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[Steve Ferreira]

Hi all,

I'm looking at possibly purchasing a new lighting console to upgrade from the *cough* Lightjockey *cough* that I'm still using. My lighting rig is basically the same for all events I do, 2x trees with 4 led par cans, 4x Chauvet Intimidator 375z irc and a Radiance hazer. I have cues/seq set up so it's easy enough to just setup and forget. I have 14x 3' LED bars I don't use because it would take forever to integrate them into my already existing cues/seq. I just use these bars for uplighting walls as a static colour. I'm looking at possibly purchasing some more fixtures like a Mac Aura types for back lighting. I think I'm ready to step away from the LJ world and get a "real" lighting console instead of a PC based setup.

I have seen some videos on the Chamsys QuickQ20 and this seems to be a huge step forward in what I can presently do and do the job faster and better.

A few questions:
Has anyone on here used this lighting console before?
What are your thoughts?
Pros & Cons?
Would you recommend a different lighting setup?

I'm in the research stage, so I don't mind looking at other lighting desks.

[Tommy Nikiforov]

Hi all,

I'm looking at possibly purchasing a new lighting console to upgrade from the *cough* Lightjockey *cough* that I'm still using. My lighting rig is basically the same for all events I do, 2x trees with 4 led par cans, 4x Chauvet Intimidator 375z irc and a Radiance hazer. I have cues/seq set up so it's easy enough to just setup and forget. I have 14x 3' LED bars I don't use because it would take forever to integrate them into my already existing cues/seq. I just use these bars for uplighting walls as a static colour. I'm looking at possibly purchasing some more fixtures like a Mac Aura types for back lighting. I think I'm ready to step away from the LJ world and get a "real" lighting console instead of a PC based setup.

I have seen some videos on the Chamsys QuickQ20 and this seems to be a huge step forward in what I can presently do and do the job faster and better.

A few questions:
Has anyone on here used this lighting console before?
What are your thoughts?
Pros & Cons?
Would you recommend a different lighting setup?

I'm in the research stage, so I don't mind looking at other lighting desks.

ive had to use the quickqs and was not happy, its extremely limited for the price. its one of those desks made for folk that have no idea how lighting works.
if it needs to be a console i suggest looking at the chamsys mq50 instead, a pc based chamsys solution will be even cheaper and way more powerful.

[Jeff Lelko]

I think I'm ready to step away from the LJ world and get a "real" lighting console instead of a PC based setup.

Hey Steve, I can fully sympathize with wanting to get away from PC solutions and into a hardware console.  Generally speaking for “rock and roll” gigs the pecking order is MA3 first as the most accepted and rider friendly, Hog 4 as a somewhat cheaper alternative that tends to turn up in unexpected places, and ChamSys/MagicQ as the budget fanboy desk used by those not able to afford either of the first two options.  That in no way makes them bad (and ChamSys grows in acceptability every year), but since you mention getting a “real” console those generally are the most prevalent options.

Now, I get the hunch you don’t want to spend 5 figures on a console…  In that case QuickQ will definitely work for what you want, though I suggest reaching out for some quotes as the “next step up” ChamSys desk might end up cheaper than you think.  I’d start by deciding what your actual requirements are along with a ballpark budget and going from there.  Good luck and hope this helps!

[James Feenstra]

I've used the quickQ on a couple of shows, and it's fantastic if used in an application where you only need very specific things

It's great for small club, wedding or corporate shows where you're only going from look A to look B and that's about it

would not recommend for anything more that requires any kind of complex cueing or busking, and wouldn't put one in my company inventory for use as a "general purpose" lighting console since it's not going to be useful on around 50% of shows. For that I'd try to stick to MA hardware, even if it's just a node + computer with touch screen or a command wing.

[Tommy Nikiforov]

Hey Steve, I can fully sympathize with wanting to get away from PC solutions and into a hardware console.  Generally speaking for “rock and roll” gigs the pecking order is MA3 first as the most accepted and rider friendly, Hog 4 as a somewhat cheaper alternative that tends to turn up in unexpected places, and ChamSys/MagicQ as the budget fanboy desk used by those not able to afford either of the first two options.  That in no way makes them bad (and ChamSys grows in acceptability every year), but since you mention getting a “real” console those generally are the most prevalent options.

Now, I get the hunch you don’t want to spend 5 figures on a console…  In that case QuickQ will definitely work for what you want, though I suggest reaching out for some quotes as the “next step up” ChamSys desk might end up cheaper than you think.  I’d start by deciding what your actual requirements are along with a ballpark budget and going from there.  Good luck and hope this helps!

When i asked around end of 2022 the going rate for a mq50 was around 3750+vat , with software version 1.9.3.5 or above it does 8 universes of output.

[Mike Ottinger]

are you still using the old light jocky program?  If you still have the Martin device I think the new ONYX software will work.  It is a free download and a way better program then the old lightjocky.  Many are using a midi controller to run them.
Just another option I bought an NX1 for under 4K It take a look at it. 

Hi all,

I'm looking at possibly purchasing a new lighting console to upgrade from the *cough* Lightjockey *cough* that I'm still using. My lighting rig is basically the same for all events I do, 2x trees with 4 led par cans, 4x Chauvet Intimidator 375z irc and a Radiance hazer. I have cues/seq set up so it's easy enough to just setup and forget. I have 14x 3' LED bars I don't use because it would take forever to integrate them into my already existing cues/seq. I just use these bars for uplighting walls as a static colour. I'm looking at possibly purchasing some more fixtures like a Mac Aura types for back lighting. I think I'm ready to step away from the LJ world and get a "real" lighting console instead of a PC based setup.

I have seen some videos on the Chamsys QuickQ20 and this seems to be a huge step forward in what I can presently do and do the job faster and better.

A few questions:
Has anyone on here used this lighting console before?
What are your thoughts?
Pros & Cons?
Would you recommend a different lighting setup?

I'm in the research stage, so I don't mind looking at other lighting desks.

[Steve Ferreira]

I've used the quickQ on a couple of shows, and it's fantastic if used in an application where you only need very specific things

It's great for small club, wedding or corporate shows where you're only going from look A to look B and that's about it

would not recommend for anything more that requires any kind of complex cueing or busking, and wouldn't put one in my company inventory for use as a "general purpose" lighting console since it's not going to be useful on around 50% of shows. For that I'd try to stick to MA hardware, even if it's just a node + computer with touch screen or a command wing.

All my events now have basically the same light show right now. I'm a weekend warrior so a Grand MA or a Hog are out of the question. Band starts playing and I run a sequence, they stop playing and I switch to only front lighting. Once they start playing again I go into another look. Wash, rinse, repeat. No riders to fill and no LDs to keep happy.

are you still using the old light jocky program?  If you still have the Martin device I think the new ONYX software will work.  It is a free download and a way better program then the old lightjocky.  Many are using a midi controller to run them.
Just another option I bought an NX1 for under 4K It take a look at it. 

I'm running an old LJ dongle that was discontinued in 2003. I looked it up and it and my dongle doesn't work with the ONYX. The newer Light Jockey dongles DO work though. Thanks for the input though.


I'm not opposed to buying used gear if it fits. Being a weekend warrior I can't see myself spending $10k plus on a lighting desk.

[Jeff Lelko]

I'm not opposed to buying used gear if it fits. Being a weekend warrior I can't see myself spending $10k plus on a lighting desk.

That all makes sense Steve.  For what it's worth a shop I regularly work in keeps a few old ETC SmartFades around for bench testing fixtures.  If it's not broken don't fix it!

Sadly there's aren't a whole lot of good options to bridge the gap between the $199 DMX Operator and the $10k entry-level pro desks.  I definitely want to reiterate that there's absolutely nothing wrong with a ChamSys desk at face value, and the company has made great strides over the past decade to present viable options to users of all proficiencies while maintaining affordability. 

Stepping up from LJ to even a QuickQ will make you very happy I think.  I'd go for at least the QuickQ 20 as that gives you a dedicated Playback section on the console unlike the QuickQ 10, but as several of us have already mentioned I'd add an MQ50 into your quote request as well.  You might be surprised how close the two are in price when actually making the purchase through a real dealer.  Of course with the supply chain still upside down I can't make any guarantees, but it never hurts to ask and more often than not I've been pleasantly surprised when shopping up the food chain.  Good luck and hope this helps! 

[Rod Martin]

ive had to use the quickqs and was not happy, its extremely limited for the price. its one of those desks made for folk that have no idea how lighting works.
if it needs to be a console i suggest looking at the chamsys mq50 instead, a pc based chamsys solution will be even cheaper and way more powerful.

I have to agree with Tommy here with actual experience.  I had a Quick 20 console on my desk, in place of the circa 2000 NSI board, and while the package looks amazing... uhh.. .I was sorely dissapointed of what it couldnt do.  I spent a couple hours trying to connect it to my network, come to find... there isnt any need too.  You cannot even use a PC to control the thing.  Network is only used for Art-Net for fixtures.  OOps... well, I boxed it up and sent it back.  MagicQ 50 will hopefully be sent out today!  It was almost 2x the price but will do what is needed. 

[Mac Kerr]

I have to agree with Tommy here with actual experience.  I had a Quick 20 console on my desk, in place of the circa 2000 NSI board, and while the package looks amazing... uhh.. .I was sorely dissapointed of what it couldnt do.  I spent a couple hours trying to connect it to my network, come to find... there isnt any need too.  You cannot even use a PC to control the thing.  Network is only used for Art-Net for fixtures.  OOps... well, I boxed it up and sent it back.  MagicQ 50 will hopefully be sent out today!  It was almost 2x the price but will do what is needed.

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[Rob Gardner]

I used the QuickQ20 for a season and the USB lamp broke the USB connector, the power supply was flimsy and the desk crashed repeatedly when I attempted to do anything remotely complex. Also tech support seemed non-existent. In your case a Chamsys single or dual "dongle" with PC would be a good bet. You might also look into the Avolites dongle which is about 400 bucks. in my case, Avolites was easy to learn and get around but also had enough advanced features to keep me interested.

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