Bigger Controller or DMX software?

A Magic 260, which has the push button control you are happy with and is what I use. It could handle all the lights you have now and the two moving heads to come. It has a lot of functionality and is fairly easy to program. The two I've had, however, have had some pesky stability problems. On occasion they lose the fixture assigned to a button. It's easy to fix by re-assigning the fixture, but it's one more thing to do - but it doesn't happen all that often on the replacement unit.

I've never used software DMX control, so I can't tell you that they are any more stable than the hardware options. My guess is that they have their stability issues too. I can say, however, that with the right dongle and something like a Korg padKontrol you can have both the advantages of software (e.g., the ability to emulate what you will get without setting up all your lights) and push button control.

vibes,

looks like you have 18-24 fixtures you are working with Plus 8 dimmers.

first thing is to look for a console that does 24+ fixtures.
As hobson said.
Magic 260 does it
then there is Showdesigner 2

Software wise we have
Compu Cue Basic
Emulation

I guess what you are looking for is the simplicity of controlling everything at your finger tips. all are really great once you set your console up to your specs.
The Compu is the easiest to set up because it has all the profiles..
However I think any of these you go with will work well for what you do.

Best regards,

Also let me add that if you chose to go with a one of our software solutions we have the MIDIcon, which is a great midi controller designed for our lighting control software's that makes it seem like the software has a external hardware controller aswell. Let us know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,

My recommendation is software. From the concept of affordability combined with features and functionality, it's less costly to go with software than a controller. Plus, the 3D application lets you visualize what you're doing. ADJ's MyDMX product does this, as well as Elation's Compu Show, so I would expect the rest of the Compu series to have that feature as well.

As far as the MIDICOn is concerned, it's something I'm considering. I'm currently using the Korg nanoKONTROL and it works great and is super cheap(but durable). I'm also considering some other controller products for ease of use as well. My only hesitation with the MIDICON right now is price, as my funds are being diverted to other elements right now.

I'm learning and using Compu Show. The time spent learning it is WELL worth it.

Overall, I've found the software to be stable.

Thanks for all your input.

I have been really considering software, and actually have downloaded and been trying all of the ones out there (myDMX, DasLight, Emulation, CompuLive, etc. - since they're free to try without dongles) and they are all REALLY hard to learn on your own, as I have been doing my whole career! lol To be honest I have uninstalled all but myDMX which I am gradually playing with and starting to figure things out but I know I will have a problem with doing it "live". I am used to just doing it with the Operator 192.

If I get software, are there archives of saved scenes somewhere that I can download (e.g. colors, strobe, strobe colors, etc.) or will I have to go through and program and save it all on my own?

I currently own an Oxygen MIDI man (piano keyboard)...can I connect that with DMX software to trigger scenes with keys?

I will also look into the controller Magic 260 since I haven't heard of it.

oh, and I group some of my fixtures on the same DMX channel (all LED pars, Spectrums, Colorpalettes) -- is that bad to do?

So currently in the small venue I have the Par LEDs on a channel, then each scanner on its own, then spectrums on one channel, then the moonflower on its own channel, then 4 spots on one channel (dimmer pack), then I recently tried to put 4 color palettes on same channel as the moonflower and it causes chaos (lights went uncontrollably bezerk every 10 minutes) so I took them out and just master/slave'd them on sound active which kinda sucked (during blackouts).

I just ordered terminators to see if that helps, because technically I'm not maxxing out channels since I am grouping but I am not sure.

The Colorpalettes are set on 27 channels too which I can't figure out how to change (to 6) even after reading the obscure manual. doh!

And another side not:

I am also currently the LD at a house style club (www.bldg24.com) using 24 custom painted DesignSpot 250's and 16 Chauvet LEDs built into the ceiling controlled by the Show Designer 3 which I have been "self"-learning (wheww) since August of last year.

(any pointers on that route are always appreciated)

So after looking at the Magic 250, they look similar as what I am getting used to...

It's basically just memorizing the 1600+ scenes & chases I use each night! lol

Responding to a few of your questions:

As long as you buy a controller or dongle that has a midi in, you will be able to control scene or show selection with a keyboard controller. I use my Korg M-50 keys and trigger buttons to trigger shows all the time.

Unlike what you are doing, I like to highlight the person doing something during a song [I dim the front lights shining on anyone everyone but the active one(s).] So when the lead singer is signing, his light is brightest, but when someone plays a solo, his light is brightest. I mostly use the buttons on the M260 to trigger the changes, but, at times I'll program keys on the M-50 to trigger the changes.

Setting different kinds of fixtures on the same DNX address will create headaches. It's fine to set multiple like fixtures to one DMX address. But I'd recommend that you have each light on its own address to the maximum extent your controller will permit. You can always program multiple fixtures at one time to do the same thing, but you can't have each light do its own thing unless it is on a separate address.

Thanks. I definitely use the spots during solos and singing...they are just a pain with the Operator 192. It would be nice to set keys to trigeer them.

Any thoutghts on how to switch my Colorpalette from 27 channels to 6?

I can't figure it out...

quote:

It would be nice to set keys to trigeer them.

This should be easy with the equipment you have.

Set the lights however you want them for a situation without the spots on. Save that "Scene" to a button on the O192. Then turn on the spots (now you have the same scene with the spots on). Save that Scene to another button on the O192. To activate the scene you want hit the corresponding Scene button.

Two ways to get a little fancier:
(1) Set the scene the way you want it and save it to a button. Now change the scene a little bit (or a lot if you like) so that there is a noticable difference between this scene and the one you just saved - but (a) have it compliment the one you just saved, and (b) leave the spot settings the same in both scenes. Now create a chase that includes these two scenes. Either turn on the audio button or use the tap tempo to set the chase timing. This will add as much life as you want to what would otherwise be a static scene.

2. Do the above (either scenes or chases), but have separate scenes/chases for each of your star performers. Rather than turn all the spots on if you want to get the crowd's attention, just turn on the spot shining on the guy you want to highlight - focus the crowd's attention on him. You can create separate scenes for each star performer.

I see that the Colorpallete's manual doesn't give you the answer. I'd suggest you try this: Press the mode button until you can set the DMX address, set it to the address you want to use, and press enter. Then press the mode button until you see "CH," "Ch" or the number "27." If you find that, change 27 to 6. If that doesn't work, repeat the steps, but instead of pressing eneter after you set the DMX address, press mode.

MY O192 doesn't save the scenes with the spots on.

I have to single the dimmer pack out by pressing the corosponding button (4 lights on one pack) and setting them where I want them.

If I keep the solo button on for the lights, when I flip thru scenes and chases, they stay on, but if I depress the solo button (say to change the color of my LEDs on the fly) and leave it depressed when I change scenes/chases, the spots go out.

When I say spots, I mean shitty par cans on a dimmer pack

I can't imagine why you can't treat your dimmer pack just like any other fixture. If you assign it to a regular fixture button, and set the DMX address on the dimmer pack to the address assigned to that button, then slider 1 will control the intensity of first light plugged into the dimmer pack, slider 2 will control the second light, etc.

Then it will work as you move from scene to scene just as I described in my previous post.

Did my suggestion about changing the DMX mode on the Colorpallette work?