ProSoundWeb Community

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 6   Go Down

Author Topic: Compact DMX controller for band use  (Read 21425 times)

Bob Charest

  • Lab Lounge
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 830
  • Westbrook ME, USA
    • Bob Charest Band
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2016, 11:37:40 AM »

Thanks. I have been considering the FCB1010 as it looks very good value and has midi note capability. Not sure if it can send more than one note at a time like the Yamaha can...
The Behringer is quite large which is partly the reason that I'm looking at the Yamaha MFC10. It's a pedal width shorter.

Re. the Lanbox. Some info on this would be useful as there's very little
online,no reviews and not many places to buy. PM or here, don't mind.
I take it that the unit (LCX) is programmed via a laptop before a gig and then is used standalone with a controller.

Hi Dan,
The size of the FCB1010 is what led me to do the mod to it where I cut off the section that mounts both pedals. I wish now that I'd left one so I could use it to have overall control of brightness as there are times when there's too much light in small spaces. The FCB1010 cannot send more than one event at a time. Another part of my mod was to send power to the FCB1010 down the two unused MIDI leads. That way, the only cable going to the foot controller is the MIDI cable.

You are correct about the Lanbox: One programs it ahead of time then triggers the various scenes - In my case with the FCB1010. Since one of the founders of Lanbox, Fokko van Duin passed away, things appear to have changed a bit at Lanbox. A colleague used the Lanbox for a show implementation, and felt there was a lack of available support when he was trying to diagnose a problem. He has since moved on to another way of controlling his show.

I use the LCM which is no longer made - the LCX is what is available now. I have 10 lighting scenes for our band and (for now) that is adequate. Were I to do this again, with changes in what is possible now, I would certainly consider the Yamaha MFC10 - Looks just right. 

Best regards,
Bob Charest
Logged

Dan Reavey

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 95
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2016, 12:59:44 PM »


Another part of my mod was to send power to the FCB1010 down the two unused MIDI leads. That way, the only cable going to the foot controller is the MIDI cable.


Good mod. One less thing to plug in.
I was also looking at the Tech 21 Midi Moose as that has battery power option.
Only sends program change though which may be ok for software programs.
MFC10 is external power supply only so will have to get used to that.
Logged

John L Nobile

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2658
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2016, 01:59:35 PM »

We used a Lanbox for 5 or 6 years to control 100 cans, 4 movers and a dozen
LED's. Had a lighting guy program it and triggered the cues with midi commands. It worked great.

We've expanded our rig and moved up to a GrandMa on PC so the Lanbox has been gathering dust for a few years. I could probably let you have it for a good price if that's what you wanted.

Gotta warn you that the lighting guys said that it was a pain to program. Main reason that I bought it was that it worked with a Mac and I couldn't find anything else that did.

But it does work and it is quite powerful. I was able to program a few things into it and found it fine once you got to know your way around it. It doesn't seem to be laid out like a "traditional" light board and I'm pretty sure that was the problem the designers had with it. One guy had it figured out pretty quickly and programmed over 800 cues for a 90 minute show. Whichwas a real pain for me cause I had to program 800 midi triggers.

Logged

David Buckley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 565
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2016, 03:27:11 PM »

Another part of my mod was to send power to the FCB1010 down the two unused MIDI leads. That way, the only cable going to the foot controller is the MIDI cable.

Rocktron make some nice cables for doing this: a 7 pin to 7 pin,   and 5 to 7 Pin with a power jack barrel.
Logged

Dan Reavey

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 95
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2016, 06:13:41 AM »

We used a Lanbox for 5 or 6 years to control 100 cans, 4 movers and a dozen
LED's.

That's a lot of lights.
The Lanbox has way more capability than we'd ever need for our 2 Spectres and 4 LEDs but it looks like the the simplest and most compact in terms of equipment on stage.

I notice though that the Lanbox doesn't do sound active standalone and it would need an external unit that can take a mic.
This is to be be expected I guess as it's specialised equipment.

I use this most of the time as it's an easy way to have lights changing in sync with the music. Having read posts on DMXIS, Lanbox and similar setups, there's no mention of needing sound to light so maybe I don't need it.





« Last Edit: November 01, 2016, 07:55:15 PM by Dan Reavey »
Logged

Dan Reavey

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 95
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #15 on: November 03, 2016, 08:45:55 AM »

That's a lot of lights.
The Lanbox has way more capability than we'd ever need for our 2 Spectres and 4 LEDs but it looks like the the simplest and most compact in terms of equipment on stage.

I notice though that the Lanbox doesn't do sound active standalone and it would need an external unit that can take a mic.
This is to be be expected I guess as it's specialised equipment.

I use this most of the time as it's an easy way to have lights changing in sync with the music. Having read posts on DMXIS, Lanbox and similar setups, there's no mention of needing sound to light so maybe I don't need it.

Well, I'm persevering with my quest to revamp my lighting control and I really think a small laptop and Enttec DMXIS is the way to go.
I've read up about midi control and and it can 'learn' from any midi controller so could assign a button or pitch bend stick on one of my keyboards.
Many users are using it within sequencing software for light sync but we don't use tracks so anything in sync will have to be manual.

The 11" or 13.5" netbook can be in a plastic case together with the DMXIS
USB/DMX interface.
Also there's a lot more info on DMXIS online than Lanbox.
Thanks for the replies and help.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2016, 10:15:02 AM by Dan Reavey »
Logged

David Buckley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 565
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #16 on: November 03, 2016, 03:31:52 PM »

...really think a small laptop and Enttec DMXIS is the way to go.

DMXIS is a great solution, but where it really scores is when its integrated into your playback also running on the lappie, so the lappie is providing stems of instrumentation and vocals you don't have live, and click to the drummer, and running the lights in perfect sync to the live action.
Logged

Jeff Lelko

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2017
  • Cape Canaveral, FL
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #17 on: November 03, 2016, 06:38:54 PM »

DMXIS is a great solution, but where it really scores is when its integrated into your playback also running on the lappie, so the lappie is providing stems of instrumentation and vocals you don't have live, and click to the drummer, and running the lights in perfect sync to the live action.

+1  Very few other platforms offer such simple and seamless integration with your music.  Even as a standalone product DMXIS is a nice solution for people that need effective lighting but don't need to / want to deal with a more complex and expensive platform.  I think you made a great decision.  Have fun!
Logged

Dan Reavey

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 95
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #18 on: November 03, 2016, 06:46:08 PM »

DMXIS is a great solution, but where it really scores is when its integrated into your playback also running on the lappie

Thanks.
Yes, I can see how that would be really effective but what about for live bands not using tracks?
For the last ten years or so, we've just set the NJD Spectres on sound to light from the hand held controller.
It's easy to setup but there's not much else you can do with it when playing.

To achieve sound to light sync, I"d need to take an audio feed maybe from
a spare mix out on our A&H Qu16 or from the drummers submixer.
That's going to need an external audio interface to get audio
into the laptop.





« Last Edit: November 04, 2016, 05:25:19 AM by Dan Reavey »
Logged

David Buckley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 565
Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #19 on: November 04, 2016, 08:00:44 AM »

...but what about for live bands not using tracks?

Well........ if you play the tunes the same way every time you play them, then I'd suggest putting the drummer on click, and then you can have a fully scripted lightshow against a live band.

If that's too much, then the next best thing is someone in the band gets to be the person with the footswitch that advances the cuelist every verse and chorus.  When they get it right it can look great, and if they screw up, the you'll get the wrong look, and probably almost no-one outside the band will notice.

Redsound make (or perhaps - made, their website looks a lot lacking at the moment) boxes that convert music to MIDI clock, which can drive chases and the like in time to the music.  I still use a Redsound Voyager for this purpose, a tool from some years ago!   

Youtube video demoing the general idea.
Logged

ProSoundWeb Community

Re: Compact DMX controller for band use
« Reply #19 on: November 04, 2016, 08:00:44 AM »


Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 6   Go Up
 



Site Hosted By Ashdown Technologies, Inc.

Page created in 0.022 seconds with 24 queries.