Lighting Controller thoughts

[DuckJordan]

I'm going to be coming to a little bit of a budget of $400 for use to buy a lighting controller.

This wont be tied to any specific system and is most likely going to be used from everything from Theater to concerts to 1 off dance recitals.

At least 2 universes is preferred and some physical handles for busing would be nice. Laptop hardware is already purchased and it currently runs windows 7 but i have a windows xp key and CD I could use.

 

[Pie4Weebl]

two universes and physical handles for $400? Yeah good luck with that.

 

[Tex]

I'm going to be coming to a little bit of a budget of $400 for use to buy a lighting controller.

This wont be tied to any specific system and is most likely going to be used from everything from Theater to concerts to 1 off dance recitals.

At least 2 universes is preferred and some physical handles for busing would be nice. Laptop hardware is already purchased and it currently runs windows 7 but i have a windows xp key and CD I could use.

A couple of Enttec Pros and MagicQ. Budget spent!

 

[jglodeklights]

Chamsys Magic Q- $0
Two Magic USB FULL- $200
HP Touch Screen Monitor- $250

BTW: Chamsys only supports ENTTEC USB output on Universe one, beyond that will require a Chamsys product. They have to make money somehow.

 

[jonliles]

Chamsys Magic Q- $0
Two Magic USB FULL- $200
BTW: Chamsys only supports ENTTEC USB output on Universe one, beyond that will require a Chamsys product. They have to make money somehow.

BTW - ChamSys states on their website you can only use ONE magicdmx usb dongle at a time (wings not included)...and it is always universe 1.

From ChamSys's magicDMX.com website:

Q: Can more than one MagicDMX interface be used on a MagicQ system?
A: No, only one MagicDMX is supported per system.

I do not know if you can use say a ENTTEC and a MagicDMX together.

Anyone willing to try?

 

[jglodeklights]

You're right. Opening up Magic Q's DMX out settings reveals cheap dongles only can be applied to Universe 1. Cham USB must be there 2 Universe USB box.

Solution!

$250, though. Guess you won't be able to get a touchscreen monitor after all, which is something that would make Magic Q much easier to use. Or skip having two universes.

 

[DuckJordan]

Okay well switch it up 1 universe and I would really like faders. I can also try and get another 300 added to budget as well. So total budget is 700

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[jglodeklights]

Okay well switch it up 1 universe and I would really like faders. I can also try and get another 300 added to budget as well. So total budget is 700

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........................Good Luck, Duck. Still below what you will need to get hard controls. Minimum you are looking at $1300-$1500 for something like an ETC SmartFade 12/48 or 12/96. Even a Magic Q wing is going to cost $1500-$2000. Leprecon boards with only 12 channels still run closer to $1000, and are quite limiting in many situations, even with their Q stacks and times.

Keep in mind with SmartFade you can connect them to a computer for controlling or editing of Memories and the Stack Store, along with patch.

 

[JWilsonLX]

Closest I can come is this:

Enttec Playback Wing +
Enttec Open DMX/USB +
MagicQ = $780

I don't know the ins & outs of any of the hardware listed above, but the playback wing says "The ENTTEC Playback wing is the perfect add on for Lightfactory or any PC lighting control software"(emphasis added). I also know people on this forum have called the quality of the Open DMX/USB into question and I'm in no position to vouch for it, but it is cheap.

 

[jglodeklights]

I don't question the QUALITY of the OPEN DMX, however, I do question the reliability of letting the computer buffer the serial output as I have experienced what happens when it is inconsistent, causing OPEN DMX to freeze. Spend the extra $40 to $100 on a proper buffering converter.

 

[Pie4Weebl]

Closest I can come is this:

Enttec Playback Wing +
Enttec Open DMX/USB +
MagicQ = $780

I don't know the ins & outs of any of the hardware listed above, but the playback wing says "The ENTTEC Playback wing is the perfect add on for Lightfactory or any PC lighting control software"(emphasis added). I also know people on this forum have called the quality of the Open DMX/USB into question and I'm in no position to vouch for it, but it is cheap.

I thought about that option, but the issue I ran into was that Chamsys won't support any midi hardware unless you have a piece of their hardware attached.

 

[DuckJordan]

Hmm okay then I talked with a professor and he has suggested to look around at some of the other companies in the area see what consoles (high end) and get the console that they don't have that would be widely used (with a bank loan of course) any thoughts?

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[icewolf08]

What is this for?

 

[DuckJordan]

For work as an LD and programmer.

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[xander]

There's no reason to own your own console. Download the OLE (all the consoles that you will want to know have one) and the manuals and teach yourself. In the end it will actually cause you more trouble to own your own desk. No one hires a programming expecting them to bring their own...

 

[DuckJordan]

No but working with the physical hardware does help tremendously. But they do hire desks without programmers sometimes. That and the area I live in the nearest large scale production company is Minniapolis.

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[jglodeklights]

Using the ETC Element 60-500 price of $5100 which you can rent out for about $300 a week on average, you will have needed to have rented the console out for 17 weeks to break even. However, it is unlikely that you will be able to rent out an Element as often as you would a console like the ION, which will cost you $5800 for the 1024 version plus $900 for a Fader wing, plus $250 for an iPod Touch with iRFR. Add an access point and you are at about $7000. With Sales Tax that is about $7300. Renting that out, maybe a return on it in 17 to 19 weeks of rental. However, that is not including the cost to insure the equipment. You could buy a used Expression 3 or Express, but it doesn't make much sense considering their still high pricing on the used market (unless you get REAL lucky).

How many companies in your area have the money or the need to rent a high end console beyond what they already have?

 

[DuckJordan]

Considering the concert market is increasing in our area and I've gotten several calls about where to find a hog system or gma system in the area and I have to point them 5 hours away I think the draw is there its just there aren't any large companies in the area to handle it.

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[Footer]

Considering the concert market is increasing in our area and I've gotten several calls about where to find a hog system or gma system in the area and I have to point them 5 hours away I think the draw is there its just there aren't any large companies in the area to handle it.

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But where is the rest of the gear coming from? Does someone have a garage full of truss/distro/movers/motors/steel but neglected to buy a console to control it all? In reality, the console is usually the cheapest part of the rig. Buying a console is not a bad idea, especially with a chamsys system. However, there are no short cuts with any system. If you want a professional rig, its going to cost at least 3k. I have toyed with the idea of buying chamsys wing for years and never have. It would be useful, but I would never get the return on investment. Added to that, if I feel I need it, I'm going to convince someone who controls the big checks to buy me one. Its not worth it to get into the rental game, especially when your in college. I have a feeling that you won't be in Iowa your entire life, no point in trying to start up a company there.

 

[lightingguy1]

the ION, which will cost you $5800 for the 1024 version

Whoah!! Where are you getting that figure??