Controlling DMX via MIDI program changes

andrewbanker · July 13, 2016 at 4:00 AM

Hi Guys,

I have searched the forum for information on this, but given new solutions are available all the time, I'd appreciate you helping me out.

I play in band that has traditionally used a sequencer for some basic backing tracks and to control a digital dimmer rack by midi. It has worked flawlessly for many years, but I have been replacing the old lamps with DMX fixtures, and I want to retire the old dimmer rack.

So I am hoping to use a laptop to provide the backing tracks, and something to convert midi program changes to DMX scenes. I don't know what options I have. ie. do I need a DMX desk or hardware device, is there some sort of software plugin that I can build the scenes etc.

It needs to be rock solid, and relatively easy to program. As I have hundreds of songs, and already use midi program changes, I'd rather not have to reprogram this for each song to use DMX.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Andrew

***JPK*** · July 13, 2016 at 8:25 AM

Hi,
there is a relative easy way to do that: use DMXControl 2 or 3. DMXC2 supports MIDI-In natively, DMXC3 via a plugin (in future, DMXC will support it natively too). With DMXC2 for example you can create some szenes and effects in the effectssequencer for yor DMX-Devices. Then you open the options for the MIDI Control in DMXC2. Here you can learn your MIDI-Device and setting up al buttons and encounter on your MIDI-Device. After that you can link those found MIDI-actions with the scenes directly or with some effects. Maybe you take a look in our wiki (the english one) and read our DMXC2 manual (well it is not language proofed, so there are some problems in the grammer, but we have no native speaker to correct those faults ).
Regards
JP

andrewbanker · July 13, 2016 at 1:54 PM

thanks JB, will check it out.
So you can setup scenes and use midi program change numbers to call them?. What hardware is needed to provide a DMX out from my laptop?

***JPK*** · July 13, 2016 at 2:15 PM

Yes, correct. You can call them (and effects as well) via MIDI changes. For the DMX-output, you need one of the DMX-Interfaces listet on http://www.dmxcontrol.org/supported-transmitters.html

chris.paul · October 27, 2018 at 6:29 PM

hi yes i haved used dmc 2 via midi works great. Just need a bit of time to set it up.

Also NJD did a midi to dmx box that worked with note or control change I have one i somtimes use with my rig.

Chris

Controlling DMX via MIDI program changes

We proudly present: The release of DMXControl 3.3.3!

Souko April 9, 2018 at 8:29 PM

We proudly present: The release of DMXControl 3.3.3!

Souko April 9, 2018 at 8:29 PM

Souko April 9, 2018 at 8:29 PM