American dj MY DMX

[super-hero]

I am looking to buy a pc based dmx control system, and was looking at the offering from American DJ.
Does anyone on here use this software and dongle, and if so, how do you rate it.

Are there any others I should be looking at.

I don't need anything too fantastic, I am just looking to create a few scenes for parcans and half a dozen other lights.

Thanks.

[Djanddisco]

I've used mydmx and it's very easy to use but limited in ways. I use the £10 chamsys dongle, there's a bit of a learning curve but it can do a lot more than the mydmx and a hell of a lot cheaper!

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I've used mydmx and it's very easy to use but limited in ways. I use the £10 chamsys dongle, there's a bit of a learning curve but it can do a lot more than the mydmx and a hell of a lot cheaper!

edit: I've found the dongle.

Can you only use their software or can you use other stuff?

[Djanddisco]

edit: I've found the dongle.

Can you only use their software or can you use other stuff?

You can only use their software (but it's free).
http://chamsys.co.uk/magicdmx

[DazzyD]

Looks like a bargain. However, I've looked at the personality library and the two fixtures I want to control the most - my Impossibled and my ADJ QuadScan are not listed. Do you know if these profiles have been created and can be installed? If not, how easy would it be to create profiles for these two fixtures? Bearing in mind I'm a complete DMX novice!

I did try the ADJ MyDMX software and it looked quite simple but, as you said, the dongle price was quite high and I'd read a couple of poor reviews so I held off. This Chamsys device could be just what I'm looking for.

[Djanddisco]

Best thing to do is just download the software and have a play, am sure if you've got the manuals for the fixtures you should be able to create the profiles.
Some good tutorials here too: http://www.onstagelighting.co.uk/training-tutorials/magicq-tutorial-getting-started/

[Djanddisco]

One thing I should mention, the £10 one shuts down after 6 hours (which is fine for most functions anyway) but I usually reset it during the buffet to avoid any issues. The full version is £60 an that's unlimited but you will need a 5-3pin adapter.

[Jiggles]

email the guys at Chamsys with the user manual and they will more than happily make you a personality. To be fair Magic Q is like using a ride on lawnmower for a 5m sqr patch of grass! Over kill. The software can output over 12 universes of DMX via Art-Net... (Thats a heck of a lot of parcans.) The normal DJ 1 universe is far more than enough. The new V2 myDMX looks pretty good though. download the softwares and give them ago. Take a look at the Stairville Joker from Thomann. (http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_dmx_joker_512usbdmx_box.htm) I have download of the software if anyone wanted a look at it.

[teenypops]

This may sound very much a noddy question and excuse my ignorance, but what does this sort of control allow you to do?

I currently use sound to light with most of my lights, some with master slave connections.

Does DMXing my lights still give me the sound to light options?

[Djanddisco]

This may sound very much a noddy question and excuse my ignorance, but what does this sort of control allow you to do?

I currently use sound to light with most of my lights, some with master slave connections.

Does DMXing my lights still give me the sound to light options?

Some do! The chamsys one requires the purchase of a wing to use sound to light and they're not cheap. I find if I just shut the programme the lights start in sound to light anyway.

[teenypops]

Some do! The chamsys one requires the purchase of a wing to use sound to light and they're not cheap. I find if I just shut the programme the lights start in sound to light anyway.

What's the benefit then? is it more for controlling pars? I just don't get the benefits for general disco use, am I missing something :daft:

[Djanddisco]

What's the benefit then? is it more for controlling pars? I just don't get the benefits for general disco use, am I missing something :daft:

I have different scenes programmed for different parts of the night, eg white circles scanning slowly round the Dancefloor for the first dance.

[super-hero]

I am looking at doing just that. Creating scenes for different parts of the night. You could just have your uplighters on during a meal, then add slow moving lights for a first dance. You could have scenes that strobe, control a laser, etc.
At the moment I am mostly sound to light, with the addition of a few remotely controlled fixtures, but I would like to get more into dmx, and using a standard controller it's hard to remember all the scenes you have set.

[DazzyD]

email the guys at Chamsys with the user manual and they will more than happily make you a personality. ...

Callum, that was superb advice and the service I got from Chamsys was absolutely fantastic. I emailed them on their generic support email address as daft o'clock on Saturday morning (was having trouble sleeping!). I got a reply back this morning from Jonluc who said if I sent across the manuals he'd do the personalities for me. So I did and not long after got a full set of profiles for both lights! Now that's what I call service!

I've ordered the basic dongle yesterday so I'm looking forward to having a play around it with. I've got until next weekend to create a few routines for a show we're doing so I hope I pick it up quickly!!

[Jiggles]

Callum, that was superb advice and the service I got from Chamsys was absolutely fantastic. I emailed them on their generic support email address as daft o'clock on Saturday morning (was having trouble sleeping!). I got a reply back this morning from Jonluc who said if I sent across the manuals he'd do the personalities for me. So I did and not long after got a full set of profiles for both lights! Now that's what I call service!

I've ordered the basic dongle yesterday so I'm looking forward to having a play around it with. I've got until next weekend to create a few routines for a show we're doing so I hope I pick it up quickly!!

These guys know what they are doing and the service people need from them. Unlike most DJ brands they know everything about there product and how to help you in every way. No use when you are in the middle of a field and your lighting desks has went boobs up and theres no help as they don't know what the issue is. Although you do pay for it. :p After the £60 box the next product up will set you back ~£700 with there topend desks sitting at about £10,000 to £20,000.

Also if you get reallllly stuck phone them and they will walk you though it. They offer free training if you wanted too at their offices. That goes along with all pro lighting desks. ETC, Zero88 (My favourite desks), MA Lighting, High End and there Hog desks...