What to do now? What are you going to do?
Printed From: Aurora
Category: Aurora Sequencer Software
Forum Name: Aurora 1.0
Forum Discription: This is the place to discuss (and report bugs) the 1.0 version of Aurora
URL: http://www.aurorashow.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1030
Printed Date: 28 May 2025 at 2:30pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.06 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: What to do now? What are you going to do?
Posted By: Buckeyelights
Subject: What to do now? What are you going to do?
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 12:20pm
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In light of the recent announcement concerning Aurora, should I stay with Aurora or consider another software program? I still consider myself a newbie, with only one year of having an animated show. I found Aurora easy to use, with some very good help from this forum. I'm not currently looking to add DMX elements to our display; although after I hear a presentation at Light Up Ohio this weekend on DMX that could change I guess. I'm a very satisified and happy customer of Aurora and it's functions. I guess I don't understand the implications to me.
If I remain with Aurora will it be like I'm still playing a 8 track tape while everybody else has moved on? Will I be missing out on new features that others will have?
I thought I was done asking dumb questions, guess not
 What are you going to do? Remain w/ Aurora or consider alternatives?
Tks!
Joe
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Replies:
Posted By: LightChristmas
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 1:43pm
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I'm staying with what I know works. AURORA. LOR still hasn't come close to matching what Aurora can do. ------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: ChrisL1976
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 3:16pm
Same here!! Aurora has given me two perfect seasons. Having been through a bad one before I got Aurora, I do not want to relive that nor does my wife.  ------------- Chris www.lightsonsixth.com |
Posted By: JohnnyL
Date Posted: 13 May 2010 at 8:09pm
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will the scheduler be fixed? If he fixes that issue alone i can deal with the other glitches/bugs. Not being able to let the shows run on their own without worrying wether your entertaing the bar crowd through the midnight hours. Half of my channels are combined RGB. not fun to sequence on S2. When is this next/last update? ------------- "In God We Trust" all others pay cash |
Posted By: Bubba
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2010 at 11:25am
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I'm Sticking with Aurora. I peeked over at the LSP forums and they have tons of glitches and problems to iron out before that product gets close to what Aurora is. I don't like having tons of worthless gadgets and options when basically I want a sequencer. Aurora is still much easier to use and faster. ------------- www.brightonbrittain.com |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2010 at 2:55pm
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I too plan to stick with Aurora.. I keep looking at LSP for the the dmx functionality since I'm planning to add dmx. I've been researching Vixen which handles the dmx ok but LOR and D-Light not well at all.
But can't bring myself to buy LSP (I absolutely hated Spectrum) and I simply fell in love with Aurora.. I am a loyal fan!
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Posted By: deweycooter
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2010 at 3:35pm
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I still plan to use Aurora with DMX again this season. ------------- http://www.deweycooter.com/wiki/index.php/Aurora - Aurora Lights Wiki http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: Jonathan
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2010 at 11:06pm
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The Aurora NDA prevents the beta testers from commenting on what goes
on behind the scenes (which is just plain good business sense), so I
will not comment on the status of any bug fixes. I will say, however,
that the midnight scheduler issue should not be a deciding factor as to
whether anyone stays with Aurora or jumps ship. I do know Michael has an incredible amount on his plate and development of Aurora has slowed at what can best be described as, well, an exponential rate, but that is all anyone here knows. Only Michael knows the true scope of the future of Aurora, and even those in the beta group are anxiously awaiting news. But for me, if the worst case scenario happened- even if there are no more updates, no Aurora 2.0 in the far future, no DMX, no development at all and what we have now is all we ever have, I'm still going to stay with Aurora and if I do ever leave for another program (which I can't see happening any time soon) it will be with me kicking and screaming all the way. I'm here for the long haul. I have no doubt that Michael appreciates the kind words, and who knows, maybe if enough people tell him that their loyalties are still with Aurora, the development pace will increase. ------------- ~Jonathan |
Posted By: dowdybrown
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2010 at 10:37am
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If you love the Aurora sequencer, there is another way to get DMX compatibility and fix the midnight scheduling issue with the CURRENT released version of Aurora. Step 1) Create your sequences in Aurora Step 2) Export to LOR format using the exporter I've posted on the boards here Step 3) Schedule/run your show with xLights. I've written xLights as open source software. It is C++ so performance is great. It's been tested on Windows AND Linux (Mac support is in the works). It can take your source sequence (LOR or Vixen format) and redirect the output to any combination of LOR/D-Light, DMX, or Renard networks. The first release of xLights should happen in the next few weeks. http://sourceforge.net/projects/xlights/ - http://sourceforge.net/projects/xlights/ Matt ------------- http://gleannlochchristmas.com/ - http://gleannlochchristmas.com/ |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2010 at 8:52am
This is exactly what I'd like to do - use Aurora with DMX but seems that if you're not part of the chosen few this is impossible. This is forcing many of us to look at and invest in the alternatives.
I really hate the thought of moving away from Aurora but what options do we have if we'd like to incorporate DMX like some of you have been able to do? I've being forced to look at and spend money for the alternatives and I'm "kicking and screaming". (and been watching xLights closely too)
I remain extremly loyal to Aurora - simply love the software - but can't do what I need because I'm not one of the chosen few, hence have been forced to look at the alternatives. I would much sooner 'buy in' to the Aurora beta and gain the DMX functionality than to have purchased a piece of software that I'm finding extremely difficult to use. It's become rather frustrating.
I fully understand and agree with NDAs but my big question is: How do those of us who want (and need) to use DMX with Aurora get that option?
What choice do we have? Do we just toss the DMX equipment or do we look at the alternatives (as painful as it is) that can provide functionality that some of you were able to have and test last year and apparently plan to use again?
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Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2010 at 12:10pm
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The official answer to these questions will be given on August 30.
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/"> 
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Posted By: TheQueb
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2010 at 9:24pm
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What ARE the alternatives? And how much are they? ------------- 80 D-Light-ful Channels http://www.SoutheastTexasLights.com - Southeast Texas Lights http://www.frappr.com/dlight - D-Light Users |
Posted By: bdkeen
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2010 at 7:24am
All depends on what we'll learn on 30 August........
From what I can see at the present moment the alternatives are LSP, LOR S2, and Vixen.
2 being commercial products and one free - You can investigate them at their respective websites, find their respective cost, and make your own comparisons and opinions.
I looked and played with all of these (demos and full version of 1 of them) and would still highly recommend Aurora if using controller types currently supported (D-Light and LOR). If Aurora (excluding beta release(s)) could at least support DMX light controllers (like the DIY community, the Open ACx16 which seems to be targeted toward DMX, etc...) , for me, there'd be no questions.
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Posted By: Buckeyelights
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2010 at 11:29am
I'm a patient person, the 30th is only a week away. OK I lied I'm not patient at all. What's up?
 Can you at least hint if it is good news to Aurora users or not?
 Just pick one:
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Posted By: Jonathan
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2010 at 3:50pm
Just pick one? Ok, I choose "one". 
Seriously now, we can all speculate, but the truth is that no one truly has any firm idea on what the announcement will be, except for Michael. But if precedence is anything, you may recall that D-Light officially killed Spectrum that same weekend two years ago (and it's hard to believe now that I was acutally upset by that). IF, IF, IF, it turns out that Aurora is going on hiatus (be it temporary, extended, or permanent), I for one will be quite disappointed; but considering the lousy ecomony, lack of sales, having only one programmer, yada yada, I will understand if we are told to look at other options. In fact, I'd be grateful for the early heads up, but no matter what, I'm using Aurora this year to create and run my show.
In short, I'm hoping for good news, but I'm bracing for the worst. ------------- ~Jonathan |
Posted By: onewish1
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2010 at 6:53pm
| I love aurora it seemed the easiest to figure out.. being a novice |
Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2010 at 8:56am
Matt,
Can you give us a teaser screen grab, and a better estimate of a release date?
Thanks
Carey ------------- http://www.williamsonworkshop.com - www.williamsonworkshop.com |
Posted By: Bubba
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2010 at 9:28am
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It's August 30th where is the answer??
------------- www.brightonbrittain.com |
Posted By: LightsOnLogan
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2010 at 9:47am
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Such impatience...
------------- http://www.aurorashow.com/">
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Posted By: dowdybrown
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2010 at 10:21am
Screen shots have been posted to the sourceforge web site. You can see from the pictures that it is now working on the Mac too. I hope to at least have the Windows version released this week. ------------- http://gleannlochchristmas.com/ - http://gleannlochchristmas.com/ |
Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2010 at 12:21pm
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Looks nice. I look forward to giving it a try. Any chance it will import Aurora files this year?
Edit: Nevermind, I forgot about your exporter. ------------- http://www.williamsonworkshop.com - www.williamsonworkshop.com |
Posted By: dowdybrown
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2010 at 9:17pm
Windows and Mac downloads are now available on SourceForge. It's marked version "0.1" - only tested by a few folks so far. So if you find issues, please post them in the xLights forum on SourceForge. Documentation is in the xLights wiki on SourceForge (incomplete but growing). http://sourceforge.net/projects/xlights/ - http://sourceforge.net/projects/xlights/ Enjoy! Matt ------------- http://gleannlochchristmas.com/ - http://gleannlochchristmas.com/ |
Posted By: Comporder1
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2010 at 2:02pm
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Matt,
Looks nice! I posted some questions over at sourceforge.
Thanks
Carey ------------- http://www.williamsonworkshop.com - www.williamsonworkshop.com |