Non Step based effect that alters channels in sets of three. As well as random triggering of the effect.

Question

This is a two part question. My first question is a bit complicated so let me give you the scenario. I have 3 lights side by side (i.e. channels 1, 2, and 3) and I want an effect that will have the middle light go to 100% intensity and then fade and while it is fading have the two side lights wait a half second and then go to 50% intensity and fade with all lights reaching 0% intensity at the same time. This effect is relatively easy to do with a step based effect; however, I want to try to do this using either a linear or absolute type effect. The Reason for this is in my second question 
 
 I have 5 sets of three lights each. I was wondering if I there was a way to trigger the above effect at random intervals and random sets of lights. This could be in a cue or in another effect. 
 
 I realize that this is a highly specific and complicated question. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Also let me know if this post violates any rules.

Mike A · Accepted Answer

Not sure if there is a neater solution somehow using the bracketed subgroups in an effect but here is a possible approach. 
 
Create your step based effect with all the channels in it for each of the 5 sets of 3 lights. 
 
Create a new cuelist and put in each cue one or more of the sets of 3 lights and apply the effect, set the follow times randomly and make the cuelist longer enough that the "random" pattern is not obvious and set go from last as loop. 
 
You can then start and stop the cue list as an when you need the effect in your main cue list.

John728 · Answer

OK, here we go. 
 Create a step-based effect with the following steps.

Step

Channels

Step time

in time

dwell time

decay time

on state

off state

1

2

0.5

0

1

100

0

2

1+3

0.5

0

0.5

50

0

3

(nothing)

1

0

N/A

4

5

0.5

0

1

100

0

5

4+6

0.5

0

0.5

50

0

6

(nothing)

1

0

N/A

{step} 1 thru 3 [copy to] 4 enter 
 {step} 4 thru 6 [copy to] 7 enter 
 {step} 1 thru 3 [copy to] 10 enter 
 {step} 1 thru 3 [copy to] 13 enter 
 {step} 1 thru 3 [copy to] 16 enter 
 {step} 4 thru 6 [copy to] 19 enter 
 You get the idea, just keep doing that type of thing. Then you go back and edit all the step times of the steps without channels to make a "random" effect.

John728 · Answer

Instead of making multiple step based effects, make one step based effect. You can copy and paste the effect steps three at a time to vary the order in which the lights respond to the effect.