Converting a Robo-Ware program to an HC-8+

[JonnyMac]

Wouldn't that be the same as in Robo-Ware? In both products you're limited (by the slow serial speed of the Mini-SSCs) to 50ms frames.  I don't understand how the show length of Vixen would differ from that of Robo-Ware. 

Editorializing a bit... was does differ for me is the willingness of the Vixen developer to provide features/updates to help customers where the Robo-Ware developer was completely uninterested (I even offered my Propeller code so he could create a stand-alone product to go along with Robo-Ware). If you right click on a channel name you can set all events for a channel to off or full on. I've asked KC if he will add a specific level entry as well. I'm betting he will. This will be useful if the mouth servo is "closed" at the 50% position.

Here's a trick that a friend taught me that simplifies mouth programming and looks excellent (he's a TV and film director who also loves Halloween): Move through your audio to find the start of a syllable. Select the events from that point out about one second. Then do a ramp from the open position to the closed position.   If the next syllable starts before the end of the first move, no problem, it just means that the mouth will re-open before it fully closed -- this looks very good in action.

[JackMan]

Wouldn't that be the same as in Robo-Ware? In both products you're limited (by the slow serial speed of the Mini-SSCs) to 50ms frames.  I don't understand how the show length of Vixen would differ from that of Robo-Ware.

Yeah, pretty much the same, I was just hoping for an easier and faster way to convert this over. I agree that the willingness to provide additional features is a big advantage.

The commands for jaw movement that I programmed do in fact have the same effect that you describe, there are a lot of syllables that don't allow the jaw to fully close (or fully open) before the next one starts and you're right, it looks very realistic.

Looking ahead a little, do you think when this is all said and done that the timing of the AP-16+ starting the audio and the HC-8+ starting the sequence will be rock solid reliable? If the start timing isn't in perfect sync the whole thing will be off.

[JonnyMac]

Looking ahead a little, do you think when this is all said and done that the timing of the AP-16+ starting the audio and the HC-8+ starting the sequence will be rock solid reliable? If the start timing isn't in perfect sync the whole thing will be off.

I think using serial for the AP-16+ is best because the switch input has a 150ms debounce period to allow PIRs to be used reliably.  The serial command takes just a few milliseconds so I don't think there will be a sync problem; if there is, I can add provide a delay in the code that allows you to tune that.

[JonnyMac]

I got a note from KC. He's on vacation for a bit, but when he gets back he's going to add an item on the channel context menu to set all events to a specific value (right now it's only off or on).  This will make building servo shows a little easier.

[JackMan]

It would be easier if you could directly enter a value between 0-254 instead of having to convert to a percentage which isn't exactly accurate. Is there a way to check the set value of a cell(s) after it has been entered? I know there is a slight visual change in the shade but I don't see a way to go back and check the value.

[JonnyMac]

If you hover over a cell it will show you the "intensity" (see the red oval in the image).

One of the features that KC added per a request from me was a button that allows the cells to be displayed using a graph versus intensity.  I find this easier when doing projects like yours.  Click on the button I've circled in green.

KC is a very responsive guy so I will ask him if he'll add cell value in tool bar next to %age.  No promises that he'll do it, but I will ask.

[JackMan]

I guess I need to pay closer attention to things, the 0-255 tool button is already there. When you switch to that option and then open the ramp parameter window the start and stop values are 0-255.   ::)

[JonnyMac]

Well, heck, I'd never noticed that # button before -- I need to send a follow-up to K.C. because I asked him to add a feature that's already there!

[JackMan]

Sorry Jon, you can blame that one on me!  :o

[JackMan]

OK, been picking away at it and finally got the whole thing programmed in Vixen. I have the microSD adapter and card. What's the next step?

[JonnyMac]

Did you use 16 channels in your show and program the channels that correspond to the outputs from your Mini-SSCs.

When your show is done you can go to the Add-Ins menu and select Raw Data Exporter. In that dialog make sure that all channels are selected and that you export by frames (you need to click the radio button).

Do me a favor and attach that file to a response so I can look at it.  Even though it has 16 channels (it should) you're not using them all so I'm going to make a program that only TX's the channels in use.

Do you need to start audio on an AP-16+?  And is this going to be triggered?

[JackMan]

Did you use 16 channels in your show and program the channels that correspond to the outputs from your Mini-SSCs.

Yep, did that.

Do you need to start audio on an AP-16+?  And is this going to be triggered?

Yes and yes.
Check your email for the file, it won't allow me to attach it here.

[JackMan]

Any luck on this yet?  ;)

[JonnyMac]

Here's a first crack at it. As I don't have Mini-SSCs my ability to test is limited.  That said, I was able to open and view your file with the HC-8+, and when I played back with this program the green LED flashed as expected.

Trigger is on IN0 (connect W to R, use PIR, etc.)
Output to AP-16+ is the SERIAL header
Output to Mini-SSCs in the OUT0 TTL header

[JackMan]

OK, got the program loaded to the eeprom of the HC-8+ and renamed the data file "Vixen.bin"  It looks good so far, when triggered I get a green flashing LED for 4m 56s which is exactly the length of the Vixen program. Now I just have to get up the nerve to hook it up to the MiniSSC's and hope it doesn't strip any servos.  ::)