Make midi "maps" to control lights

[peza2010]

I know there has been a fair few DMX-midi posts over the last few weeks, but this is a bit different. I suppose this is,for me, a project combining my own band and my lighting background.

 

Basically what I want to be able to do (not sure if this is possible or not) is to programme lighting, which will be activated by midi (this far I already know how to do) but as far as I have got with midi controlled lighting is me pressing buttons on a midi device to trigger cues.... But what I want to do is to create what I can only try to describe as a "midi map" perhaps. For example... To have midi written in a programme (along with my click track if possible) which will activate lighting cues (rather than me having to press a certain key on a midi device to trigger)

 

To try and sum it all up (I'm finding it hard to explain what I'm trying to ask! :(

 

- I start my click track which also starts the pre programmed midi

- the midi within the software then activates preprogrammed cues

 

Is this possible and how would I go about doing this?

I'm guessing there will be a fair few questions at to what I'm asking as it is now gone 3am and im finding it ever more frustrating to explain what I'm trying to ask!

 

P.s I do have fairly good knowledge of a lot of midi sequencing software... Reason,cubase, etc

[dbuckley]

Job for the lanbox - arrange for whatever generates the click track to output MIDI time code (your MIDI sequencer on a computer would do), and program up the lanbox with your show.

 

You can do the same thing with many consoles and computer programmes, but none are as convenient as the lanbox in a band context when you dont have a lighting op.

[kitlane]

I might be missing something but I think you already know how to do this. You already know how to trigger the lights from MIDI. You know sequencing software, and there is a click track.

 

What is the source of the click track?

What type of MIDI messages are you sending to trigger the lights?

 

Here is one possible scenario:-

 

Click track is coming from an audio track on the sequencer

Put the desired MIDI messages in a MIDI track on your sequencer.

Press Play.

[henny]

Job for the lanbox - arrange for whatever generates the click track to output MIDI time code (your MIDI sequencer on a computer would do), and program up the lanbox with your show.

 

You can do the same thing with many consoles and computer programmes, but none are as convenient as the lanbox in a band context when you dont have a lighting op.

 

 

or even smpte vire a converter

 

What are you playing your click track off? And what lighting controller are you currently using ?

[peza2010]

I am currently using chamsys magic q...

I didn't no if the midi has to be "live" so to speak to trigger cues etc...

[Wol]

I am currently using chamsys magic q...

I didn't no if the midi has to be "live" so to speak to trigger cues etc...

 

I'm assuming that if you've got MIDI triggering of cues, then you have one of our MIDI timecode interfaces connected. You should be able to put some form of SMPTE timecode or MIDI timecode into the interface from the same system providing your click track, and get this to show up the timecode in MagicQ.

 

You can then enable the timecode features on the cuestacks to trigger at certain times. This way, you keep the timing and triggering of cues within MagicQ, and just rely on MIDI for the timecode source, rather than as you've currently got, where you're relying on MIDI to actually do the triggering/timing of cues.

 

Hope that helps.

[peza2010]

Yep that does help! Will defiantly have a look into it.

Thanks