xvid/divx files in this new version, it exports them perfectly.
when will they learn people don't just use them for piracy ffs.

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*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
I have no intention of making it easier to use if that means removing functionality.



I do intend to support some way of keying sequences to music, but my priority for now is to get something usable by everyone.



In what ways does WMM mollycoddle the user vs Audacity / Vegas? What do you want to do (thinking about glow toys here) that would be easier in something along the lines of Audacity / Vegas vs WMM?



If you can give me some pointers as to what I should be avoiding I'll do my best to steer clear of those sorts of issues.



[Edit] Damn, posted before I got a chance to reply smile [/Edit]



[Edit] Anyone know of any open source C++ MP3 importers? A quick google returned some fairly complex and unhelpful looking results (no free lunch) frown [/Edit]



[Edit] Actually, Audacity might have some stuff we could use [/Edit]
EDITED_BY: *HyperLight (1164810697)

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YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
I can see I'm going to have to try spend some time on a mock up or something some point in the next few days or it's going to get too damn crazy in here...

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*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
Every little helps smile

My plan is to build this app with a release early / often scheme of working to get the basic usage worked out to everyone's satisfaction. I may well re-write the thing from scratch when we're 90% happy smile

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YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
(from the more 'notes to jon for learning UI' department)

note how you click on a video or (unlinked) audio track you drag to move them separately, to select a chunk on your timeline you click and drag the whitespace at the top, above the numbers on the timeline, then that selection itself can be easily resized or moved anywhere



the current position/splice marker resides in the same bar as the numeric characters on the timeline, and live updates when dragged.



it may not be considered intuitive by all, but it can be taught in seconds, and makes it incredibly more flexible, unlike the interfaces in premier or (gag) WMM.







I just wanted you to be as aware of things as much as possible, so they were at least considered along the way, so it could be coded with things in mind for later additions if possible, rather than ending up later with too many 'ak, no way, that would require a total rewrite' problems later on smile



Forewarned is forearmed

and all that ubbangel

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mcpPLATINUM Member
Flying Water Muppet
5,276 posts
Location: Edin-borrow., United Kingdom


Posted:
while you're there, could you write a tiny app to write stuff down the usb to the hyperlight?

And a spec for commands that go to the hyperlight?

like the sequence bits of this document: https://www.globall.com/uploadfiles/ultimate%20user%20guide.pdf

yup, I'm still waiting... rolleyes

"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade

I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
Yakumo: I totally agree... I'd definitely rather be aware of what else is out there that can be used to good effect. If there's a better way of doing things though, I would re-code things to suit. I'm just wary of making things unnecessarily complicated wink

I'm not 100% sure I understand what you're saying, but I'll have a look this evening and try and understand what you've said. Do you perchance have Skype and some time tonight? smile

Meg: I've already written an App that dwonloads an intel hex file to a HyperLight through USB... BUT, it currently has no error checking or anything like that.

I've written a very rough spec, but I'm hesitant to release what I've got because for one thing, there are features listed in it that are experimental to say the least. Also, I'm not at all sure the way various features are currently done is the way things will work and I'd rather not waste your time. If you'd like, I can release what I've got to you to have a look at, but be warned it may well change very soon smile

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YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
skype I installed the other day, but don't leave it running in the BG, too much crap there already, drop me a txt and I'll run it, I won't be back from the cowley club till after 11 probably though, so another day may be better.

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*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
11? I'll just be getting started wink

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polaritySILVER Member
veteran
1,228 posts
Location: on the wrong planet, United Kingdom


Posted:
Let me know if you need another choice for a dv cam. Mine's a 3CCD so it does a good job on color.

You aren't thinking or really existing unless you're willing to risk even your own sanity in the judgment of your existence.

Green peppers, lime pickle and whole-grain mustard = best sandwich filling.


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
Cool! Might take you up on that some time soon.

I'm on a roll tonight. Reloaded the firmware and button pressing now works (turning on and off). Just need to fix a minor bug whereby you can currently turn them on/off by pressing one then and then the other buttons (instaed of both together). I also need to tie in the code that resets the current sequence and shifts between the sequences... but that should be easy wink

I've also enhanced the fading routine so you can tell the poi to fade to a particular colour without worrying about the starting colour (trust me, that's a massive improvement!).

Sym reckons he can get the basic gui I posted above running under Linux... just the MAC to go and we're really cooking smile

I've nearly finished writing a spec I'm happy enough to release too biggrin

Dontcha just love it when things really start working? ubbidea

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SymBRONZE Member
Geek-enviro-hippy priest
1,858 posts
Location: Diss, Norfolk, United Kingdom


Posted:
Yay! buttons!

Jon rocks! biggrin

hug

There's too many home fires burning and not enough trees


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
Better than that, I sent the code to make them work across t'internet onto Sym's computer and he then loaded it straight into the Poi!! That's a big step because it means that if/when we add new features to the software people can just download and apply the new stuff to their yoys biggrin

Cake or Death?


YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
btw, ideally you don't want to import mp3 directly, you want to import audio through the OS subsystem if possible (I have no idea about cross compatibility on this, so that might scupper the idea) that way at least in windows you'd be able to import any audio windows has an available codec for.

Blinded by Hyperlights, please donate generously grin


MireneyeSILVER Member
enthusiast
276 posts
Location: Sweden


Posted:
Damnit, sweet progress!

I heard people talk about 'around christmas' release, sorry for repeating the question. But basing it on the fact you will have time, can they be ready a while before or after christmas you think?

I have a few sweet shows i'd like to showcase them with here in sweden ya know wink

Anyhow, all the best Jon! Continue your awesome progress man.

redface ( Supposed to imitate your leds )

NateBRONZE Member
Groovy ga watashi no namae desu!
1,530 posts
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England


Posted:
john sorry i havent been in contact, busy trying to sort money out

will phone when i have an evening when i'm not feeling too pooey and know other stoof

I like Languages.

Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />


YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
konban wa!

hug

ano.... oyasumi nasai, 4.20am, ne.

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*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
I think it's unlikely I'll have funding in place before Christmas ...you'll have to wait and see I'm afraid!

Cake or Death?


MynciBRONZE Member
Macaque of all trades
8,738 posts
Location: wombling free..., United Kingdom


Posted:
I'll throw you some cash if i win the lottery this weekend wink as I'm feeling generous

A couple of balls short of a full cascade... or maybe a few cards short of a deck... we'll see how this all fans out.


Gayle......!SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
2,444 posts
Location: Bristol !!!!!!, United Kingdom


Posted:
I'm going to bingo tonight wink ubblol

Gayle.....!


*HyperLightBRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]


Posted:
Sweet smile *crosses fingers*

Cake or Death?


NateBRONZE Member
Groovy ga watashi no namae desu!
1,530 posts
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England


Posted:
yakumo, kanichiwa, ogenki desuka?

lol, gotta love japanese

I like Languages.

Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />


YakumoSILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
hai hai, genki genki smile

bounce

havn't heard from you since you didn't make it to bristol, hows things?

Blinded by Hyperlights, please donate generously grin


Mr ChutneySILVER Member
Tosser
1,712 posts
Location: Bristol,UK


Posted:
offtopic

tongue

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