Newbie to Lighting Control

[Billie]

A number of small theaters lately are having a hard time finding booth ops. Frequently the stage manger calls cues and also runs sound via QLab. The agile ones arrange things so that they can run sound with with one hand and hit light cues with the other. Most of the light consoles have Midi, so I suggested they try using MSC  from QLab. I'm pretty sure I can make this happen. I am thinking of three theaters with 3 different consoles, mostly stone age but with midi inputs.

Two questions come up and, pardon if they have been already answered many times, but youse folks is the smartest ( and the least snarky) ones I know:

1- for simple GO commands, once I get the addressing correct, is it a matter of adding the light cues to the sound/projector cues one by one hand pasting and naming or has anyone come up with a super cool way of meshing a light cue list with a sound/projector list. ( Yes, it sounds dumb even as I write this.)

2-I haven't delved into this yet, but can I, by hot keys or such,  do things other than GO. Esp in Q2Q situations IE, reset a light cue, say, from cue 57  to 42. The SM's can usually recover from a sound cue gaffe easily but light cues take a few more steps. Nice if they had one keyboard and screen to work from.

I have looked into the manuals of some light consoles like an old Bijou and they tell me nothing except that there is a midi connector on the back.

Any help or nudge in the right direction would be a big help.
Billie

[micpool]

Hi Billie

There are numerous ways of getting QLab to talk to a lighting board that is capable of being controlled by an industry standard protocol,, OSC and MIDI Show Control (MSC) being the most common. 

The manufacturer of Bijou went out of businesss over 5 years ago. Those consoles do have MIDI sockets on the back but the MIDI was a paid for option so it is probable they don't do anything. The lack of any manual online for the MIDI option tends to suggest this was either never produced or very rare, If the one you use does't have the MIDI option fitted then you can't communicate with it. The manual shows you how to determine if the MIDI option is present  (Item 6 on the MISC functions menu) if this says NO then there is no MIDI option fitted.

What are the other consoles you use?

Mic

[Johan]

Since you already have a mac running Qlab I'd say the cheapest solution is to buy a DMX interface for it and run a free software like LXConsole

I myself use this DMX interface: http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&pn=70305

and the free lighting console: https://www.claudeheintzdesign.com/lx/lxconsole_download.html

With this cheap and simple solution the stagemanager running Qlab can trigger light as well as video and sound, all simultaneously.

[Billie]

Hey Johan,
If I understand this, you are suggesting this is a substitute for a physical lighting console? Mac thru DMX interface to dimmers, no light console. This is a new concept for me but then I am in the early stages of educating myself about lighting control. I knew there were virtual simulators but not actual "virtual consoles".
Billie

[Billie]

Hey Mic,
The Bijou is used at my home theater but other venues have reported they use various ETC Express models.  Express seems to have better tech info available.
I have been scouting through the forum and know this wheel has been invented already so doing my due diligence.
Even with a simple GO MSC there arise workflow issues between SD and LD during tech and Q2Q. The best  In the long run I think a virtual console like LXconsole that talks to QLab and a DMX out to eliminate light board would be the ultimate best solution but , boy, lots of major push back on this..anyone know of ad hoc protocol for a simple theater setup? All these theaters with old boards are a coffee spill away from having to face replacing or eliminating Lighting boards and I'd like to have an alternate ready...

[Chris Drohan]

I'd say a second for LXConsole on a Mac system. The software is surprisingly intuitive with some fantastic key commands for programming, for example,

1 + 17 @ FF (1 and 17 at Full)
21-29 @ 0 (21-29 out)

DMX - Usb hardware isn't an expensive option, and it gives you future proofing later on should they want to expand the rig with intelligent fixtures.

The other nifty feature is a series of scripts built into the software - which include one which converts and exports the entire cue list into a qlab file of triggers for the LX software. So it would literally be the touch of a button to combine both lighting and sound.