Would anyone at ETC like to comment on this. We are looking to replace our Strand 530 which does have an audio triggered chase facility which is used quite frequently by amateur dance groups. Having looked at the Eos online manual the effects features are very similar to the 530 (which was very comforting) - but no audio stepping. Is there a possibility that this feature will be available on the Eos in the future, or is it seen as something which would never be contemplated?
Thanks for the reply Anne - very disappointed to hear that. We, at our venue, think this is almost a 'must have' feature for an effects engine. Is there no one else out there that agrees or are we way off the mark here?
I am not trying to speak for ETC, but I think you need to look at the target market. The console is best in a theatrical setting, where things are pre-programmed, and work the same way every time, consistently upon playback. If you are looking for a live change like the audio thing, you need something like a Avo console or something like that.
I'm not part of the development team but my personal opinion is that triggering direct from an audio input is awful.
There are several ways of doing 'beat detection', and they vary from 'utterly useless' (gross volume changes) to 'pretty poor' (rolling Fourier transforms on a range of chosen low-end frequencies).
There are several reasons why this never works well - one of them is that a tungsten lamp actually flashes a short time after you tell it to - and it's different depending on which lamp you've got (and how warm it is). No computer program or analogue circuit can compensate for that, even if someone managed to create an absolutely perfect beat-detection algorithm.
I'd rather use my ears, eyes and a Tap key - I've been told a few times that I have 'No sense of rhythm', and I still do a better job than audio-triggers.
[edited by: Richard at 12:39 PM (GMT -6) on Fri, Oct 03 2008]
[edited by: Richard at 12:38 PM (GMT -6) on Fri, Oct 03 2008]
Whilst the means of detection and the flashing of the lamps may be flawed procedures, we have been successfully using this feature on a Strand 530 for many years. For the sort of show that uses it, complete accuracy of the type you bemoan is not necessary as it is the overall effect which is required. A tapped in rhythm will result in a monotonous flashing of lights whereas a sound to light will be varied precisely because of its flaws but give you flashing lights in time with the music and more importantly the desired 'effect'.
I know that what i'm talking about sounds a bit 'disco', but still feel its a reasonable feature to find on a desk which may be used in an Arts Centre with a varied and not necessarily always professional programme.
