Aurora User Guide
From d.e.w.e.y.c.o.o.t.e.r
** The current beta version of Aurora is now available to pre-order customers!! The software has not been officially released yet - so there are a lot of items to this page that need to be completed. **
Contents |
[edit] Installation
[edit] Quick Guide
TODO: 2-minute overview of getting started - create sequence file, add channels, playback, schedule. Link to appropriate sections of this doc for more info
Upon opening Aurora, you'll be shown the startup wizard. This screen allows you to choose an existing sequence to edit, create a new sequence, or import a sequence from another format. The last option on the display is using the most recent auto-save file. This feature is convenient in the event of an unplanned power down of the computer or an application crash.
Creating a New Sequence
To create a new sequence, click Create New Sequence in the startup wizard, or click File / New from the drop down menus at the top of the window. Give your new sequence a title and select the media file to use. For audio files, .wav files are more precise than .mp3. TODO: Video file formats Next, select a background picture to use. This is a very helpful feature of Aurora to use while editing sequences. You might opt to edit your picture in an image editing program such as Photoshop or Gimp (freeware) in order to darken the photo so it more closely resembles a nighttime shot. Click Save/Create/Ok. You'll then be prompted to import a channel configuration. If you have a sequence already created, you can save yourself some work and eliminate the possibility of a data entry error by importing the configuration for that sequence. Select your file or choose No. Aurora will process the data, and the sequence will be ready for editing.
Importing a sequence
Using Channel Configuration Templates
Any sequence file may be used as a channel configuration template. The template sets up the channels shown in editor mode and the corresponding drawing objects in the visualizer mode.
[edit] Aurora Overview
- description of a sequence, media file, file formats, template importing, auto-save, sequence vs scheduler, scheduling overview, etc - Perhaps a run-down of features? Link back to Aurora
[edit] Sequence Editor
Channel Configuration
Channels are shown in the channel display panel. Each channel must be given a unique name, controller ID, and channel number.
Tip: Group your channels together by physical location of the lights or by function. For example, you may have 12 channels from a mega tree spread out among 3 different controllers. Move your channels around until they are in order by physical location.
Adding Channels
Channels can be added by clicking the in the channel display panel and selecting Add Channel from the menu.
Editing...
[edit] Tools
Sequence Editor
| Name | Keyboard Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pan | p | Moves the editor view up, down, left, right. These moves can also be done in the editor with the arrow keys. |
| Zoom | z | Left mouse button in editor zooms in. Right mouse button in editor zooms out. Can also be done with Page Up / Page Down keys |
| Less Channels | - (minus) | Decreases the number of channels visible in the editor display. |
| More Channels | + | Increases the number of channels visible in the editor display. |
| Name | Keyboard Shortcut* | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Selection | y | Highlights a portion of the sequence on the grid. Left click in editor and drag over selection then release to highlight. Right click to bring up context menu (Delete, Copy, Cut, Paste, Split) |
| Events Line | v | Places/Removes/Moves timeline snap points in the editor. Left click in editor to place an event line. Left click over an existing event line and drag to move it. Right click over an existing event line to delete it |
| Info | n | Left click over an event to bring up settings for the event -or-
While pointer is over an event, hold down S key and push < or > to raise/lower start intensity -or- While pointer is over an event, hold down E key and push < or > to raise/lower end intensity |
| Remove | x | Left click and drag over events to delete the release mouse button. |
| Intensity | i | Left in editor click and drag to place intensity events |
| Ramp | r | Left in editor click and drag to place ramp events |
| Shimmer | h | Left click in editor and drag to place shimmer events |
| Twinkle | t | Left click in editor and drag to place twinkle events |
* Shift-[letter] with the event tools (i, r, h, or t) brings up the tool properties dialog (same as right-click)
| Name | Keyboard Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing Mode | d | Toggles between drawing mode and editor mode |
- Tip: Intensity, Ramp, Shimmer, and Twinkle tools will use their most recent settings when selected with a left click on the tool botton (or by using the keyboard shortcut). Right clicking the tool button will bring up a settings dialog for the tool before it's use.
For example, if the last ramp you placed was 50% to 0%, left clicking the ramp tool will put the editor into ramp placement mode for placing ramps of the values 50% to 0%. If you don't want 50% to 0% ramps (let's say you want 0% to 100% ramps instead), then you would right click the ramp tool button to set up the tool for 0% to 100% ramps and then used the ramp tool. Likewise for other tools as well.
Drawing Editor
Importing Channel File
[edit] Scheduler
[edit] Tips -n- Tricks
Pasting effectively
Everybody sequences a bit differently, but one thing that we can agree on is that copy/paste operations save a TON of time. Aurora has some very handy pasting operations to save you time and ensure that your patterns are reproduced accurately, hitting the beats as you like!
When attempting to paste events, you'll see a Paste Options dialog:
- Use the timeline events already on grid
Use this option when I already have the event lines layed out. For example, you've decided to have some more channels mimic others over a given set of events.
- Preserve the original timing (create new timeline events on the grid as needed)
I often use this one when I've already created one set of events and I need to paste them where I don't have event lines set up.
- Stretch/shrink to fit the size of the highlighted selection area
Use this when you have a set of events that you'd like to paste into a known time span. Just highlight the cells that you'd like to put the events in, and they'll resize as needed.
- Paste a copy into each individual column that is selected
This is similar to the previous, but it will put the copied pattern into each cell. This is great when you've got the beat pattern layed out and you know you want the same thing in the next 4 measures.
Lastly, keep in mind that after copying a pattern, you only have to select the top cell(s) of your target. So if you have 6 columns by 18 rows selected, you only have to click the top left cell of your paste area. Don't bother wasting time trying to select another 6x18 area.
Using the visualizer
To set up the visualizer, you first specify a picture. Get an image of your house/display area. Aurora Sequencer, click File / Properties. Assign the picture.
To enter the drawing mode, press d. Draw the lights for your channels.
When finished, go back to Editor Mode.
In the Playback portion of the display, click the monitor button toggle it between editor and visualizer playback. Click play.
