Post by: Aaron McQueen on November 28, 2006, 03:19:03 PM
Post by: Jordan P.C. O'Neil on November 28, 2006, 07:43:27 PM
I have no experience with this device, haven you tried "DMX light player" which should have come with it?
Post by: Kit Hannah on November 28, 2006, 07:50:34 PM
By the way, it's a free download from their site.... www.elationlighting.com
Post by: Rob Blohm on November 29, 2006, 10:46:02 AM
Post by: Aaron McQueen on November 30, 2006, 11:43:36 AM
The DMX Light Player software that came with it very buggy, so I stopped using it pretty quickly.
The Freestyler software worked, but the interface was clunky.
LightJockey is a little expensive, and I agree that a computer controlled interface is overkill, however the cost of the Velleman USB to DMX interface was small, even compared to hardware based solution.
This is for a church youth group and the light only get used about once a month so money is definitely an issue.
I may write my own simple program because the velleman did come with some libraries.
Post by: Rob Smith on November 30, 2006, 12:12:51 PM
Post by: Luc Buytaert on December 01, 2006, 01:47:17 AM
Regards,
Luc
Post by: Duane Massey on December 04, 2006, 07:17:35 PM
www.innovativeshowcontrols.com
Post by: Brian Houchin on December 05, 2006, 10:14:16 AM
| Duane Massey wrote on Mon, 04 December 2006 18:17 |
www.innovativeshowcontrols.com |
I tried checking it out but the address was not coming up, it came up with this one though.
http://www.innovateshowcontrols.com/
Post by: Duane Massey on December 05, 2006, 02:05:15 PM
Post by: James Garrard on December 06, 2006, 02:54:25 PM
I loved the bluelite software too, reviewed it for Ukslc.org and now use it all of the time, absolutely superb!!
Post by: James Feenstra on December 18, 2009, 11:21:41 AM
| WInston Potgieter wrote on Fri, 18 December 2009 10:38 |
The best I have found for software only DMX control is Enlighten by Mega-Lite. It has a great User interface and I use it with a touch screen so it make it feel real hands on. I found info at www.enlightenpro.com. |
interesting software...not what i'd consider overly stable though, within five minutes of use i was able to generate at least 4 different error codes doing basic things with some 250 kryptons patched in
reminds me of light jockey hahaha
i like the mini-media server that's built in though
Post by: Stuart Pendleton on December 18, 2009, 11:35:30 AM
Post by: Rob Timmerman on December 18, 2009, 07:33:29 PM
Post by: Shaun Crawford on December 19, 2009, 07:57:30 PM
its actually not bad software. older versions were quite buggy and crashed more. but the latest has seemed to be very stable.
there is a lot you can do with it. some of it can be limiting and harder with moving lights though, depending on what you want to do.
though... i prefer to pull out my LP-X24 any day of the week, if I have the time or room to program and set it up.
Post by: Hal Clague on December 21, 2009, 04:58:15 PM
are any of these wirelessly controllable via laptop? I'm just starting to explore software control options but would need a cat5 remote atleast. Wireless network would be preferable.
Thanks
Hal
Post by: Jerome Casinger on December 21, 2009, 07:51:44 PM
| Kit Hannah wrote on Tue, 28 November 2006 18:50 |
you might try Elation's Compupro. They have 3 or 4 different versions of it, but the older versions may work, may not. It has an easy graphic inerface, easy to set up, easy to control. By the way, it's a free download from their site.... www.elationlighting.com |
Thats what I use, elations compulive. Never crashed on me, it does take a little learning to get into intermediate programing. The only thing I dont like is with the moving heads when I go to manually move them it has a 5 to 10 second delay before you can actually move the fixture with the mouse, pain in the booty when you are setting up alot of movements.
Post by: James Feenstra on December 21, 2009, 11:35:02 PM
| Hal Clague wrote on Mon, 21 December 2009 16:58 |
Hi are any of these wirelessly controllable via laptop? I'm just starting to explore software control options but would need a cat5 remote atleast. Wireless network would be preferable. Thanks Hal |
yes, but you need a second laptop running VNC viewer with your dmx computer running a VNC server
Post by: Duane Massey on December 22, 2009, 08:14:54 PM
Several of my former clients had purchased Bluelight and were quite happy with it. I looked at the website and it seemed quite impressive, especially at the "introductory" price.
Earlier this year I was sub-contracted to install a system that used the current version, and I was looking forward to learning a new system's tricks. Truly disappointing.
Post by: Tim Palmer on December 23, 2009, 09:27:18 AM
Post by: Michael Glenn on December 23, 2009, 12:55:36 PM
Post by: Stuart Pendleton on December 23, 2009, 01:26:12 PM
Post by: Duane Massey on December 23, 2009, 09:26:54 PM
Only 24 "scenes" per page
"Solo", or swap, only works in momentary mode
When stacking scenes, it is always in additive, or combining mode; no LTP or HTP option
The sequencing or chase functions are pretty much useless for dj or music applications.
I got very little help with questions about these features.
I do like the extensive profile editing features, but just can't find anything to like in a real-world application. It turns out that the clients who like this software have had no experience with any other system (hardware or software).
Post by: Chris Buford on December 24, 2009, 10:44:30 PM
| James Feenstra wrote on Mon, 21 December 2009 22:35 | ||
yes, but you need a second laptop running VNC viewer with your dmx computer running a VNC server |
For what its worth, LJ Manager (which is a free add on to Martin's Light Jockey) has remote web server feature. You create a page of user buttons and then it will convert that into a web page. You can load that web page on any other PC or phone. I haven't done it on a complex network, but I've sure had some fun running cues by tapping my iPhone that's on the same network as my laptop.
Of course at this point you still need 2 devices, so you'd be better off using VNC if you want to access the whole program.
Also if you get the Universal USB interface from Martin, you can now use their Maxxyz PC software with 2 universes. Its a little odd to program without the surface, but from what I can tell it behaves more like a "real" console (from my limited time on Hogs and GrandMAs) Cuelists on faders, fixture and palette grouping etc.
They have an iPhone app that's a Maxxyz remote that lets you update presets very easily. You can even use the inclinometer to adjust pan/tilt! Sadly I didn't have time to play with that last show as I'm still programming in Light Jockey until I can get the hang of Maxxyz.
Anyway, I've been very happy with LightJockey. If you delve into the program you can get alot out of it. It seems to have a rep as a DJ/club controller but I've figured out how to make it a decent live controller for rock shows. The fact that I can use Maxxyz now to is just an added bonus.
Post by: Adam Whetham on December 31, 2009, 04:00:19 PM
ie
A: blue wash
S: Red wash
D: Green wash
F: blinky's all over the place.
and just be able to click and random. as our bar show changes at any moment depending on what the band feels like. and just scene's like that work best for it... I've tried alot of the software, but most of it seems to be set up for people that aren't spastic with a 5 second attention span on stage...
Does anyone else have this issue?
Post by: WInston Potgieter on December 31, 2009, 04:23:51 PM
program blue wash and save to button
program red wash and save to button
program green wash and save to button
program blinky's and save to button
http://www.enlightenpro.com/Enlighten%20Help/Create%20a%20St atic%20Look%20Sequence%20Button.htm
then right click on each button and assign a keyboard shortcut key.
http://www.enlightenpro.com/Enlighten%20Help/How%20to%20Assi gn%20a%20Keyboard%20Shortcut.htm
full online help at www.enlightenpro.com
Winston P
Post by: Thomas Bishop on January 01, 2010, 02:42:03 PM
| Adam Whetham wrote |
Interesting... I'm trying to find a computer program that I can just program scenes. then program them to keys on the keyboard. ie A: blue wash S: Red wash D: Green wash F: blinky's all over the place. and just be able to click and random. as our bar show changes at any moment depending on what the band feels like. and just scene's like that work best for it... I've tried alot of the software, but most of it seems to be set up for people that aren't spastic with a 5 second attention span on stage... Does anyone else have this issue? |
American DJ's myDMX sounds like what you're after. I'm using it right now and it does have its limitations, but for what you are doing it sounds perfect. It won't run scenes at "random" but you could set up scenes to step through the colors and create the "random" order yourself.
Post by: Tony "T" Tissot on January 01, 2010, 05:26:15 PM
| Adam Whetham wrote on Thu, 31 December 2009 13:00 |
Interesting... I'm trying to find a computer program that I can just program scenes. then program them to keys on the keyboard. ie A: blue wash S: Red wash D: Green wash F: blinky's all over the place. and just be able to click and random. as our bar show changes at any moment depending on what the band feels like. and just scene's like that work best for it... I've tried alot of the software, but most of it seems to be set up for people that aren't spastic with a 5 second attention span on stage... Does anyone else have this issue? |
Unless I misread this - you can do all that and more on any software console. I use Light Factory. Depending on how precedence features operate you can make this really easy.
All on screen - or...
I use a 16 channel scene setter as an input device for washes with the faders (it's a second Enttec USB/DMX box as input).
Onscreen I have (up to) 100 different movement scenarios mapped so you just click on them and they add to the wash that is set. Makes operation easy. Washes on the hardware - complex stuff under mouse control. I can setup with or without overrides for any scene.
It can get as sophisticated as you need, complete with full hardware button control, should you elect to buy the various outboard devices - or roll your own with "cash register" button farms.
Read this for a view of how sophisticated you can get: http://files.lifact.com/LightFactory2_User_Guide.pdf
Post by: neil juneja on February 01, 2010, 05:55:56 AM
There is nothing this software can't do, from pixel mapping to Hog emulation. In fact, PLSN just wrote an editorial about the history of lighting desks and said that Chamsys is not only an amazing controller today, but will probably be the top controller over the next 10 years.
I just call it Hog 4, because its far more advanced than a Hog 3.
And no, I don't work for the company.
Post by: James Feenstra on February 03, 2010, 05:32:01 PM
), it's alright, but what I've seen from Vista coming out sometime this year is going to smoke everything out on the market currently. Lets just say everything that pretty much every desk can do, Vista can do, and it can do it faster (or better, or both). Wait for Byron to come out, cause I can't talk too much about it (or call AC Lighting and ask for a demo).
The only thing that Chamsys has that makes it useful is the cost...cheap usb/dmx dongles and compatibility with multiple types of hardware make it an affordable small show console for those on a budget
Post by: Craig Leerman on February 08, 2010, 05:58:58 PM
I don't like VISTA. I used one on a show a year ago, and it was not all that intuitive to the three of us experienced lighting guys at the show. I could have programmed the show in about 1 hour on a Chamsys or Hog, and probably about the same time on a GrandMA (if I knew that software as well as I do the Chamsys and Hog) It took the three of us HOURS to get a few movers, bunch of static washes, and some LED uplights going.
I downloaded Vista to learn it in case I ever need to run one on a gig again, but will never request one.
I also hate PC software that looks more like a COMPUTER PROGRAM, and not like a lighting board.
A good example is the new (well, new to me) E:CUE software system. I found it on the web, and I saw that it had a very nice Fader Wing for it. The Fader Wing has sliders, as well as a few rotory knobs you could use for programming positions, etc. Similar to a Chamsys Programming Wing, but a lot less cost.
So, I went to the E:CUE website and watched the videos of the desk. YUK! You have to open up and shrink windows all over the place! Shrink or move a window to get to the clear or record buttons, etc.
I stopped watching after only half the videos, as I knew I never wanted to touch that desk!
That's my big problem with Light Jockey, Light Factory, etc. They don't look and operate like a real desk, they FEEL like a computer to me. Hog and Chamsys look and FEEL like I am working on a lighting desk. Add some wings and you are!
Post by: James Feenstra on February 08, 2010, 11:09:08 PM
when the release hits everyone should be able to pick up the desk fairly quickly as it now supports both command line programming and the old style programming
using the console once is not an accurate representation of the desk, especially if the person trying to show you how to use it doesn't know it so well themselves (and not many people do know the intricate functions of how it works either). It's really quite powerful and for someone like myself who's visually oriented, having a layout where I can put what I need right in front of me is very useful. The ability to see what your fixtures are doing in relation to the stage (or in lieu of the stage, in some cases) is also quite good.
doing anything short of an entirely cue listed show in Vista takes virtually no time with an experienced programmer. Unfortunately there aren't very many experienced Vista guys yet...I can only think of half a dozen of us. Hopefully cue list based shows will become easier to program post-Byron.
If you want the 'desk' feel from a PC based Vista setup, click the console view...you can't get much closer to what the desk is than that.
The majority of Vista consoles are simply wings anyways, aside from the T series and I3, which are 'actual' consoles.
If you have Vista questions feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to answer them
also, if you know Hog 3, GrandMA shouldn't be a problem to program, it's incredibly close.