Stage lights plus house lights

[withoutfear]

What type of light desk would i need to control both the house lights and stage lights(leds, a few moving heads and par cans)? The house lights are several iridescent cans. we would put house lights on switches at entrance door and stage lights obviously on the console.

[jthtiger]

You would need an intelligent console. Some of the favorites around here include:

Jands Vista
Chamsys MagicQ

Both can be PC consoles which is much cheaper. I personally recommend (and use) Chamsys. You can get a dongle from Chamsys for less than $100 if I remember correctly.

Jands is more expensive, but has some amazing features.

For your needs, I'd go with Chamsys. The learning curve is shallow, and there's a great community here that can help you.

Hope this helps!
-Tyler Herron

[Esoteric]

I install both systems. The Jands system is the easiest to learn, but it is the most expensive. The Chamsys is the most difficult to learn, but it is cheaper and the syntax is more industry standard.

Mike

[withoutfear]

What do you guys think of the Elation Show DESIGNER 3.?

[jthtiger]

I've never used it, but I haven't heard bad things about it. Haven't really heard good things either.

If you have a PC laying around, Chamsys MagicQ PC is cheaper than any console out there. Also if you'd like, you can buy wings that attached to your PC which give you faders, buttons, encoders, and all that fun stuff.

However, to answer your question. It will do what you're wanting. It can control your house lights, movers, leds, and par cans given you have the proper equipment in place such as dimmer packs or racks that accept the DMX protocol.

Hope this helps!
-Tyler Herron

[withoutfear]

magicQ is free correct. Do you think it would control house lights just as smoothly and what if the pc is off?

[jthtiger]

The software is free, but the interface that connects the computer to the lights is not. The PC has to be on to control the lights as well. The software can control the house lights perfectly fine.

Can you give us some information on what exactly your system is? Do you have a console already in place? Dimmer racks, or dimmer packs?

-Tyler Herron

[Esoteric]

You can add remote units to any system. You need a bi-directional DMX splitter from DFD and their wall plates. I have put together a few systems like this with Chamsys and Jands.

All software is usually free. The money comes from the USB to DMX interface.

The Elation software is okay. It is on a second level with Lumidesk and Freestyler. They are very easy to learn, very limited programs that are easy for volunteers to run.

Mike

[silvaam45]

If using Chamsys do you need a full lighting board? Or Can I by one of those $200 usb to dmx boxes?

[Esoteric]

I sell the ENTTEC USB Pro Dongle to go with it.

[Jeff92k7]

Originally Posted by withoutfear

What do you guys think of the Elation Show DESIGNER 3.?

We use a Show Designer 2. It is similar to the Show Designer 3 but doesn't treat conventional dimmers quite the same. That said, it is very easy to program and very easy to train volunteers on how to use. I'd love to have something as "flashy" as a Jands Vista, but the Show Designer consoles are good consoles that do what they say they will and cost a lot less.

Jeff Foster
Technical Director
Northside Baptist Church
Carrollton, Texas
www.nsbcc.org

[kmac17]

Ok, I've got a similar need but I want to take it up a notch.

This is a new room so I can do what I want out of the gate. The trick is finding all the right parts from the get go.

Room is 50' x 20' with a 12 foot ceiling.
Central performance area (10' x 16') in the center against one wall. Performance in the round kind of setup.
House lights - architect wants florescent and I'd rather have track lighting for more control. During a performance I'd like to have perimeter lights on low. Need full for rehearsal and allow for other uses of the space. I'm assuming I'll put these on a dimmer pack or 2.
Performance lights- 10ish led cans to provide stage lighting and wall washing some color. Again, nothing super fancy at this point.

The catch is I don't want to have to teach a bazzilion people how to use a board. And I need the guy walking in the door to be able to hit a button and get some lights on or off. It would be best if the board wan't even plugged in most of the time because I don't have time to babysit this room. Actually thinking of using an old pc with a usb to dmx dongle versus a board.

I saw the DFD's pre10-a gang box unit that looks like it would totally work. Am I right?

If I understand it right it will: save up to 10 dmx setups in it's memory; it is powered somehow and needs a dmx cable; it will run without any other controller on. If I've got that right, I can setup my lights the way I want and then save it to the box. Then Mr. joe whoever can walk in hit house full and setup. Then hit house entry and open the house, then hit performance and it's all taken care of.

I've got a few challenges. I have 2 doors so I need a lights on capability from the far door.

I want a solid recommendation for solid gear. I've been stumbling through lots of "options" for too long now.