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Feel free to post links to this message or the files. However, please do not post the actual file to other sites. I want to be able to update this package and keep everyone on the same page.
I'm not a mega-tree expert by any stretch of the imagination. These are just grids I thought up last year when I went 'all in' on my tree. These grids are designed for a 4 color, 8 slice (32 channel) tree. I'm sure that you can adapt them to any color/slice combination. These should also work for lines of mini-trees, roof grids, etc....
I'm sure I have not even come close to hitting all the different combinations you can do with a mega tree. PLEASE -- If you have other chases, let me know and I'll add them.
You should also know that each demo grid can be modified up to 5 different ways:
Invert
Start with channels ON, and instead turn them OFF
Reverse
Instead of going clockwise, go counter clockwise (or back to front instead of front to back, or right to left instead of right to left, etc)
Undo
When you get to the end of a sequence, go in the opposite direction turning things back off.
On Top
Pick a another color and light all unused slices with it instead of leaving them off.
Fill
Leave the previously used channels ON instead of turning them off.
Don't forget about these mods. They can expand the number of chases demoed many hundreds of times! I did NOT create separate grids for all the mods for all the chases. Instead there are several examples at the bottom of the show (under the Xx_____xX line). Add on top of that the 'effects' you can do with lights (fade/sparkle/whatever), and you are into the thousands.
Almost all my grids are set up with a simple Ramp, no fading, at 255 intensity ('Radar' is the exception). I tried to merge columns wherever possible, but there are some that are not. Feel free to merge as your heart desires. I have also included a top-down visualizer file AND the background image with the slices numbered.
The channels in the demo grids are in 'location' order. That is they are ordered:
Slice 1 Red
Slice 1 Green
Slice 1 Blue
Slice 1 Clear
Slice 2 Red
etc.....
If your grids are ordered the same way, then you should be able to just cut/paste and away you go! I have created the base show for 'color' ordered people:
Slice 1 Red
Slice 2 Red
Slice 3 Red
...
Slice 1 Green
Slice 2 Green
etc...
But I did NOT create the demo grids. If you would like to take my demo and convert it into color order, let me know and I'll send you the base show file.
General Notes:
All of these assume equal time-spaced columns
While I am NOT a music person by any means, several of these effects will short you 1-3 columns when complete. What I mean is that the beat in most music is easily divisible by 4. Thus these effects can be used when your grid timing is not quite perfect. For example By using the 'around and back' from 1-3 times, you can 'move' the grid by 1-3 columns to line up on the next beat. I've noted the number of columns each of these will use to help you with the cleanup, and the ones not divisible by 4 with a *.
You should be able to start any of these from any 'wedge' you like. I tried to stay with '1' when possible, but that doesn't mean you couldn't start on 4!
'Whirling Dervish' (8)
Chase a wedge clockwise or counter-clockwise. Only 1 wedge is lit at one time.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8
'Around and Back' (* 15)
Same as the Whirling Dervish, except at the last wedge, chase backward from that point. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
'Circle Fill' (8)
Start with a single wedge, and fill clockwise leaving previous wedges ON. Can also be reversed for a 'Reverse Circle Fill'
1-12-123-1234-12345-123456-1234567-12345678
'Pacman' (* 15)
Combine and around and back with a circle fill. Do a circle fill, and then go in the opposite direction turning wedges OFF.
1-12-123-1234-12345-123456-1234567-12345678-1234567-123456-12345-1234-123-12-1
'Egyptian Eye' (* any)
Start with a middle wedge, and jump randomly from that position 1 wedge clockwise or counter- clockwise. Makes for a cool alien 'scanning' effect.
3-2-2-3-4-4-4-3-2-1-2-2-3
'Yin Yang Wipe' (4)
Start with opposite side wedges and fill. Reverse too!
15-1256-123567-12345678
'The Propeller' (4)
Start with opposite side wedges and chase. Reverse too!
15-26-37-48
'Muti Cross' (2)
For multi-color trees. Start with a solid color tree (or dark), Turn on every other wedge with a color, then the remaining wedges with the same color. On the next cycle use a different color:
1357-12345678
'Two Bits' (4)
Chase quarters of the Tree clockwise or counter clockwise
12-34-56-78
'Two Bits, No Change' (4)
Fill quarters of the Tree clockwise or counter clockwise
12-1234-123456-12345678
'JFK' (2)
Chase Halves of the tree. Not very interesting, but possible.
1234-5678
'JFK, No Change' (2)
Fill Halves of the tree. Not very interesting, but possible.
1234-12345678
'I'll take Door Number 2!' (*3)
Start at the center wedge, then chase with a wedge to the left/and right.
3-24-15
'Zonk!' (*5)
Same as 'Take Door Number 2', but go all the way around:
3-24-15-86-7
'Curtain Call' (*3)
A reversed 'Take Door Number 2'.
15-24-3
'Fabulous Prizes' (*6)
Do a Zonk in a bright color (like white), and follow it in the next column with a fill in a different color (say red).
3W - 2W 3R 4W - 1W 2R 3R 4R 5W - 1R 2R 3R 4R 5R 6W 8W - 1R 2R 3R 4R 5R 6R 7W 8R - 1R 2R 3R 4R 5R 6R 7R 8R
Split Personality
Light 1/2 the tree in one color, 1/2 in another color, then spin. (8)
Radar:
Dim slice rotates around tree with fade, then 'hits' on a slice brighter with a longer fade. (See file)
(fyi: This info and the demos are Copyrighted by me. The grinds and information is free for non-commercial use. Commercial entities should contact me for licensing)
Last edited on Wednesday July 18th, 2007 09:51 pm by oldcqr
This is really cool!!!! You have given me a bunch of ideas that I have not considered before. Thanks! I am a mega tree novice and plan to add one this year. I have several questions. How tall is your tree? What is the diameter of your tree. Is there a bottom to your tree, meaning is there a circle at the ground? Also do you twist the 4 different color strings of lights to create each on the sides of the slice or are they separate strings placed near each other? Thanks a bunch! Bert
