Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Artiste Answers a Dare

Every now and then I get questions proposed that take on the form of a dare.

I got asked the question twice by the same person so I figured it is important to them. Can the Artiste walk an avatar in a  perfect circle?



Better to show them than to just answer "yes" I guess cause I did answer "yes" but they asked me again. Well I said "I thought it could" so maybe that's not a solid yes. At the time they were asking me if I could improve on another vendor's solution.

Well here is how I would do it using the Artiste.

Also as long as I had the setup, I chose to experiment a bit with the AutoCam and shot this quick little video. I plan for much better demos of AutoCamming in the future but was fun to take a jab at it to insure I would walk the talk.

So much is going on so i am prioritizing whats best for the current and future Artistas at the present time

Lat "Yummy" Lovenkraft

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Artiste NEWS! Price Reduction on Producer Series and New Free Additions to the Performer Series

The Artiste Director, Artiste DanceDiva Controller and Artiste MessageBoard have now also been included in the Artiste Performer Series as deemed necessary for practical use.

 As of such, I am reducing the price of the Artiste Producer Series from 25,000 L to 15,000 L

And if you own or purchase the Artiste Performer Series, the price for the Artiste Producer Series will be only 10,000 L.

Nothing has been removed from the Artiste Producer Series; only duplicated in the Artiste Performer Series.

For detailed descriptions of contents, see: 

Artiste Producer, Artiste Performer Series, Artiste Features List

Lat "Yummy" Lovenkraft


NEW! StageSight v3.1 - Multiple-Venue Version

The new StageSight PLUS 3.1a




So I tried my own Artiste previously released StageSight v2.5b (in the audience) at a live show and found myself unhappy with just the one view and ended up adjusting it anyways. It would be good for a performer as you only need 1 general wide-angle view if you are backstage or on the stage performing and you just need a general idea of what is going on.

But I was in the audience and got the idea to flip the idea of the original OperaGlasses introduced to the Dance Community years agofrom venue-centric (venue provided 6 fixed viewing angles) , to audience-centric, (the audience member captures and configures their own viewing goggles and has stored settings for each of their favorite venue).

That is what StageSight PLUS is all about.


You can store up to 11 sets of your favorite venues. Each set includes a zoom range defined by 2 view. The HUD creates 3 extra interpolated camera-views inside your manually captured inner and outer view. Now you can zoom in and out or select a particular zoom level directly. You can also capture the location of the TipJar and quickly switch to it and back again. No introduced jittering because you manually cammed from point-A to point-B and lost performer sync. If you don't have 11 venues, then double up or triple up and and add extra views to your favorite venue(s).

Product is now available on StageSight PLUS 3.1a

For information on how to capture and store your own custom angles, see the StageSight v2.5b video. 


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Question and Answer Sessions Offered

Hello,

There is a good deal of wonderment as information has intentionally been slow to be revealed.The  Artiste Performers Series Release Candidate 1 was officially released Dec 17th, 2014.

So its time that there be a chance to ask questions in person and hear others questions and concerns.

I have gotten feedback and suggestions and requests from early use and I have responded in full as soon as I am on. Often I am the one to encourage a meeting with questions asked.

So if you are considering either the Artiste Performer Series or Artiste Producer Series or both, and can attend a meeting this coming Nov. 22nd Saturday at 12pm SLT or Nov. 23rd Sunday 2pm SLT at the DQ Info Center, then please send me an IM and reserve a spot. All it takes is a minimum of one person with interest and there will be a meeting. If you would like to attend but the times are bad for you, let me know and maybe i can adjust the times as well as plan for a subsequent Q&A the following week or a private 1-on-1 Q&A session.

Lat "Yummy" Lovenkraft

Introducing the Artiste AutoCam System

Frustrated with the toils of having to cam at large venues, I sort of fast-tracked a feature that was promised as part of the GOLD release. It had slipped on to the back burner for awhile and I was thinking I might not be able to include it but, alas, that is not the case.

So YAY! the parts have been tested and all work in concert with each other. You have the ability to not only zoom as well but to fine-tune the zooming dynamically for faster or slower zooms with more or less jittering.

So it will be pre-released, as part of the Producers Series. There is also a Performers Series (the regular series). More on these soon.

There are 4 parts to the AutoCam system.

1 - The Artiste AutoCam Controller - funnels commands from the HUD autofx engine, which camera-views are sent and when, using the built-in events system. It insures that one and only one device can control the seats. This Controller can work stand-alone or as a HUD. It is MOD/NO-COPY. There is a nc where you can list who can use it. They must be in the same group as the Controller. You use the Controller to also setup 35 fixed angles to choose from as well as peruse the angles to determine which ones you want to use in your routine. Each has a letter-number designation. i.e.  M3

2 - The Artiste Audience Script - drop  this script into each audience seat which you want to enable AutoCamming. The audience member has 4 choices they can choose by typing in local chat. they must press ESC once, to start the process.

a) cam - allow the Controller, via the current performer, to control what and when and how they see what they will see

b) stage - goes to a default full-stage camera-view

c) tip - cams to the tipjar and stays for 12 seconds before returning

d) quit - returns normal cam control tot the audience member.

3 - The Artiste StageSight HUD - use this (or the SnapShot feature in the Artiste Performance HUD) to quickly and easily capture the camera views for the 35 standard views in the Controller. Copy and paste the output into the Controller (*cameras nc). You have the option to also create 5 additional custom angles per Performance HUD and choose to use those intermixed with the standard 35. Those 5 special HUD-angles are entered on the *cameras nc in the Performance HUD. You must be within 50 meters of your snapshot target.

4 -The Artiste Performance HUD - this uses cam commands in autofx against events to trigger camera angle/view changes. There is a 2 second delay for camera-views so it is suggested you add an autofx-lead-time of 2 seconds (on *config. (This means you will have to account for this 2-seconds for each subsequent autofx. ie. adding a WAIT=2 at beginning of each subsequent autofx entry). This will insure that camera-views happen right on the event time. NOTE: The Performance HUD that comes included in the Producer Series is NO-COPY.

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Suggested Method of Operations

A suggested method of using it is to mark the performance where the dancer stops. Mark it with an avatar-high marker you can make. Can be a cylinder or rectangular box. You can even color them different.

Now use the StageSight, or your Performance HUD, to take your desired camera vew/angle, position, and focus. Straight on, looking up or down, at an angle, far or close-up. Your choices.

Now if you can, use a a video editor or else a stopwatch and time the places in the routine where the person hits the markers. The point is to get the 'times'.

Now add a camera angle to each place. Then you can go back and add angles in between, either closer or further, or zooms, to add variety. Adding a camera-view/angle means creating events (or using existing events) for each marker and then placing the appropriate camera instruction in an autofx entry. The first command should be a controller register command (0,r124=CAMREG). This logs the user of the HUD into the Controller. Then a cam instruction would resemble:  1,r124=CAM%L3. This tells those with audience scripts to change their cam to the angle/view represented by the 3rd Left angle preset angle.

We have some fancy camera moves coming later and as always, all updates are FREE.








Monday, November 17, 2014

Come on, tell us what's in it, Yummy? - Introducing: The Artiste Performer Series, The Artiste Producer Series, and....the...Artiste Features List...at last.

Someone said I'd been sort of secretive about it all. That person was right. I have been.  But my days of hide-and-seek and paranoia are over. 

After 4 years in the basement...I am finally being released.

I am letting the cat out of the bag. It is time. Let it be. And of course, I owe it to those wanting to make an informed buying decision. 

Usually the 'what' is presented first. Sometimes I function against the norm for various reasons. This was one of those times. I addressed some of the 'how' and the 'why', first

ADDENDUM:
1) Had my 1st sale today. WOOHOO! 1 Performer Series sold.
2) It is a Release Candidate meaning, it is no longer BETA but not for general release.  Releasable to people I know who I feel deemed appropriate for it at this point in its life and  will work closely WITH me should there be any unforeseen gotchas or overlooked missing bits.

*********************************************************
Performer Series (25,000 L)

Below are the key components (the what) of the Artiste Performer Series, intended for the on-stage performer, be they dancer, actor, tribute band, model, or other on-stage entertainer.


  • PE00 - Artiste - Informational Notecards (BOX)
  • PE01 - Artiste - Books (18 Manuals) (BOX)
  • PE02 - Artiste - HUD-2-HUD Updater (BOX)
  • PE03 - Artiste - Mover Stuff RC1 (BOX)
  • PE04 - Artiste - Performance HUD GOLD RC1 v9.10 (copy/mod) (BOX)
  • PE05 - Artiste - Palette RC1 (copy/mod) (BOX)
  • PE06 - Artiste - Set Rezzer Set (copy/mod) RC1 (BOX)
  • PE07 - Artiste - Training Demo AddOns (BOX) (outfits, adorns, specials)
  • PE08 - Artiste - Levitators (BOX)
  • PE09 - Artiste - Follower Relay RC1
  • PE10 - Artiste - Stage HUD
  • PE11 - Artiste - StageSight (mod) (BOX)
  • 1 FREE Coupon for Particle Studio (999L)


*********************************************************
Producer Series (25,000 L)

Below are the key components (the what) of the Artiste Producer Series, intended for the venue owners, producers, stage-managers, directors. These items are defined as only needing one instance per venue. They are what any performer, either soloist or group-leader, would need 'exclusive access to' during their performance. All of these items were born out of necessity (and frustration) from real world experience.


  • PR01 - Logo for Artiste Pick
  • PR02 - Artiste - Curtain Detector (2 NOCOPY/MOD/NOTRANS)
  • PR03 - Artiste - TipJar Detector (2 NOCOPY/MOD/NOTRANS)
  • PR04 - Artiste - Stage Detector (2 NOCOPY/MOD)
  • PR05 - Artiste - StageSight (2 NOCOPY/MOD)
  • PR06 - Artiste - Director (2 NOCOPY/MOD)
  • PR07 - Artiste - DanceDiva - Controller (2 NOCOPY)
  • PR08 - Artiste - Message Board (COPY/MOD/NOTRANS)
  • PR09 - Artiste - TipJar  (COPY/MOD/NOTRANS)
  • PR10 - Artiste - AutoCam - Controller (NOCOPY/MOD)
  • PR11 - Artiste - AutoCam - Audience Script (COPY/NOTRANS)
  • PR12 - Artiste - Follower Relays (25 NOCOPY/Trans)
  • PR13 - Artiste - Curtain (2 NOCOPY/NOTRANS)
  • PR14 - Artiste - HUD (NO-COPY/MOD)

*********************************************************
Features List


And now the Features List for both Producer and Performer Series. (there are a good number of features unlisted that are combined inside of other items). May God have mercy on your souls.

*******************************
BASIC SILVER EDITION INCLUDED IN GOLD
*******************************
1) Auto-Stripping
2) Auto-Adorning
3) Auto-Emoting
4) Auto-Sequencing (SequenceOnPlay) 
5) Instant Pose
6) Instant Sequence Play using "S" button
7) HUD Minimize
8) Dance Caching
9) Manual: Sequence Start/Stop
10) Final Pose - (Now triggered by "A" button (for After)
11) Instant Initial Pose triggering - Triggered by 'F' button
12) Manual Adorn
13) Intellibooks, classes, one-on-ones, blog
14) Instant Direction-Facing, Absolute
15) Ability to remove just 1 of several layers or attachments on a body part
16) Ability to remove and add   layer or  attachments at same time, same event
17) No inventory window required to be open for doing costume stripping
18) Manual Item removal and Group-Item (i.e. shoes)  removal

 **********************************************************
ADVANCED EDITION GOLD RC1
**********************************************************
18) Auto-Announcing - Can also use it to double no. of emotes from 12 to 24
19) Auto-FX - Full - External Control of Palette and other devices 
20) Auto-Follower -  (FollowStart, FollowStop) & PALETTE

21)  Master Set Rezzer includes manual, with copyable scripts
22) Manual as well as HUD-controllable (using AutoFX) custom SetRezzer with up to 5 set successive auto-crossfades (forward and/or reverse) along with simultaneous set-rez (not available in standard rezzers),: DoubleExposure,Show,Hide,AutoKill,Single SetSelectable, FadeIn, FadeOut, Advance, Retard, ComeHome 
23) HUD-Chaining for when you need additional events (more than 22)
24) SmartChange - Micro-Controlled outfit-change ordering
25) Communicates to DanceDiva - Group Formation HUD

26) Communicates to our custom Stage HUD - isolating stage control to the one logged in performer or group-lead
27) External Device Control thru custom channel
28) Communicates to our custom Stage Director - screens group controlling via Stage HUD or direct touch
29) Communicates to our designated lights and our own custom lights via PALETTE, custom tip-jar script, custom curtain script
30) Group Adorn - Coordinated outfit additions

31) Controls and plays Sounds from inside Director
32) Can start and stop media
33) Costume Exclusions
34) Costume Anchors 
35) Includes several free scripted rezzables: Silhouette Ball, Spotlight, Silly Ball, Long Box, Cylinder, Phone Booth, Changing Screen, Orb Glow

36) Customizable FX-Masked Costume Changing
37) Can avoid most (but not all) notecard configuring by using the HUD menu system.
38) Built-in Avatar Invisibility
39) Special Event Zero and event #21 for things you always do before and after a routine with pre-lead-times and post-delay times
40) Ability to strip without creating RLV folder (but does require RLV enabling)
41) Multiple AutoFXs per event allowed 

42) Many functions have configurable lead, hold/on,  and delay time offsets
43) Send separate dance sequences to 4 definable dance groups (A,B,C and D) or 1,2,3,4
44) Use NickName for emotes, 
45) Send Emotes to Relay device on special channel (for extending chat beyond 100 meters)

46) Direct Emotes to local chat or IM
47) Group Stripping via a negative Adorn
48) Send commands region-wide
49) Auto-Teleport, Auto-Rebake, Auto-Tattoo Layering as part of SmartChange
50) Chooseable auto-animations for start and end of costume-change

51) Effects Spin  
52) Effects Coloring 
53) Selectable FX-Costume Masking time
54) HUD controllable via external Chat
55) HUD is Copy/Mod - save pre-configured with your (initial) show outfit

56) HUD-2-HUD transfer script Included for easily transferring items between 2 HUDs (good for version upgrades)
57) GroupPlay - Invoke Play of another HUD
58) GroupStop -  Stop another HUD or HUDs
59) GroupStrip
60) GroupAdorn - wearing of layers and attachments

61) Controls an advanced version of the Opera Glasses and triggers viewing angles at event times
62) Synchronous and Asynchronous Group Sequencing with new CD added

With the Artiste Palette Add-On you can;

63 - Fade-In Palette
64 - Fade-Out Palette
65 - Move Palette multiple times

66 - Move an Avatar multiple steps
67 - Move a specific range of moves 
68 - Flash a Palette Once via animated texture
69 - Flash a Palette constantly at random intervals
70 - Blink a Palette - changing its on/off time and on/off color

71 - Turn a light beam on/off
72 - Turn the light effect on/off
73 - Change color of light effect
74 - Change color of light beam
75 - Palette becomes any particle effect

76 - Palette becomes one of built in particle effects (Fire)
77 - Invoke actions from one Palette to other Palettes
78 - Trigger Palette actions from inside the dance sequencer
79 - Test Palette on some features without creating a HUD *autofx
80 - Trigger Palette from HUD *autofx

81 - Topple a Palette (cause it to fall over)
82 - Throw a Palette - Throw it at an target using 1 or 2 phases with a plethora of customizable parameters allowing for physical and non physical propulsion
83 - Change a Palettes material properties at showtime: physics, density, gravity, friction, phantom, bounce
84 - Change a Palettes physics
85 - Show/Hide Palette

86 - Start and stop a Palettes rotation
87 - Oscillate a Palettes transparency via Fade-In/Fade-out
88 - Oscillate a Palettes scale via Grow/Shrink 
89 - Apply a texture
90 - Start and Stop an animated texture

91 - Turn Palette into a light assigning: color, intensity, falloff, radius
92 - Rez an object
93 - Kill a rezzed object
94 - Adorn an item inside Palette timing like during a move step
95 - Assign a FinalMovePose

96 - Create syncopated rotation with stepped movements - like a watch second-hand gear
97 - Change Color of Palette at showtime
98 - Change Transparency of Palette at showtime
99 - Catch an object that has "fallen"or been "thrown"
100 - Drop an object that is attached to avatar

101 - Drop an object that is unattached to an avatar
102 - Assign a default sit animation
103 - Assgin a default stand animation - handy for smooth palette exits
104 - Force avatar to sit on an object 
105 - Change a Palette into a follow object like a followspotlight

106 - Make the palette follow an avatar of object
107 - Make the Palette go to an avatar or object
108 - Turn Palette into a silhouette
109 - Tip Palette forward and backward
110 - Make Palette Glow

111 - Instant Raise and Lower without creating a mover
112 - Change scale of palette
113 - Slow Turn Left and Right or 180
114 - Change the style of the light effect
115 - Sit-2-Sit Transfer - - swap Palettes

116 - Palette-based Formation Movement
117 - Specify actions to take upon collision start and end
118 - Specify an action to perform at same time as  doing a Palette mover
119 - DanceDiva Formation Controller - Places avatars in formations and performs formation-2-formation transitioning
120 - PracticeSite-to-LiveStage rotation reorientation

121 - Shatter a Palette into pieces
122 - Artiste DanceDiva Follower Relay
123 - Artiste MasterPiece - play several middle sections of dances back to back
124 - Artiste PieceMaker - start an animation after the beginning - easy connection-point deciphering
125 - Artiste Light  

126 - Artiste DanceTimer
127 - Artiste Curtain 
128 - Artiste Message Board 
129 - Artiste Levitator

Artiste Performance HUD GOLD
Artiste Palette 
Artiste Avatar Mover 
Artiste Markers
Artiste Anchor
Artiste Marker Controller
Artiste Master Set-Rezzer (Scripts & NCs)
Artiste Child Rezzer Script
Artiste FX Emitter
Artiste Director 
Artiste TipJar
Artiste Anchor 
Artiste Stage HUD 
Artiste Stage Occupancy Detector
Artiste Curtain Detector
Artiste StageSight (AutoCam)
Artiste AutoCam Controller
Artiste Autocam Audience Script 
Jemmas HUD-2-HUD Transfer

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Introducing the Artiste StageSight

Well the ball has started rolling...God help us now.

We start off with a handy device born of necessity, as is the case with most all of our products.

The Artiste StageSight. If you are familiar with the OperaGlasses, its the same thing (a mini-hud with 3 buttons) only with one view instead of 6 for simple quick backstage to front-stage viewing. 


Instructional video above and also comes with an illustrated IntelliBook.

This product is also included in the Artiste Performer Series and Artiste Producer Series and you will receive a refund if/when you purchase either. It is an important part of both series and has other users for those owning either or both Series.

The item comes boxed (NoCopy/Mod) and is available on MarketPlace StageSight On Marketplace
as well as in-world Artiste Main Store at Auradacious (when you arrive go left around the corner into Auradacious and take the teleporter to the 2nd floor)

Yeah yeah, I know, Yummy never has her products available like normal people do. Well for all you naysayers..nya nya nya nya.

Also ask to join our support group so you can stay abreast of the upcoming products as well as updates.

More to come...

Lat "Yummy" Lovenkraft

Monday, November 3, 2014

Demo Videos and Their Influence on the Decision to Purchase

Hello,

After pondering my discussions with all those who have expressed interest in purchasing the Artiste Performer Series and/or the Artiste Producer Series, it appears that the demo videos are having NO, ZERO, NADA, affect on their decision to purchase. Long story short...they are being viewed little or not at all, even though the blog views exceed 1,000. There seems no desire to visually see what it can do.  Peoples decisions to purchase seems to come from an emotional center based on a 'confidence vibe', for lack of a better term that I can think of. No one has asked what it can do other than, can it fade? There has been indirect interest in its ability to 'move an avatar'. Some indirect  expression of appreciation for an all-in-one, single-hud solution. And some early excitement over the "thrower" and "set rezzer". But real dialogue and interest about specifics on the myriad of offerings seems be lacking.

Yes I was shocked too, but this is a learning process for me on how and why people make a decision to buy. This is an unusual product assembly and release methodology so it is forming its own purchase-identity.

So I will hereby cease making the demo videos public and from here on out they will take more the form of how-to-videos and will be made available exclusively to product-owners only. I have about 10 more planned. 

The Artiste GOLD Release Candidate #1, Performer Series and Producer Series will be enjoying a limited release sometime this week. YAY! Nervous but exciting times.

Lat "Yummy" Lovenkraft

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Support and Training

Teaching you how to use the product is as important as the quality and value of the product itself. If the product is the  greatest thing since sliced bread but we somehow failed to teach you how to use it, then the end result is the same as having a bad product. In either case, it won't get used.


So with that said, we have gone to great lengths to document the product and re-document it and re-document it some more as well as attempt to provide a comprehensive methodology towards conveying information as well as enabling you to become proficient with the product.

We have chosen to use IntelliBooks instead of raw text as the primary source. In addition to the manuals:
  1. We offer 17 course IntelliBook manuals
  2. We have added table-of-contents to the back of some manuals to make it easier to find what you are looking for. 
  3. We've added illustrations where we think it is helpful. 
  4. We've tried not to assume that you know too much. 
  5. We have provided demo videos to give you an idea of how things might be used and sometimes a glimpse behind the scenes of how we accomplish it
  6. We offer unlimited one-on-one support. The most important time to ask questions is on !!!DAY-ONE!!! when you 1st start using it. Its when you will form opinions and know the least about it and will need the most help. Ask help early. Don't feel 'stupid' about anything you don't know that you feel you should know.
  7. We will give classes when we have more than 1 person needing training.
  8. We will be creating how-to-videos, as time permits, to address to sheer volume and intricacy of the system.
  9. We have a support group where you can ask and share information
  10. We have an active blog where you can find: general info, helpful reviews, show-videos, demo-videos, discussions, etc.
  11. If we are not convinced...that you are convinced that you can become proficient with it, then we won't sell it to you! As simple as that.