BTSmith96 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I just wondered if anyone knew any good mac based DMX controllers, preferably free, which work with any USB-DMX interface (i.e. a cheap one from Maplin's, not a big brand). This isn't for a show, it's for a drama GCSE. Currently, I have 'programmed' the show onto "mini stage Controller" (Here) but am wary as to whether this will work. I have some quite complicated cues (that is, they can be relatively quick fire for people who are not used to working with lights, hence the programming) and no time to save them onto the actual lighting desk in school (which I would do). This is on Tuesday, and performances are happening during every free moment until then (and after) so I am unable. If anyone can help, I'd be very happy! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTSmith96 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 I've already posted in the new generation room, but feel I may have rather more success here. For my drama GCSE, I have written a slightly complicated LX plot (that is, it's not actually that hard to follow, but no-one who will be doing it knows much about lighting, and there are some quick fire sections). I wish to pre-programme it on my computer (which I will have present anyway for the sound) but have an issue with connectivity. The software which I have currently programmed it on (here) does not appear (from the website) to work with the USB-DMX interface I have at my disposal – as I understand it, a cheap one from Maplin. I would programme the cues onto the school's desk, but this is on Tuesday, and exams are happening during every free time up to that point, so this seems like an ideal solution if I can find compatible software! I anyone knows of a good mac based app for controlling lights through DMX which works with any interface, and also supports midi input, I'd be happy to know. Thanks, Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Ben - the exam is on Tuesday and that means you only have a day to do it? For what it is worth, I'd just programme the schools control - the one everybody uses, and works. A cheap Maplins DMX unit and a bit of non-industry software seem a disaster in the making. Even if you get it working - there's no way I'd risk an exam on something outside of the schools control. Use their lighting equipment, and if it dies, they can apply for special consideration. Use your own, and they won't be able to say it wasn't operator error? Running a show in a days time on an unknown product would seriously worry me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLX1 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I know Chamsys MagicQ works on a mac and supports various interfaces,but as for midi input you have to buy a "widget" from chamsys From chamsys site :MagicQ software supports the Artistic License Parallel dongle, Digital Enlightenment, USBDMX, Peperoni, DMX4ALL, Enttec Open USB, Enttec Pro, Nicholaudie, Sunlite and Velleman interfaces on the first Universe. Thanks, TheLX1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timd Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 MagicQ, the £10 magic DMX dongle and the latest version of X-quartz is the way to go. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveman Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I just wondered if anyone knew any good mac based DMX controllers, preferably free, which work with any USB-DMX interface (i.e. a cheap one from Maplin's, not a big brand). This isn't for a show, it's for a drama GCSE. Currently, I have 'programmed' the show onto "mini stage Controller" (Here) but am wary as to whether this will work. I have some quite complicated cues (that is, they can be relatively quick fire for people who are not used to working with lights, hence the programming) and no time to save them onto the actual lighting desk in school (which I would do). This is on Tuesday, and performances are happening during every free moment until then (and after) so I am unable. If anyone can help, I'd be very happy! Ben If you're worried about operating issues, try linking miniStageController to QLab. Provides a nicer interface to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTSmith96 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 To clarify, it's actually the mock (I have been told "don't worry about it, everyone's mock is rubbish") but after last year's mock (which seems to fit that description) I wish to do slightly better. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTSmith96 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 I will clarify, tis only a mock. The actual thing is next year some time, so as long as I can find a floppy disk to save the show to, that should be fine! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Moderation: I have merged the two topics because we don't allow the same topic to be in two areas - it really confuses people, including the mods - when I couldn't see the post I knew I'd done! I didn't delete one of the two originals as they are not copy and paste - and contain different info - as in I didn't realise it was a mock. Paul Mods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTSmith96 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 Just to check, do you require a desk to use PC based control systems? I am not fully aware of how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 There are a number of PC based control systems that will squirt out DMX. SOme have a distinctly club end user in mind, so lots of pre-programming and then the keyboard, hot-keys and the keypad can let you play in the lighting. Others have the ability to create theatre cue stacks that can be played back by a single go button - which traditionally is how most shows that run from a script work - so it's the same every show. Some are amazingly sophisticated, and are designed to be a fully functioning lighting control. MagicQ is one of these, and the screen is laid out in the same way as the real hardware control - but the big problem with all pc only controls is busking. That is where you have pre-built states or scenes on faders and bump/flash buttons. A mouse is incapable of hitting 3 spaced controls at the same time, and compound cues are out of the question. How would you fade up slowly a blue wash, while flashing another light on and off, and then half way through the fade, having to suddenly bring up another fader because an actor unexpectedly walked into the dark? Magicq give away the software, but charge you in the region of £700 or so for a small bank of faders, or double that for one with lots of extra buttons, or double again for one with all the features, or double again for a dedicated complete control with an internal computer. Need extra faders, buy some more. The idea is that the software and programming remains the same, and you shrink or grow the system to do what you need, and no more. The thing with PC based systems is that the mouse is the pain. A touchscreen really helps, because at least you can drag a fader up and down. All these controls have their own way of working, and everyone has their favourite. The problem is that learning one that's not that common is no help whatsoever when you have to work on something else. Theatre work is quite different from live music and different again from the club environment. For your GCSE - the requirements are really basic. There's no need whatsoever to be clever - I'm assuming you're doing the technical option, which luckily, isn't remotely technical, and doesn't expect very much in the way of complexity - because many schools have very, very limited kit. No need to even go near a moving head - just be able to do fade ups, crossfades, and fade outs, recall and store a few basic scenes, and do a bit of editing - that's about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTSmith96 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 Thank you – I realise you're probably beyond such basic kit, but are you aware whether ministageconsole is able to function as you say? I've set it up to be controlled by a set of midi faders, so will it be able to simply 'squirt' the DMX signal, straight to the dimmer pack, and thus work? Only a friend said that it needs to go through the resident desk – I don't know whether this is simply the software he has a vague knowledge of (freestyler) or if he actually knows what he's talking about (!) :) Thanks again. [ed – Web link] To clarify, what my friend actually said was that "you use your laptop to control the desk not the lights". He quotes a good example, saying "why do you think theatres have desks costing millions if they could just by a laptop for 500 quid" – however, he is still a student the same as me (even if he has more knowledge). I wondered how correct he was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 To be honest, he's a plonker! I don't think there's ever been anything costing millions! Some quite big shows can be run off laptops - if the programming is done, then a laptop and small fader wing will work. I can't comment on what you have - I've never used it - but if you have faders, even via midi - then the major drawback has gone. In most cases, it's just best to imagine what kind of things could be asked for my a Director or Choreographer, and see if your control could do it. Like today when the chat went something like:When the dancer comes on stage left, I need them to be lit in a puddle of white light, then bring up a blue wash, then as it gets to about 50%, snap out the white light and add the one on the other side. Then I want the blue to crossfade to a yellow as the music changes tempo. Then after programming that lot, she wanted to change the blue so it stayed blue until the yellow was full, then snap it out. All these things are quite basic stuff, and really need a cue list approach because there are more things happening than fingers on faders can do - so can your control record these cues and then edit them to change the times etc? If it can do these things on demand, then it's usable. If it can't then it's not much use. EDITI looked at the software and it's rather simple, using midi control, and the squirting out DMX. It seems to work by using the old established two preset system, where you set levels on one preset and then change to the blind one - so it's just a manual control with memory facilities and rather simple. It would be probably easier to use the school control - what is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTSmith96 Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 Just to confirm, it turns out that the USB-DMX control does not fit the school's cable (which is 5pin – the converter is 3, which I think makes it XLR. This would explain why my friend thought it had to be used as an input to a desk, which then outputted the actual DMX signal). The reason I planned not to use the school's control was that I was unaware it could be programmed – it turns out it can, and I will do so tomorrow morning. Thanks for your help anyway! It was still useful! Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Just for clarity - the XLR connector has plenty of different pin versions available. 3 pin - mono audio (and quite a bit of DMX equipment, even though technically this is wrong)4 pin - headsets on comms systems and 12V DC for video kit. Also used on scrollers to carry power and control.5 Pin - The correct one for DMX, using pins 1,2 and 2, although many have 4 and 5 connected too (but not all)6 Pin - dual circuit comms and other less everyday kit. You never did tell us what the school control was? Never mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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