Kenlite79 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Hi I'm hoping someone can help me to get more from my current light show. I'm using a small Martin Freekie controller with 4 Martin scx 500 scanners, 4 Martin Minimac profiles two Martin Acrobats and 1 Anytronics Megastar strobe. The problem I have is the Freekie can only run one bank at a time, the different groups of fixtures all have their own DMX address scanners on 01, Macs on 13 etc I can only run one group of light fixtures at a time, the controller has 12 show buttons which I've programmed but it runs through them shows one at a time not allowing you to cue any of the other light fixtures, Very Annoying!! I bought the controller before knowing much about programming and didn't realise how limited the Freekie was. Can anyone suggest a control desk that would run all my lights together without having to resort to computer software ( I dont fancy buying another laptop to run my light show, any suggestions would be very helpful thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 What is your budget? Is the physical size/weight of the desk important? Any must have features? Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete LD Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Ive not used a frekkie for ages but Im sure it can do what you want!. do you not just record all your lights in to each bank? thats what there for?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenlite79 Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 What is your budget? Is the physical size/weight of the desk important? Any must have features? Josh I know these things can be quite costly so I just want to see what's available at the moment, as for size I'm probably going to need something bigger to have the extra features I need to run different banks of lights at one time. The Freekie I'm using is 19" rack mountable and only 3u, so quite compact if there's anything similar or not too much bigger I'd be very interested I liked the idea of having a smoke button which my current controller does, I'm using the Jem magnum 2000 with DMX interface so I can instantly have smoke at a touch of a button (probably the only useful feature) but I assume other controllers can have smoke assigned to different butons. A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on. Ive not used a frekkie for ages but Im sure it can do what you want!. do you not just record all your lights in to each bank? thats what there for?! Hi Pete That's how I programmed it originally, scanners on bank 1, moving heads on bank 2 etc but as you can only run one bank at a time it meant I could only have one group of fixtures running at one time It would be nice to have the option of both scanners and macs together or maybe just have the acrobats running by themselves. I've set the controller now to run different fixtures on one bank e.g scans on show 1 - 4 macs on show 5 - 8 and acrobats 9 - 12 each bank I have programmed at different speeds, but still have the problem of only being able to run either scans, macs, or acrobats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Well. There are a multitude of consoles you could use. If I were you, I'd get a JesterML not the ML24, as I see that you don't have any generics the ML24 would be a waste of money. The ML is relatively small and lists at £999. I have used one for both theatre and busking and find it easy and flexible to use. Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenlite79 Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 Well. There are a multitude of consoles you could use. If I were you, I'd get a JesterML not the ML24, as I see that you don't have any generics the ML24 would be a waste of money. The ML is relatively small and lists at £999. I have used one for both theatre and busking and find it easy and flexible to use. Josh Thanks Josh I shall take a look at that now :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 There is an offline editor available here (bottom link under the software heading). Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geek3 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 have you though about using a pc based controller for the price there much more flexible. the open DMX are good. I am thinking about buying a two Velleman DMX 2 usb boxes to use along with my elation board. ( I am buying two so I can use on as and in to use my 48 ch board to control non-intel lighting). the Velleman boxs are about $70 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 without having to resort to computer software ( I dont fancy buying another laptop to run my light showIf you had read the O/P fully you would have realised that he didn't want a PC based solution. I could have recommended a PC based solution too but the O/P wanted a desk based solution. Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinE Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 why can't you put all the fixtures on the one bank? When you program a sequence, just hold down the 1st fixture group button (eg 1) and tap the fixture button of the last fixture group (eg 4) and any adjustments you make to the scene will affect fixture groups 1,2,3,4. That way they will all be included in the program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misterlight Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Have a look on ebay, see what you can find I would advise maybe a second hand avolites azure or hog500 they pop up quite often on there. If not and you do go the pc way go for Chamsys magic Q pc :D Have fun. :( ------------------------------------------------------------ James Dickson VLD +44 (0) 7988 708 483 james@visuallightingdesign.com www.visuallightingdesign.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Josh is bang on - the Jester ML does seem a lot more suited to your application and will certainly give you the freedom so obviously lacking with the Freekie when used with moving head / mirror fixtures. The inbuilt macros compensate somewhat for the lack of playback options, although the more adventurous programmer will hit a brick wall almost immediately. The Freekie could be used for any generics you may factor in to your shows in the future for simple chases and mood lighting, which the little desk does well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnhuson Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Whilst the Freekie is far from my favourite controller the problem the OP is having is not a problem with the controller per se, but the way it's being programmed. If you want a show to run all of your fixtures at the same time the you need to program scenes on each bank containing all your fixtures rather than a different fixture per bank as has been said by others. That said if you're really not comfortable with the desk there is no harm in changing it, but it's not worth spending money because you don't think it will do what you want as it does. If you're really set on changing some idea of budget and the type of shows your doing (I'm assuming disco from your post and equipment) before we can make any sensible suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 If you need any help or information on the Jester MLs, please don't hesitate to get in touch - they do sound like a great replacement for your Freekie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Yes, Peter, I suppose you *would* say that. Not at all biased, hmm? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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