MobileMikey Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Hi all, Im looking for lighting control software for Mac. Something similar to lightjockey or daslight with a 3d visualiser. Is there anything like that available? Id prefer to get mac based software rather than bootcamp windows. any help appreciated Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 There is a software called Sweetlight which is Mac compatible, not sure what DMX dongles it works with other than there own.http://www.sweetlight-controller.com/english/home.html HTH Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MobileMikey Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 There is a software called Sweetlight which is Mac compatible It looks like sweetlight is a showtec product. Has anybody used this software? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I have, I personally don't like it. I suppose it would be OK for mobile disco use, but for Live Music or Theatre, forget it. What is your application and what sort of numbers of fixtures are you looking at? Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MobileMikey Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Its for a School production of mamma mia. They want to use10 Mac 250's for effects and musical numbers. they are using a 48ch desk for generics. I have a Jester ML but it is too time consuming to program. I want some kind of lighting software that I can program these chases quickly. Preferably with the 3d visualiser so I can see the show when Im designing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 You'd be much better off getting to grips with the JesterML if I'm honest, connect the 48Ch desk into the DMX in so you can control the generics too and you're sorted. It's going to be much better suited to theatre than most software, the only exception is the excellent MagicQ software with the £60 MagicDMX Full dongle. That'll control the entire rig with ease, but you'll wish you had a touchscreen by the time you're done programming, I don't even use MagicQ without my touchscreen now for this reason. Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I agree with Josh, if its for a school theatre production your better off to have a real desk in front of you with faders rather than a computer screen. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subass11 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Chamsys Magic Q is compatible for mac, as for visualising I use ESP Vision, its mac compatible and works a treat for me, never had any problems. Although I agree with what others are saying. you may be better having hands on control, with encoders - I.E a real lighting desk or even The chamsys wing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomM Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 What makes you think a piece of software you've never used before will be quicker to program than the Jester ML you've at least got some experience with? Also, if you are designing the show, shouldn't you be deciding the number of moving lights you require? Starting from the premise that "they" (whoever they are) want you to use the lights isn't exactly a good design methodology!! T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossmck Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 As others have said Chamsys MagicQ is probably your best bet if it must be software based. I agree that you'd be far better with an actual console for something like this (especially if you don't have a touch-screen based system for MagicQ) if the school has already decided they're hiring 10x Mac 250s (why, incidentally, surely if you're designing it that should be your suggestion? - seems they're going about this wrongly!) then is there perhaps the possibility of having them hire a desk appropriate for controlling them that you're familiar with ? It never ceases to amaze me how many people hire movers thinking "this will make my show look amazing" without either knowing what they're going to use them for, how to program them (or the time this will add to plotting), and having the right kit to control them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grum Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 If you're struggling to get your head around the desk is it really a good idea to try and learn how to use a visualiser at the same time? Especially if the desk you don't have enough time to program the show on a desk you know?? Visualisers are great for learning how to use a desk as you can quickly connect a few lights to see how they behave but attempting to use one to pre program a show accurately is more than a little challenging. You'll probably end up spending more time building your venue and set in the visualiser than you will the real set. Then you've got the probelm that most visualisers only give a REPRESENTATION of what the actual rig will look like they're often too bright compared to the real thing. Forget the visualiser and learn the desk. Speed up your programming by: Reading the script and working out what looks you want to achieve Then look at what lights you have available and work out where you need to put them in order to achieve these looksBuild up a cue list on paper that describes each scene so that when you get to program the show you can be as efficient as possible as you already know what looks you need to create and in what order they need to be put in to the desk. You could start to program the show in advance by patching the desk, building groups and palettes (colour, position and beam reference memories) then, depending on the desk, you can start to program the cues. Then when you eventually get to connect the desk to the lights you just have to edit the palettes and the cues will (should) look how you expect. Now all you have to do is go through the cues and make any changes you think are required, sort out your fade times and you're done. I love visualisers, they are great tools but for a show that is only using 10 macs and 48 channels of dimming they're more than overkill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MobileMikey Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Just to clarify a couple of things, 1. I am not designing the show, I am hiring them 10 Mac 250's to use alongside their own generic lighting. Unfortunately the school does not employ people with the skills to program these fixtures. Nor have they the funding to hire a programmer However they do require a bespoke range of effects, rather than the usual stored subs that are sufficient for most hire jobs. Therefore I must program them and I am looking for an alternative 2. I never mentioned not being able to use the Jester. I am quite proficient with it but it is time consuming to create extensive chases and effects, time that I quite frankly do not have. Also I would not be confident that the operator would be competent enough to get to grips with the ML in the short time that he/she will have with it, whilst on the other hand trying to operate a 48ch A/B setup 3. My thoughts were to use DMX software to program said numbers/effects on my cpu, when I have time, rather than spend many hours in situ programming. Then use something like a korg nanokontrol as trigger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 3. My thoughts were to use DMX software to program said numbers/effects on my cpu, when I have time, rather than spend many hours in situ programming. Then use something like a korg nanokontrol as trigger But you would still need somthing to output DMX if you dont have a dongle and would you be able to get one before the show?Would the Korg work like this? Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MobileMikey Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 I will be getting a dongle for whichever software I decide on. The nano can be used to control any application that is midi compatible, it's merely a midi controller. I think its looking like lightjockey & bootcamp. Im surprised that Martin dont have a Mac Version of their software, considering that 95% of the computers you see used in theatre are Macs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Robinson Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Why can't you run the generics of the Jester? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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