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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: DMX Lighting Control - Advice Needed Please - Page: 1
I know nothing about DMX Lighting, other than I know how to link all our matching effects together with the appropriate XLR cables, i.e. the two Chauvets FX5s are linked together, the two Kinta HPs too and the four Equinoxes are linked.

Problem: These lights are often far too bright for smaller venues and there doesn't seem to be a reliable way to dim them. They all possess frequent strobing too which I would like to disable.

It would be ideal to get them all working sound-to-light most of the time, but that doesn't seem to be possible. I only have one remote for the Kinta HPs and that does very little. I can select individual colours with that but it resets itself before long and goes off on its own usual tangent.

Sound-to-light mode just doesn't work at all, on any of these lights. (Maybe I am doing something wrong.)

What can I do to control these lights more effectively? I was wondering about getting a DMX controller, but that might not be suitable for these lighting effects.

Or maybe there are better ways to do all this.

Can anybody who is experienced with DMX lighting offer a solution please?

Thanks.
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 2:11 pm
I started from scratch with Chauvet ShowXpress. There is a learning curve but it's worth getting to grips with. I believe most DMX software works on a similar way.
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 3:02 pm
Bear in mind that if you go the software route, typically the dongle required will only work with that software, so you'll be tied in.

There are "open" dongles available but that also restricts you because some software doesn't support them.

Then there's the issue with "fixture files". The software has to use these files to understand the settings for each light, but the lights you have may not be supported (via the fixture file) for the software you choose.

A hardware DMX unit might be a better choice to start with, as it will just work - with any DMX lights.
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 3:11 pm
I have been using SoundSwitch with my Prime 4 & it works a treat. I know it also works with VDJ, perhaps look into it. The main benefit of SoundSwitch is that it allows you to create individual light shows for any tracks in your library that will be perfectly synced to the music everytime you play it & no matter what speed you play it at. If you don't have the patience to manually script the shows for songs, the software has a very usefull autoscript feature which will batch script your music for you automatically. Then if for whatever reason the music wasn't scripted (think new music) there are a whole bunch of autoloops (pre-made scripts) that will run in time with those songs too. Another very cool feature is that it can also work with various cheap usb dongles. check it out here: https://support.soundswitch.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000828946-getting-started-with-virtual-dj
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 9:05 pm
Thank you for your replies.

Wow! SoundSwitch looks impressive. I had no idea lighting could be controlled though Virtual DJ. Is there anything Virtual DJ cannot do?

So I see there are a few options although I am still unsure which one to go for. SoundSwitch looks really useful as it seems to respond to the music or what's happening at Virtual DJ. That simplifies things nicely and takes care of the sound-to-light aspect.

If I go for a controller such as the Chauvet ShowXpress or maybe a Chauvet DJ Obey 70 then I guess I will have to get used to programming in addresses, and scenes, etc. I have been watching a few videos about this and I get the general idea. It will be a learning curve, however.

I imagine I will be able to programme my own scenes and save them in any of the units for future gigs.

I know I need to have a play with one of these and get to grips with it myself, but I am still unsure which one to go for. More video tuition needed I think. I will have a look around.

My budget is not huge at the moment, but I should be able to afford something decent after the festive season. I am guessing that I needn't spend a lot of money on this as I only need a basic amount of control. That SoundSwitch does looks tempting though. I presume it will run with my American Audio VMS 4.1 and 5.0.

Many thanks for your suggestions so far. Please keep them coming in.
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 9:44 pm
The only caveat with SoundSwitch is that it's an ongoing payment. There's no option to just buy outright.
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 10:22 pm
groovindj wrote :
The only caveat with SoundSwitch is that it's an ongoing payment. There's no option to just buy outright.


Really? I am trying to cut down on our monthly subscription but they just keep going up and up! Will bear this in mind. Thanks groovindj.
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 11:12 pm
groovindj wrote :
The only caveat with SoundSwitch is that it's an ongoing payment. There's no option to just buy outright.


This is true. They do however, have a compromise between monthly and pay once free upgrades forever - they have an option to pay a fee for upgrades in the lifetime of the current 2.X major release (it's on a half off black Friday special right now).
Given they've been in the 2.X release for at least 2 years (I saw a what's new review video for the 2.3 release that came out around 2021), there is a decent chance you'll probably break even (compared to monthly subscription) at about a little after the 1 year mark...maybe that's a better investment?
 
Inviato Wed 22 Nov 23 @ 11:34 pm
If you buy the software, you get updates until next major version comes out. But you can choose to just stay on the version you bought. So, it is not a subscription. You are not renting the software -- you own it.

I like that model, and I hate subscriptions.
 
Inviato Thu 23 Nov 23 @ 8:02 am
Hmm! (Deep in thought) I have watched a number of SoundSwitch videos now and I really like what I see. I think this is the way to go.

I like the idea of being to use the software on its own via a dongle to see if I get on with it first - and three months free trial too. What can go wring? There may be no need to buy the hardware but I can see it would be handy to have, if perhaps slightly overkill for our setup.

Thank you again for the info.
 
Inviato Thu 23 Nov 23 @ 12:34 pm
 
Inviato Thu 23 Nov 23 @ 12:48 pm
I'll check that out. Thanks GroovinDJ
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 10:28 am
Just my personal take on this:

Over the years I have used various DMX software titles, and a few hardware DMX consoles.

Yes, I'm a "power user", but SoundSwitch is the only DMX software out there that for me is 100% unusable if your light setup has more than just RGB par cans / led bars. Honestly I don't understand the hype..

In principal, what they claim to do is clever, and "groundbreaking"
But in reality it is far more limiting and time consuming, if you want something decent out of your lighting rig, than any other DMX software I have ever used.

This summer I was running 50 Beams, 16 Washes, 16 RGB Led bars, 8 RGB Lasers, 8 Laser bars and several smaller "effect" fixtures with MagicQ software (which BTW also supports OS2L) in a local club.
Yes, for me it was easier to control all those lights and produce a professional light show that could be synced with VirtualDJ, with MagicQ (a professional DMX software) than using SoundSwitch.

Also to be honest, one year ago I didn't even knew MagicQ software existed. It's one of the major 3 software / consoles used in PRO rigs around the world (Grand MA, Avolites Titan, Chamsys MagicQ)

So, personally I find it easier to setup a full show using a fully professional DMX software, than using SoundSwitch!

I don't advocate to use MagicQ, nor I want/need to advertise the software. I'm just saying that for me SoundSwitch is one of the most difficult DMX software to setup and use if you know what you want your light fixtures to do, even compared with (by definition) complex professional software titles. Just keep that in the back of your mind!
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 1:48 pm
PhantomDeejay wrote :

Yes, I'm a "power user", but SoundSwitch is the only DMX software out there that for me is 100% unusable if your light setup has more than just RGB par cans / led bars. Honestly I don't understand the hype.


I thought it was just me. I got the SS dongle and software and it was basically unfathomable and made no sense to me whatsoever. there was very little control for moving heads and it just seemed that the software made everything go nuts like being at a rave.

I need manual control (speed, dimming, gobo selection) for functions and SS was nowhere near being the solution.

I can sort of see how it would work in a pub or club environment however.
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 1:56 pm
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I do the same with the 140SR hybrid heads early doors and they look great.

Mind you I have been at some functions where the DJ has a gigbar and some moonflowers and just sets them all on sound to light even at the start of the night and during the food.
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 2:34 pm
@PhantomDeejay I think SoundSwitch's main selling point is quick automation of shows for small, common rigs for mobile DJs. Most mobile DJs aren't going spend time creating custom shows and don't need tons of universes because they probably only have a few things to check off the list (a couple moving heads, pars, wash lights and maybe a smoke machine). Through auto loops and auto scripting, you basically don't have to program the show outside of positions and gobo attribute changes unless you really want to. The autoloops that it comes with are placed in different switchable banks based on the type of music/vibe you are playing (from updeat dance to chill). Auto scripting allows you to import songs directly from your VirtualDJ database and pretty much batch scan them to generate + save shows for the songs (a big time saver). Overrides and static looks probably aren't the big deal, as other software probably does that too.
I've not used MagicQ but just a quick look seems to have syncing of track play and fader midi data to control timings of the shows, but I didn't readily see show generation (it seemed more geared towards live choices, but please correct me if I'm wrong).
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 3:53 pm
locoDogPRO InfinityModeratorMember since 2013
@DJ VinylTouch I sort of agree, soundswitch is entry level but as a company I feel they're not to be trusted,

they've half implemented os2l. Their deal is software and hardware and full os2l would hurt their HW sales, which is their prerogative,
but there's an outright dishonesty when they say you can't send midi out of vdj to their SW.

I've done it several times, I'm working with a guy right now for passing midi out of vdj with a virtual definition. I've even explained it to the SS techs, gave them working code [anybody could do it with copy paste, phantom could confirm this] and they lie saying it isn't possible.
They sell HW to solve a problem they created and lie about the other options available.
I make a beer or two, one user at a time by telling the truth. You don't need SS hardware for full control of their software if you're using vdj.
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 9:07 pm
@Locodog I fully agree. However I think you can be considered a power user's power user - people like yourself push the boundaries rather than accept them for what they are (or if they may be artificial). Their offering hangs on one thing that is almost a fact - the average DJ just wants the easy way/way with the least amount of effort. Given that knowledge, and you give the product to people considered industry leaders (paid or not) to do flashly things + review the product favourably, you now have a market.
I think I'm just glad they decided to play ball with VirtualDJ - they are now under InMusic I think and given the current climate of the DJ world, it is better to have them as friends of Atomix in this state than enemies (talking + (sometimes unfortunate) compromise can always lead to a better result that war).
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 10:44 pm
Thanks for your replies. A little busy at the moment so I will post back tomorrow as I think SoundSwitch will be all we need, as smaller, low-power users.
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 11:14 pm
Great then. if it meets your needs then that's all that matters.
 
Inviato Fri 24 Nov 23 @ 11:36 pm
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