How many people use full DMX?

[Corabar Entertainment]

Just curious to find out how many member use fully DMX controlled lighting as opposed to master & slave / sound to light, and why you use the option you do (whether it's ease/cost, etc)

[DJWilson]

I rarely use it but plan to use it throughout most of each gig I do in the near future.

[tc1ooo]

Full DMX for me.

[Excalibur]

Where's the option: "Not yet, but as long as somebody on here can tell me how to work the controller I just got, I soon will do " :confused:

[NKR]

I have been a combination of sound to light and master slave for the mean while.

Just getting the appropriate fixtures over the next few months and a lap top to go dmx. I think it will be well worth the hard work. It could be like pulling teeth with me, but I will learn - oh yes I will learn.

[Shaun]

50/50 for me. I mix between dmx pre-programmed shows and sound to light. I find this works well for me as it gives a lot of variation.

[Vectis]

Full DMX with daslight on a touch screen computer

[DJ Jules]

Partial DMX for a couple of fixtures with the remainder left on sound to light with CA-8 Controllers. I've been struggling to find the time to work out how to program full chases into the controller which has left me limited to chasing banks of 8 Scenes which doesn't allow for a lot of flexibility or variation. I mainly use DMX with a couple of LED wash fixtures where the control is useful for being able to change them to fade gently between colours for slow dances (or for halloween recently, flash murky reds, oranges, greens and purples).

One day I'll have time to bother, what else is Paternity leave for? :D

Julian

[Cj_The_Dj]

I only use master-slave as i like sound to light but wish i could use a simple contoller like the ca-8 for my martins.

[Jiggles]

CA-8 for the Dynas (Need to get them DMXed some time) and My Par cans run on MyDMX.

[Jonathan Ford]

I'm sound to light. I don't know much about DMX, and wouldn't be averse to learning more.

[Leicester Ben]

I have fluctuated between a lot of the options over the years.

When i first started I used to use sound to light. When I got my EVL set up however 4 spins and 4 scans I used to use the micro controller.

Lately I have been simply using Imposileds on S2L. I have been using full DMX on the LED Uplighters.

I bought a couple of Wizards earlier on today though so need to sit down and get those on DMX sometime this week, I am by no means an expert, hopefully I can figure it out!

[rob1963]

I voted for "Never tried DMX, Looks too complicated" which sums it up reasonably well.

In my situation, any DMX lighting would be an additional expense involving extra time and work...but would bring no worthwhile benefits.

I've got away without it for 25 years, so I can probably do so for 4 more!

[BeerFunk]

I think it is over-complicated Rob, not that it just looks over-complicated. It was never really intended to be used by Joe Bloggs though was it?

I also agree that it is unnecessary in almost all mobile disco situations, although I can see it being useful for colour co-ordinating at weddings, for example. Other than that, I don't think the general public bother too much, they just see flashing lights!

[WWDJ]

I voted for "Never tried DMX, Looks too complicated" which sums it up reasonably well.

In my situation, any DMX lighting would be an additional expense involving extra time and work...but would bring no worthwhile benefits.

I've got away without it for 25 years, so I can probably do so for 4 more!

It's nice have the addiitonal control to set the mood for a slow dance or strobing for 'rave' set that the touch of a button. I use a simple JC-1 controller and althogh i did program it myself, it was fairly easy.

If your lights respond how you want for a slow dance or you can set it how you want, then there is no need to bother ... but I feel (and I am a perfectionist .. apparently) that it adds to the overall presentation of my show. It's a small percentage though and i would guess only I consciously notice that the lights are under control.

I dont program the controller per gig, that would be way over the top, but it does give me the manual control to project a 'happy birthday' gobo on a wall, whilst have a slow fade on my LED pars to start and warm the evening. Something I like, but perhaps isn't 'that' important to anyone else.

[rob1963]

I think it is over-complicated Rob, not that it just looks over-complicated. It was never really intended to be used by Joe Bloggs though was it?

I also agree that it is unnecessary in almost all mobile disco situations, although I can see it being useful for colour co-ordinating at weddings, for example. Other than that, I don't think the general public bother too much, they just see flashing lights!

Spot on! :D


If your lights respond how you want for a slow dance or you can set it how you want

That's fine, but if you are able to have lights moving or flashing slowly for the first dance, who is going to know or care whether they're being DMX controlled or not?

Sorry if it sounds like I'm being negative, but I am a big believer in not over-complicating things, whether it's websites, terms & conditions, paperwork or lighting control!

[Jonathan Ford]

I voted for "Never tried DMX, Looks too complicated" which sums it up reasonably well.

In my situation, any DMX lighting would be an additional expense involving extra time and work...but would bring no worthwhile benefits.

I've got away without it for 25 years, so I can probably do so for 4 more!

+1

[Vectis]

I also agree that it is unnecessary in almost all mobile disco situations, although I can see it being useful for colour co-ordinating at weddings, for example. Other than that, I don't think the general public bother too much, they just see flashing lights!

I've had MANY compliments on just how good the lighting was at all types of function - I like to be a little theatrical in my use of lighting and DMX gives me the control that I desire. I now have several hundred programs/chases/call-them-what-you-will available at the touch of a button including a range of whole-rig effects used for first dances, breaks in the music etc..

[BeerFunk]

I've had MANY compliments on just how good the lighting was at all types of function - I like to be a little theatrical in my use of lighting and DMX gives me the control that I desire. I now have several hundred programs/chases/call-them-what-you-will available at the touch of a button including a range of whole-rig effects used for first dances, breaks in the music etc..Interesting. Also out of interest, has all the extra expense and time invested by you been converted to increased income?

[Vectis]

Interesting. Also out of interest, has all the extra expense and time invested by you been converted to increased income?

I'm happy with my level of bookings and I'm earning top dollar in my local market, and I've had people book me on the strength of having seen the show previously and who have specifically commented on the lighting. I've also had folks referred to me by a couple of local marquee firms etc. who have conceded that we can uplight better than they can :)

So I guess I'm answering in the affirmative :beer1:

[soundmaster mobile disco]

At the momment i have my stairville dmx master which i am just learning .

Id say its a good thing as it gives you so much more control compared to sound to light.

[Reminisce disco]

master-slave with CA-8 and sound to light for me at present.

[Tom]

Full DMX for me. Using Daslight makes programming such a dream to do. I like full control over my lighting. Don't get me wrong, some of the built in programs are not bad, light depending, but you can always get so much more out from DMX


Love it. :D:D:D