Upgrading to S6: Truth or Myth?

Upgrading to S6: Truth or Myth?

S6 builds on the S5 Sequencer's combination of the Pixel Editor, Sequence Editor and Visualizer, and this time focuses on the integration of the Show Editor, Schedule Editor, Network Preferences, SD Card Builder, and Test Lights Function. A new program called the "Control Panel" combines these previously separate programs and replaces the "Hub" application that was first introduced in the last versions of S4. The Sequencer and Superstar have remained largely the same between S5 and S6.

No sequence upgrade process is required to continue using your sequences from S5 - simply open your .loredit files and continue your work.

S6 provides significantly improved scheduling, testing, SD Card building, and computer show playback experiences through the Control Panel, and introduces multiple new sequencing features and Motion Effects in the Sequencer.

S6 also introduces the free companion smart phone app, available in both the Google and Apple Play Store. This app allows you to access the new control panel program while it's active on your computer so that you can make schedule changes and test your lights all from your phone.

What Can You Expect When Upgrading To S6?

Click on a statement to find out if it is TRUE or FALSE!

  "I don't use pixels, so there's no reason for me to upgrade to S6"

FALSE!

S5 and S6 weren't created just for pixel users. There are countless new features in S6 that benefit customers with only traditional lights as well, such as:

  • Updated Show Builder/Scheduler/SD Card Creator
  • Ability to make live changes to your playback schedule without disabling your show
  • Mobile app for testing lights/changing show playback
  • Introduction of the Preview - make ID/Channel changes in ONE place instead of every sequence
  • New sequencing features for traditional lights, like flip horizontal/vertical, modifying intensity/fade intensities in bulk instead of individually, and easier modification of foreground/background effects
  • Ability to include the same prop in multiple groups in the same sequencing view - no need for multiple tracks (unless you want them)
  • Sort by color feature. Add all your traditional props to a Whole House group, and sort/group by traditional light color in two easy clicks.
  • Improved "Chase" functions for traditional lights
  • Ability to use Motion Effects for traditional props - just put your whole house in a group and you can chase back/forth or up/down with one effect; standard chases with everything arranged in the right order are no longer necessary
  • And More!

  "If I upgrade to S6, I will lose all of my past sequences and have to re-create them all from scratch."

FALSE!

There is an easy upgrade feature in S6. Start by importing your S4 Visualizer, or S2/S3 Animator File, or create your new S6 Preview if you don't have either of these files.

Once your Preview is imported/created, you can seamlessly convert your S2/S3/S4 sequences in less than 30 seconds each. No loss of your hard work and effects.

  "The transition from S4 to S5 was complicated, so S5 to S6 is going to be complicated too."

FALSE!

The major change from S5 to S6 was the LOR Control Panel, which combined Network Preferences, the Show Scheduler, Schedule Editor, Show Playback (Old Control Panel) Hub, and Test Lights into one easy program. Scheduling and modifying your playlist live is now much easier as well, and doesn't require disabling your show to make changes while the show is running.

PLUS, you can take advantage of the new test lights and playback features from our mobile app, available for both Android and Apple products.

The only differences in the Preview Editor and Sequencer are new features and effects; the general layout looks the same compared to S5. You don't even have to "convert" any sequences. Just open your .loredit files and keep working.

  "Once I convert my S4/S3/S2 files to S6, they'll get deleted or overwritten, so I can't go back to S4 even if I want to."

FALSE!

When an .lms file is "opened" in S6, a duplicate copy is actually created in .loredit file format (the new extension for sequences in S5 and S6). Your original .lms files will remain completely intact and unedited. The only way they'll get deleted is if YOU delete them.

If you REALLY don't like S6 (but we think you will), just uninstall S6 and redownload S2/S3/S4. All of your .lms files will still be there for you to use.

  "I have to have a "Preview" in order to use my sequences in S6."

TRUE!

The "Preview" in S5 and S6 stores all of the information about your layout, including your prop's Unit IDs and Channel Assignments. If you have one Preview for the season for your home (very common), you will tell all of your sequences for that year to use that same ID/channel reference ("Preview").

In S2/S3/S4, this Network/ID/channel information would have to be updated in EVERY sequence individually if you wanted to make a change. In S6, you make a channel change in ONE spot (the "Preview"), and every associated sequence automatically gets the update.

If you don't want to draw out all of your props on your house, just use the Quick Preview option and use placeholder "star shapes" to represent all your props.

  "I bought my controllers 10 years ago, so they won't work with S6."

FALSE!

Controllers and Directors may have version numbers, but they aren't related to software versions. A controller purchased 10 years ago that worked in S3 will still work in S6.

Sometimes to use a new feature, you might just have to download updated firmware from our website for your controller. In the rare times that this is the case, we make sure to add that information to the product page in the store.

The only exceptions are the long-discontinued Dasher, X10, and Digital IO products; configuration support was removed for these products starting in S5.

  "I'm on S2/S3/S4. The layout of the Sequencer is going to look different in S6."

TRUE!

The big change of S5 (still used in S6) is the layout of the Sequencer and the sequencing experience. Your familiar buttons from S4 are still there, they might just not be next to the buttons they were next to in S4.

We have over a dozen short tutorials about the "Sequencer" that will help you understand the new locations, and how re-arranging the buttons helped us provide you with a faster sequencing experience with more features/shortcuts for both traditional and pixel lights!

  "I'm on S2, which means I have to pay the $29.95 upgrade price for every version between S2 and S6."

FALSE!

The $29.95 software upgrade cost jumps you to the latest version, no matter what that version is. If you're on S2 and want to use S6, it's still only $29.95, not $29.95 x S3, S4, S5, and S6.

These small software fees help us keep two full time developers employed and working on software features and providing help desk/phone support year round. Thank you for your support of our team!

  "Converting S4 sequences to S5 format was complicated, and it's still that way in S6."

TRUE/FALSE!

In the very first versions of S5 (2017/2018), the process to convert S4 sequences was a little bit complex!

With the help of customer feedback and ideas, this process was completely changed and simplified in later versions of S5, and is still used today in S6.