An effects automation system for generating control data for the control of effects devices, based on the relative position of a mobile target. The system uses stationary receivers and stationary transmitter tags coupled to the stationary receivers and a mobile transmitter tag coupled to the mobile target. The stationary receivers receive signals received from the stationary and mobile transmitter tags and then send data based on these signals to a processing hub. The processing hub uses this data to determine the relative distance between the stationary receivers and the relative distance between the mobile target and the stationary receivers. Based on these relative distances, relative position values for the effect devices are calculated by calculating the proportion of the distance between the stationary receivers associated with the position of the mobile target. Finally, the relative position values are utilized to generate the control data for control of the effects devices.