Some Light-O-Rama controllers can be used not only to control lights, but also to accept input that can be used to trigger a sequence or sequences. For example, your display might have several buttons for people to press, each of which will cause Light-O-Rama to play some particular song on demand.
This is controlled through the Interactive Section of a show. Unlike the other sections of a show, the "Interactive" section displays not sequences, but groups of sequences, known as "interactive groups". Each group matches individual circuits on individual controllers with individual sequences to be played when those circuits are triggered.
Only one musical sequence can be playing at any given time. Therefore, if a musical sequence from an interactive group is triggered, any musical sequence that happens to already be playing will be stopped (for one exception to this, see the "Jukebox" type of interactive group, below).
The Interactive Section
In the Interactive section you see the list of interactive groups for the show. The group's name, type (Soundboard in the above example), and number of triggers are displayed for each item.
•To add a new group, click the Add button at the top of the list. This will open a new window where you can enter data for the group. See Choosing Sequences for a Group.
•To remove a group, click the trash can icon to the right of the group's name.
•To edit a group, double-click on the group's name, or click the Edit icon to the right of the trash can. This will open a new window where you can modify data for the group. See Choosing Sequences for a Group.
Types of Interactive Groups
There are 3 types of interactive groups:
Jukebox
"Jukebox" interactive groups allow you to define a group of sequences, each hooked up to be triggered by an individual circuit on some LOR controller, such that only one sequence in the group can be playing at any given time, and if one already is playing when another is triggered, the first will continue playing uninterrupted, and the trigger will be ignored.
If you assign more than one sequence to a single circuit in a single jukebox, then whenever that circuit is triggered, the "next" sequence in the list, round-robin, will be played.
Both musical sequences and animation sequences can be placed into a jukebox interactive group.
Soundboard
"Soundboard" interactive groups are similar to jukebox interactive groups in that only one sequence in the group can be playing at any given time. However, unlike jukebox interactive groups, triggering a sequence while another sequence from the group is currently playing will cause the playing sequence to stop, and the triggered sequence to start.
If you assign more than one sequence to a single circuit in a single soundboard, then whenever that circuit is triggered, the "next" sequence in the list, round-robin, will be played.
Both musical sequences and animation sequences can be placed into a soundboard interactive group.
Magic Toy
"Magic toy" interactive groups allow you to set up a group of sequences such that many of them can be started simultaneously by a single trigger. Any sequences already playing from the group will be stopped when the new set is started.
Only animation sequences (as opposed to musical sequences) can be placed into a magic toy interactive group.
Choosing Sequences for a Group
In the "Edit Interactive Group" screen:
•The list of trigger groups will be shown in the top half of the window, and
•Clicking on a particular trigger will show the sequence(s) for that trigger in the bottom half.
So define the trigger first, then add 1 or more sequences associated with that trigger.
An Interactive Group with a set of triggers. The first trigger is selected and is associated with the sequence "Little Drummer Boy".
Top Half
This section is titled "Interactive Group Properties".
•Enter a name for the interactive group in the text box in the top left.
•Select the interactive group type using the drop-down box at the upper right. A description of the selected type will be displayed below it.
•A list of trigger groups is listed on the left.
oTo add a new trigger, click the "Add" button above the list.
oTo remove a trigger, click the trash can on the right side of the list item.
oTo edit an item, simple select it, so that it is highlighted. The details for that trigger group will be displayed in the bottom half of the window.
•To turn the lights off when this interactive group finished playing, check the box below the interactive group type description.
Bottom Half
This section is titled "Selected Trigger Group Properties".
On the first line you define the trigger's network, unit, and circuit. You can also assign a name to the trigger: Some important notes:
•The network assigned to the trigger must be an LOR network that is NOT enhanced.
•You can test the trigger in the Hardware Utility using the Triggers function.
Below the trigger information is a playlist, where you can select the sequences that get played when that trigger is activated.