Hi everybody, I play in a band in the UK and I'm in the process of persuading the other guys in the band to upgrade our stage lighting. I'm looking for some info regarding MIDI operation of DMX controllers. We have been using four PAR64s with 300W filament lamps with a simple 4 channel dimmer with sliders. We have now bought an additional four PAR64s with LEDS, 6 DMX channels per light, to run in conjunction with the four originals lights. We want to have everything running in time with the band's music and operation of the DMX controller will need to be by footswitch as we don't have a lighting guy. I've read that the Behringer FCB1010 is good for this, so I've now bought one of these too. I want to be able to select scenes/chases, maybe control the strobe on the LED parcans, blackout and maybe full on but always keep the 'sound activation' mode active on the DMX controller. Ideally I would also like to control the original old PAR64s with dmx dimmer(s).
I have looked at the user manuals for quite a few DMX controllers and I'm getting a bit confused about how they work. In particular, I was looking at the Chauvet Obey 40. The manual says:
"the controller will only respond to MIDI commands on the MIDI channel when it is set to full stop. All MIDI control is performed using Note on commands. All other MIDI instructions are ignored. To stop a chase, send the blackout on note."
Is anyone famailiar with this controller? Does this mean that a chase has to be stopped with the blackout on note before another chase can be started?
Also, will the sound activation mode stay active if I change between chases with MIDI commands?
Does anybody know of a budget DMX controller which will allow me to do what I want? Also, can anybody recommend a budget DMX dimmer pack (either single or multiple channel) with which I can control my four filament lamp PARcans using a different DMX address for each light (or one that will do this with a single DMX address), thereby dimmimg each light separately?
The fact that I mention the Obey 40 will tell you the kind of money I'm talking here. It's difficult getting cash out of these guys so I can't go top gear.
Thanks
Steve
I have looked at the user manuals for quite a few DMX controllers and I'm getting a bit confused about how they work. In particular, I was looking at the Chauvet Obey 40. The manual says:
"the controller will only respond to MIDI commands on the MIDI channel when it is set to full stop. All MIDI control is performed using Note on commands. All other MIDI instructions are ignored. To stop a chase, send the blackout on note."
Is anyone famailiar with this controller? Does this mean that a chase has to be stopped with the blackout on note before another chase can be started?
Also, will the sound activation mode stay active if I change between chases with MIDI commands?
Does anybody know of a budget DMX controller which will allow me to do what I want? Also, can anybody recommend a budget DMX dimmer pack (either single or multiple channel) with which I can control my four filament lamp PARcans using a different DMX address for each light (or one that will do this with a single DMX address), thereby dimmimg each light separately?
The fact that I mention the Obey 40 will tell you the kind of money I'm talking here. It's difficult getting cash out of these guys so I can't go top gear.
Thanks
Steve