Control » Tag: computer - Recent Posts

Gareth.e0 on "Lighting Control Interface"

Gareth.e0 — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 22:33:37 +0000

could you post the application you use on the computer, and maybe an explanation or video of you setting it all up? im trying top get this to work at my school, but its really hard to do.

thanks in advance

gareth ellis

joey_fergie on "Lighting Control Interface"

joey_fergie — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:25:57 +0000

I will be sure to make a video, Ill be testing it some time this weekend, so I should have results up soon.

As for hardware MIDI, this would be great for some people, but for our application it is actually better over wifi. I know there can be a jitter and delay, but I figure that is one small pain for being able to control lights from virtually anywhere in the building.

admin on "Lighting Control Interface"

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:21:04 +0000

Nice! I rocked a couple of different ETC Expression boards in my lighting days... I don't remember them being MIDI enabled but this was a over a decade ago, so...

No guarantees but I'm going to look into hardware midi soon. Hopefully I can get that figured out and then you'll be able to plug straight into your Express with your iPad. The jitter that comes with wifi is killing me.

ronji on "Lighting Control Interface"

ronji — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:38:09 +0000

neat! you should record a quick vid of you controlling lights with it when you get the chance =)

joey_fergie on "Lighting Control Interface"

joey_fergie — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 03:10:01 +0000

So this is an interface I have been working on for a while, what it does seems kinda complicated, but we have made an easy way to do this. FIrst off, here is the actual interface file:

http://theatreaurora.com/interfaces/light_c.js

Its alot of code so I don't want to post it all here.

Now, what it does. It is an interface that allows the user to remotely control our lighting board, and in turn our entire lighting system(this is for a community theatre). We have an ETC Express board, which accepts MIDI signals. From the Control app, the MIDI messages (in this case Control Changes), are sent to our Audio Computer(which is the one that runs lights), which is then sent to a USB to MIDI converter, and into our lighting board. Each MIDI CC message triggers a Macro function. Each Macro is setup to emulate a single button on the keypad, or a set of buttons (ie, AT 8 0 ENTER). This basically gives a wireless version of the lighting board keypad, which allows a designer or operator to control each light, as well as set cues, subs, etc (not as easier as using faders, but more convenient.

Now, I haven't had a chance to test this with the system, as our booth is currently being cleaned and organized, and because of that, all the equipment was removed. But I have done tests using a MIDI monitor, and it all worked fine. I will update once I have a chance to test it live.

I am also planning on making a "dumbed down" version that only includes buttons for running cues, not actually programming/running individual lights.