Titan Mobile?, MagicQ?, or ???

[ninjadingle]

For me Chamsys over Avo purely because I can download Chamsys onto any machine and it will work with my PC wing. Last time I set up a Titan Mobile it was then an issue of getting it licensed, I think Avo keys are a thing now and it was just generally a PITA. Not that my machine has ever failed, but it's peace of mind that I can have a backup on my general Windows laptop whilst my Linux laptop is my main show machine, and I can edit my show on my PC at home.

The MagicVis visualiser isn't bad either, you can run it across a network on another machine and generate plots, rig charts, DMX charts etc all from it. The MagicHD media server is also quite useable once you've got your head around it.

I guess the only real selling point for me on Avo is the amount of DMX outputs - 4 vs 2. Though if you run ArtNet that point disappears, and you can always add a MagicQ dongle to a PC wing to get 3 direct universes.

[dzx]

I'm a little bit (but not a lot) further down the road on this.  Been checking out software, asking a lot of questions from some touring pros (most of which use AVO/Titan, but a couple that use MagicQ, and looking around at what's on the market.

The big question I have right now concerns MagicQ Compact consoles.  The folks I know that use them all have the previous versions, and all use an extra wing (ie: a PC Wing Compact coupled with an Extra Wing Compact). 

But am I correct that in the latest version (ie: Compact Connect) there is no extra wing option?  That seems strange to me.  I do realize that there are layers/pages of fader control, but I REALLY appreciate having more/extra actual physical faders available.  I'm used to layers/pages of fader control in the digital audio consoles I use, but they all have motorized faders so switching pages (or banks) is no problem (and really slick).  I have used older consoles that did not have motorized faders and quite frankly, switching pages is really clunky and prone to problems, especially when busking live shows.  

Is it possible to use the Chamsys Compact Mini Connect as an extra wing?  How are folks addressing this issue "in the real world"?

Also, for the record, ALL the folks I know that use AVO Titan, have Mobile consoles coupled with Mobile Wings.  

 

[James Remo]

The mini wing, pc wing and stadium connect are master wings, you can only use one of them in each system, where as you can add multiple extra wings to a system. 

[dzx]

But there is no current model "extra wing" that couples with the Compact Connect, true?

 

[indyld]

2 hours ago, dzx said:

But there is no current model "extra wing" that couples with the Compact Connect, true?

 

Pretty sure I recall ChamSys hinting that other things were in the pipeline. Although the extra wings are no longer in production, everything works with everything else (as with show files) so using an 'old' one is an option. 

As for motorised faders, this topic has been endlessly discussed everywhere and I'm in the 'old bugger that never had them and still never needs them' camp.

Edited August 24 by indyld

[timsabre]

Motorised faders are really useful if you typically operate across multiple pages of cues, as it enables you to use cues on the same fader on multiple pages. If non motorised you normally have to zero the fader to reuse it on another page which kills the original cue. 

None of Avo's PC wings are motorised and I think only the top end chamsys one is. 

Edited August 24 by timsabre

[indyld]

1 hour ago, timsabre said:

Motorised faders are really useful if you typically operate across multiple pages of cues, as it enables you to use cues on the same fader on multiple pages.

There are still plenty of us LDs left over from the 90s that busk multiple pages without motorised faders, which was my point. The fact that to some this is inconceivable in 2024 is due to a different mindset. 

Most of the 'original' operators of both Avo classic and early ChamSys, including me, will say that they didn't need motorised faders and are still fine without them. The Hog didn't have them either. There is more than one way to run a complex busked show. 

Sure, they are an extra function. But not a deal breaker especially on the level of using a wing. 

Edited August 24 by indyld

[dzx]

I do understand that motorized faders are by no means "necessary", and are even something of a liability at times (when they don't function properly, and they're one more thing to go wrong).  I've done way more shows (both audio and lighting) without them for many years.  But in their absence, I do like having more, rather than less, physical faders if I have the option.  Hence why I'd prefer to run an "extra wing" if I can.  

For the record, I'm one of those old guys for whom motorized faders were pretty much untouchable at anything within my budget until pretty recently.....essentially when Behringer X32s brought that technology to regular folk on the audio side.  

 

 

[Robin D]

If you have enough faders, there is no need for motorised. However, having used several desks with memory 'pages' and not enough faders, having to switch to the correct page and then pick up the right point can take longer than one would want especially when something goes wrong. Motorised faders would then come into their own. I just cannot justify the cost for the amount that I do and voluntarily at that.. My Smartfade will just have to keep going. 😄      

[musht]

Whatever happened to endless belts ? Strand and the ethereal Celco (P&G?) backlit transparent belts on Navigator 

[ninjadingle]

Don't forget you can add virtual faders on both Avo and Chamsys - an extra touch monitor is probably going to cost less than a used Extra Wing. 

[timsabre]

3 hours ago, ninjadingle said:

Don't forget you can add virtual faders on both Avo and Chamsys - an extra touch monitor is probably going to cost less than a used Extra Wing. 

I don't find them very useful for busking a show though. They are useful for storing things you don't use very often, but not comparable to a physical fader.

I have used a midi fader box (Akai Midimix) with Titan Mobile, that's lots of extra knobs and buttons for about £80, but the faders are small and it is still not as usable as the proper wing, though a fraction of the cost.

[themadhippy]

if you go midi and want moterised faders the ole beringher bcf2000 might be worth a look

[timsabre]

12 minutes ago, themadhippy said:

if you go midi and want moterised faders the ole beringher bcf2000 might be worth a look

Motorised midi faders are not supported by Titan, or by Chamsys as far as I know. The BCF2000 does have nicer faders than most of the current crop of midi fader boxes though.

Edited September 4 by timsabre

[themadhippy]

Quote

Motorised midi faders are not supported by Titan, or by Chamsys as far as I know.

shouldnt matter,if the faders /midi values follow whats being displayed on screen,then each time you change page the faders should shift.