DMX or NOT to DMX

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
ittigger said:
I think you lost me - a Scene is a specific configuration for some look. If you're looking for that one setup, then you just press the Scene button for that Scene. 'Sound Active' dances through the Scenes.
Click to expand...

Yes, I get it. But I don't want to dance through them.
I have different scenes programmed for different moods (slow set, fast set, etc)
And at the moment, I don't want to get into making different banks. (I'm still new at this)
Perhaps in the future, I will want to get more involved. (so I will bend your ear again)
I just assumed that sound active mode allowed the scene move to the music, rather than being controlled by the speed setting.
Remember, I am doing this to make it easier.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger and DJ Bobcat
maestro said:
If you don't want to go with DMX, either cover your ADJ unit with a black cloth while it's booting up OR return it and get a Chauvet Rotosphere Q3 and accompanying IRC-6 remote./
Click to expand...

Actually I'm good. A little friendly advice from ODJT and I am not scared of DMX any more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger and DJ Bobcat
That's great to hear! Personally, I just bought a pair of moving heads to up my game and immediately dove into learning Freestyler freeware. It is VERY cool what you can do! I have created a ton of programs that I can call up with the push of a button and I can also quickly program a spotlight on the entrance doors to trigger once the B&G enter. Just before that, I have them scanning the ceiling like search-lights; so cool! I work often at a venue with 60 foot ceilings and had always thought about doing this to differentiate myself further from 'the rest' since I am there ONLY recommended DJ service. Sure my MC skills and personalized service is superior to the competition but soon I will have the video footage to showcase this new selling point. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger, Ausumm and DJ Bobcat
Steven,
I have dreamed about going big...especially with the spotlight effects you mention.
But at 52, it's more sh*t to carry,
Most of the venues around here are small, and people just don't make lights their priority.
Sure, moving heads could allow me to raise my rates, but that would probably just put me out of their price range.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Ausumm said:
Steven,
I have dreamed about going big...especially with the spotlight effects you mention.
But at 52, it's more sh*t to carry.
Click to expand...

Funny you mention that... I turned 52 last October! I also try to keep things manageable which is why I went with a lightweight & compact but powerful moving head, the Chauvet Intimidator Spot 255 IRC; just 12.6 lbs my friend!

https://www.chauvetdj.com/products/intimidator-spot-255-irc/
 
  • Like
Reactions: SEDJ and ittigger
Depends on the light..

Many of my lights have static setting - say, a par on RGB - one color.
The light will also have some pre-programmed displays, where is cycles through diff colors, and you can set the speed that it transiction, and it cna be flash/cut or fade between them.
And then most have a sound active setting.

SO...

You can set a scene with each light on a slow fade program that is IN the light itself.
then a diff scene that is say, static dinner color.
Then a diff scene where each light is set to it's sound active setting.

No need to 'dance' between the scenes.

This is what I did until I got moving heads...now I'm gonna want/need to have a series of scenes where the heads are aimed at different spots around the room.
So I changed the software I was using to make that easier to do.

Ausumm said:
Yes, I get it. But I don't want to dance through them.
I have different scenes programmed for different moods (slow set, fast set, etc)
And at the moment, I don't want to get into making different banks. (I'm still new at this)
Perhaps in the future, I will want to get more involved. (so I will bend your ear again)
I just assumed that sound active mode allowed the scene move to the music, rather than being controlled by the speed setting.
Remember, I am doing this to make it easier.
Click to expand...
 
IceBurghDJ said:
You can set a scene with each light on a slow fade program that is IN the light itself.
then a diff scene that is say, static dinner color. Then a diff scene where each light is set to it's sound active setting.
Click to expand...

I get ya.
Unfortunately, with the Dotz Tpar....
you either have it on DMX
on PROGRAMS
or on SOUND ACTIVE.
You cannot set it to be on DMX "and" on SOUNDACTIVE....
so you can't use SOUND ACTIVE if you are using DMX.
It's cool. I created several different scenes on the Dotz...
with different chase styles, different color fades, and at different speeds.
I can live without SOUND ACTIVE.
 
Mikey, according to the manual for the Dotz, it looks like - in 9 channel mode - the Dotz has Sound Active mode on Channel 4, (240-255) and Sound Sensitivity on Channel 5 (0-255)
 
ittigger said:
Mikey, according to the manual for the Dotz, it looks like - in 9 channel mode - the Dotz has Sound Active mode on Channel 4, (240-255) and Sound Sensitivity on Channel 5 (0-255)
Click to expand...
I was just typing the same thing .. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Freestyler has a sound active function that should work with any DMX fixture. Dotz may be an exception I suppose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Mike's board does too - he's trying to access the Dotz internal sound controller vs the on board controller.
 
UPDATE!

I know this was from May....
but I think I am finally settled with my DMX situation.

Since I was light on gigs this Summer, I used the time to play with the Obey 40.
I made a few pages of "scenes" using combinations... of the mirror ball effect, the Dotz TPar, a Colorstrip Mini, and the Colorband.

Funny how things work out...
I was recently booked for two Holiday Parties in December.
So I was in a panic, because I really wanted to buy a small road case for my lighting controller and DMX cables.
But a few days after I booked the gigs...
my son says he doesn't need the road cases I gave to him YEARS ago.
As luck would have it, one of them was a small 12-space mixer case.
So, I mounted the Obey 40 in it, and modified it a bit to accommodate my laptop.
After I mount a handle to it and add a power strip...
I will be all set for the fist party this Saturday.

Thanks for all of your replies when I was so worried about going to the Dark Side...
I probably would not have seen it through otherwise.
Once again...you guys are the best!
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bobcat and steve149
Ausumm said:
UPDATE!

I know this was from May....
but I think I am finally settled with my DMX situation.

Since I was light on gigs this Summer, I used the time to play with the Obey 40.
I made a few pages of "scenes" using combinations... of the mirror ball effect, the Dotz TPar, a Colorstrip Mini, and the Colorband.

Funny how things work out...
I was recently booked for two Holiday Parties in December.
So I was in a panic, because I really wanted to buy a small road case for my lighting controller and DMX cables.
But a few days after I booked the gigs...
my son says he doesn't need the road cases I gave to him YEARS ago.
As luck would have it, one of them was a small 12-space mixer case.
So, I mounted the Obey 40 in it, and modified it a bit to accommodate my laptop.
After I mount a handle to it and add a power strip...
I will be all set for the fist party this Saturday.

Thanks for all of your replies when I was so worried about going to the Dark Side...
I probably would not have seen it through otherwise.
Once again...you guys are the best!
Click to expand...

So, how are you connecting the fixtures to your controller? Wire or no wire?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm
rickryan.com said:
So, how are you connecting the fixtures to your controller? Wire or no wire?
Click to expand...

Wired.
I wanted to get the hang of it before I start spending more money on it.
If anything, my next DMX purchase will be a computer-based controller/software.
(that's why I asked you about MyDMX Buddy)
I'd like to be able to find a SIMPLE/BASIC program and use my Galaxy Tablet.
To be honest, I don't see me ever going wireless.
I don't use uplights, so all of my lights are within 10-feet of me.
 
Ausumm said:
Wired.
I wanted to get the hang of it before I start spending more money on it.
If anything, my next DMX purchase will be a computer-based controller/software.
(that's why I asked you about MyDMX Buddy)
I'd like to be able to find a SIMPLE/BASIC program and use my Galaxy Tablet.
To be honest, I don't see me ever going wireless.
I don't use uplights, so all of my lights are within 10-feet of me.
Click to expand...

I recently tried the Chauvet editor and see myDMX as a magnitudes better tool. As for the wireless, dude, try it. I gave up DMX because of the pains of wiring. I got a set of Donner units with 1 transmitter and 7 receivers for less than 2 bills. I can't even begin to think of doing it any other way. It's a game changer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm
maestro said:
Funny you mention that... I turned 52 last October! I also try to keep things manageable which is why I went with a lightweight & compact but powerful moving head, the Chauvet Intimidator Spot 255 IRC; just 12.6 lbs my friend!

https://www.chauvetdj.com/products/intimidator-spot-255-irc/
Click to expand...

I'll second that. At Maestro's recommendation, I went with the 255 over the 355. Very compact unit and it still has lots of punch to it. I fit 2 of them in a standard crate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: maestro
rickryan.com said:
I recently tried the Chauvet editor and see myDMX as a magnitudes better tool. As for the wireless, dude, try it. I gave up DMX because of the pains of wiring. I got a set of Donner units with 1 transmitter and 7 receivers for less than 2 bills. I can't even begin to think of doing it any other way. It's a game changer.
Click to expand...

Once I get more comfortable with DMX, I will definitely consider going wireless.
But at this point, I only used the Obey 40 ONE TIME at a gig....
so I am in no hurry at the moment.

As for MyDMX....
what is the big difference between the $299 512-channel and the $99 Buddy?
The number of channels?
I am okay with less features, especially to save $200.
Does the program work with touch screen tablets?
Or, is there a different program that is simpler to use?
 
Ausumm said:
Once I get more comfortable with DMX, I will definitely consider going wireless.
But at this point, I only used the Obey 40 ONE TIME at a gig....
so I am in no hurry at the moment.

As for MyDMX....
what is the big difference between the $299 512-channel and the $99 Buddy?
The number of channels?
I am okay with less features, especially to save $200.
Does the program work with touch screen tablets?
Or, is there a different program that is simpler to use?
Click to expand...

Yes, less channels. I bought the buddy and had a very hard time trying to get it to work. It seemed only compatible with Windows 10 and refused to work with Win7. As for the wireless, not to beat a dead horse, but it's brain-dead simple. They just work out of the box and it's MUCH easier than fooling with wires.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm
According to ADJ....
The MyDMX Buddy is...

- Compatible with Mac OS and Windows,
- 32 & 64-bit (XP, Vista, 7 & 8)

Thanks for the insight, Rick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back