MagicQ

[timd]

Hi all, my first post here, so go easy on me!

 

I've got a friend, a DJ, who's doing a few mobile discos, strictly small time at the moment. His lighting rig consists mainly of four scans, two LED parcans and a strobe, all DMX, and a cheap stage laser (which isn't).

 

At the moment, his lighting all runs from onboard sound to light systems, the scans all together so at least they're coherent, but impossible to control. I was thinking about computer controlled lighting systems, and came across the magicQ system, with their extremely cheap DMX dongle. I know they also do a sound module that would be an advantage in the future, but for now is probably too expensive, at least until the system can be proved.

 

My question is how good is MagicQ in this setting, will it be able to, given a collection of chases, string them together indefinitely for the length of a show, or does it need significant input from the operator throughout?

 

Any suggestions appreciated!

 

Many thanks,

Tim

[themadhippy]

will it be able to, given a collection of chases, string them together indefinitely for the length of a show, or does it need significant input from the operator throughout

yes.It depends how you program it .you could put sevral chases on 1 cue stack fader that loops for ever or programme each fader with diffrent states that you swap between whilst busking in the colour ,gobo , speed and anything else that takes your fancy.

[timd]

As I thought. For £10, the basic dongle really is a steal, and for that much, very much worth a punt! Shame they're all out of stock at the moment.

 

I suppose you can loop multiple faders of not quite the same length controlling different attributes to get one very long repeat time.

[paulears]

Another +1 for MagicQ. The most interesting thing about magicq is that whenever two owners get together - they look at the screen on the other person's, and say "what's that?" I've learned so many useful things from other people that I didn't know they did!

 

Can you get hold of a touch screen? No.1 feature for me is the execute screen - just a place you can put your favourite controls - doesn't seem to matter what they are - so you can mix direct access to certain cues, or certain fixture groups or colours, oand if you have the touch screen - even virtual faders. Really helps because you can get to things quickly.

 

In your case, the sceen would simply show a number of buttons - hitting one makes it run a certain sequence. Without the touch screen, you can do the same thing via a keybard press - but the touch screen makes it musician friendly - as you could label them with song names, or colours, or other musician friendly titles.

[timd]

I think a touchscreen may be a bit too much of an outlay at the moment, but a wireless keyboard with the buttons subtly relabeled may well be a good fun hacking project, I'm assuming that it can handle key bindings like that?

[Richard CSL]

As a mobile disco I think magic Q, is a sledge hammer to crack a nut. And as you quite rightly pointed out MQ does not have sound to light possibilities, unless you buy a proper dongle, ie not the 10 pound one, and then you have to buy the sound/midi input module.

 

Plus the learning curve for a non theatrical based lighting person is quite intense.

 

We have asked for simple stage videos to be made but MQ are a bit reluctant to make these as they assume everybody already understands how to program.

 

This will very quickly become prohibitively expensive for what you are trying to achieve.

A much cheaper alternative is an entec. or a velleman (available from Maplins) dongle for about 50 pounds. Then download the software called Freestyler. this is much more suited to your needs.

 

The only problem with Freestyler is the learning curve to program and operate, but there are some helpful tutorials and videos on youtube to help with this.

 

If you have a slightly larger budget, I would recomend MY ADJ. or Daslight, which are painfully simple to learn how to use, but do cost more, about 128 pounds for the basic.

 

Hope this helps, I would strongly recomend downloading all the above software , as it is all free to download, have a play with each one, decide which you find easiest to get your head around. Then buy something you know will be suitable for the job.

[paulears]

Sorry Richard, but I really cannot see the logic here? The Magicq dongle and free software seems unbeatable.

 

Second point - I've tried PC software every time new ones appear, and I universally hated them - however, then I tried magicq and changed my opinion.

The only problem with Freestyler is the learning curve to program and operate, but there are some helpful tutorials and videos on youtube to help with this.

MagicQ has a very easy to navigate get you going section on the on-screen help system, or if you want to - and have plenty of ink and a fast printer, print it out.

 

The software can, as I said, work however you wish it to. If all you want are some on-screen buttons, or faders or whatever - operated by a laptop with no touch screen - it works perfectly. If you want real faders, buy a panel.

 

I've had no reason to seek a video tutorial - mainly because it was pretty much commn sense - and even syntax isn't critical - many things can be done differently, depending on your background.

 

Video tutorial do have their uses, but I'm not sure they work that well for lighting controls. I guess a 'how to patch' one would be ok - but the instructions are pretty simple - and an example of the syntax is given in the patch menu screen where you type the info in, showing the format?

 

Have you had problems with yours, what couldn't you get it to do?

[themadhippy]

Plus the learning curve for a non theatrical based lighting person is quite intense

bow locks,if a noise boy can pick it up by random button stabbing theres hope for everybody,and that was before I put the fader wing and touch screen in front of him.

[Richard CSL]

Paul the point I am trying to make is sound to light is prtty essential for mobile disco set ups, and to do this with MQ is involved to say the least.

 

I agree the software is excellent, however I went on the course after PLASA, ans still find it hard to "include" or "update" still not sure how to use those two.

programming is fairly ease, editing is a nightmare, for me anywhay.

 

I come from computer background in lighting, and find MQ completely alien, it is however fantastic for live busking, which most computer programs seem to be rubbish at. I am sure with the help from some video tutorials . ie really basic examples would help clarify for me how to use the program, why are MQ so reluctant.

 

Basic needs are how to create your fixture, which I think I get mostly. and edit anything you get wrong. ...difficult.

How to patch, I get this also. how to move items around the patch.....again difficult. random stabbing abit worrying, I have to say.!!

then program a basic chase......easy.

Now change speed.... colours......some positions .......and show me how to do this on the fly.......

 

 

The mad hippy. yes noise boys get it, because they see it all the time.....they are generally just operating , not programming.

[themadhippy]

Now change speed.... colours......some positions .......and show me how to do this on the fly

Hit the ct button top left,then pallets soft button then ct again,select the group you want to adjust,then stab the colour, position etc,if you set the xfade to busking rate master it becomes the fade time for the palletts,to adjust the speed of the chase select the effect and tap away at the soft button,or turn wheel x,I think its also possible to make the xfader an effect speed control,but aint played with that bit yet

[timd]

Freestyler is out as I need something that will work on all platforms, having a usb dongle and a memory stick with the program and stored shows for various light configs, and then borrowing any laptop available and being able to use it is a requirement. He has a macbook, as do I and another guy he frequently works with, but linux and windows compatibility are required.

 

MagicQ looks like the thing, it will be easy enough to adjust the chase speed to suit the mood at first, and if I'm around, or anyone else, then a well designed keyboard should enable some fairly decent busking.

 

Just can't wait for the dongles to get back in stock!

[norty303]

I may be completely wrong, but adding a touchscreen does not give access to the Execute window unless you have a piece of Chamsys hardware like a wing or DMX interface installed.

 

Last I heard, the cheap interfaces didn't provide any of the feature unlocking that comes with the pricier pieces of kit.

 

 

"include" or "update" still not sure how to use those two

 

Its something that is actually really easy, but I didn't understand the relationship at first either.

 

there are ways to do this easily/quickly (as with most things in MagicQ!) but I'll cover the one that shows the process flow so you 'get' it

 

Editing is carried out in the programmer. To get a cue/playback into the programmer you first need to 'include' it. Hit include then the cue. At this point you'll see the update button lights up.

Open the programmer and you'll see the cue in there (be it levels, FX or whatever). Add, amend or delete anything, including adding new attributes for new heads or whatever. Once the programmer shows what you need the cue to be doing, press 'update' and it saves the changes you've just made.

 

Programming chases giving flexibility for busking revolves around not mixing your attributes in cue stacks or FX. E.g. keep all your movement as only movements, beams as beams, etc

 

I tend to have dimmer chases and movement FX on playbacks separately (e.g. PB1 Circle, PB2 Pan Sine, PB3 Tilt Sine, PB4 Dimmer Sine, PB5 Dimmer chase) I then have either colour cues or copied colour pallette entries on the execute window so I can punch a colour as needed. You could do the same thing just using the pallette window if you can't use the execute window. All FX are set fader to FX size.

 

For all of those you can use tap to time feature, and in the case of the chases you get easy doubling or halving of timing on the press of a button (bottom right encoder button in FX/cue stack screen)

[Brian]

MQ is the wrong solution.

 

For a mobile disco you need something that is going to be pretty much automatic. You have plenty to do without having to stand over your lighting controller all evening.

[Richard CSL]

Now change speed.... colours......some positions .......and show me how to do this on the fly

Hit the ct button top left,then pallets soft button then ct again,select the group you want to adjust,then stab the colour, position etc,if you set the xfade to busking rate master it becomes the fade time for the palletts,to adjust the speed of the chase select the effect and tap away at the soft button,or turn wheel x,I think its also possible to make the xfader an effect speed control,but aint played with that bit yet

 

 

Like I said how complicated is that, however I will be printing this out and testing it.

 

So for a mobile dj do you think this will work.??? really....???

 

And thank you too Norty. I will have another go at MQ soon, and try this too, perhaps the mysteries will slowly dissapear.

 

The training given was, "here's the training manual, now get on with it", but to quote Matt. "it is a treasure hunt to find how to do things". the manual only points you in the right direction, (not sure this method of training was what I had in mind when I booked the course), and what really suprised me was that there were people there who had been using MQ for 6 or more years, and they still come back to learn more.!!

[Grum]

Like I said how complicated is that, however I will be printing this out and testing it.

Not very complicated at all, and that's the long way of doing it, the quick way is to hold down the select button and either turn the X wheel or tap the Y button in time to the music. As for colour just select the group you want to change and select the new colour.

 

It really is the easiest desk I've ever used and I've used desks from almost every manufacturer.

 

people there who had been using MQ for 6 or more years, and they still come back to learn more.!!

The reason people use the training after so long is because the software is continually evolving and because it has so many features people often start off teaching themselves the basics. Then start to discover how much more they can do and go on training to get the most out of the desk.

 

An idea of how simple and quick this OS is. Say you want to create a colour cue stack for busking. Simply select the group of fixtures you want in the stack then highlight the colour pallets you want in the stack press record then press the select button above the fader you want the stack on. then all you have to do is tell that fader to behave as a cue stack rather than a chase. In 7 button presses you've put together a cue stack with 10 or more steps.

 

How much easier do things get?????