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Which DMX Controller ?


Jazzman01uk

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Hi

 

 

I bought my first DMX controller a few weeks ago, it is a Showtec Scanmaster 3. It works fine but it will only trigger 6 banks via midi. This is no good for me as I'm triggering from a synth whilst playing live, I need access to 15 banks. So I bought a Chauvet Obey 40 to replace it, on paper this is perfect. It can access 15 banks via midi and each scene can have it's own fade and change time. Therefore I can have a bank for slow songs and a bank for fast songs, great. I've been trying to program it for my big synth intro (start of the evening showing off !!!), and I've discovered the the Obey 40 can't handle fast midi commands, anything quicker than 2 seconds and it goes crazy then finally goes into blackout. (eg: I have a heartbeat playing at the start of the intro and the lights go "all on /blackout/ all on", in the space of about 0.5 sec).

 

I'm just after a reliable controller, that will do the scene change and fade time as part of the programming scene and that will handle midi commands quickly, without going into meltdown.

 

Anyone got any good ideas, I know someone mentioned the lanbox to me before and I don't really understand what it does, does it basically work as a normal 12 fixture controller but you program it via a pc ?

 

I'm looking at the elation operator 192 but it doesn't mention anything about individual fade times per scene, any one know if it does this and what the midi is like ?

 

Thanks

 

Simon

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I know someone mentioned the lanbox to me before and I don't really understand what it does, does it basically work as a normal 12 fixture controller but you program it via a pc ?

Basically, yep. The Lanbox is a big, capable lighting console only it doesn't have a user interface on it, so you can control and/or program it using a PC or mac. You also set up how you want the lanbox to respond to MIDI, or contact closures, or other things it supports.

 

For a lighting operatorless band, it is one of the best solutions out there.

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Thanks for that

 

I need to look into this lanbox, I'm definitely not taking a pc out gigging though !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There's so many of these stock 12 fixture controllers out there, it's hard to know which way to turn, I can't keep buying them and finding out they don't quite do what I need.

 

 

I'll keep the search going

 

 

Simon

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There's so many of these stock 12 fixture controllers out there, it's hard to know which way to turn,....

If you look closely you will find that they are often the same unit but with a different brand-name label on them.

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I'm definitely not taking a pc out gigging though !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PC opnly nbeeded to program, which you can do in the comfort of your own home and rehearsal space. Once programmed the box is a standalone controller; just plug power, midi and DMX cables (and recommendedly a cable to a microswitch on the drummers kick pedal) into the little box and you're all set to go.

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What kind of MIDI messages can you create? with our lanbox we send out midi show control messages to make it jump to particular scenes in the stack. I don't know if it can react to any others, would be worth investigating before sticking your hand in your pocket.

 

Pro's

 

* It's an embedded computer, no PC required from running a show

* the software is on mac as well as pc

 

Con's

 

* The editor software is "quirky"

* No sound to light

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Thanks for the help so far,

 

I've noticed that a lot of these 12 fixture controllers are the same with a different name. I thought this was going to be easy !!!!.

 

The lanbox is looking more and more tempting although it's a bit pricey for a pub covers band. It barely pays enough for petrol and a kebab !!!!!!!!!!!

 

I use a synth that has drum trigger pads, so I have simply programmed them to "note on" pad 1 is Bank 1 scene 1, set to auto mode it will sit there scrolling bank 1 scene 1-8, then pad 2 is bank 2 etc.

 

That's why I liked the chauvet 40, because I can program change and fade times per bank, but the midi response is rubbish (I mean timing not implementation)

 

The showtecs midi is perfect but no change and fade times per scene and it only midi's 6 banks.

 

Does anyone have any links to some lanbox resources so I can look a little deeper into it ?

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Does anyone have any links to some lanbox resources so I can look a little deeper into it ?

Lanbox has a forum with lots of people who know the thing inside out, I'd recommend you pop over there, and firstly have a good search, and if you're still insure, post a specific question.

 

I believe you can download the programming software freely, so you can see what you're getting into.

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Just to through another option into the idea pot..

 

Heard a lot of good things about DMXIS by EntTec (don't think you could get much simpler for programming. I mainly do theatre and don't use it myself - but have a couple of friends who swear by it) the hardware's robust but I think you do need a computer to be connected when running the show (rather than just programming it like you would lanbox)

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