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Midi Control of DMX Controller


Jazzman01uk

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Hi All

 

I'm new to this forum and fairly new to lighting as well.

 

My band has now started to use lights as part of our show. I was the one that put my hand up to sort it out for them (hmm). Because we've been buying lights and stands etc, we've bought most things second hand to start the learning curve of DMX etc.

 

I'm currently using a second hand Showtec Scanmaster 3. It's a standard 12 fixtures, 30 banks of 8 and 6 chases.

 

This is how it's currently set up:

 

I've set up 4 banks of 8 scenes that chase the Parcans and also have a scanner as a spot light. Eg: bank 1 is 8 scenes of parcans using different colours and the scanner is pointing at the singer. Bank 2 is 8 scenes of parcans and the scanner points at the guitarist (for lead breaks etc). I trigger this via midi from my keyboard.

 

It's a fairly boring show, and I'd like to spice it up a bit.

 

My question, is there a controller out there that will accept a midi signal to switch from Auto run to manual to sound to light, Or even can my scanmaster 3 receive this midi data ? If I could do this then I could add some better effects into the show, ie: stop running in Auto mode and switch to manual for a particular scene, ie one light on the drummer with all the lights off, then go back to chasing the colours in auto mode.

 

I can't find any midi implementation for the scanmaster 3, but it seems to only receive bank switching via midi for the first 6 banks. It also triggers the 6 chases via midi. With the chases it expects a midi note message to switch it on but also a midi note message to switch it off. Therefore I can't switch between eg: chase 6 and chase 5 with out switching off chase 6 first, What I mean is it cues chase 5 ready for when I switch off chase 6. No good when I'm also trying to play keyboards in the band. (to many button presses)

 

I can run midi sysex commands from my synth, so theoretically I can run a "switch to manual and trigger scene 1 bank 1" then another key can run "switch to auto and chase scenes 1- 8 in bank 2" for example.

 

I hope this makes sense, sorry for making it a long winded question. Either a controller that could offer this or some midi implementation for running sysex on the scanmaster 3 would be a great help.

 

 

I was reading up on the Behringer LC2412, it seems to have a lot of midi capability but looks like a desk that a lighting Op would sit at, not something that will sit quietly in a rack all night.

 

 

 

I know my way around midi, although I'm not used to Sysex. Also this is all manual midi triggering, not sequencer triggering, I also don't want to be taking a laptop out with me, to much room to beer spillage !!!

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Simon

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Most lighting controllers just use midi note on + note off to control things. Sometimes program change. Sysex is not often used.

 

I would try sending every note from 0 to 127 and see what effect it has. Shame that Showtec has implemented MIDI control and then totally failed to include it in the manual!!

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Thanks Tim

 

I've just been searching for controllers and the American DJ Operator 192 actually has what I need, ie: swiching between auto manual and sound, as well as 30 banks and 12 chases all accessible via midi.

 

Think I'll pick one up for a try.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

Simon

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For a band without a lighting operator I always suggest looking at Lanbox - does everything a real console does and more, and easy to control using MIDI from keyboards or foot controllers. Attach a microswitch to the drummers kick pedal and then you can sync chases to the beat.

 

Fab bit of kit.

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