Either are ok, but you'll find that 99% of the lighting world doesn't like working with pc based lighting controllers. Those that I have talked to seem to think that they can crash easily, are not very flexible, etc. However, in the 6+ years I've used LightJockey it's NEVER crashed. The other reason is that ALL pc based controllers are missing easy to use playback handles. So doing stuff on the fly can be difficult.
It is POSSIBLE to emulate handles in LJ, and probably in the Hog PC, and maybe in others as well. However, you'll need to buy a product which accepts dmx in, and also buy a fader board or possibly even a midi controller which can send output into the pc controller.
The upside of all pc based controllers is that trying them out is free. Typically, you can just download the software and test drive it as long as you want, even try out the visualizer for free. You won't be able to actually connect it to any lights, but you can see how it works.
I've written a help guide for LightJockey at http://www.ukslc.org/Technical_Articles/Monthly_Features.html , plus there is a very large forum which helps users http://www.martin.dk/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=14 .
I probably didn't write that the way I was thinking it. I tried to make myself look like the worthless biased newbie who still remains hoplessly oblivious to all technical reality.Schniapereli, if you don't know the whole picture, don't try to state your opinion as a fact!
We made our decision to go with Light Jockey. It is a little more than we wanted to spend, but I think we will save in the long run. I know that you can hook up a lighting console to the program. Does anyone know what boards you can use with Light Jockey?
Thanks for all the help
-Tyler
We made our decision to go with Light Jockey. It is a little more than we wanted to spend, but I think we will save in the long run. I know that you can hook up a lighting console to the program. Does anyone know what boards you can use with Light Jockey?
Thanks for all the help
-Tyler
No, well, not really. As always, it depends what you need. ETC consoles are great, and close to standard for theaters with no or few moving lights. However, if I was specing a rig of 500 moving heads, I would opt for a Hog3 or a GrandMA, not anything by ETC or Strand.
Its really impossible to get behind one console and say that hands down, console A is better then console B. Every console has its strengths and weaknesses. For instance, the ETC Express line is a very easy console to learn and program relatively complex things in. 800 cues, 10 pages of subs, that will work for most shows. However, if you have a DL2, I would not want to try to run it off an Express.
Not an attack of course, just making the point that people really can't/shouldn't stand behind a board and say "This is the right console to get always". Zero88 has some great stuff, but they are not exactly a "mainstream" console maker.
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I don't like PC systems probably because I have spent much of my lighting life in theatres where more than half our shows are one night stands that require an abnormally high level of busking a show from commands over the cans. PC's just don't seem to cut it in those situations. Great for long run shows with a reasonable amount of plotting time.
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