Method 1 – The easiest and most bulletproof merge.

With Follow-Me software release V0.6.670 we added the ability to take sACN universes from the console as inputs and then output from Follow-Me on those same universes. This greatly simplifies merging and the data routing/handling.

So for example, universe 10 comes from the console, we manipulate what we need to, and then all manipulated and untouched data gets sent out from Follow-Me on universe 10 at a higher priority than the console – The numbering therefore keeps things clean, logical and simple for everyone involved.

This allows us to achieve the easiest merging method by simply hijacking the console data and effectively pasting the Follow-Me data on top.

What you’ll need – 

• Input Universes from the console – In the example, universe 1 & 2 for the fixtures (and some control channels).
• Output Universes to the nodes – The same universe 1 & 2 at a higher output priority (110).

In the unlikely event of a Follow-Me server going offline, the console seamlessly takes over control of the fixtures with its lower priority (100) still in place.

Here are some screenshots showing that setup in both Follow-Me & grandMA3 –

Positives – 

• Very easy to achieve, in-depth networking knowledge isn’t needed.
• Full control over all Follow-Me attributes

Negatives – 

• None!

Method 2 – Merging in Follow-Me

The recommended and easiest way to do the merge is within Follow-Me.

What you’ll need – 

• Input Universes from the console – In the example, universe 11 for the fixtures, universe 12 for the control channels.
• Output Universes to the nodes – Universe 1 for the fixtures.
• Backup merge from console direct to the nodes – Universe 1 at the lower priority than Follow-Me. 

In the unlikely event of a Follow-Me server going offline, the above example allows the console to take over control of the fixtures with this priority backup in place. While working Follow-Me has a higher priority of 110, if it goes offline, the console takes over with its priority of 100.

Here are some screenshots showing that setup in both Follow-Me & grandMA3 –

 

Positives – 

• Easy to achieve, in-depth networking knowledge isn’t needed.
• Backup merge in the node is recommended & easy to setup.
• Full control over all Follow-Me attributes.

Negatives – 

• If the backup merge in the node isn’t setup, the console operator will lose control of the fixtures if Follow-Me goes offline.

Method 3 – Merging in a node

 What you’ll need – 

• Input Universe from the console to Follow-Me – In the example, universe 21.
• Output Universe from Follow-Me to the node – Universe 11.
• Output Universe from the console to the node – Universe 1.

Both the lighting console and Follow-Me output different universes on the network for the same fixtures. In the node you would need to make a merge. Below you can see various potential options on how the node can do that merge.

Here is screenshot showing that setup in a grandMA3 –

Positives –  

• The console potentially has full control over all fixtures if Follow-Me was to go offline (dependent on merge options in the node)

Negatives – 

• The feature set of nodes will vary, so not all merge setup options will be present.
• You may not have full control over all Follow-Me attributes including Continuous Beam Size (CBS) and Intensity from Desk (IFD).

Method 4 – Merging in a lighting console

What you’ll need – 

• Input Universes from the console – In the example, universe 21 for fixtures, 22 for control channels.
• Output Universe from Follow-Me to the console – Universe 11.
• Output Universe from the console to the node – Universe 31.

An important part of this option is that the merge in the lighting console can create a feedback loop when a merge with HTP is happening. This causes issues when certain parameters like pan/tilt are not able to be controlled with Follow-Me or the lighting console when a certain value is higher, and thus takes precedence. 

To eliminate this, you might need to output the fixtures you want to use for Follow-Me on a different universe than the rest of the fixtures. This problem can typically be observed by fixtures only tilting in one direction only – when you see this, you know you have a problem to fix.

Here is screenshot showing that setup in a grandMA3 –

To look deeper at this merging in Follow-Me with the lighting console – 

In the scenario above, the same fixture could in principle be directly controlled by the console whilst also being controlled by Follow-Me. 

For this all to work, and with minimal latency added to the system a correct setup must be achieved.

Meaning…. 

• The 4 fixtures are patched in Follow-Me on Universe 11.
• The same 4 fixtures are patched in the console on Universe 21.
• On the console we must therefore merge Universe 11 into Universe 21 using HTP.
• On the console you potentially could park the pan & tilt for those fixtures at 0%.
• If not, the console would have 50% on pan & tilt by default, meaning Follow-Me would not be able to be lower than 50%.

However…..

• Park is effective, but really not the way to go during shows.
• Park can’t fade in/fade out, and is really not a proper way to switch pan/tilt control between console and Follow-Me during a performance. 
• On cues when Follow-Me isn’t used, the console operator will have to unpark those fixtures so they can be used directly from the console again.

A better way is to write down that the console needs to output “DMX 0” for the pan & tilt attributes.

You can see what you are outputting on the dmx-sheet of the console

Alternative Method (Especially applies to grandMA use)

A much easier way to achieve merging in the console is to send data from the console to Follow-Me and send it back to an empty universe on the desk. With this method you will not have overlapping pan/tilt values that are causing issues.

In some cases when designers need to use their MA hardware for output, you can do the following:

• Send data from console to Follow-Me.
• Follow-Me sends data back to console on an empty MA universe.
• Console receives that universe and sends it to the MA processing units.

Basically you do the most simple merge by Follow-Me, but just sends it back to an empty universe on the console.

As a failsafe, we can write a macro in the MA to re-route the universes in case Follow-Me goes offline.

Summary of merging in the console – 

The result will be the console has full control over the fixtures, except those attributes that Follow-Me has manipulated and now merged into the console.

Positives –  

• The console has full control over all fixtures if Follow-Me was to go offline.

Negatives – 

• A deeper knowledge of networking is needed.
• You may not have full control over all Follow-Me attributes including Continuous Beam Size and Intensity from Desk.

Have a great install & reach out to us if you need help!

Your Follow-Me team.