DMX controller Recommendations

[Larrythefrog]

Hey all,

So this is my first time posting. I'm actually a bit new to Lighting as well. I work at a Music venue that has 8 moving lights, about 30 par cans and some led wash pallets. Right now we are using an old DMX controller program called LCedit+ mad by Lanbox. This program makes it hard to run live shows so we are going for an upgrade. we have about 2000-3000 USD to spend on a controller. I was looking at Jands Vista but am not sure if I would be the best. I have seen most other controllers websites but unless I have one infront of me, it dosen't really help. Any advice?

Thanks

Dave

[Pattern123]

For live music on a budget it's hard to beat the Pulsar masterpiece, whilst it is somewhat 'eclectic' in it's operation (I'm sure plenty of comment will follow) it does allow for an amazing quantity of chases & functions to run concurrently, you really do have 'hands on' control of everything.

Pulsar Masterpiece Info

[david.elsbury]

Your link is broken. Again.

 

Also- is the Masterpiece still being manufactured ?

[tommulliner]

We have just, at school, had an ETC SmartFade ML 2448. Its a nice desk to use. im not sure about the price of it so I cant help you there. Just a thought. I know it has had some good reviews.

Good luck in your search.

Tom.

[Andrew C]

For live music on a budget it's hard to beat the Pulsar masterpiece,

I would beat the person giving me a Mantlepiece over the head with it if I was doing LIVE music. Fine for playing back presets in a disco.

 

What is the second hand market like near you? I'd bet you could get a Pearl in some form for 3$k. You can in £ at any rate.

[themadhippy]

How about given the chamsys stuff a look,don't know if the lan box will talk to it, but a decent fader bank with 2 universes of DMX is around your budget

[Richard CSL]

I would strongly recomend the DASLIGHT DVC2 dongle with a computer , it´s modern, very easy to use, you can make a simple screen for non programming mode for other OP´s.

 

 

You can create new shows at home thun upload them at the venue.

And for the amount of lighting you have is it worth spending thousands of dollars, surely the extra money would be better spent on more lighting, maybe lasers as it´s a live music venue.

 

oh did I mention it´s cheap. only 350 pounds approx 500 dollars.

and you can download and try before you buy.

 

www.daslight.com

[back_ache]

How about given the chamsys stuff a look,don't know if the lan box will talk to it,

 

The lanbox won't talk to anything, it's basically a console without a interface that uses a pc or mac to program it.

 

so its all about a queue based show and no use for the busking or sound to light you want in a nightclub

[smalljoshua]

I'll second themadhippy's suggestion of Chamsys MagicQ. It is very powerful, versatile software that is very quick and easy to pickup and use. You can get PC Wings in various sizes that allow you to use the hands on approach required for busking. You can also upgrade to a console when budget allows and not have to re-program anything.

 

http://www.chamsys.co.uk/

 

Please note, I'm not anything to do with the company, just a very satisfied user of their software.

 

Josh

[dbuckley]

I'd actually start by asking on the Lanbox forum for what the people there suggest.

 

Lanbbox is a powerful control system, and all you might need is a better human interface than a PC keyboard.

[Tomo]

SmartFade ML as mentioned earlier should easily fit in your budget.

 

It supports 48 dimmers plus 24 moving lights across 2 universes so you've got space for some expansion if you get more dimmers or intelligent fixtures down the line.

 

As a 'physical' console with real faders, Direct Selects and encoders, it's considerably more buskable than any wholly PC-based solution.

 

The link above has a PC and Mac-based simulator and console expansion application called SmartSoft that you can download and try out for free.

[Cooper]

For live music on a budget it's hard to beat the Pulsar masterpiece,

I would beat the person giving me a Mantlepiece over the head with it if I was doing LIVE music.

 

Agreed. Every man and his dog seems to have a story of how a masterpiece caused them some considerable displeasure. (Surely it deserves the name disasterpiece?)

 

Second vote on the Avolites Pearl though, large userbase, hands on approach to programing and easy to busk with make it a very popular console in Britain.

[Larrythefrog]

Alright so I looked at most of the Smartfade online videos. I like the hands on interface but I'm thinking it will be hard to sync Rock shows or Disco dances. I think it would be hard visualize everything with out a computer screen. although I am new to this so I could be wrong. what are your thoughts.

[Pattern123]

The masterpiece is, as I said, somewhat eclectic in its operation, however - if you use it a lot and get used to it, it's a very powerful controller - I've seen some amazing shows out of one. Could I use one myself? No. Would I rather have a Pearl? Yes, of course, but they aren't really in the same price bracket, are they? The masterpiece reminds me in some ways of the Qcommander, I used to know that desk backwards and could use it very easily, but I didn't know anyone else who could, and everyone else used to hate it, but it was a good desk for the money.

 

Not sure the Smartfade ML would be much good for live music, not enough instant access assignable buttons and/or faders.