Luke.D Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 I've recently come across LxKey for Eos (http://www.lxkey.co.uk) and I am thinking that it could be useful tool for shows with smaller budgets so I wouldn't have to hire a desk or for use with preprogramming and WYSIWYG work and I'm thinking about investing in one, but I haven't been able to find much about them other than their website. I wondered if anyone has got/used one and could share their experience of it? Even just some better pictures of it would be good so I can see the layout slightly clearer and maybe get a look at the back of it. Also, I'm finding the ETC website a little confusing, am I right in thinking: The Puck is the dedicated laptop style device they make to run nomad, the key is a dongle that allows to use Nomad beyond as an offline editor and it requires a DMX interface of some kind, even if it's just a standard node like you would use with any other. Do you still need the DMX interface/gateway if you are using LxKeys? Can anybody recommend a decent (quality and price) one that would work with the set up? Does anyone have a better alternative (Other than buying an Ion :P)? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistermorton Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 LXkey is just a keyboard, so you'll still need something such as a gateway or DMX interface to actually get the DMX to the fixtures. The puck is a dedicated device, not a laptop. You add a keyboard, display(s) and DMX interface or gateway to it and run the Nomad software on it. If you are running on a laptop then you run nomad on the laptop, and you still need a gateway or DMX interface and also a nomad key to unlock the software to make it run live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmoorcroft Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Alister is bang on in his comments above. I have used LX Keys in the past and am very impressed. Layout is slightly different to EOS consoles but very easy to pick up. IIRC there are 4 USB ports on the back so it can act as a "hub" as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke.D Posted June 30, 2015 Author Share Posted June 30, 2015 Thanks guys, that was helpful. I like the look of LxKeys, I just wish their website had more content on it! The keyboard itself seems reasonably priced but it all adds up once you've bought a key and a gateway and the puck if you're going that way (I won't, if I go for it, I'll run it off a Mac Mini I already have) so it's important to get this information first!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNT Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Hi I have just purchased an LXKey device along with a 256 channel dongle and a gadget to output to DMX and hope to build my "console" by adding a touch screen and maybe even a fader wing in time. So far I am very impressed with it but have not yet done a full show with it. I would be interested to hear feedback from other users. One thing I was slightly disappointed with is the lack of any documentation with the device, but I suppose it is intended for professionals who already know the function of all the keys. Luke D.: Did you get the LXkey and if so how have you got on with it? I agree with you that the website is a bit sparse. I would like to get a bit of a conversation going about it in case there are things I am missing that would be useful to know. Om that point, does anyone have any suggestions for a cheap alternative to the wheel or the encoders? As far as I can see, I will be able to build up most of the functions of the full console with the kit I listed above, but I will still have no wheel control or encoders. Any suggestions would be really welcome. Denis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistermorton Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 D'oh I just messaged you about this thread, Denis :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Re. the LxKey - I have one and like it, however I was very annoyed that when ETC released a console update which changed some key mapping the supplier was totally not ready, and still (AFAIK) only has a beta available to update the device which only runs on windows. Which made it very awkward to upgrade for mac users! I would have assumed they would have thought it out a bit better! Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Also - regading whether any encoders are available. There are none that I know of but I have been playing around with an arduino and a rotary encoder and have knocked together the thing in the video at My link - works using OSC - will be on wifi soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNT Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Also - regading whether any encoders are available. There are none that I know of but I have been playing around with an arduino and a rotary encoder and have knocked together the thing in the video at My link - works using OSC - will be on wifi soon! RichardThat looks very interesting. I heard of Arduino for the first time last night at the gig when the sound guy suggested using it to create a DMX converter for an old analogue dimmer unit I have. I need to investigate!!!Denis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musht Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 ...create a DMX converter for an old analogue dimmer unit I have. I need to investigate!!!Denis http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=62035 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 RichardThat looks very interesting. I heard of Arduino for the first time last night at the gig when the sound guy suggested using it to create a DMX converter for an old analogue dimmer unit I have. I need to investigate!!!Denis Arduino can be great and there are a lot of options out there - I'm currently struggling to work out the best way to get wifi working with what I'm doing, but I should be there soon. I'm using the Eos OSC API for this, although that does have a few limitations which cause me a bit of a headache! There are DMX shields available, so I think what you are talking about would be pretty easy, although I'm not that strong on the electronics side! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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