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Thinking about lights. I could just make a simple setup but I'm looking into the future.I can get a 4 channel dimmer pack for abt $100 that is controlled by DMX.So a MIDI to DMX convertor I guess would be needed.Or maybe I should not automate lights. It's a lot of work. Maybe just a foot controller.
Any ideas from someone doing lights?
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I'm doing lights with MIDI and you are right about it being a lot of work. I have 4 light standards with 4 cans on each pole and one 4 channel dimmer on each pole. I have two more dimmers controlling spots. The MIDI to DMX conversion is being done through a couple of Behringer Light Boards. MIDI is being done in SONAR and is executed as the song plays and I design the light show around the song.
The equipment was a lot of expense and each light show is a lot of work. If you understand MIDI for other applications that puts you way ahead of the game but you do have to learn what commands the board responds to. I have some things like fog machines and movable spots that have their own sets of commands. If you have the time the results can be spectacular. If you want to keep it simple, the dimmers I have also have an automatic mode with about a hundred preprogrammed sequences. You just pick a sequence and a speed and let it go.
Keith
2026 Audiophile Windows 11 RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,SONAR,3 Raven Mtis
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Quote:
If you understand MIDI for other applications that puts you way ahead of the game but you do have to learn what commands the board responds to. I have some things like fog machines and movable spots that have their own sets of commands. If you have the time the results can be spectacular.
QFT
Reading the manual may be required, and some thinking may be involved, but it can be very cool.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Maybe Mac can design and control exactly what we need, and make it easy to use. I'll bet he can then sell at least 5 or 10 to us here - and maybe 100 to the rest of the population : )
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I completely understand midi and how to put a system together, program it, run it etc. I used to do this at a store I ran up in Maine. I can't seem to locate a midi controller. There all DMX which I also understand. Trying to keep it as inexpensive as possible.I just want, for now, 4 cans on each side that can be controller with on/off, dimming, scenes etc from a midi track in RB.
So I guess the real question at this point is "I need midi controllable dimmer packs"
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There is no need to design anything, MIDI light control is already available from any one of at least several sources.
It can get pretty complicated in a hurry, though, and I don't recommend trying to implement such for a one man show anyway. YMMV
For a one man show, there are likely only going to be two to three scenes that work well, tops. This can be handled with some rather simple footswitching.
Of course, if one wanted to utilize currently available MIDI light controls for that purpose, it could be done, but I think I'd still want to keep it separate from the songfile playback used during performances, I'd likely use a programmable separate MIDI footpedal device to fire the lights. And, it would be more flexible in use, as you could pick the scene to fit the venue rather than be locked into scenes painstakingly programmed into the songfile sequencer.
But at that point, the two or three scenes for a one man show could easily be handled by hardwired footswitching...
--Mac
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Quote:
But at that point, the two or three scenes for a one man show could easily be handled by hardwired footswitching...
And that's what i decided to do anyway.Too costly, time consuming and potentially problematic for a solo.I've made lights of this sort a number of times for myself and others.
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This post and Mac's comment Quote:
I'd likely use a programmable separate MIDI footpedal device to fire the lights.
reminded me of a longstanding general question I had about MIDI controllers. So I opened up a new post:
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=403645&page=0&vc=1#Post403645
I'm wondering about the best way to control my many music gear and music software toys during a live performance. Of course, I realize I better be able to do an acoustic version of every song - because controlling all that stuff is likely to be a house of cards and subject to many unexpected failures : )
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I've found that narrowing down the number of MIDI devices onstage to the bare minimum required to do the job works best. For the one man show.
There is enough to keep track of as it is, the extra added complexity will build up pretty fast.
Save the use of them all, the daisy-chaining, etc. for the home studio where if something fails or goes antsy, all that is lost is a bit of recording time.
When I used to use Band in a Box as my virtual jazz trio, I also worked up several songs that I could play well unaccompanied, some Ballads, Blues, etc. just in case the computer stuff went wrong onstage. It proved to be good preparation, as sometimes in the middle of a set things would just happen, computer would just stop working right, so a reboot onstage would be necessary, having those unaccompanied performances memorized and at the ready allowed for me to do things like reboot or even finish a set altogether without the audience even knowing there were troubles. The break thus became the time to quickly troubleshoot a disconnected or broken cable, etc.
A plus to that is I found out that some people really enjoyed the unaccompanied performances, some folks don't understand the nature of Band in a Box at all, they just assume it is a recording playing back. When those types realized that the performer could, well, perform, it helped their perception of my act tremendously.
--Mac
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I was scratching my head over Mac's comments about scenes until I realized he was probably talking about concert set ups.
I think Mac and I see the world different in that I see myself as primarily a dance band and the DJs and their light shows as a major part of my competition. Although part of the process is to light the performer, my approach is more about creating something exciting on the dance floor. I'm never in a concert like situation so the thinking and approach has to be different. When people are there to dance, their focus is on the stage much less than it would be if you were there to give a concert.
Keith
2026 Audiophile Windows 11 RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,SONAR,3 Raven Mtis
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Quote:
I was scratching my head over Mac's comments about scenes until I realized he was probably talking about concert set ups.
I think Mac and I see the world different in that I see myself as primarily a dance band and the DJs and their light shows as a major part of my competition. Although part of the process is to light the performer, my approach is more about creating something exciting on the dance floor. I'm never in a concert like situation so the thinking and approach has to be different. When people are there to dance, their focus is on the stage much less than it would be if you were there to give a concert.
Keith,
I like the way your reasoning has determined your presentation choices.
I understand and agree with Mac's point too.. but as I see it, both of you have taken time to identify what kind of audience you usually play for, and have both tailored your presentation to that audience.
Interesting discussion.
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Many think of 'scenes' as a preset (at least I do) .. like a patch change on a synth if you will. The 'scene' is saved and can be called up later.. whether it is a set series of actions, or one specific light setting.
The 'concert' reference threw me on this. I'm pretty sure a scene could contain a pulsing dance setup. So scenes would be useful in many settings.
Am I misunderstanding terminology?
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Not really. Any one set combination of lights is a scene. The reason I came to the conclusion that Mac was talking in terms of a concert set up was not his use of scenes, but his insistance that only 3 or 4 scenes would work.
Keith
2026 Audiophile Windows 11 RYZEN THREADRIPPER 3960X 4.5GHZ 128 GB RAM 2 Nvidia RTX 3090s, Vegas,Acid,SoundForge,Izotope Production,Melodyne Studio,SONAR,3 Raven Mtis
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I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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I insisted on nothing.
But I do happen to have some good idea of John's act, and that is who started the thread, so my answers - no, my suggestions - have been geared towards what John does in mind.
If your act happens to have other needs, then pursue those needs. I certainly did not imply that anyone, including John, could not do so.
Whatever floats yer boat, man.
--Mac
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