Control/Dimming OpenSource DMX Lighting/Show Software

[deauvilleuk]

Hi,
Great forum ~ I was wondering if anyone has any advice/opinions they could give. I'm looking to have some lighting software to install on my laptop to use occasionally at work instead of our Zero88 Desk.
I used to like the look/interface of the Marquee/Horizon software as it was easy to use and record cues etc.
I would be grateful to know if there are any opensource/free programs that will do this with a readily available USB-DMX adaptor ?

Many Thanks in advance

Graham

 

[dbaxter]

Cue Player Lighting (disclaimer: my software) has an interface very similar to the old Horizon software. We were using Horizon at Blackfriars, so all the operators were familiar with it and I saw no reason to change drastically. You can use either Enttec Pro or DMX King adaptors. Unfortunately, it is not free.

 

[soundlight]

There are oodles of freeware DMX controller software programs out there. Unfortunately, to be honest, many of them suck. There's a million different versions of faders-on-your-computer-screen, and most of them have very little real programming functionality. Freestyler is one that some bands that I know of with their own lighting rigs use, and they seem to like it well enough. I don't have any experience with it. Here's what I'd recommend:

You can get Martin M-PC, which is the phenomenal PC version of the Martin M-Series (M1, M6, M2GO) software on your computer. You can have one free universe of Art-Net output or one free universe via the Enttec USB-DMX interfaces.

You can get Chamsys MagicQ PC, which is a decent program albeit a bit harder to wrap your head around (in my experience). It's the same kinda thing as M-PC: it's the PC version of a real console OS (in this case, the Chamsys MagicQ line of consoles). You can get the MagicQ Magic DMX interface for $100, or if you're willing to deal with only 5 hours of continuous use at a time (designed for demo use), only $16. You can buy it on the Chamsys website here.

 

[Bubby4j]

I use freestyler, and for me, it was easier to learn than other software. Once you "get it", it's good. There's things I feel that are lacking, but for free software I think it's decent.

Download a couple different software packages and see which one you like best.

 

[itie]

I've always used magic q when I can't get my hands on a console. It's great once you get use to it. If you have a Mac and your running 10.9 you need to run the beta which can be download from their website.

Some links for training.
http://www.chamsys.co.uk/http://

www.onstagelighting.co.uk/training-tutorials/moving-light-magicq-1/

I'm not sure if they do this in your area but they offer training course for about $150 and gave me a magic dmx dongle


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[deauvilleuk]

Thanks for the replies. I was looking at the Enttec USB Interface which didn't look too bad a price to purchase. I'll have a look at the suggestions that have been made, I've looked at ShowXpress which had some nice features but had different pop up windows/interfaces.
I liked the look and feel of Marquee/Horizon as it was easy to set cues/cue lists and to 'GO' them ShowXpress seemed to just run a series of steps created at each level, but the colour palette was nice on it to select a fixture and choose a colour which is sent to the DMX Channels.