First time sequencing - It's beginning to look a lot like christmas

[Pathrow287]

Hey Everyone

First year building a sequence and boy was it a bit a of a learning curve but I did slowly get faster as i learnt the tricks to copy and pasting.

I would be grateful if you checked out my first sequence, I will have a few extra coro props by the time I am complete done just need to map them. In this sequence I was attempeting to use timing and simplicity.

Would love to hear your feedback and any tips or tricks to help create more variety in my shows.


View: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zkYtXo1Gsetd-W2Gpi4laPiRJZof4o1s/view?usp=sharing


Stephen

 

[Iain]

It’s looking good. There’s so much to learn so don’t try and get the equivalent of paid sequence on your first attempt!

Some hints I’ve learnt:

1. Most songs have sequences of 8 bars. I will do an effect for two bars, and then usually reverse the effect for the next two bars, and repeat that again up to 8. After that I'll switch the main effect from, say marquee to pinwheel and do it all again.

In your example that would be:
"It's beginning to look a lot like" (1 bar)
"Christmas..." (1 bar)
then reverse the effect direction
"Toys in every" (1 bar)
"Store" (1 bar)
then repeat the effect up to 8 bars.

2. Most songs have a crescendo or build up and down. Build your lights with it. You can have a curtain effect over the top of your verticals so it "grows" with the music, or vary the brightness, or the density of effects that support that. There's nothing wrong with some "off" time - I don't even use all effects on all songs. Makes for some nice variety.

3. Pick out some feature of the song - such as at the beginning there's strings with a few simple notes. Add to your snowflakes, and make the rooftop props come on with each "ding" of the intro.

4. It will help you later down the track, but instead of putting effects on individual props, put all the props into groups and put effects on the groups. Have groups for "house", "yard", "verticals", "roof", "stars", etc etc. You can have the same prop in multiple groups. Makes it easy to target a specific area. I only use individual prop effects for when I want to do something complex like notes following the melody.

When you've got comfortable playing with all the effects, have a look at layers, blending, fades, timing tracks etc. They allow you to do some awesome things. There's heaps of video tutorials. Watch heaps of other finished products and you'll get some ideas for what works.

 

[brother fergy]

Looks really, the only thing i think you really could of done better is the mouth shapes but other wise really good

 

[brother fergy]

i might also recommend to make your house picture less bright which will make the lights easier to see while programing