SETTING UP SHOWS FOR BAND

you can do that in one scene if you add steps to the scene. Also make sure there is no default pan and tilt speed setting on your moving heads. Or turn it off and let the controller do the work. Sincerely,

If you want to sync-up your music to a light show, you will need to perform with a click track. It is the only way to guarantee that your scenes/chases will match what you are playing.

You can create programming that encompasses your songs. Preferably, you will create a set list in advance, program the lights, and follow that programming for the show.

The easiest way to work all of this out is to use MIDI as a time code to provide both the click track and the triggers for your music. The MIDI is connected to your controller, which has all of the light show elements programmed. It will listen for specific notes to be sent from the computer. Those notes are connected to specific scenes and chases. For example, middle C would be scene 1, and C# should be scene 2, and so on.

Once all of the programming is completed, all someone will need to do turn on the DMX controller and MIDI computer and hit 'play' on the MIDI computer. That person could hit 'pause' in between tunes, or they will need to open different files for different songs (though that method may create more problems).

If all of that programming is not worth it to you, then it might be easier to just program some scenes and chases in the controller and teach someone how to change them for verses and choruses.

There's also the option of cue stacking as another form of manual show operation. All scenes and chases are programmed into the controller and then 'stacked' into a show list that is controlled by a single 'go' button that is pressed by an operator at the appropriate times. This is how they do it in the 'real' world for big shows, assuming there is no click track or backing track with 'sweetener tracks' included.

The only thing I can add is that a pre programmed show that essentially runs itself becomes very predictable (for very obvious reasons) and potentially mundane for you to play over and over again.

Perhaps creating the essential scenes and chases ahead of time and making your set lists ahead of time is an excellent idea. If you have someone that is capable of 'performing' the light show with the live band, then go that route before locking yourself into a 'press to play' operation.

GOTCHA. FROM THE FX SECTION HOW CAN I DRAW OUT A MOVING HEAD STEP (OR STEPS). WHEN I HIT GENERATE SCENE IT ADDS THE STEPS AUTOMATICALLY LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO. WHEN I HIT GENERATE AGAIN TO REPEAT THE STEPS IT ONLY GIVES ME .04 SEC ON EACH MOVEMENT. IS THERE A WAY TO CUT AND PASTE SEVERAL STEPS?

yes. There should be a copy button in the steps section just like in the scene section. You guys got to look for em LOL. Sincerely,

A few things to clarify:

MTC(MIDI TIME CODE) is not used for things like click tracks. Those are manually programmed by one of two things:
Sending time code to a click track generator
OR:
Manually making a click track.

MTC is mainly used for clocking sequence playback and chase control, especialy for SMTPE sync. MTC is also used to sync to tape machines, which oddly enough is striped with SMPTE(go figure!).

MTC is not necessary and should only be generated when required as to keep unnecessary bits off the wire(MIDI only runs at 32.2Kbits/sec). Most click tracks are run right off the sequence itself, MTC not even entering the picture. I have a drum machine with a "metronome" function, which can slave to MTC, but also doesn't need it.

Chuck: Please find your caps lock key, OK? People perceive all caps as shouting. Thanks.

Right now, MIDI in MyDMX is being checked out a bit more. But take out LightTech's comments about MTC(because it's not accurate and not needed) and the rest is valid.

MTC is only necessary for syncing 2 systems. Also, it's not super accurate. Blackburts and genlock are much better for sample rate clocking. But that's CLOCKING and SYNC, not "time code", different things.

ok smart guy........lol. I know how to copy a step, but how do you copy multiple steps at once? (so I can move steps that I've programmed the moving heads to, well, move?)

Never mind, I just figured it out. You have to hold the shift key and click on each step seperately. Then paste.

Next quick question. When I go to user mode the scenes start playing automatically. Can't figure out how to make it stop doing this. I set the first scene as a Blackout scene with no lights on. Thats seems to have taken care of it, but is there an automatic blackout or "off" button on this dang thang?

Well, I painstakingly set up the stage with all my lights, duplicating and setting X and Y. Saved it both on the Visualizer and Show. when I opened it back up it says WARNING....automatic patch changed, and all of my duplicated fixtures are gone. How do I stop this from happening?

Hey chuck. im gonna have you try something. if you go to "file" on the 3D viewer, then go to add fixture(s) and then you wil see a window called patch manager. i believe if you uncheck the box that says " get the patch automatically from the controller" that should disable the software from deleting duplicate fixtures. let me know how that works for you. and there is no auto black out. just program one. and also it helps to assign a hot key to it. or a keyboard trigger if you will. hope this al helps. Sincerely,

To focus my gobos clearly and even my spots I have to turn my prism all the way up to 255. Is that normal? or is there an adjustment I need to make from the fixture?

And also, exactly what does HTP, LTP, and Auto mean in the User mode?

PS....looking forward to the Polo shirt

what moving heads do you have? also HTP and LTP are explained in the user manual on page 19. f you still need me to elaborate after you have read it then i can. but basically it assigns that fader(s) to a certain priority level that is higher than a normal scenes playback. make sense? sincerely,

chauvet Qspot 200's

I'll study the manual a little more. I'm getting pretty good (finally)

good. the more you learn the better you will get. and yes polo should be in the mail. sincerely,

What is a good DMX follow spot for my show? Need it to go about 80 feet.

we have followspots. take a look on the site. sincerely,

Chauvet has follow spots as well. Be warned: the bulb is not well secured and could bounce out of position and/or break in transit.

I have two. They work great, but this above mentioned thing was a butt kicker at an event. I've only used them twice. I'll use them until I replace them with ADJ follow spots.

Along that spirit, I'm looking forward to when I can replace my other Chauvet fixtures with ADJ ones. Can't stand the horrible support from Chauvet. It's like "It can't possibly be our fault".

Chuck, I'm gonna leave you alone. Seems you learn better that way. Works for me! I learn best by doing and playing around.

So, in those regards, please ponder the origins of the universe in terms of quantum mechanics. Perhaps that will resolve a great many things that science has been unable to answer.

Seriously though, keep playing with MyDMX. I love the 3D visualizer. I'm still getting used to it, but I don't have to set up lights to see what my ideas look like anymore. I do suggest you make your own stage and save it. And just in general, save often.

(no polo for me yet, I wonder if the mailmain got it?)

Chris ole buddy..........you've got way to much time on your hands......stop playing Halo 3, watching star trek, move out of your parents basement, and get a date..............(lol.....just kidding)

which of the ADJ follow spots would you recommend?

Chris and chuck are we really joking here? no flame wars or war of words please! chrs ill ask about the polo and chuck i like the fs-2500. here is a link. FS-2500
sincerely,

Of course I'm only kidding......thanks for the link to the spot

No problem. And you can see the list price isn't that bad. Glad you two can joke around. LOL. Sincerely,

Has anyone tried to use the MyDMX with a touchscreen monitor? Looks like it would be oh so cool!!

Let me know

Chuck

Well, it should be able to work.

But recall taht you started this thread to make it easy for roadies to use. Trust me, outside of moving gear, NOTHING is easy for roadies to use.(except maybe a bottle opener and the toilet, and usually in that order).

Last thing you want is them punching your touch screen!

Other than that, your idea would be a good permanent-type application in a club. Even an experienced person can appreciate this. Sorry, but I can't test that out. But Since these typically work like a "Mouse", I don't see why it shouldn't work.

Chuck, just a follow up to some other stuff you said:

Don't play Halo. I do like Star Trek, but haven't watched much in MONTHS!! I did in fact move out of my parents' basement YEARS ago. Oh wait, they didn't have a basement but either way, I got out! FREEDOM!!! And not only did I get a date, I got married.

Now I got my 4 year old girl wanting to watch Star Wars movies. Right on!

Now I just work 100 hours a week. Self employment sometimes doesn't have the fun of just being a wage slave. But, the buck stops here.

I'll save the follow spot recommendation for Jingles due to experience. Basically, I'd say higher wattage the better. You can always use DMX to knock it down if it's too bright.

Come on, I couldn't let those pass!

Too funny!!

Thanks for the comeback. Life is too short to be serious all the time. Obvious you like your job. Take care of that baby.

Peace
Chuck

OK.......I had Vista on my laptop and it was very slow. I've been programming on my desktop scenes for my show. Saved to disc and put on laptop with XP. Everything works fine, but the visualizer won't come up. It starts with the ADJ window in the middle but it stay that way. Won't start. Do I need to install anything in particular for this to work? I downloaded Directx 9.0 , which it says I needed. Any advice?

U can download the latest update from the ADj my dmx page on the website. it has a bug fix. let me know if it still does that after you install the update. sincerely,

Without knowing your computer specs and what else might be loaded, it's difficult to properly diagnose. I always recommend Norton ANtiVirus and Spyboy Search and Destroy to all my clients. You'd be amazed how many people just hook right up to their broadband instead of putting a router first. nice to be open to attacks, isn't it?

Seriously, gotta know what's your hardware what's your configuration and what else might be loaded in there.

Also, I do similar stff. Design where it's convenient(desktop), move to a laptop for events. Ideally, you should not need the 3D visualizer unless you're showing off at a show at least DURING a show. During a show, I want to run as lean and mean as possible, can't have downtime.

hmm on the vista do u have 32 or 64bit? cause my dmx and compu live wil NOT run in 64bit mode. so chuck post some more specs. unless the update fixed it. let us know. sincerely,

Runs great on VISTA. Its XP that I put on my laptop that won't run the visualizer. I took VISTA off the laptop becuase it was so slow. The XP is much faster but I started from scratch on it. Installed drivers etc. It said when I first put MyDMX on it to put DirectX 9.0 on it. I did, but the visualizer still won't come up. Is there a driver I'm missing or something that could be causing this?

Sincerely,
dumb with computers.

Wow i have no idea. Are you sure you have all the files from my dmx? did you do a fresh install of the software? try uninstalling everything from my dmx except your show files if you want to keep them. if you want ot keep them simply drag them and drop them on to the desktop. then reinstall from the website and then move them back. try that. let me know. sincerely,

Here is a follow up to your idea with the touchscreen. We use compu on tour and we have the laptop and a touchscreen. It works great! Mainly cuz it is me and another 16 year old working it so we can't really get drunk and punch it. ( Chris when you said I couldn't help but visualize you at a computer literally punching the screen! ) But yeah, it works and it is very handy, and it looks cool too!

jthtiger

I'm running MyDMX on a MacBook Pro(2.6GHz 17" buttkicker) and using Bootcamp 2.0(can't get the 2.1 update to run, seems I may have installed some conflicting software or something) and XP Home, SP2. MyDMX runs fine as does the visualizer.

As far as ME punching the screen? No, that wouldn't be me. That would be ME punching the operator punching the screen.

I don't trust non-techs at consoles and controllers. Only thing worse than a roadie is a union roadie. And you thought training regular roadies was tough! Union guys need a T-shirt, shown 3 times how to do it and then a break, after which they need to be shown again.

I swear, it seems the only purpose of unions is to keep the incompetent employed. Would that make Congress a union then?