If you can find one, I suggest a Colortran Status (either 12/24 or 24/48; I have the 12/24) console. It's really great, it works fine, but it is on the older side. Also, my model has only one DMX-512 output, and there are no virtual channels; ie, locked at 24 or 12 depending on if you run it in single scene or two-scene. If you're controlling dimmers only, this board should work okay. (If you have a larger venue, go for the 24/48.) If you're primarily running LEDs, go for the Chauvet OBEY or something from American DJ or Elation. They have some good DMX-specific boards with a few dedicated conventional channels, such as this one:
You might also want to consider an Enttec DMXIS. In that price range I would rather trust an old laptop and some good software to the crappy DJ alternatives.
I don't want gafftaper (or anyone else) think the BlueLite X1 is some "...crappy DJ alternative...".
Sorry, AhClem. I definitely didn't mean to infer that BlueLite X1 is a crappy DJ alternative. I was referring to the sub $300 "consoles" made by Behringer and friends. In fact, I actually meant to infer that BlueLiteX 1 and DMXis are both "good software" alternatives that are much more reliable and powerful than Behringer and it's ilk... but unfortunately it didn't come out that way. I haven't had a chance to use BlueLite X1 in person but from what I've read it looks like another excellent computer based lighting control option. It looks like strong competition for Enttec DMXis, Gam's Plexus (co-created by CB member Jchenault) and ChamSys MagicQ. All are well done and have very different approaches to how they work. This is great for consumers because you can find a solution that is in your price range and operates the way you like to think about lighting. Of course there's also the upside of powerful lighting control that doesn't cost over $10,000
So again my apologies AhClem. Hopefully I'll be able to meet you and catch a demo of the X1 at a trade show some time.
(Any recommendations on the "best" shows in the 'trade show circuit'? )
You should talk to Kelite or one of the ETC crew about that question as they attend them all.
My point of view is that of a technician from Educational theater who has only attended LDI mostly due to travel expenses (Next time USITT comes to the west coast I will probably attend, but until then it's LDI Vegas for me).
If you have the budget and global ambitions then you need to go to PLASA, it's definitely the biggest and best of the shows. If you don't have the budget to go to London and are US focused in your marketing, then LDI is focused on the industry and products. This is the show to get your equipment seen by the most dealers, vendors, system designers, consultants, and other pros. USITT is the other US alternative. It's focus is more on the technician, workshops, and training. They do have a trade show that's around 1/3 the size of LDI. USITT is a good show to attend if you want to be able to expose your product directly to potential customers.
HeheheGet out of my head!
I have a Status 24/48.
I'm just going to back up my original statement and say that a Status would work fine for what you're doing. I use my board to do essentially the same things you do. If the p64 led units have 3 or more dmx channels, don't hesitate to use a computer-based software controller (Enttec, BlueLite, etc.) I've heard they work pretty well, and I'm actually in the market for a MagicQ dongle/software package for a remote-control project I'm working on.
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