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How to Use Vary Rig Speed in Flair

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The Vary Rig Speed feature allows an operator to run a move and vary the entire move's speed in real time using a hand controller (such as an MRMC mimic focus controller). The resulting speed-varied move is recorded in Mimic and can be saved and replayed as needed.

Version requirement

Vary Rig Speed was tested with Flair Classic 6.47 (March 2021). The feature is also supported in Flair 7. Check your version of Flair/Flair Classic for functionality before relying on it.

Requirements:

  • An RT-type rootbox connected to Flair
  • A manual encoder (such as an MRMC mimic focus controller pot) connected to the RT rootbox via the appropriate cable

Step 1 — flair.ini prerequisite

The flair.ini file must contain the following line:

*CamInternal:    TRUE

Boot Flair as normal and programme the move to be vary-speeded before proceeding.

Know your speed limits

Be aware of the maximum FPS required by the move and ensure the rig can safely achieve it. Increase speed cautiously — the move may become jerky or unstable at higher speeds.

Step 2 — Set base FPS

Set the FPS to the base speed for the hero move (e.g. 25 fps). This is the speed the move will run at when the hand controller is at its zero position.

Step 3 — Connect and test the hand controller

  1. Plug the hand controller into the Mimic 1 slot on the RT14 (or appropriate slot).
  2. Go to Set Ups > Test Mimic Inputs and confirm the controller is detected. Note which controller number it is assigned to (e.g. RT Mimic 1).

Step 4 — Configure Camera Axis Setup

  1. Go to Set Ups > Camera Axis Setup.
  2. Click on Controller and select the controller confirmed in Step 3 (e.g. RT Mimic 1).
  3. Right-click on the Handwheel Scaling box to open the scaling menu.
  4. Click Calculate Ramp.

A new window appears with input fields:

  1. Move the hand controller to one end of its travel. Click the Zero box to zero it at that end.
  2. Move the controller to the other end and note the number shown in the Lines window.

  3. Type this number into the Encoder Lines field (e.g. 2465).

    Negative lines value

    Encoder Lines can only be entered as a positive number. If the lines shown are negative, re-zero the controller at the opposite end of its range.

  4. Type the desired Ramp Range figure into the Ramp Range field (e.g. 50). This is the maximum speed range from the zero position. Example: if the base speed is 25 fps and the Ramp Range is 50, the controller range will be 0–50 fps (with 25 fps at the zero/centre position, if zeroed in the middle of travel).

  5. Zero the hand controller at the desired base speed position. Mark this position on the controller as the base speed reference.

  6. Click Calculate. A scale value is generated and filled into the scale window (e.g. 20.284).

  7. Move the hand controller to check: the Speed window will show the fps reading as the controller moves. Mark the controller with additional speed reference points as needed.

  8. Click Exit to close the Ramp window, then click Apply in the Camera Axis window.

Step 5 — Configure Job Type for Varies speed

  1. Go to Job Type.
  2. Set Camera Speed to Varies.
  3. Press Apply and exit the Job Type window.

Step 6 — Enable Mimic on the Camera Axis

  1. Go to Mimic > Axes to Mimic.
  2. Set the Camera axis to ON.
  3. Click Apply and exit the Mimic window.

Step 7 — Running the move and recording

  1. Set the hand controller to the desired start FPS position.
  2. Put the move into Mimic Learn mode.
  3. When prompted, accept YES to overwrite previous learned data.
  4. Press Shoot and vary the speed as required using the hand controller.
  5. The greyed-out CAM FPS box at the bottom of the screen will show the current speed of the rig in fps as you move the controller. Note: this display only changes when Shoot is clicked — otherwise it shows the base speed.
  6. After the move runs, the take can be saved as normal.
  7. Reset the hand controller to the start position before each subsequent take.

Step 8 — Returning to fixed hero speed

To run the move at the original base speed (not vary-speeded):

Go to Job Type > Camera Speed and set it to Fixed.

Exporting the camera ramp

The recorded speed ramp can be exported as a text file:

  1. Calculate the chosen take.
  2. Go to File > Camera Ramp > Export Camera Ramp.
  3. Save to the desktop (or other location) and label with the take number.

Known limitations

Running in reverse:

The vary speed can be configured to run the move in reverse by setting the zero position and range to a negative fps. However, this cannot be recorded — playback will simply stop when fps reaches 0.00. Reverse vary speed can only be used live with caution.

Controller direction:

The direction of the hand controller cannot be reversed in software — it will only move in its physical direction. Mark the controller clearly with + and – ends to avoid confusion on set.

Source: How to use 'Vary Rig Speed' in Flair — talk.mrmoco.com