HLS

Information

History

In December of 2011 Joe Hinkle saw his first Holdman's Christmas video and decided "I can do that". Shortly thereafter he designed his own 24 channel controller and wrote a sequencer! In February of 2012 Joe offered his sequencer in beta form to all who wanted to try it ( HLS Sequencer - Beta - Free to use ). Joe's support of his software is beyond anything you could hope for. When a solid issue is brought up by a user, Joe usually has a fix and a new version out the same day. Usually within hours after discovery and isolation of the issue's source.

The DIY Christmas user Jon Stenerson (stenersonj) wrote the HLS Getting Started Manual (located on Joe's software download page) where he also keeps the latest version of HLS, release notes, HLS Player, WAV converter and several other pieces of software. As Joe has refined HLS, some of the information, screens, etc have changed. Using a Wiki should make it much easier to keep the HLS Getting Started Manual updated reflecting the current version of the software. With the speed that Joe continues to add new functions and power to HLS, the manual additions/revisions is going to have to be a community effort.

There are several very experienced users of HLS that share thier time and energy helping to teach others the use of HLS and assisting in helping answers that come up. One DIYC user in particular is angus40. Angus40 (Richard) has produced numerous, excellent how-to videos which are hosted on Vimeo. Richard's videos and descriptions can be found in the Video Tutorial section of this Wiki (soon).

The reason this Wiki was created is because of the belief that if you document what you learn, you can always go back and review it as a refresher.
The HLS forum on DIYC is filled with excellent information on how to operate the software and what to watch out for, but sometimes trying to find those nuggets later on can be difficult.

We are looking forward to learning all we can about HLS and and sharing it. If you would like to help with building this Wiki, contact Macrosill and request that you be added to the Wiki contributers.

Using HLS

Getting Started

The DIYC user Jon Stenerson (stenersonj) wrote the HLS Getting Started Manual which describes the installation/usage of HLS and contains many screen shots and great information for getting started. Note that this was written a while ago and many things have changed over the development per feature requests on DIYC so some screens may look different than in the manual. The basic concepts of channel layout, preview preparation, sequencing remain the same so the manual is still very useful, especially for a beginner to HLS. The manual can be downloaded at the main HLS download site here.

DIYC HLS Getting Started Manual

Feb 10, 2013: I recommend using the HLS UMaRG below and not this "Getting Started Manual" I have not updated it in several weeks
so the information may not sync with the newest versions of HLS. OriginalHotrodder

(Clicking on the "HLS Getting Started Manual" title above opens the new manual)

To reflect the later versions of HLS Jon's manual layout has been duplicated here on the DIYC Wiki.

Click the following link HLS Getting Started Manual or the section title above to open the new Getting Started Manual.

The following wiki was first used but it is no longer updated. Getting Started with HLS (External Wiki)

HLS User Manual and Reference Guide

(Clicking on the "HLS User Manual and Reference Guide" title above opens the new manual.)

The HLS User Manual and Reference Guide is separate from the Getting Started Manual above. While the Getting Started Manual is for quickly "jumping in" and creating a sequence from start to scheduling it for display, the User Manual and Reference Guide is a more detailed documentation effort to cover all aspects of HLS.

If you prefer an electronic pdf version for offline viewing or printing, you can get the most recent version here:

User Manual and Reference Guide (PDF)

Howto Videos

Joe's Videos

2013

• HLS 2013 Introduction - This is an excellent that should be viewed by anyone wanting to use HLS.
  
• HLS 2013 Lesson 2 - Joe picks up where lesson one left off.
  
• HLS Intro Vertical Matrix showing GIF - Joe adds the ability to use animated Gifs starting with version 12N.
  

2012

• Dimming Curves - Setting defaults for dimming values, dimming curves, and library support. The library support covers insertion of custom effects and saving of channel layout.
• Converting to RGB - Converting channels to RGB. If you previously had
• Automatic RGB Conversion - This details how to use the automatic RGB conversion tool.
• Segments Training - This video demonstrates the new segments feature using a 30 channel pixel arch.
• Triggers - HLS Training video on Control Triggers.. Ability to launch a EXE or a BAT from within your sequence
• Thriller, part 1 - Singing Monster Face animation, part 1
• Thriller, part 2 - Singing Monster Face animation, part 2
• HLS Player - Remote controlled Video Player for HLS
• Video Player Interface - Remote Control of Video Projector - synchronized with Lighting Sequence
• Pixel MegaTree - How to build a 1344 Channel MegaTree and Display an Effect
• Pixel RoofLine - How to build and display a Pixel Roof Line in the HLS Preview
• Custom Object Preview - Preview Using Custom Objects
• Arch Object Preview - Preview using Arch Object
• Folders and Fill - Manage Channel Folders and Fill Channels
• Pixel Plane Editor - Introduction to the PixelPlane editor that became available in version 12
• Pixel Plane Editor, part 2 - PixelPlane Show and Tell

Angus40's (Richard's) Videos

• HLS Video 1, How to Set-up
• HLS Demo 1A Creating RGB, BRG, BGR RBG Channels
• Create X by Dougie B
• Video 3: HLS Beat Track, Library and Custom
• Setting your netrwork adapter to 10.10.10.1
• Video 4: Output settings for HLS
• Video 5: RGB Intrest
• Video 6: HLS & Nutcracker to create custom effects
• Video 7: Play list and show schedule
• HLS Demo: Saving your channels for a new song sequence
• HLS Libraries and Sharing PM
• Pixel Pong Effect and How to do it
• Quick How-To Recap
• Nutcracker and HLS: How To
• HLS: Home, End, and the Tool Bar
• Mapping Pixels and Elements in HLS

Installation

All installations begin with visiting the current website and downloading the latest ZIP file: [1].

Upgrading

Upon HLS launch, HLS will check the download site to see if there is a newer version available. If there is, a prompt will be shown suggesting to take you there for a download. Upgrading follows almost the same procedure as installation, only you will extract the files of the ZIP on top of the existing installation. For additional detailed information see the following link:
[Upgrading HLS]

Tips

Ctrl+click Shift for info

FAQ

How do I re-order channels?

How do I delete effects?

How do I make channels actually output data?

How do I make channels NOT output?

How do I import sequences from sequencer X?

How do I convert 3 individual channels to 1 RGB channel?

How do I remove all effects from a channel?

How do I copy/paste?

How do I cancel a selection?

How do I select an effect, starting from the upper corner?

How do I make an effect bigger?

How do I move an effect?

How do I move an effect from one channel to another?

What are the keyboard shortcuts?

How does the Beat Track work? http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?20796-Beat-Track https://vimeo.com/44991162

Useful Links

• Website - TBD
• Download
• PDF Manual
• HLS Forum on DIYC