Yes, I have been using Finale DB and it has been a big help in finding many cakes I have. I like your suggestion and will give that a try.   Thanks for the thorough and very timely response.   Take care,   Mike

Hi Arick, for the Pyro Boot Camp shows at Elevate, each module was restricted to a position (no module sharing), this is why no scab wire was needed. The reason shows worked out was because each team had more than enough modules for the amount of fireworks provided.   If you prefer not to use scab wire for your show, then taking the same approach (restricting modules to positions) is the way to go.   Without running wires from position to position, the number of modules is based on the number of events at each position and the number of e-matches you allow on each pin (i.e., “cue”).   The reason your show currently requires 10 modules is a function of the amount of fireworks you have at each position. If you have 8 position with fireworks at every position, that would require a minimum of 8 modules (1 per position). If a couple of your positions have more than 18 items firing at different times, then those positions require a second module, and that’s how you go from 8 to 10 modules. You can conserve cues by allowing multiple e-matches on a pin, but that only helps when multiple items are firing at the same time from the same position. If there are more than 18 different firing times at a position, then the position will need a second module. There’s no other option.   To more easily see what you have at each position, try enabling the module and pin count options in Show > Show settings. These will append counts directly to the position names in the main Design window. Instructions here: https://finale3d.com/documentation/pin-counts   Bottom line, if you have 8 positions and 8 Cobra modules, you can’t have more than 18 cues (unique event times) at a position or you will need more modules.

Hey Mike, welcome to the Finale 3D community!   If you haven’t already, be sure to look for your cakes on Finale DB, and submit requests for any you can’t find.   While you’re waiting for your sims, creating basic “placeholder” effects will let you continue working on your show right away. Here are the steps:   On the main menu bar in Finale 3D, go to Effects > Create effect or press Ctrl+G on your keyboard In the “Visual description (full VDL)” field, enter the tube size (or best guess), duration, number of shots, then the words Placeholder Cake, and finally the firing pattern (Fan, Z-Shape, V-Shape, W-Shape or nothing for straight-up). For  example: 25mm 20s 42 Shot Placeholder Cake Z-Shape. The word “Placeholder” produces multi-color peonies. Enter the Part Number for your cake For the “Add to this collection” option, choose My Effects In the “Optional inputs” section, enter the name of your cake in the Name for the effect box. Click Enter to create the new placeholder cake IMPORTANT: After updating products, go to File > Sync with network to save the changes to your My Effects. If Finale 3D closes without syncing, any changes you made to your My Effects collection will be lost.   Following these steps, you should be able to create a basic placeholder simulation for each cake in a minute or less.

Hello All,   I’m very new to Finale 3D. I have 6 consumer cakes that I do not have Effect Sims for. I would like to create a place holder in the show for these cakes, but cannot figure out the best way to do this. My thought was to have a blank effect that I can adjust the pre fire, duration time and name to reference and assign a cue/pin to. Thoughts on the best way to do this?

When I was at Elevate in Indiana this year, I enrolled in boot camp and we did a show with 73 fireworks and 3-4 quick plug modules I believe. The reason I bring this up is that we had no scab wiring. It was all just put the wires in the cues. How that method was achieved was not taught to us in the 3 hour show design process. We had 3 positions for our boot camp show with a module at each. I’d love for it to be like that. Simplified.   But on my show I’m working on now when I address it with “positions” it is constantly showing that I am needing 10 modules and I don’t understand why. What I have sent is not completed and I still have a good number of fireworks I have ordered to enter into my script but have been waiting for simulations to complete my show. My worry is that when Im done with designing my script, is it going to say I need more than 10 modules to wire this show up simply? I just want it streamlined and simplified as much as possible as the individuals who are helping me set it up are amateurs at best knowing even less than I currently do. I know I can’t afford any more modules so my question is I guess, is the show I’ve designed this far have to many fireworks in it for the amount of modules I have in my possession?  And if not, can you show me how you would do it if you were doing it? I’m stuck without a clue on what to do. The city where I live hired me to put this on and I’m starting to feel the pressure of it not displaying correctly with my current understanding of finale 3d.  

NeilFinale do you have a good flying fish effect you could share with Pirojor Fireworks Design?

Hi Arick, thanks for posting, you’re in the right place!   The Address Show dialog is broken down into three parts. The first part is the firing system selection, which I think you’ve pretty much got under control. The second part is the order of assignment for addresses. This is where you tell Finale 3D the order in which it should assign rail (i.e., module) and pin (i.e., cue) numbers to the fireworks in your show. Making the right choices here can be a huge factor in optimizing your show setup, but when it comes to how many modules are needed, the third part of the Address Show dialog is the place to focus our attention.   I see your show has 8 positions. You mentioned you have 8 modules. How would you like the modules laid out across your positions? For example, would you like to have 1 module per position, or would you like some modules to be shared between positions?   You did a great job of setting up sections, but then you said the results weren’t good on account of the scab wiring that would be required. A “section” is something you configure in Finale 3D to allow a module to be shared between two or more positions. But if you don’t plan to use slats or scab wire, then module sharing really isn’t possible, and modules should be restricted to each position.   Tell us a bit more about how you’d like the addressing done, or even how you would do it in CSC, and we can help you achieve a great end result in Finale 3D.

I only see my pending requests when I click the link. You might have to attach a screen shot of your list.

https://finaledb.finalefireworks.com/my-requests?tab=products

https://finaledb.finalefireworks.com/my-requests