I'm hoping to find a Mac-friendly solution that's easier to use than MagicQ from ChamSys.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
David
Any ideas?
Thanks,
David
Software DMX controller for Mac?
- Thread starter David Nickerson
- Start date
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
LCEdit seems to be a favorite among the Mac crowd. Obviously especially for those using lanbox hardware. I haven't used it myself, but one of my former coworkers has his personal rig built around it and seemed to like it pretty well.
LCEdit seems to be a favorite among the Mac crowd. Obviously especially for those using lanbox hardware. I haven't used it myself, but one of my former coworkers has his personal rig built around it and seemed to like it pretty well.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Vista is pretty nice but depending on what you are trying to do, MagicQ is often easier than it and it doesn't cost a bunch of money. If you want to learn specific things, David, I would be happy to sit down with you and walk you through certain things. Once you get rolling, it really isn't that tough, IMHO.
Vista is pretty nice but depending on what you are trying to do, MagicQ is often easier than it and it doesn't cost a bunch of money. If you want to learn specific things, David, I would be happy to sit down with you and walk you through certain things. Once you get rolling, it really isn't that tough, IMHO.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Just to reveal my abysmal ignorance of things lighting related. Is this software listed in a previous thread not a possible answer to your question?
http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&pn=70570&show=description
Just to reveal my abysmal ignorance of things lighting related. Is this software listed in a previous thread not a possible answer to your question?
http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&pn=70570&show=description
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Technically DMXIS does meet David's specifications. It is Mac friendly and MUCH easier to use than MagicQ. It is also, unfortunately MUCH less useful that programs like MagicQ and Vista. DMXIS is designed to help non-lighting-people produce cool looking light shows without much work but it also severely limits how much control the operator/programmer has over what's going on. It just isn't very versatile. It actually might be a decent solution for David though since, AFAIK, he has a pretty simple rig without any movers, etc.
Technically DMXIS does meet David's specifications. It is Mac friendly and MUCH easier to use than MagicQ. It is also, unfortunately MUCH less useful that programs like MagicQ and Vista. DMXIS is designed to help non-lighting-people produce cool looking light shows without much work but it also severely limits how much control the operator/programmer has over what's going on. It just isn't very versatile. It actually might be a decent solution for David though since, AFAIK, he has a pretty simple rig without any movers, etc.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Hey Matthew,
I'd love to take you up on a MagicQ tutorial. My inventory has grown just a bit. I've got 16 Elation Opti-TriPar LEDS, (12) Chauvet Splash Jr., (16) S4 Pars, (4) Elation PowerSpot250, and way too few Lekos.
After seeing Iggy's rig, I think that could be a good option for me.
Any plans to do another tutorial like you hosted a couple years ago?
Maybe a brief presentation at the Expo (if I can line up a smaller room for somewhat of a breakout). Maybe upstairs?
Talk soon,
David
Hey Matthew,
I'd love to take you up on a MagicQ tutorial. My inventory has grown just a bit. I've got 16 Elation Opti-TriPar LEDS, (12) Chauvet Splash Jr., (16) S4 Pars, (4) Elation PowerSpot250, and way too few Lekos.
After seeing Iggy's rig, I think that could be a good option for me.
Any plans to do another tutorial like you hosted a couple years ago?
Maybe a brief presentation at the Expo (if I can line up a smaller room for somewhat of a breakout). Maybe upstairs?
Talk soon,
David
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
David,
Good to know that you have more gear in the lighting department. I'll make a mental note about some of that stuff for the future.
I'm a bit swamped with several different shows that I am designing right now but we can definitely figure out a time to go through the software in the next couple of months. Shoot me an email with availability on your end and I will see what works for me. I am also going to have a Maxi Wing and a couple Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 300s setup for a show I am working on all next week. You are welcome to drop by at some point if you're free.
I don't have specific plans to do another workshop. I have been kept pretty busy designing but if there was enough interest that I didn't have to put too much effort into recruiting, then I could definitely do one again.
I would love to do an Intro To MagicQ for Sound Guys type thing at the Expo if y'all are interested. I'm going to be there anyway so I know the dates are free. I could get PRG/Enttec to send some gear for us to use. I could probably arrange an attendee discount on Enttec gear too.
-Matthew
Edit: fixed typo
David,
Good to know that you have more gear in the lighting department. I'll make a mental note about some of that stuff for the future.
I'm a bit swamped with several different shows that I am designing right now but we can definitely figure out a time to go through the software in the next couple of months. Shoot me an email with availability on your end and I will see what works for me. I am also going to have a Maxi Wing and a couple Clay Paky Alpha Spot HPE 300s setup for a show I am working on all next week. You are welcome to drop by at some point if you're free.
I don't have specific plans to do another workshop. I have been kept pretty busy designing but if there was enough interest that I didn't have to put too much effort into recruiting, then I could definitely do one again.
I would love to do an Intro To MagicQ for Sound Guys type thing at the Expo if y'all are interested. I'm going to be there anyway so I know the dates are free. I could get PRG/Enttec to send some gear for us to use. I could probably arrange an attendee discount on Enttec gear too.
-Matthew
Edit: fixed typo
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
I'm embarrassed to say I have MagicQ on my computer and an Enttec dongle, but haven't made any progress with it. I could really benefit from what you describe and would happily attend (schedule permitting). With all the crap there is to do teaching myself has been put on the back burner and much more limited software control is being used in its place.
I'm embarrassed to say I have MagicQ on my computer and an Enttec dongle, but haven't made any progress with it. I could really benefit from what you describe and would happily attend (schedule permitting). With all the crap there is to do teaching myself has been put on the back burner and much more limited software control is being used in its place.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
If you want any conventionals, portable dimmers, cabling, distro or a traditional controller I can supply them for the expo.
If you want any conventionals, portable dimmers, cabling, distro or a traditional controller I can supply them for the expo.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Man, Wish I could get out there to see this.
I'm just trying to figure out basic setup's like 3 channel LED par cans. and then some 4 cell lights.
Any chance you can make a power point or something you could post? I'd be happy to float some money your way. I wish I could get a nicer light show going for my band. But it seems i'm in over my head. (I get the way ETC consoles work, but this isn't in the same boat it seems) I'd love to get movers eventually but without understanding this I really don't see a point.
Man, Wish I could get out there to see this.
I'm just trying to figure out basic setup's like 3 channel LED par cans. and then some 4 cell lights.
Any chance you can make a power point or something you could post? I'd be happy to float some money your way. I wish I could get a nicer light show going for my band. But it seems i'm in over my head. (I get the way ETC consoles work, but this isn't in the same boat it seems) I'd love to get movers eventually but without understanding this I really don't see a point.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Shoot me an email ([email protected]) to this effect and I will see about digging up the PP I use for MagicQ workshops. I probably have (somewhere) the one that the folks over at PRG Distribution use for their trainings and I'll see if I can find that as well. If there is enough interest, I might see if I can find the time to put together something more official.
Shoot me an email ([email protected]) to this effect and I will see about digging up the PP I use for MagicQ workshops. I probably have (somewhere) the one that the folks over at PRG Distribution use for their trainings and I'll see if I can find that as well. If there is enough interest, I might see if I can find the time to put together something more official.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
You can also try this: Sweetlight Controller
This is a native Mac dmx software.
You can also try this: Sweetlight Controller
This is a native Mac dmx software.
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Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
I agree with that analysis. DMXIS's biggest asset is that it is SUPER SUPER SUPER simple to use.
What I love about it is that I can put just about ANYBODY on lighting and they can seem like they know what they are doing once I build a few presets for the show. And if I am always using the same lighting rig, it's a no brainer, open the program and start clicking on the scenes you want from the list. Make obviously named presets like "Focus on presenter", "Guitar solo", etc and go.
And if I can't get anybody to run it, I can do it myself without it being much of a distraction from mixing. I have even run it from stage while playing drums by using a foot pedal to do scene changes.
Sure, you lose some control, but I have been able to do some pretty respectable looking shows with Mac250's, various dimmers, led pars, etc etc without issue.
I have MagicQ installed but rarely find a need for it, DMXIS covers a fair bit of ground.
Saying that may make real lampies groan, but I think some of the stuff I have been able to do with DMXIS is way more than reasonable for small venues. I have saved a lot of expense by not needing a lighting guy at some events.
I agree with that analysis. DMXIS's biggest asset is that it is SUPER SUPER SUPER simple to use.
What I love about it is that I can put just about ANYBODY on lighting and they can seem like they know what they are doing once I build a few presets for the show. And if I am always using the same lighting rig, it's a no brainer, open the program and start clicking on the scenes you want from the list. Make obviously named presets like "Focus on presenter", "Guitar solo", etc and go.
And if I can't get anybody to run it, I can do it myself without it being much of a distraction from mixing. I have even run it from stage while playing drums by using a foot pedal to do scene changes.
Sure, you lose some control, but I have been able to do some pretty respectable looking shows with Mac250's, various dimmers, led pars, etc etc without issue.
I have MagicQ installed but rarely find a need for it, DMXIS covers a fair bit of ground.
Saying that may make real lampies groan, but I think some of the stuff I have been able to do with DMXIS is way more than reasonable for small venues. I have saved a lot of expense by not needing a lighting guy at some events.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Jeff, Now that this thread was brought back from the dead by someone else, I'll continue it.
With DMXIS is it simple in the sense that you can just make scenes and then click on ones you want to switch to? My band rarely follows a set list, so setting up a show is not a simple solution for me. so I've just made scenes on my DMX programmer and switch between those.
I've been looking for something that i can just switch between preset scenese with hitting different buttons on the keyboard. But i'm warry of spending money on software without being able to try it first.
Jeff, Now that this thread was brought back from the dead by someone else, I'll continue it.
With DMXIS is it simple in the sense that you can just make scenes and then click on ones you want to switch to? My band rarely follows a set list, so setting up a show is not a simple solution for me. so I've just made scenes on my DMX programmer and switch between those.
I've been looking for something that i can just switch between preset scenese with hitting different buttons on the keyboard. But i'm warry of spending money on software without being able to try it first.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
YES.
You make scenes and save them to a list. When you are running the show you just need to click on the scene you want and it immediately takes effect. You can also use a pedal controller to step forward and backward etc. That's about as easy as it gets.
I have built a large base of presets that I just tweak if the venue requires a different setup. My presets by default are set to control 6 Mac 250's, a Hazer, 2 dimmer packs, 6 LED washes and a laser. They are named generically according to colors and brief description, but you can just as easily build song based presets such as SONG 1 VERSE, SONG 1 CHORUS etc etc and step forward and back through them with a simple pedal switch. It's up to you to decide what works best for your needs.
If nothing about your show changes at the next gig, you can literally open the software and click on a preset and you are immediately up and running.
I didn't realize I was contributing to reviving this thread from the dead. Oops.
YES.
You make scenes and save them to a list. When you are running the show you just need to click on the scene you want and it immediately takes effect. You can also use a pedal controller to step forward and backward etc. That's about as easy as it gets.
I have built a large base of presets that I just tweak if the venue requires a different setup. My presets by default are set to control 6 Mac 250's, a Hazer, 2 dimmer packs, 6 LED washes and a laser. They are named generically according to colors and brief description, but you can just as easily build song based presets such as SONG 1 VERSE, SONG 1 CHORUS etc etc and step forward and back through them with a simple pedal switch. It's up to you to decide what works best for your needs.
If nothing about your show changes at the next gig, you can literally open the software and click on a preset and you are immediately up and running.
I didn't realize I was contributing to reviving this thread from the dead. Oops.
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Don't feel bad at all. This info is very useful to me. As a DMX noob, DMXIS looks like it might be the Mac/IPad solution I'm looking for, without breaking the bank. As a small potatoes sound guy dabbling in DMX, this solution looks like it might be a great fit for myself!
Thanks for the info!!
Don't feel bad at all. This info is very useful to me. As a DMX noob, DMXIS looks like it might be the Mac/IPad solution I'm looking for, without breaking the bank. As a small potatoes sound guy dabbling in DMX, this solution looks like it might be a great fit for myself!
Thanks for the info!!
Re: Software DMX controller for Mac?
Another contender: QLC. (Should start referring to it as QLC-plus.)
It's been around for some time, and was a bit moribund/abandoned by the developer. (Isn't that always the way with FOSS which are always side projects for some mad genius coder with a day job.)
Anyway, a new coder has taken it up (hence the QLC-plus), and new releases are coming out.
Advantages:
decent mac interface
build-your-own-screen-layout
works without much config hassle with USB enttec, DMXKing, etc interfaces
(but not enttec ethernet interfaces
)
rock-solid midi input, super-quick configuration there
darn good tap-tempo
generally simple & intuitive
disadvantages:
fairly primitive, compared with Chamsys
been a bit crashy in my experience
The midi is a big selling point for me.
My club really has no $$ to spend on lighting, audio comes first, as it should. So my goal for a while has been to use cheap midi controllers with a full-fledged software environment. (I've seen people bring in DMXIS with the behringer controller, and the latency is absolutely enraging.) So far, QLC seems like I can push faders on a nano-kontrol like crazy, and it Just Works.
The primitive part -- it took me quite a while to create a good bump with a decent fade-out (but admittedly that takes work in Chamsys too). What I can't do yet is create a cue stack with fades between cues AND with a fade on release of the stack (trivial in Chamsys, hog, etc).
Anyway -- if I were starting from scratch, I would absolutely start playing with this vs DMXIS.
Latest release: https://github.com/mcallegari/qlcplus
cheers,
waldo
Another contender: QLC. (Should start referring to it as QLC-plus.)
It's been around for some time, and was a bit moribund/abandoned by the developer. (Isn't that always the way with FOSS which are always side projects for some mad genius coder with a day job.)
Anyway, a new coder has taken it up (hence the QLC-plus), and new releases are coming out.
Advantages:
decent mac interface
build-your-own-screen-layout
works without much config hassle with USB enttec, DMXKing, etc interfaces
(but not enttec ethernet interfaces
)rock-solid midi input, super-quick configuration there
darn good tap-tempo
generally simple & intuitive
disadvantages:
fairly primitive, compared with Chamsys
been a bit crashy in my experience
The midi is a big selling point for me.
My club really has no $$ to spend on lighting, audio comes first, as it should. So my goal for a while has been to use cheap midi controllers with a full-fledged software environment. (I've seen people bring in DMXIS with the behringer controller, and the latency is absolutely enraging.) So far, QLC seems like I can push faders on a nano-kontrol like crazy, and it Just Works.
The primitive part -- it took me quite a while to create a good bump with a decent fade-out (but admittedly that takes work in Chamsys too). What I can't do yet is create a cue stack with fades between cues AND with a fade on release of the stack (trivial in Chamsys, hog, etc).
Anyway -- if I were starting from scratch, I would absolutely start playing with this vs DMXIS.
Latest release: https://github.com/mcallegari/qlcplus
cheers,
waldo