Cheap and easy Light Controller Wanted!

[DiscoMagic]

Hi there I am looking for a cheap lighting controller doesn't matter what make / model / age but it needs to work and control all manner of lights!

Don't really know what else because this would be my first venture into DMX programming hence my somewhat vague requirements!

Also does any one know of a tutorial of how to program a specific light sequence to a specific song, or if indeed this is possible?

[Excalibur]

Here we go then, Visually challenged leading the Blind here:
Second part first, whatever you get, have a search on Youtube. Amazingly, there are a lot of helpful, logical and informative tutorials on there. Don't worry if the machine you get doesn'thave the same name as theirs, there are basic principles common to all. ( And a lot of controllers simply have a different badge on as well, with the same internals )

If you simply want to drive par cans, any of the small controllers should be fine, Chauvet Obey 3 or 4 for example.

For fixtures with more than four channels, you're into the bigger ones. Hope this helps a bit.

[deltic]

maybe a list of what you are wanting to control would be useful

[DiscoMagic]

Thanks for this info Peter.

I have had a look on YouTube and there are loads of tutorials on how to program controllers, I haven't found any of them that actually go the whole hog and tell you how to program and sequence a light show to a specific song.

Guess I'll keep on looking!

Deltic,

At the moment I only have DMX able pars and a MiracLED, but in time will be buying scanners and / or moving heads

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I haven't found any of them that actually go the whole hog and tell you how to program and sequence a light show to a specific song.


I don't think you will. Creating the sequences is where you have to use your own creativity and there would be nothing worse than watching a video of people pressing buttons for 30 minutes!!

[WWDJ]

If you want to program to specific song then generally you would use software such as Venue Magic to do this.

However if you just want lights to run 'to the beat' then you can use pretty much any DMX controller.

I use the Transcension JC-1, a small 64 channel controller. You can use it to control anything, although moving heads which have a lot of channels may demand something bigger if you want independant control of each unit. (A lot of people use mirroring on the unit so essentially the unit is doing the same, just a mirror image).

To give you some idea, I control 2 x EFX500 (mirrored), 2 x Lasers (mirrored) and 4 par can channels (independant) all from my controller and can control scenes, chases, speed etc.

[yourdj]

This one is the best I have found:

http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=35536&highlight=gwdmx

Software such as mydmx is also a good option.

[DiscoMagic]

I don't think you will. Creating the sequences is where you have to use your own creativity and there would be nothing worse than watching a video of people pressing buttons for 30 minutes!!


If you want to program to specific song then generally you would use software such as Venue Magic to do this.

However if you just want lights to run 'to the beat' then you can use pretty much any DMX controller.

I use the Transcension JC-1, a small 64 channel controller. You can use it to control anything, although moving heads which have a lot of channels may demand something bigger if you want independant control of each unit. (A lot of people use mirroring on the unit so essentially the unit is doing the same, just a mirror image).

To give you some idea, I control 2 x EFX500 (mirrored), 2 x Lasers (mirrored) and 4 par can channels (independant) all from my controller and can control scenes, chases, speed etc.

So are you saying that its impossible to do this.

Say for example I playout sandstorm, I starts with a crescendo; ie. music get louder and then reaches a climax of musical patterns of notes and beats. What I would want to do it program a DMX sequence with Pars slowly fading in, and scanners moving up, and it reaches the climax for everything to mental but still in time to the beats of the music. Can I do this with a traditional contoller

Looked at a DMX software solution and have yet to find that works with mac's :(

[Jiggles]

So are you saying that its impossible to do this.

Say for example I playout sandstorm, I starts with a crescendo; ie. music get louder and then reaches a climax of musical patterns of notes and beats. What I would want to do it program a DMX sequence with Pars slowly fading in, and scanners moving up, and it reaches the climax for everything to mental but still in time to the beats of the music. Can I do this with a traditional contoller


Far from it! You need to make up scenes etc then the as the music is playing change the scenes as the music changes etc. Thats how its done in the concert world!

You need something like MyDMX or that one from Greenwhich. Then as as above press the right ones at the right time. Nothing really will do it automatically.

[DiscoMagic]

[You need something like MyDMX or that one from Greenwhich. Then as as above press the right ones at the right time. Nothing really will do it automatically.

THanks - but this doesn't work with apple macs - does it? is there any software that does?

[Jiggles]

THanks - but this doesn't work with apple macs - does it? is there any software that does?

Nope sadly. :(

There is very little in the way of DMX control for macs. Best installing like Virtual box and Windoz or Crossover and using that.

[yourdj]

THanks - but this doesn't work with apple macs - does it? is there any software that does?


Nope sadly. :(

There is very little in the way of DMX control for macs. Best installing like Virtual box and Windoz or Crossover and using that.

Watch my video and then you will see I am using an mac on VMWARE fusion. Youcan also use boot camp. :)

All the good DMX software is on windows unfortunately.

GWDMX DMX LIGHTING CONTROLLER - DJ MOBILE DISCO CA8 - GREENWICH INSTRUMENTS - YouTube

[Jiggles]

Watch my video and then you will see I am using an mac on VMWARE fusion. Youcan also use boot camp. :)

All the good DMX software is on windows unfortunately.

GWDMX DMX LIGHTING CONTROLLER - DJ MOBILE DISCO CA8 - GREENWICH INSTRUMENTS - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLM_LSo8jqQ)

I say virtual box as it's 100% free. :D

[DJDC]

If you want a DMX controller My mate sells them for £45 on a popular auctio site

[yourdj]

I say virtual box as it's 100% free. :D

Never heard of that, but if its free and works then great.

You will not need it live so as long as it functions when programing the remote then great

[deltic]

THanks - but this doesn't work with apple macs - does it? is there any software that does?

speaking to the guys from grenwich at bpm they are working on a mac version ,which should be around end of november.

best thing if you are interested give them a call.

[flatliners]

Q light control will work on mac i think

[Silver]

So are you saying that its impossible to do this.

Say for example I playout sandstorm, I starts with a crescendo; ie. music get louder and then reaches a climax of musical patterns of notes and beats. What I would want to do it program a DMX sequence with Pars slowly fading in, and scanners moving up, and it reaches the climax for everything to mental but still in time to the beats of the music. Can I do this with a traditional contoller

Looked at a DMX software solution and have yet to find that works with mac's :(

To do that there is only one package that will do it for you, as has been mentioned before ... Venuemagic.

Is this the type of thing you are looking for ... :D 2010 Lighting Rig - Video

You have to sit through the ads, sorry.