how to program a circle movement with a moving light
I am forever trying to find a way to program my movers to just go in a continuous circle movement. I see it on tv and in concerts all the time. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated!
What console are you using? Most have some sort of effect engine that will allow you to run this type of effect and modify the parameters such as the size of circle and how fast the light goes in that circle. Also, moving heads cannot go in continuous circles due to you cannot keep twisting up the 20+ wires going from the base of the unit to the head. You can do some pan tilt tricks to get the illusion they keep going in circles.
The circle is pattern is created by applying a Sinewave to the Pan and Tilt parameters but with one of them offset by 90 degrees (cosine).
Inherently a moving mirror fixture can "draw" a circle from its home position.
However, a moving head fixture cannot do this from the home position. It will end up looking like a figure 8. (to better understand this limitation take a moving head on the bench and just grab the head and try to draw the circle)
You'll first have to tilt the head enough to allow for the drawing of the circle. Like 45 degrees say.
If you are using a HOG... Grab fixtures Tilt heads if needed Open Effects Pallet Press Circle Press Effects Button Adjust Effects Parameters
Just a note... The size of the tilt effect should be small enough. When the size fits between home value and the base value moving head makes a circle.
You can also do it the old school way, and program a 3 step chase. Record 3 positions making a triangle bigger than the size of the circle you want, and put those in your chase. Make sure that the step time is less than the actual amount of time it would take to make it to each position. The result should be a circle.
I am using a Road Hog Full Boar. I got into the effects engine and offset the pan by 90 degrees, but it seems to be making a figure 8 rather than a circle
I finally got it! Thank you all for the help, really. I just need tips now on how to get them to move independently in cirlces, right now there all doing the same circle path.
