programming show on a computer

[chatterbox]

Can anybody suggest any desks that allow the shows to be programmed on a computer and then downloaded to the desk?

 

I am not talking top of the range (expensive) Hog, Avolites etc... more along the buggets of LSC, ETC etc.

 

Just need to be able to programme the show on a computer, and then download onto a desk for the actual performance.

 

I realise that extra softwawre would be required -

so if anyone can suggest (a) a desk and (b) which software... that would be appreciated..

 

The venue does not have moving lights - so the ability of the desk etc to do those is not a necessity.

 

Thanks

[AntonGildebrand]

Chamsys MagicQ is really cheap and are a great desk to work with.

[merlin24]

Can anybody suggest any desks that allow the shows to be programmed on a computer and then downloaded to the desk?

 

I am not talking top of the range (expensive) Hog, Avolites etc... more along the buggets of LSC, ETC etc.

 

Just need to be able to programme the show on a computer, and then download onto a desk for the actual performance.

 

I realise that extra softwawre would be required -

so if anyone can suggest (a) a desk and (b) which software... that would be appreciated..

 

The venue does not have moving lights - so the ability of the desk etc to do those is not a necessity.

 

Thanks

 

Have a look at Jands Vista. Works as PC or MAC only, for offline editing or show control, these can then in turn connect to a console via USB or there is also the range of standalone consoles as well. Jands Vista Website.

 

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch via the details below.

 

Regards

Andy

[pritch]

At the lower end of the market, the ETC Smartfade and Zero88 Jester desks spring to mind, both of which have OLEs that can be downloaded from the manufacturers' websites.

[chatterbox]

sorry - I should also add.....

 

The desk must be a stand alone desk - ie - able to be used without a computer by a walk-in walk-out tech or client.

 

It is just one of the resident theatre groups that want the facility to use a computer to write the shows and then download into the desk.

[Mr_Jules]

My experience with OLE versions of various lighting desk OS is that nothing comes close to actually having the rig in front of you. Sure you can throw a patch, some groups, subs or even basic states together, and you may even manage to plot an entire show before pulling your hair out with the sheer frustration of using a QWERTY keyboard instead of faders or actual designated function keys, but how much real time do you save? By the time you've tweaked your time through each state, you might as well have built them from scratch.

 

OLEs can be invaluable on the road, or once you've pulled a show from a desk for editing away from a desk, but I'd seriously question anyone who'd really want to start a show from scratch with one. - I know that I'm likely to face a barrage of comeback on this one, because I've met plenty of people who are more than happy to go down that route, but for me, nothing beats a desk and a lighting grid in front of you.

[Tomo]

All of the current ETC consoles have a freely-available OLE that can connect to a visualiser such as Capture Polar.

 

The SmartFade and SmartFade ML have SmartSoft, and there are offline/client version of Congo/Congo Jr and Eos/Ion.

 

I'm also a little confused by your budget, as High End, Avolites and ETC all make 'top-end' consoles with pricetags to match.

 

Do you mean 48 dimmers or so, maybe with some moving lights as well?

If that's the case you're probably looking for something like the SmartFade (no movers) or the SmartFade ML (if you will use moving lights)

[DonkiDonki]

There are plenty of desks that will do what you want, which one is best for you depends on your needs.

You say you only need generic control, how many channels?

 

Something like an ETC Ion, or a Zero88 Jester or Leapfrog perhaps? Again there are numerous models to suit various requirements.

 

(Tomo's post just popped up - I think were giving pretty much the same answer.)

 

All of these have offline editors available, the tricky part as Mr_Jules pointed out; is that it is very difficult to do anything really useful with an offline desk on it's own. You really need some form of visualisation to work with.

 

Again there are several options here too. At the more comprehensive (and expensive) end you have the likes of Martin Show Designer, Wysiwyg and ESP Vision. There are cheaper alternatives such as LightConverse & Capture Polar, and many more.

 

Capture Polar is very effective and cheap for live visuals, it will connect to most of the offline desks (and the real ones too), also Zero88 now do a bundle of LightConverse with some of their desks.

 

You could have a laptop with your theatre model and lighting rig setup in one of these visualisers, and you could hire (or lend, depending on how your operating) this out to any groups who want to program away from the theatre.

Once you have this kind of setup available it is very easy to play with diferent sets & lighting fixtures in the software which may help in proving concepts & ideas for future shows.

[Richard CSL]

I think you will find this will do the trick nicely and it is much easier to learn how to use than the chamsys magic Q. has a full visualiser, and the Gold version can be downloaded into the interface and cues operated from up down buttons, or 10 way switcher.

 

www.daslight.com

[pritch]

I think you will find this will do the trick nicely...

 

www.daslight.com

 

No it won't!

 

The desk must be a stand alone desk - ie - able to be used without a computer by a walk-in walk-out tech or client.

[dbuckley]

Might be easier to have a "normal" desk that everyone uyses, and suggest the resident theatre mob use a computer to run the shows from which they can have programmed at home, rather than the resident desk.

[chw]

Hi,

 

What do you want to control?

Are we talking about "many or much" Fixtures ;-)

 

 

In know for shure that you can preprogramm shows with

- MA GrandMA

- Zero88 LeapFrog Range and Jester

 

The GrandMA OnPC and the FrogX Software are linkable to a visualization software

for 3D animated preprogramming on the PC.

 

On both you can simulate a Desk and load the showfiles from the PC into the Desk and vice versa.

 

The MA PC Software can also be a "backup desk", with an optional Interface you got a DMX Signal

out of the PC.

 

If you use the "Lightconverse" Software for visualization (with the LeapFrog48/96) you can also "control"

the desk out of the visualization over Ethernet. E.g. moving Beams or changing colors.