Some gathered improvement suggestions

[drvval]

Hey there. I've been playing a bit with the Wolfmix and I have gathered some suggestions for improvements. I know some of these are easier to implement, and some might be problematic/impossible with the hardware limitations, but maybe they will at least inspire some ideas, so here we go:

1. Full and Flash buttons -
a. These are fun, but they would be much more useful in practice if we were able to set fade time, just like in blinder (even possibly in AND out fade). So not only jarring binary on/off, but nice pulses would be possible. Been wondering how to incorporate this into the UI. Maybe hold the Full/Flash button, and use one of the encoders to set the fade time value? Would be nice if this setting was saved per preset.
b. Full and Flash buttons always solo the given light. Sometimes you just want to add accents, quick flashes, without affecting other lights. Some toggle solo/no-solo would be nice to have.
c. Pushing the encoder to do blackout is less convenient than buttons. So maybe an option to switch places with Full or Flash buttons?

2. Set the max intensity for a given fixture type. Lights can have dramatically different outputs, so it would be nice to have some way to balance more powerful lights with lower-wattage ones. Similarly, how we can limit the range of tilt/pan of moving heads, we could set the limit for the intensity that would affect Blinder and Full/Flash options as well. It is possible to do that now, by messing with the dimmer DMX max values in fixture profile, but it isn't super convenient this way.

3. More settings for the audio input triggers. On live shows, we can have input from the mics available. So, say I wanted to use the audio triggering with the bass/snare drum signal, to do a quick flash every time such accent note is hit by the drummer. But if he hits moderately fast (not even close to the 25 ticks/second that Wolfmix operates on), not all notes are triggered by Wolfmix. ( probably because internally, the mask time between each hit is set too long )
So, it would be very useful to have similar settings like drum triggers have :
a. Sensitivity (this is the only setting we currently have)
b. Mask Time (Once a trigger has been hit, any additional trigger signals occurring within the specified "Mask Time" will be ignored). This would give control over sensitivity to quick succeeding notes VS stability of accidental double triggering.
c. Threshold (Minimum level of the audio signal to produce a trigger)
d. Scan Time (Detection time for the trigger signal)

I'm not saying all of those are needed, but it is a good reference and a standard in drum triggering world.

4. Set if preset should remember colors and flash button states per preset, not just a global switch (and maybe show some icon that identifies this choice)

5. Send dimmer Fader MIDI out back to the MIDI controller. Currently, I use a MIDI controller that has touchscreen faders and can not only send a signal, but also receive it and update it's visual status. So when I use it as a dimmer, it works fine. But if I change the dimmer value with the Wolfmix's encoders, then the corresponding fader value on my midi controller resets to 0, instead of the actual value. So then, the MIDI fader value is not in sync with the Wolfmix (that also applies to changing presets, where the dimmer value changes). Not sure if this is just not properly implemented on the Wolfmix side, or maybe my controller handles that signal poorly, but maybe you guys can have a look at this issue?

6. Blackout Fade. Similar to the Blinder, it would be useful to have fading blackout. It is possible to achieve this by using a preset, with all lights blacked out and setting fade for that preset. But since we have a dedicated button for Blackout, would be nice to have more options in it

7. Positions for moving heads
a. Movement curves. When using different positions for the moving heads, they always move in a linear fashion, so it's a bit robotic. Would be nice to have option for some more fluid transitions like ease in/ ease out (a bit similar to the flick feature in MoveFX, but maybe with more control)
b. Apart from auto positioning - give manual control for each light position in each position preset (instead of having to use live edit for that)

8. Step sequencer
a. Set how many steps in a sequence (locked to 8 right now, so can't have like a 3 step sequence)
b. Advanced - use dmx specific values for each step, instead of preset groupings

9. Live Edit fades. Fading between different live edits. I know it doesn't make sense for some DMX signals to be "fadable", but maybe positions and color values could use this feature. Currently, you can achieve this by storing different live edits in presets, and fading between presets.

10. I've also encountered a possible bug: Shift + color FX / Beam FX - toggles the given effect for all groups on home screen, but sometimes the signal is not actually transmitting to the fixtures, even though you see colorFX enabled on the Wolfmix

[AlexR]

Thanks for these suggestions!

[TheUntalentedOne]

2. Set the max intensity for a given fixture type. Lights can have dramatically different outputs, so it would be nice to have some way to balance more powerful lights with lower-wattage ones. Similarly, how we can limit the range of tilt/pan of moving heads, we could set the limit for the intensity that would affect Blinder and Full/Flash options as well. It is possible to do that now, by messing with the dimmer DMX max values in fixture profile, but it isn't super convenient this way.

Was about to suggest this exact feature. I have some crazy bright fixtures but have to disable them from the Wolfmix and Blinder Flash buttons as they overpower everything else. Disabling them is a work around but I would really like to incorporate these specific fixtures in the Blinder and Wolfmix Flash buttons

[leomogileo]

Flashing a fixture group without soloing it is possible when you hit the Flash button while holding the shift button. My suggestion is to add an option in menu - like you can choose wether you switch group bank by pressing Shift+BPM TAP or by pressing JUST the BPM TAP button (to me this option is sooo
helpful since I tap a tempo once per track, and I constantly switch group banks). So I would prefer to have this option for flash buttons, too. Because, say, i could control dimmers via midi controller faders and flash other groups to make an accent. But I can't do this since I have to hold SHIFT button with one hand. Of course, I could try to hold it with my pinky, but...really, it's a bit of a finger breaking stretch XD

[Allspice]

Hello,

I'm using the Wolfmix W1 since mid 2022 in lots of different environments and i believe it's one of the best devices when it comes to purposeful effect-lighting for dancing audiences.
However as often I'm working with it I'm detecting 4 main items which might deserve an improvement and i venture to state them here:

1. WOLF-EFFECT - ADJUSTABLE SPEED
In many situations the Wolf-FX appears very fast to me. The only possibility to slow it down i see at the moment is to set the flash effect 'SPEED' to '0.5X' /half-time which also affects the wolf-fx. I'd appreciate to be able to vary the speed by having an extra parameter on the flash fx screen.

2. BLACKOUT - WITH FADE (as already mentioned in this topic)
Wouldn't it be amazing to be able to generate a classic smooth 'SHUTDOWN'-effect by having a parameter for the fade-time on the flash fx screen?

3. BEAM FX RACK - CHASER - BACK AND FORTH
The chaser effect regularly starts always at the same point (/or the same side) and leads the flashing beams always in the same direction. You can only change the direction ('order'). I personally miss a choice for inversion, where the light would sway between the two ends of the line by going back and forth. Would be the nicest chaser-sequence ever!

4. BLINDER - SPECIFIC COLOR
I am aware a blinder-effect usually would combine the brightest possible flashlight of every fixture which will be white. BUT in typical modern circumstances (using mainly LED-technology, additive color mixing) it would be a big advantage being able to define the color in which it flashes up; such as warm white, vintage-yellow, red, etc. Imagine how lovely it would be using it this way!

Kind regards
Lukas

[Kevin88]

The points Lukas mentioned are very good.

I would love to see a fade when you have a group on for example red en you change it to another colour. It would be nice to have a little fade when changing and not so abrupt. Maybe just an option in the settings. It would make a much more smooth look.

Maybe included in the fw 2.0?

Other than that the mentioned blackout fade would also be a good improvement. And maybe also the option to set a fade on a flash live edit.

The flash group setting without dimming would be also very usefull cause now I don’t use that option. But to be honest I didn’t know about the shift possibly so will try that asap!

All and all I’m very happy with the wolfmix

Edit: oh and now I think about it… the apc mini connected only does the button light on when chooses for that preset… would be better if it works the same as he original preset page that all buttons already have the colour light on