Dave Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Can anyone suggest a suitable desk to control 8 LED pars? The pars have separate DMX parameters for RGB and overall brightness - we're looking to be able to control each can separately so I'd like something that has 8 faders for the brightness and some sort of recallable memory for the colours. I haven't seen anything suitable - it's for a client with limited means so I'm really looking for a chinese el-cheapo one. I've had a look at a few of the budget moving light desks and they don't seem to be able to do what I'm looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musht Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 THe search continues... At the very basic end, all channels same, ADJ LED controller http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR287587 Could drop the overall brightness channel and creatively patch to 24 channels , LC2412 etc. Inclusion of joystick makes me wince but it has the channel capacity at sub 300 quid http://www.thomann.de/gb/elation_magic_260.htm Some of the architectural controllers have the capacity but usually just few preprogammable scenes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 The first one is no good as it can't control multiple fixtures independently. Not sure about the second one as no faders. I've thought about maybe using a Scenesetter 48. Any idea what these are like to program in wide mode? The manual isn't exactly written in the queen's english! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_the_LD Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Can you not use a PC based control solution with some software such as Freestyler or Magic Q? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 I can, but my clients can't :) (even if they could afford it). I've just come across a new product from some anonymous chinese factory Highlite/Showtec: http://www.highlite.nl/var/StorageHighlite/ProduktBilder/50717_detail1.jpg http://www.highlite.nl/index.php/highlite/...s/led_commander It's specifically designed to drive up to 8 lots of LED pars and looks like it would be very simple to operate. Something with direct control of intensities would be better, but we might have to compromise on that. Not sure if it's out yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
back_ache Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 It's specifically designed to drive up to 8 lots of LED pars and looks like it would be very simple to operate. Something with direct control of intensities would be better, but we might have to compromise on that. Not sure if it's out yet. It looks good, I got excited when I saw it has a USB port but alas they say it is just for a LED light Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidRay Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 At the moment we are using a cheap controller from Thomann which, I think, may fit the bill. http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_dmxmaster_i.htm It's not ideal, but without 24 physical faders you are obviously not going to get direct control over 8 lots of RGB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 At the moment we are using a cheap controller from Thomann which, I think, may fit the bill. http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_dmxmaster_i.htm It's not ideal, but without 24 physical faders you are obviously not going to get direct control over 8 lots of RGB.That's a typical chinese-made budget ML desk available under several badges. I've looked at a few of these things. Tell me, since you've got one, can you, whilst a scene is being replayed, select some fixtures and change parameters? I think you can, and I think it uses a level match system - the parameter fader doesn't become "live" until it's at the level that is currently being output. Then the fader overrides the stored parameter. But the manual is anything but clear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_the_LD Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I can, but my clients can't ;) (even if they could afford it).Can I ask why they can't use it? Something like freesstyler is very easy to use and would give you direct control over every channel on every LED parcan - you could also set up groups to call up all the PARs at the same time. It also has RGB chases and the like already in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musht Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Because a computer takes time to boot, its not a flick the switch and make the lights come on experience. Its also a computer with all the temptations even if not net connected that comes with it, someone will try and load COD2 or something on it.Trust me , they`ll even bring in an optical drive to do it if they have to..... Showtec LED Commander looks ideal for these sort of applications, if and when its available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 I can, but my clients can't :P (even if they could afford it).Can I ask why they can't use it? Something like freesstyler is very easy to use and would give you direct control over every channel on every LED parcan - you could also set up groups to call up all the PARs at the same time. It also has RGB chases and the like already in it.Musht's comments were sensible and perfectly valid, but the primary reason in this situation was the complexity - I'm not sure they would be up to programming a PC-based controller. Cost is also a factor - a budget desk for £100 or so is a lot cheaper than a computer and DMX dongle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidRay Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 At the moment we are using a cheap controller from Thomann which, I think, may fit the bill. http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_dmxmaster_i.htm It's not ideal, but without 24 physical faders you are obviously not going to get direct control over 8 lots of RGB.That's a typical chinese-made budget ML desk available under several badges. I've looked at a few of these things. Tell me, since you've got one, can you, whilst a scene is being replayed, select some fixtures and change parameters? I think you can, and I think it uses a level match system - the parameter fader doesn't become "live" until it's at the level that is currently being output. Then the fader overrides the stored parameter. But the manual is anything but clear! Sorry for the delay, been without my Mac for a few days (and in all this rain!) Yes, it is possible to select fixtures and change parameters when a scene or chase is being replayed, BUT only in manual mode; if you are in auto or music mode it is not possible. Also the selected fixture will respond to the fader immediately, i.e. if you have fixtures 1-8 all on 50% red in your scene/chase and you select, say, fixtures 1,3,5,7 and move the red fader up from zero the selected fixtures will initially go to zero output, increasing with fader movement. Does that make sense? Let me know if it's not clear! I'm probably getting Enttec's DMXIS software & dongle in the near future as it is nearer what I'm looking for (band lighting with no operator). I'm not sure if it would be any good for your purposes though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 26, 2009 Author Share Posted November 26, 2009 Also the selected fixture will respond to the fader immediately, i.e. if you have fixtures 1-8 all on 50% red in your scene/chase and you select, say, fixtures 1,3,5,7 and move the red fader up from zero the selected fixtures will initially go to zero output, increasing with fader movement. Does that make sense? Let me know if it's not clear!Perfectly clear, thanks. This isn't a level match as I thought, but a basic LTP-style control. Not exactly useful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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