I have just started using mxDMX; can anyone send me a saved show profile that I can open into myDMX to see structire ofdthe file etc Thanks JOhn
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
i sent you a show file and a 3D file. Report back to me once you got it all loaded up.
Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,
Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,
quote:Originally posted by Jingles:
i sent you a show file and a 3D file. Report back to me once you got it all loaded up.
Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,
Hi Jingles & all who Read
I have today just joined this Adj Forums, particularly interested at this time in the MyDMX as i am waiting for it to arrive in the post..i have only downloaded the software in the last 4 days and had a play around with the different features...i have my own small DJ & Karaoke Business here in Adelaide, South Australia (yeh!Down-Under lol) the request from Jivin Johonny above if i may ask also is a great idea i believe to see what a setup would look like - "saved show profile" I think i'm gonna have a steep learning curve being i've never had anything to do with this Dmx stuff before, i have around 13 new Led Par64 Cans & want to do some Uplighting off the ground as well as normal lights on Winchup tri-truss stands, i also have a few other LED effects lights which i can mention later if need be
Anyway, may i ask kindly if its possible for you to also send me something i can load up into my software to view?...gives me a head start on visualizing what i should be seeing & doing in the program when i start making scenes etc etc
Cheers
Kind Regards
Mike
Well I ask that all users give it a try themselves first. And then in a day or so if no progress is made i can try to find time to help them out. But have you seen the you tube videos?
www.youtube.com/mydmxtech
Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,
www.youtube.com/mydmxtech
Welcome to the forums.
Sincerely,
Why do people need to examine the file structure unless they are trying to reverse engineer the product?
Sorry, my BS detector goes off quite easily these days. I practically have to walk around my house with hip waders and a big snow shovel as the BS around my house is getting that thick these days.
With a product like MyDMX, people need to download the manual and READ IT. People new to DMX need to slow down a bit and ease into the produt, but this is something I would say to any DMX newbie. What this forces newbies to do is THINK out(or ask questions to help plan) their DMX universe. This is a MAJOR issue, becauase improper planning and then extensive programming can lead to "DMX disasters" when they wake up and want to do things differently than they have been. I'm not going to say things like "properly" or "better" because those are relative terms.
In my opinion, the 3D Visualizer is difficult to use initially. BUT, let my clarify. I'm not used to working in a 3D computer environment, so when I say the 3D Visualizer is difficult to use, I mean it is difficult for ME to use. Even with the amount of time I have spent using it, I STILL have problems with it. Jingles has flat out said he doesn't have these problems. We're both using the same software, so it's a matter of who can relate to this type of environment better. One I get my environment set up, the rest goes fairly smooth. I find thougu that I absolutely NEED the 3D visualizer because I can't program and create without it. That's how it goes for me.
Other things to think about:
Unless you're creating a generic environment, most people tend to try to make specific environments in MyDMX. Nothing is wrong with generics. I find myself making specific environments out of necessity.
With thousands of lights, and therefore ZILLIONS of angles possible and virtually unlimited combinations, it's best to work within your own environment.
My first real question is "how much of a control freak do you need to be?" Like, for example, I often use my 8 ADJ 64 LED Pros as a single bank, all doing the same thing. When I buy 8 Elation Opti Tri Pars within 60 days, I'll also be doing the same type of thing. I also have 4 Mega Bar 50's, and likewise I do the same thing. Add to the mayhem, I have 4 ADJ Mega Panels that, like everything else, tend to do the same ONE THING. In fact, to confuse things further, I typically use them ALL do all to the exact same thing at once!!!! I run them all in 7 channel mode, so technically they can all do the same thing very easily.
But, alas, that's not how I have things addressed. In my events, I need total control over each fixture. Each fixture has its own addresses and can be individually controlled. I find by doing this, I dont have to "redo" my scenes later on. Many people have fixtures use duplicate addressess(which is 100% acceptable), but then a few months down the line, they come back here whining about how they are making changes and it won't be easy to fix.
I do more theater and shows with live bands. Control is a necessity. Even for a DJ, total control can be a necessity, but then again, it might not be for a DJ as each DJ's situation is unique. The only proper "right" solution is what is "right" for that DJ(or sound production company or lighting company).
What is super cool about MyDMX, and is a MAJOR feature for me, is DEMO MODE!! I love Demo mode. This is where you run MyDMX without the hardware. I can do ALL my design and programming offline. Once I plug in the MyDMX hardware, I'm ready for my show for real based on the work I did offline in DEMO mode.
So, really, this is what you guys need to do:
PLAY. Seriously. Fire up MyDMX, and start playing!!! Launch the 3D Visualizer and start goofing around. You can always trash your work and start over.
Sorry, my BS detector goes off quite easily these days. I practically have to walk around my house with hip waders and a big snow shovel as the BS around my house is getting that thick these days.
With a product like MyDMX, people need to download the manual and READ IT. People new to DMX need to slow down a bit and ease into the produt, but this is something I would say to any DMX newbie. What this forces newbies to do is THINK out(or ask questions to help plan) their DMX universe. This is a MAJOR issue, becauase improper planning and then extensive programming can lead to "DMX disasters" when they wake up and want to do things differently than they have been. I'm not going to say things like "properly" or "better" because those are relative terms.
In my opinion, the 3D Visualizer is difficult to use initially. BUT, let my clarify. I'm not used to working in a 3D computer environment, so when I say the 3D Visualizer is difficult to use, I mean it is difficult for ME to use. Even with the amount of time I have spent using it, I STILL have problems with it. Jingles has flat out said he doesn't have these problems. We're both using the same software, so it's a matter of who can relate to this type of environment better. One I get my environment set up, the rest goes fairly smooth. I find thougu that I absolutely NEED the 3D visualizer because I can't program and create without it. That's how it goes for me.
Other things to think about:
Unless you're creating a generic environment, most people tend to try to make specific environments in MyDMX. Nothing is wrong with generics. I find myself making specific environments out of necessity.
With thousands of lights, and therefore ZILLIONS of angles possible and virtually unlimited combinations, it's best to work within your own environment.
My first real question is "how much of a control freak do you need to be?" Like, for example, I often use my 8 ADJ 64 LED Pros as a single bank, all doing the same thing. When I buy 8 Elation Opti Tri Pars within 60 days, I'll also be doing the same type of thing. I also have 4 Mega Bar 50's, and likewise I do the same thing. Add to the mayhem, I have 4 ADJ Mega Panels that, like everything else, tend to do the same ONE THING. In fact, to confuse things further, I typically use them ALL do all to the exact same thing at once!!!! I run them all in 7 channel mode, so technically they can all do the same thing very easily.
But, alas, that's not how I have things addressed. In my events, I need total control over each fixture. Each fixture has its own addresses and can be individually controlled. I find by doing this, I dont have to "redo" my scenes later on. Many people have fixtures use duplicate addressess(which is 100% acceptable), but then a few months down the line, they come back here whining about how they are making changes and it won't be easy to fix.
I do more theater and shows with live bands. Control is a necessity. Even for a DJ, total control can be a necessity, but then again, it might not be for a DJ as each DJ's situation is unique. The only proper "right" solution is what is "right" for that DJ(or sound production company or lighting company).
What is super cool about MyDMX, and is a MAJOR feature for me, is DEMO MODE!! I love Demo mode. This is where you run MyDMX without the hardware. I can do ALL my design and programming offline. Once I plug in the MyDMX hardware, I'm ready for my show for real based on the work I did offline in DEMO mode.
So, really, this is what you guys need to do:
PLAY. Seriously. Fire up MyDMX, and start playing!!! Launch the 3D Visualizer and start goofing around. You can always trash your work and start over.
If anyone cares to see how i play check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3jYitxMbaQ
This is not my dmx but compu live however the 3D programs are the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3jYitxMbaQ
This is not my dmx but compu live however the 3D programs are the same.
Hi Again Jingles & Chris P
firstly, thans for your responce...i thought Chris you were being a bit heavy towards a newbie with the Quote "why do people need to examine the file structure unless they are trying to reverse engineer the product?...maybe i put words down which had a double meaning to you but the only reason i wanted to see something was if its possible to show if i'm going about running the program the way its mean't to be used incase there is an easier way and i go about it the long way around..eg what a typical page would look like, what pages is used at certain times etc...So if you are meaning anything to do with me about the ( BS! ) thing...you've got it totally wrong...and by the way, i'm not iliterate but i've found all thru my life when i read it don't get very well into my head....but show me how to use something...i'll be doing it the next day...this doesn't mean i won't read the manual because i will and will always look at it to try getting as much as i can from it!
Hope i've clarified what i mean't this time
Cheers
Mike
firstly, thans for your responce...i thought Chris you were being a bit heavy towards a newbie with the Quote "why do people need to examine the file structure unless they are trying to reverse engineer the product?...maybe i put words down which had a double meaning to you but the only reason i wanted to see something was if its possible to show if i'm going about running the program the way its mean't to be used incase there is an easier way and i go about it the long way around..eg what a typical page would look like, what pages is used at certain times etc...So if you are meaning anything to do with me about the ( BS! ) thing...you've got it totally wrong...and by the way, i'm not iliterate but i've found all thru my life when i read it don't get very well into my head....but show me how to use something...i'll be doing it the next day...this doesn't mean i won't read the manual because i will and will always look at it to try getting as much as i can from it!
Hope i've clarified what i mean't this time
Cheers
Mike
I would suggest in the future you choose your words with more forethought.
Yes, semantics DO make a difference. Having to cover the asses of lying sales engineers for 20+ years, I grew tired of making products do things they weren't designed to do because sales people would say anything to get a sale. Yes, to the point where it ALMOST COST ME MY JOB because I told upper end corporate what their idiots were doing in the field and then holding me accountable for THIER LIES.(I helped develop the damn product, I knew exactly what the uses were). So, excuse me if I come off heavy handed. I also have over 28 years in live sound and dealing with people's crap day in and day out, including people use their stupidity to get themselves killed, always amusing and entertaining, often because someone chose to NOT communicate clearly and properly. But, in a strange way, ignorance helps thin the herd a bit. Personally, I prefer it this way, because it takes useless genes out of the pool. Thank goodness for Darwinism!
I also don't really like the new class of people entering entertainment. Mainly because 99% of them don't want to put in any effort. They typically don't last a load-in with me, because moving 5000 pounds of gear to run a show is hard work, and that's for a SMALL show!!!
But, back to your situation:
I don't see how hard it is to "save" your show file, and then even save the default stage to something YOU name. Then, once that's done, the rest falls into place immediately. It's not that big of a deal and takes a lot less time than coming to a forum to ask for someone to send example files. Make your own example files. If you hate what you've done(and I know I have from time to time), trash it and move on. You don't need example files to see if you're using the program the way it's meant to be used, because it won't let you use it in ways it's not meant to be used.
MyDMX is about as straight forward as it gets. You have your universe set-up page. Once you have that done or at least started, you can move to the EDIT page to make your scenes. Once you've made your scenes, you move to the USER page to USE your scenes. The biggest problem here is when people make changes to their universe. Now, if you're moving fixtures around, you don't want to JUST MOVE fixtures around on the universe page. Right now I'm in a project to re-organized my universe. It appears if I COPY the fixtures ONE at a time, and PASTE them to where I want them, it appears that preserves all the programming I did. In some cases, if you do a LOT of reading in here, you'll find people who do something that can't be recovered from: They want to have MyDMX magically transfer their 5 or 6 channel programming to 7-channel mode, which simply put, nobody can do(not even high end stuff). So, when dealing with your universe, try to think ahead, but not just a few steps, try maybe a year or three down the road type of planning.
A good example: I have 8 of one kind of LED light. I run them all in 7 channel mode. I have them all individually addressed, even though most of my scenes tend to be a solid color wash. I also have 4 of one kind of fixture and 4 of another kind of fixture. Same deal, and all in 7 channel mode. One of those groups of 4 are ADJ Mega Panels, which can also run in I think a 26-channel mode, which is just flat out not useful for my purposes, which is why I run them in 7 channel mode. Again, of these 16 lights, each has its own unique addresses. When I get 8 Elation Opti Tri Pars, those will also each have their own unique DMX addresses.
As a DJ, you may not need such absolute control right now, but if you plan ahead and take that control NOW, you can do things like march the lights, or do cool patterns and really take advantage of neat features with the FX Generator in MyDMX later on when you advance yourself into it. Don't over simplify now. If you do more work up front, you won't have to try to re-invent things later on. It's not that hard or time consuming to set 8 fixtures to the same color. But, if you set them all up on the same channels NOW(all use say channels 1-7), later on, you have to do more work to do more cooler things. Burn the address space now, then let your skills grow, and the lights will already be ready for you.
Now, since you're moving into MyDMX, you need to THINK through your back-up plan. Granted, MyDMX does store files in the MyDocuments directory. These are typically your show files. Unless you direct your stages to be saved there as well, they'll be saved in the MyDMX folder on your boot drive. When you back this stuff up, you need to save your ENTIRE MyDMX folder from the MyDocuments directory, as well as your MyDMX directory on your boot drive.
Now, let's say ADJ does choose to include Example show files. Here's the reality I've found with this mind set: The marketing is right, the support is right, the product is right, but then the users get angry because "they can't use it because they don't have the right lights" and these users can't think outside the confines of the box the choose to exist in. Plus, now it takes development time, which equates to dollars that someone has to get paid, all for something that has no valid benefit to anyone.
As far as other things you shouldn't do:
I've said this at least a dozen times, but I'll say it again. MyDMX is not a great MIDI application. While it can be controlled via MIDI both via CC controllers and note on triggers, sequenced controlling MUST be done via a physically second computer and must use MIDI as a transport protocol. Such as, you're running a video or DAW-type application and need to trigger lighting scenes. The DAW function must reside on a different computer than MyDMX.
At the same time, it is safe to hook controllers directly to MyDMX(such as fader and controller surfaces, pad controllers and keyboards) and do stuff in real time. In a show I work on, I maintain manual control over the fogger, hazer and ground fogger with a control surface, while all the other lights are heavily timed to a video source, yet acts 100% independently of the video source(I have the scenes timed that tight. Once I hit the first cue properly , I can quite literally leave the building if I so choose to, I have the timing down that tight).
So, sit down, check your inventory and start planning your universe properly. My suggestion for universe set-up, besides giving each fixture its own address(es) is to group like fixtures together. You can always leave empty spaces to accomodate expansion.
Here's my example:
Channels 1-16 are all items on switcher packs. High-tech FX of various sorts. Maybe it's channels 1-12, which I think feels right. I think that means I'm using channels 13-16 for my 4 Par36 lights. I know that channels 17-32 are my 32 Par38's(2/channel) hanging off 4 dimmer packs.
Starting at address 33, I have my 8 ADJ 64 LED Pros, in 7 channel mode, but I have a blank channel between each fixture to accomodate backwards compatibility with a controller I no longer use now that MyDMX has proven to be solid. After that, I think I put a pair of ADJ Color Fusions, in 7 channel mode. I think the next fixtures is a set of 4 non-ADJ color changer fixtures. Then, there is a pair of non-ADJ moving yoke fixtures, then a pair of non-ADJ follow spots. After those, I have programmed 4 ADJ Mega Panels in 7 channel mode, and then 4 ADJ Mega Bar50's in 7 channel mode.
I will be adding 8 Elation Opti Tri Pars to the mix soon. But I want to make things more logical.
When I redo my universe, I will start with the Opti Tri Pars, as those will be my new primary lights. Then the 64 LED Pros. Then the Mega Panels and then the Mega Bars, all of these 24 fixtures will be using 7 channel addressing. After that, things get touchy, because I'm inclined to retire the Color Fusions, as well as those 4 non-ADJ color changers(because those color changers suck). The moving yoke fixtures aren't going away soon though due to costs to replace them. The spots, too, are not going anywhere, and another 2 ADJ DMX-controllable spots might enter the mix. MOre movers are planned for the future as well as some scanners. Since I don't use the high-tech FX stuff or the Par36's and Par38's that often, they can go towards the end. The atmospherics can all be grouped together in a small convenient location. I'm not concerned about the atmospherics because I intend to maintain manual control over them for a while(manual via DMX though).
That's why the best advise is to just play, and play, and play some more. When you get stuck, ask questions. What's nice about the MyDMX product is that you SHOULD read the manual, but read the manual with the product running and you can immediately apply what you're reading. THe manual doesn't work well as a stand alone document, it needs you to be in front of the product. It's designed to get your hands on the product ASAP and get you going. It won't tell you everything because you'll soon find out you'll be able to do a lot more with this product that the manual could even begin to discuss.
So, fire up MyDMX and start playing with it. SAVE OFTEN!!(if you like what you did, SAVE IT NOW!!) If you weigh the cost of MyDXM against that of a controller in a similar price range, then compare features between the two, hands down, MyDMX will win each time.
Oh, and one last thing in regards to the back-up thing: Buy yourself a USB memory stick. Load your installation files for MyDMX on it. Load all your profiles on it, and also put your complete set of MyDMX back-up files on it. SHOULD you have a catastrophic systems failure, you now have a good chance of using darn near any computer(XP, Vista, Win7) and being able to load your show and keep on going. Computers can and will fail and crash. Be one step ahead of disaster. You'll thank me later.
The big show I am working on, I have my work backed up onto 4 hard drives. The show files end up on duplicate hard drives(this is 2 additional hard drives). All my MyDMX stuff is backed up onto two identical 4Gig USB sticks. My laptop has a complete set of mirror DVD's to restore it from a back-up that I chose to make(and there are 3 copies of this back-up). Should I have a failure, I can be up and running from zilch in 60 minutes(provided there are no hardware failures). The show itself (its video) is also divided onto two BluRay-RE discs(Part 1 and Part 2, and 2 sets of these, plus 2 DVD back-up/fail over sets) in case the hard drives and/or media player fail. Plus, to ensure less failure, a second laptop is going to be purchased(as well as a complete back-up disk set). This laptop will be one of those dinky new netbooks and it's sole purpose will be MyDMX back-up. Of course, this show is what I like to call "Mission Critical". I have NO room for failure or excuses as too much responsibility is on my shoulders.
What you might also do is find some of the "sticky" posts in this area. Jingles has some training videos for MyDMX. Since nobody there is going to show you anything, this might be your best option.
Now go play with MyDMX!
Yes, semantics DO make a difference. Having to cover the asses of lying sales engineers for 20+ years, I grew tired of making products do things they weren't designed to do because sales people would say anything to get a sale. Yes, to the point where it ALMOST COST ME MY JOB because I told upper end corporate what their idiots were doing in the field and then holding me accountable for THIER LIES.(I helped develop the damn product, I knew exactly what the uses were). So, excuse me if I come off heavy handed. I also have over 28 years in live sound and dealing with people's crap day in and day out, including people use their stupidity to get themselves killed, always amusing and entertaining, often because someone chose to NOT communicate clearly and properly. But, in a strange way, ignorance helps thin the herd a bit. Personally, I prefer it this way, because it takes useless genes out of the pool. Thank goodness for Darwinism!
I also don't really like the new class of people entering entertainment. Mainly because 99% of them don't want to put in any effort. They typically don't last a load-in with me, because moving 5000 pounds of gear to run a show is hard work, and that's for a SMALL show!!!
But, back to your situation:
I don't see how hard it is to "save" your show file, and then even save the default stage to something YOU name. Then, once that's done, the rest falls into place immediately. It's not that big of a deal and takes a lot less time than coming to a forum to ask for someone to send example files. Make your own example files. If you hate what you've done(and I know I have from time to time), trash it and move on. You don't need example files to see if you're using the program the way it's meant to be used, because it won't let you use it in ways it's not meant to be used.
MyDMX is about as straight forward as it gets. You have your universe set-up page. Once you have that done or at least started, you can move to the EDIT page to make your scenes. Once you've made your scenes, you move to the USER page to USE your scenes. The biggest problem here is when people make changes to their universe. Now, if you're moving fixtures around, you don't want to JUST MOVE fixtures around on the universe page. Right now I'm in a project to re-organized my universe. It appears if I COPY the fixtures ONE at a time, and PASTE them to where I want them, it appears that preserves all the programming I did. In some cases, if you do a LOT of reading in here, you'll find people who do something that can't be recovered from: They want to have MyDMX magically transfer their 5 or 6 channel programming to 7-channel mode, which simply put, nobody can do(not even high end stuff). So, when dealing with your universe, try to think ahead, but not just a few steps, try maybe a year or three down the road type of planning.
A good example: I have 8 of one kind of LED light. I run them all in 7 channel mode. I have them all individually addressed, even though most of my scenes tend to be a solid color wash. I also have 4 of one kind of fixture and 4 of another kind of fixture. Same deal, and all in 7 channel mode. One of those groups of 4 are ADJ Mega Panels, which can also run in I think a 26-channel mode, which is just flat out not useful for my purposes, which is why I run them in 7 channel mode. Again, of these 16 lights, each has its own unique addresses. When I get 8 Elation Opti Tri Pars, those will also each have their own unique DMX addresses.
As a DJ, you may not need such absolute control right now, but if you plan ahead and take that control NOW, you can do things like march the lights, or do cool patterns and really take advantage of neat features with the FX Generator in MyDMX later on when you advance yourself into it. Don't over simplify now. If you do more work up front, you won't have to try to re-invent things later on. It's not that hard or time consuming to set 8 fixtures to the same color. But, if you set them all up on the same channels NOW(all use say channels 1-7), later on, you have to do more work to do more cooler things. Burn the address space now, then let your skills grow, and the lights will already be ready for you.
Now, since you're moving into MyDMX, you need to THINK through your back-up plan. Granted, MyDMX does store files in the MyDocuments directory. These are typically your show files. Unless you direct your stages to be saved there as well, they'll be saved in the MyDMX folder on your boot drive. When you back this stuff up, you need to save your ENTIRE MyDMX folder from the MyDocuments directory, as well as your MyDMX directory on your boot drive.
Now, let's say ADJ does choose to include Example show files. Here's the reality I've found with this mind set: The marketing is right, the support is right, the product is right, but then the users get angry because "they can't use it because they don't have the right lights" and these users can't think outside the confines of the box the choose to exist in. Plus, now it takes development time, which equates to dollars that someone has to get paid, all for something that has no valid benefit to anyone.
As far as other things you shouldn't do:
I've said this at least a dozen times, but I'll say it again. MyDMX is not a great MIDI application. While it can be controlled via MIDI both via CC controllers and note on triggers, sequenced controlling MUST be done via a physically second computer and must use MIDI as a transport protocol. Such as, you're running a video or DAW-type application and need to trigger lighting scenes. The DAW function must reside on a different computer than MyDMX.
At the same time, it is safe to hook controllers directly to MyDMX(such as fader and controller surfaces, pad controllers and keyboards) and do stuff in real time. In a show I work on, I maintain manual control over the fogger, hazer and ground fogger with a control surface, while all the other lights are heavily timed to a video source, yet acts 100% independently of the video source(I have the scenes timed that tight. Once I hit the first cue properly , I can quite literally leave the building if I so choose to, I have the timing down that tight).
So, sit down, check your inventory and start planning your universe properly. My suggestion for universe set-up, besides giving each fixture its own address(es) is to group like fixtures together. You can always leave empty spaces to accomodate expansion.
Here's my example:
Channels 1-16 are all items on switcher packs. High-tech FX of various sorts. Maybe it's channels 1-12, which I think feels right. I think that means I'm using channels 13-16 for my 4 Par36 lights. I know that channels 17-32 are my 32 Par38's(2/channel) hanging off 4 dimmer packs.
Starting at address 33, I have my 8 ADJ 64 LED Pros, in 7 channel mode, but I have a blank channel between each fixture to accomodate backwards compatibility with a controller I no longer use now that MyDMX has proven to be solid. After that, I think I put a pair of ADJ Color Fusions, in 7 channel mode. I think the next fixtures is a set of 4 non-ADJ color changer fixtures. Then, there is a pair of non-ADJ moving yoke fixtures, then a pair of non-ADJ follow spots. After those, I have programmed 4 ADJ Mega Panels in 7 channel mode, and then 4 ADJ Mega Bar50's in 7 channel mode.
I will be adding 8 Elation Opti Tri Pars to the mix soon. But I want to make things more logical.
When I redo my universe, I will start with the Opti Tri Pars, as those will be my new primary lights. Then the 64 LED Pros. Then the Mega Panels and then the Mega Bars, all of these 24 fixtures will be using 7 channel addressing. After that, things get touchy, because I'm inclined to retire the Color Fusions, as well as those 4 non-ADJ color changers(because those color changers suck). The moving yoke fixtures aren't going away soon though due to costs to replace them. The spots, too, are not going anywhere, and another 2 ADJ DMX-controllable spots might enter the mix. MOre movers are planned for the future as well as some scanners. Since I don't use the high-tech FX stuff or the Par36's and Par38's that often, they can go towards the end. The atmospherics can all be grouped together in a small convenient location. I'm not concerned about the atmospherics because I intend to maintain manual control over them for a while(manual via DMX though).
That's why the best advise is to just play, and play, and play some more. When you get stuck, ask questions. What's nice about the MyDMX product is that you SHOULD read the manual, but read the manual with the product running and you can immediately apply what you're reading. THe manual doesn't work well as a stand alone document, it needs you to be in front of the product. It's designed to get your hands on the product ASAP and get you going. It won't tell you everything because you'll soon find out you'll be able to do a lot more with this product that the manual could even begin to discuss.
So, fire up MyDMX and start playing with it. SAVE OFTEN!!(if you like what you did, SAVE IT NOW!!) If you weigh the cost of MyDXM against that of a controller in a similar price range, then compare features between the two, hands down, MyDMX will win each time.
Oh, and one last thing in regards to the back-up thing: Buy yourself a USB memory stick. Load your installation files for MyDMX on it. Load all your profiles on it, and also put your complete set of MyDMX back-up files on it. SHOULD you have a catastrophic systems failure, you now have a good chance of using darn near any computer(XP, Vista, Win7) and being able to load your show and keep on going. Computers can and will fail and crash. Be one step ahead of disaster. You'll thank me later.
The big show I am working on, I have my work backed up onto 4 hard drives. The show files end up on duplicate hard drives(this is 2 additional hard drives). All my MyDMX stuff is backed up onto two identical 4Gig USB sticks. My laptop has a complete set of mirror DVD's to restore it from a back-up that I chose to make(and there are 3 copies of this back-up). Should I have a failure, I can be up and running from zilch in 60 minutes(provided there are no hardware failures). The show itself (its video) is also divided onto two BluRay-RE discs(Part 1 and Part 2, and 2 sets of these, plus 2 DVD back-up/fail over sets) in case the hard drives and/or media player fail. Plus, to ensure less failure, a second laptop is going to be purchased(as well as a complete back-up disk set). This laptop will be one of those dinky new netbooks and it's sole purpose will be MyDMX back-up. Of course, this show is what I like to call "Mission Critical". I have NO room for failure or excuses as too much responsibility is on my shoulders.
What you might also do is find some of the "sticky" posts in this area. Jingles has some training videos for MyDMX. Since nobody there is going to show you anything, this might be your best option.
Now go play with MyDMX!