DMX Software

I've read through a couple threads on this subject but needed to add a new question and didn't want to hijack another older thread. Sorry to jump into a DJ forum as a live act but DJ's seem to be more up on this subject than bands are.

Our band http://www.thebandescape.com is still growing and at this point we don't have a sound/light tech. We've been using a DMX floor controller with our PAR's and beginning to add more lights/effects to the show. While I'm singing I change the patterns and kill the lights during breaks or bring them all up for emphasis but that about all you can do while you're performing. We're now looking into DMX software using one of the USB dongles.

What I envisioned as the simple/logical system, and what we really need, is a program that will allow us to program a timed sequence of patterns and effects (like full lights on or lasers for emphasis) for a song, save that song sequence and then be able to combine the songs into a playlist based on our setlist for the night. Then using a single 'start' key tell the system to start the next song's sequence. That way we can do it on stage or eventually our light tech can hit the key when we start the song and the timing should be pretty close. Would be even better if it takes audio input.

Now the question is ... does any available software use this 'playlist' system?

TIA for any info.

ShowXpress will work much like you are hoping for, and can even integrate video, etc. for backdrops, stage effects, etc as well using the Timeline feature on it. If you have a sound guy who can hit the "button" to start the show for a song, that's the easiest way. Otherwise, using the Xpress plus you can do some neat things with contact closures, etc. It is also configurable with audio or MIDI, but the easiest is to just click the "go" button.

I use ShowXpress personally and really like it. We also sell a lot of it. People by and large are very happy with it. In fact, I just got this e-mail last night:

=Hey Ben,
I just wanted to say thanks for recommending showxpress to me. I think this is the best lighting software I have used. It fits my needs perfectly! I even ordered a new touch screen to use for our shows. Both the touch screen and the x-factor were still less than lightjockey would have been by itself. I love that I can layer shows on top of each other. This works perfectly for the colorstrips, since I didn't want to have to program them into the shows. I can just run it over the top of any scenes. I also like that I can see up to 4 boards at one time. I made tabs for all of my shows, so at any given time, I can click on the tab for any of our 4 setups. I'm still playing with Generator, but from what I can gather, it's basically a way to create shapes with the mirror or moving-head fixtures. Anyway... thanks again and I'll be recommending this light software to others.

Ben

Unicav,
Im thinking you got one great answer thus far.One of our most knowledgeable members as usual has stepped up kindly to share great advice. Welcome to ODJT. Thanks Ben.

I've had great experience with the Elation CompuPro software. In fact it is the first software I have ever used, I feel it is more developed and further along than the chauvet software.

I've had great experience with the Elation CompuPro software. In fact it is the first software I have ever used, I feel it is more developed and further along than the chauvet software.

Absolutely.

Look around and try them out before you buy.
More often than not, you can download the software and see how you like it.

Some popular contenders are

Chauvet's ShowXpress (http://www.chauvetlighting.com/support/support_showxpress.shtml)
Elation's Compupro (http://www.elationlighting.com/product.asp?ProductIDNumber=1288)
Freestyler (http://users.pandora.be/freestylerdmx/)
Martin's LightJockey (ftp://ftp.martin.dk/Controller/Lightjockey/LJ_2_7_8_Large.zip)


Hopefully, with the provided links, you can download some and see what suits you best with both needs, and ease of use.

I have tried them all and hands down, Martin is the best. Almost Everyone will say that. It will do everything you want and more. However, that comes at a price. The dongle (the thing that goes from the computer USB to DMX) costs around $2000 USD. This is why other software solutions exist.

I use FreeStyler, and what an amazing program it is. The dongle costs $50 (Enttec's OpenDMX), but there are numerous ones developed by different companies, and therefore, many choices. It is very similar to LightJockey and can actually "talk" with it and share the information it has (see below).

I cannot say too much about the other two programs as I am not familiar with them, and probably won't do them justice.

If you need any starting point when using the programs, please see this guide (http://www.freestylerguide.com). It covers Freestyler and parts of LightJockey, including how they "speak" to each other. The fundamentals in that guide are universal among DMX programs and pretty much DMX in general.

If you need any more help, feel free to message me.

I hope you find exactly what you are looking for (the playlist feature) and I am certain one of the programs will do the trick for you. You'll just have to decide on what you and your band are willing to spend. Just remember one thing...

You get what you pay for. :D

Ryan

Thanks to all who posted so far and thanks for the welcome to the forum!

We were discussing different methods of triggering and keeping the timing yesterday. Looking at some videos of other bands where the lights appear to change pulse perfectly with the drum beats and speculating if it's a live light tech or sequenced with audio. Our drummer uses a D4 for some effects and has a trigger on the bass drum so that might be an option of getting the feed off his bass trigger or his D4 output. Having either a foot trigger would work or we could place the laptop running the show onstage within reach so we can hit the GO key.

I'll download and try a few of these. Thanks again!

Most of the pro boards (and some of the lower end dmx consoles) have a "tap" button which will sync to a beat and perform a specified action as programmed.

Sure you can do triggers, but honestly I have never seen any LD's really do this. They usually have the LD trigger other exponents for instance at the ZZ Top concert I worked at the LD triggered the LCD screens in back.

Our controller is an SCX-101 and it has an audio input but we've never been able to get it to work but the speed wheel and hitting the pattern switch made it fairly easy to make the show look nice. All we have to control is 5 dimmer packs at the moment running par cans. Our other effects are sound activated stand alone devices. We're also trying to find a dmx relay we can use to fire off all our foggers at once through dmx too.

I've played with ShowXpress and Freestyler a bit and looks like it's going to be quite a challenge to get it working. Quite a difference from hitting pattern switches and master on/off to programming everything from scratch. Maybe I missed something and there's some preset patterns (the chaser patterns and such) that can be downloaded into the programs?

All of this talk about DMX Software got me to thinking.Two years go, I was extremely interested in PCDJ's DMX Software. When it came out, I couldn't figure out the demo software at all. So, I reluctantly gave up any idea of getting DMX software.

so this thread got me to thinking about the software again.
In searching I found something new!

American DJ has come out with it's MY DMX Software.
How is it? In a word----FANTASTIC!

It resembles the PCDJ Software, but, I was able to use the program within an hour of first seeing it.

DMX programming is now as easy as clicking your mouse.
It also has a Virtual Viewer on board, so you can program your scenes without setting up your lights!

Several built in pan & tilt routines assist you with running circles, curves, and lines into routines , or if you like, just to rub lighting panels while you are idling before an event.

And the small USB Interface really saves you space when compared to conventional DMX Controllers.

If you use Intelligent Lighting, you should definitely give the MY DMX Software a test drive. You can download it from the recently re-vamped Americandj.com site

http://americandj.com/images/new/mydmx.jpg

All of this talk about DMX Software got me to thinking.Two years go, I was extremely interested in PCDJ's DMX Software. When it came out, I couldn't figure out the demo software at all. So, I reluctantly gave up any idea of getting DMX software.

so this thread got me to thinking about the software again.
In searching I found something new!

American DJ has come out with it's MY DMX Software.
How is it? In a word----FANTASTIC!

It resembles the PCDJ Software, but, I was able to use the program within an hour of first seeing it.

DMX programming is now as easy as clicking your mouse.
It also has a Virtual Viewer on board, so you can program your scenes without setting up your lights!

Several built in pan & tilt routines assist you with running circles, curves, and lines into routines , or if you like, just to rub lighting panels while you are idling before an event.

And the small USB Interface really saves you space when compared to conventional DMX Controllers.

If you use Intelligent Lighting, you should definitely give the MY DMX Software a test drive. You can download it from the recently re-vamped Americandj.com site

http://americandj.com/images/new/mydmx.jpg

I wonder if Ben will be carrying this... and what the price would be as compared to other PC solutions.

Just found it on MF... at $299.00 I bet Ben could beat that..... ;)

D'oh! Ben you're slippin you're site lists at .99 cents more.... hahahaha

Yep, we carry it... and we can beat that .99. LOL.

Ben