Select Sequences and Show Options for SD cards

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At this point going forward there is no difference between creating a new show or editing an existing show.  For new shows, defaults are provided that should work in almost all cases.  If you are editing a show, all of your previous selections and choices will be filled in.

 

If you previously used the 'Simple Show Builder' to create SD cards:

There are several sections to this form that allow for very complex shows to be created and scheduled.  You can ignore most of them as they are options that were never available in the Simple Show Builder.  The only additional section you may need to be concerned with is the 'This show plays...'

 

For MP3 Directors that do not have a real time clock:

All of the options for a new show have been made to create a 'runs anytime powered' show.  All you need to do is add/arrange your sequences into the right side of the screen and when ready press the 'Create SD Card - Simple Mode' button.

 

For MP3 Directors with real time clock (allows for scheduling):

All of the options for a new show have been set to default to a show that will run whenever the director has power.  If you would like to instead run on a schedule, simply select the option that says 'During the scheduled times on the days shown'.  From there, follow the instructions to update the days/times you would like your show to run.  When complete, press the 'Create SD Card - Simple Mode' button.  Please remember that not all directors can run on a schedule.

 

sdcardmainscreennew

 

 

On the left side are all of the sequences that are available on your computer in the specified directory.  If your sequences are not located in your Light-O-Rama data directory, you can press the 'Change Directory' button to move to another folder on your computer.

 

Sequences are displayed with either [anim], [music], or [S5].  Anim are S1-S4 ANIMATION (.las) sequences.  Music are of course S1-S4 MUSICAL (.lms) sequences, and S5 are sequences created in the LOR S5 sequencer.  Animation sequences are sorted to the top, followed by Musical sequences, and then S5 sequences.

 

Select one or more sequences on the left and press the "+" button.  The sequences will then be added to the show you are creating on the right side.  You can duplicate a sequence onto the SD card as many times as you like (up to 99)

 

To remove a sequence from the show, select it on the right side and press the "X" button.  This removes the sequence from the show, but does not delete the sequence from your computer.

 

To change the order of sequences that are played in your show, select a sequence on the right and use the UP or DOWN arrow buttons.

 

There are several important things you need to be aware of when selecting/deleting sequences from a show:

1.When editing an existing SD card show, a * in front of a sequence name on the SD card side means the sequence cannot be found in the folder on your computer where it was originally created from.  You may have deleted the sequence on your computer.

2.When editing an existing SD card show, for each sequence on the SD card, Hub will verify that sequence still exists in the same folder as it did when the SD card was created.  The * in front of a sequence name on the SD card side means the sequence can not be found.  If you move that sequence, even to a folder that is currently displayed on the right, hub will not be able to update the sequence when you write the SD card.  You should always keep your sequences in the Light-O-Rama Sequences directory.

3.For any sequence with a * on the SD card side, if you remove that sequence from the SD it is lost.  In order to re-create that sequence you MUST have the original sequence.  You can still move the sequence in the show, or duplicate it on the SD card, but once removed it is gone.  Before removing, you will be warned and asked if you really want to remove the sequence or not..

4.For multi-director shows, all sequences in the show must be present on the computer and must be in the same directory.  If they are not, you'll receive a warning.  If you continue that sequence will be removed from the SD card show.

5.Once an SD card is created, there is no indicator on the card if it is for a Deluxe MP3 director, or a Mini Director.  Even if you edit an SD card and turn ON scheduling, the Mini director will run the show whenever there is power. Mini Directors ALWAYS ignore a schedule

 

More Complex Shows:

 

There are multiple sections available which allow you to tailor this show to your liking.  Those options are broken down into 3 sections that allow you to change when the show plays ("This Show Plays...."), if there are any special options when the show first starts ("When this show starts..."), and how the show will behave while running ("When this show plays it will...").  Each section can be expanded and collapsed by clicking on it's title or the small double arrow located on the right side.  If you are ever confused as to what will and wont happen with your show, check in the 'Tip' section.  That section will in plain words tell you exactly how the show will run.

 

This Show Plays....

Options in this section control how the show actually starts up:
 

Whenever the Show Director has power
In this mode, the show will run as soon as power is applied to the MP3 director and it has finished booting.  The show with the lowest show number will be the one that runs regardless of any scheduling information (all schedules are ignored).
 

During the scheduled times on the days shown
If you have a Deluxe Show Director, you can set a schedule for when this show should run.  Once you have selected this option the schedule section will appear to the right:

 

 

hubscheduleenabled

 

To change the scheduled start/stop time, or to skip a day completely, click on the times under the day you wish to change.  The change time dialog will then be shown:

sdchangetimes

 

There are two options here, and the default is 'Show runs on these days...'.  If you do NOT want this show to run on a specific day (or days), change the option to 'DOES NOT RUN'.

 

For those days you do wish the show to run, select the start and end time you desire.

 

If you would also like to quickly set other days to the same schedule, click the boxes at the bottom (the day you initially clicked is always selected and can not be un-selected).

 

When the shown trigger is activated
A show on an MP3 director can be started when a trigger is detected.  A trigger is a switch or other device, like a motion detector, that tells the director to start playing a show.  It is important to know that the show you selected to create/edit must be the same as the trigger number on the director itself.  So for example if you want a show to start running when 'Trigger 4' is activated, be sure that you are creating or editing Show 4.
 
Switches come in 2 different varieties - normally open and normally closed.  For most switches, you select 'Normally Open'.  That means there is no signal sent to the MP3 director until the switch is operated.  There are some devices (usually motion detectors and other 'security' type devices) that are 'Normally Closed'.  Normally Closed switches constantly send a signal back to the MP3 director, and once they are activated STOP sending that signal.
 

When this show starts...
The option of having a starter sequence or not is here.  When this is enabled, the very FIRST thing the director will do is play the 'starter sequence'.  It is played one time and one time only - at the very start of the show.  Even if the show is set to loop (see below), the starter sequence will only be played once.
 

When this show plays it will...
This section controls what will happen once the show has started.  Not all of these options are available for every type of show.  For example, Round Robin play is only available for triggered shows.  The 4 main options in this section are:

Loop continuously
This show will continue to run until told to stop.  For shows that run when the director is powered, that would mean turning off the power.  If you are using a schedule, the show will stop at the end time.  If you are using a trigger, once the trigger condition is met, the show will continue to play until powered off.
 

Play once from Start to End, then stop
The show will run once from top to bottom and then stop.  Usually triggered shows use this option, but it can be used with the other two options as well.  When used with a triggered show, the list plays and then stops at the end waiting again for the trigger signal.
 

Repeat Every (10/15/30/60 minutes)
This option is only available for MP3 directors that have a real time clock.  The show will play from start to end and then stop.  At the time selected the show will start and run again from top to bottom.  Note that the 'start' time is based on the 'clock' time.  That is to say that a show that is set to run every 15 minutes will run on the hour and then at 15, 30, 45 past the hour.  You should ensure that your show is no longer than the amount of time you select here.  For example, if you show is 11 minutes long and you select every 10 minutes, the show will simply keep repeating.
 

Play the next song in the list (Round Robin).
This option is only available for triggered shows.  When the trigger is activated, the first sequence in the list will be played and then the show will stop.  Every time after that when the trigger is activated the next sequence in the list will play and then will also stop.  Once the last sequence is reached, the next trigger will start over with the first sequence again.

 

Depending on your selection above, you may also be able to control what happens with your lights while the show is not playing.  For every option except 'Loop Continuously' you can select if you lights are ON, OFF, or Running a filler sequence.  If you use a filler sequence, the sequence that you select will loop continuously until the next event occurs.  That could be a trigger, a repeat of the show at X minutes, etc.

 
 

Once you have completed the selection of the sequences you want to use in the show, as well as the options for that show, move on to creating the SD card by pressing one of the 'Create/Update SD Card' buttons on the right.

 

Simple Mode:
When creating a NEW show, this will create a show that works port 1 (or the only port if your director only has one) on your MP3 director.  The show will use defaults for all other parameters including speed, number of ports, protocol, etc.  If you have a non-linkable MINI mp3 director you should use this button.  LOR Hub will verify that there are no errors on in any of the sequences you selected and immediately start to write the SD card.
 
When editing an Existing show, this will update the sequences on the SD card and keep any parameters as they were.

 

While writing the SD card, you will see the SD Card status screen:

sdwritestatus

 

It may take several minutes per sequence to create your SD card.  Once complete, you will see this message:

 

sdcardready
 

Advanced Mode
Pressing this button will start the SD Card Wizard.  The wizard will allow you to select if you are going to update sequences from the computer or not, port speeds and protocols, etc.  Most users can use the 'Simple SD Card' Creation button, however you want to use the Advanced SD wizard if any of the following are true:
 

You are using Pixels or a large number of channels and need to increase the speed of the network

You are using intensity files, and/or want to use LOR Enhanced networking protocol (if your license supports it)

You are using multiple generations of LOR controllers some of which support enhanced mode or high speed.

You have a G3 or higher multi-port director and wish to use more than the first port

You have a G4 Director and want to use 'director link'

You need to change any of the Misc options as shown in Step 5 (not common)

You need to change any of the advanced throttling options (not recommended)