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DMX PAR-36 Dimming

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pyro71739895 2025-10-31 00:28:05
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  • pyro71739895
    Joined: Sep 2020
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    Location: Blanchard, Oklahoma, United States
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    2025-10-31 00:28:05
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    Does anyone know how to add a dimming effect using the COBRA PAR-36 lights in finale 3D?

    DrewFinale
    Joined: Dec 2019
    Posts: 749
    Location: United States
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    2025-11-19 04:30:52
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    Hey Pyro_37400000

     

    We’re so close to having an awesome answer to this question that I initially hesitated on a reply. But, it’s now looking like we still have a few weeks to go, so I don’t want to leave you hanging any longer.

     

    At the moment, it’s not possible to create a dimming effect. The fundamental limitation is that a dimming effect requires changing a DMX channel value over a time interval. This is called a “ramp,” and Finale 3D hasn’t supported ramps, until now!

     

    For the last six months, we’ve been working on some major DMX improvements — one of which is adding support for ramps. Additionally, we’ve upgraded the DMX fixture definitions and standard effect libraries for all supported fixtures. The new libraries for lights make fades and color blends possible, and ramps are now also employed for all moving head fixtures to produce accurate and precise movements.

     

    The final stage of the project is to upgrade the script generation process for the DMX-capable firing systems, and that’s what we’re working on right now. If all goes as planned, a new beta release of Finale 3D, including these improvements and more, will be published in mid to late December. Stay tuned!

    pyro71739895
    Joined: Sep 2020
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    Location: Blanchard, Oklahoma, United States
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    2025-11-21 23:01:07
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    OMG this is very exciting!  Thank you for adding this and getting it implemented.  I’ll definitely try out the beta when it comes out.  I tried to manually fade the lights with multiple lines reducing the brightness and when I ran it…. Might lights blew up on the Finale 3D simulation LOL.  I closed my computer and this is the first time I’ve started looking at it since.  I thought I’d try to troubleshoot it but I think I’ll wait for the beta.  I’m too old to figure out new tricks

    Thanks again!

    Lynda

    pyro71739895
    Joined: Sep 2020
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    Location: Blanchard, Oklahoma, United States
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    2026-02-27 03:05:43
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    Is there any documentation on how to use the dimming for the COBRA PAR 36 lights?  Is that even released?  I see dimmer for other things but not the COB….. stuff

     

    Chris ODell
    Joined: Jul 2024
    Posts: 3
    Location: Hornell, New York, United States
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    2026-04-22 22:15:09
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    👆 I am curious about The COB-P36 as well.

    Crispy Pyro
    Joined: Dec 2018
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    Location: Redmond, Washington, United States
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    2026-04-23 00:33:29
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    Hey, Chris. Just another user here, but I’ve been tinkering with the latest DMX functionality. While I’m not using the Cobra par light, the process should be the same.

     

    The documentation page says that fixture uses the same channel setup as EasyDancing 36x1W RGB Par Light. That’s # 005 in the fixture list within Finale. When you set up a position and select that, you’ll be prompted to create the standard effects. There are various fade/intensity effects that get created as part of that. One of those is fade as a “modifier”, meaning you pick a color (ex: Flash Red), stretch it out to the duration you want, and then add With Fade-In (Modifier, No Sim) or With Fade-Out (Modifier, No Sim) depending on the direction. Strobe works the same way.

     

    You’re going to want to install the latest Cobra firmware (8.0) if you’re going to do this. I think it’ll still work with earlier versions, but fades produce a LOT of events (one for each brightness step) if you’re not on 8.0 (make sure to select that in the script export as well).

     

    Hope this helps.

     

    Rich

    Chris ODell
    Joined: Jul 2024
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    Location: Hornell, New York, United States
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    2026-04-23 21:56:05
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    Hey Rich,

    Thanks for the info. I’ll play around with that and see if it works for me. I’m not worried about 8.0 and planned to use it anyway. I was a 7.2 Alpha user last 4th of July for the DMX upgrade and recently loaded to 6.9 for my Elevate show. 👍

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