Entry Level Beam Show Software

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Originally Posted by norty303

Ok, this conversation has been had already, but I think you need to clarify the key points of this.

First off, no laser software manufacturer (that I'm aware of) produces a product that is designed to simultaneously run lasers and a full lighting rig. DMX support is provided for the purpose of controlling things like foggers, special effects, etc which will have a limited number of channels, and not require a grand user interface development to accomodate.

What you are trying to do with the product might be 'possible' but it certainly wasn't part of the main design brief, and therefore you are finding it a less than satisfactory experience. I can only re-iterate, if you want a lighting desk, buy a lighting desk. Your insistence to have a single piece of software doing everything is what is causing you problems. This is not a problem with the software/hardware, it is a problem with your expectations.

It strikes me as slightly odd that you complain about QS not being good with DMX, seeing as you don't really want to use it anyway. I thought you wanted to be able to control your lasers via DMX, so that you could run them from your lighting desk. In that case QS is redundant.

I've got to say, choosing to buy an FB3, and then electing to use it on DMX purely because you want everything on 1 machine/refuse to spend £100 on a second PC is like buying a Ferrari and then towing it around with a Ford Fiesta.

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What I want - now - is simple. Allow QS to export its patterns as ILD - or proprietary format, I care not - so that LiveQuick can write them to the FB3's SD card. And then I am happy.

Alternatively, let QS write to the FB3's SD card. Po-tay-to po-tah-to.

Hey, wasn't meaning to come over all preachy, it's been one of those fridays at work I'm afraid... (supposed to be happy the weeks over...)
I suppose it's seeing a bit of a square peg, round hole scenario in your case, and the fact that you could get so much more out of the lasers going the full ilda control route.
As someone who also does lasers and lighting (and also used to run lasers from DMX off the LX desk) its not really any hassle to have the 2 separate control systems, and brings so much more flexibility (imo)

I think that part of the reason why QS and LQ are not compatible at the moment is because QS is based on the Beyond framework, and so renders the frames in a completely different way. Bill has made comment about portability of frame/cue formats before on PL.
It'll be interesting to see what the next proper release of QS brings, as it might have some of this addressed.
Certainly I can understand why exporting to ILD is not supported from a copyright perspective.

Oh, and the key words in my last post were 'that I'm aware of'. I'm now aware of Phoenix, thanks ;)

Completely OT, is anyone else not seeing a post reply button? The only option I get is reply with quote.

A guy in Canada is using Spaghetti to control multiple laser projectors, a video projector, multiple DMX lighting devices (cans, moving heads) and fog machines. All from a single Spaghetti show.

how's he splitting the signals to multiple laser projectors? I know you can pretty easily just split off once from the source, but to do more than two projectors requires some circuitry. I've actually been looking for a buffer system that would allow me to split off to 3-4 projectors, but the only one I know of is apparently not available anymore.

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Originally Posted by ElektroFreak

how's he splitting the signals to multiple laser projectors?

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He might be using buffered outputs, but I'll be that he's showing different things on each projector using multiple DACs. If you've invested in buying a second projector, make it more entertaining by displaying different stuff!

I do not intend to control lights via laser software or vice versa. My intention is to use a lighting desk (probably a wholehog-based system) to control lights and laser software to control lasers.

Since we have so many DMX/Laser folks here I'll go ahead and ask this question. When doing a heavily pre-programed, sychronized show is it better to have light board trigger laser control, laser control to trigger light board, or for both to be triggered by some sort of time code?

I've never done this kind of work (only worked simple live concerts), so any assistance you can give on coordinating these systems would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by LightMaster01

Since we have so many DMX/Laser folks here I'll go ahead and ask this question. When doing a heavily pre-programed, sychronized show is it better to have light board trigger laser control, laser control to trigger light board, or for both to be triggered by some sort of time code?

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I would say, the best way would be to have the Lighting console running the laser software.. The DMX implementation in Pangolin's LivePRO pretty much allows you to control the laser much like a extra fixture. Ie, you cwill have individual control over color, movement, and laser patterns (gobo's) individually, much like a intelligent light.. Would make its a lot easier for one person to do 2 jobs. The only catch here is you will need to go for broke and get a LD2000/QM2000 combo and LivePRO as well. You might as well go straight for something that does everything you need, and much more again. :D

To control multiple lasers you have to have a projector that has buffered outputs. We already have this in our projectors. Mccarrot designed a board for this but SRS has an elite version of this board.
If you send SRS an email he can explain you about the board. And wich is your favorite. Like i said in a PM we can build you a quality projector but at a certain cost. I will implement the board from SRS in a projector for you if you want. We are flexible and our projector are better quality then Laserworld. I ,m guarantee you that. Mccarrot can supply the lasers and other parts so shoot him a pm if you want.

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Originally Posted by dave

...go for broke and get a LD2000/QM2000 combo and LivePRO as well. You might as well go straight for something that does everything you need, and much more again. :D

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My suggestion exactly... and he got much more experience. :cool: