Microplex lighting software for theater

Microplex is a digital protocol, like dmx, but it is. History when electronic theatre controls bought lighting methods inc. This episode of working in the theatre was featured in our new book, american theatre wing, an oral history. Unlike dmx, it is a proprietary protocol, and nsileviton doesnt give out the ingredients to their secret sauce. A set of online video tutorials gets you started in no time. The compact lp600 series stage lighting consoles are fully featured, easy to operate, and designed to withstand the most demanding conditions. Microplex to dmx the complete guide learn stage lighting. Many churches and other facilities have nsi microplex lighting systems, and dont know where to find a replacement nsi dimmer. The primary purpose was to link lighting control to sound and music. The mc 7000 series lighting consoles are simple and flexible with three operating. To start off this list of best dmx lighting software, weve chosen this simply outstanding suite that is easily one of the most professional and capable software packages in the industry. This helps you ensure safety and compliance with engineering codes and standards with a single modeling, analysis, and documentation process. The lp624 console comes equipped with dmx and microplex and are an industry. Microplex history nsi developed the microplex protocol in the 1980s to fill an important market niche.

Cue player software for theater sound cues and lighting cues. The leviton interface if 501 allows communication between various lighting control protocols. Very sturdy and perfect for portable or stationary use. It is made up of the software you run on your windows based pc and a hardware device that generates industry standard dmx.

Simple, easy to use, theatrical lighting boardscontrollers. Nsi microplex is a hugely popular type of lighting control in churches, theaters and other performance spaces. Leprecon lp612 microplex dmx and analog lighting console the compact lp600 series stage lighting consoles are fully featured, easy to operate, and designed to withstand the most demanding conditions. How i used open source tools to build a theater lighting.

Angela mitchell is a writer, columnist, and book author who has promoted theatres, studios, and artists through her own pr firm since 1995. Show cue system gives you back control with scs you can assemble all the cues you need in the order in which they are to be played. Available in 12 or 24 channels, the lp612 and lp624 consoles. Many people, like yourself, have questions about what microplex is, how it works and if it is compatible with dmx or other lighting protocols. Little ones are just as welcome as their parents at this restaurant. Dmx lighting control and equipment full compass systems. The mc 7000 series is particularly wellsuited to small theaters and stage. Open source software was the star of the show for a local production of les mis. Digital multiplex dmx was developed as a standard digital theatre lighting control which replaced the older analogue systems that were used to control the dimmers in a stage lighting rig. Light design software stage lighting design software ranges from the paperwork the lighting designer creates to turning a computer into an incredibly powerful theatrical lighting controller. Easy to program chases, make lighting run a continuous. If youve landed on this page, you probably have a nsi lighting controller.

How i used open source tools to build a theater lighting system. Dmxking usb dmx and edmx hardware is designed for use with computer based show control software. I have a technical question that is a little out of my wheelhouse. At bavaria hof, glutenfree and healthy dining is done right. German eatery bavaria hof offers an extensive and tasty teutonic spread in the heart of schaumburg. History nsi developed the microplex protocol in the 1980s to fill an important market. It would seem like you could just plug them together, right. Leprecon lp612 12 channel microplex dmx lighting console. Configuration allows for both dmx 3 or 5 pin and microplex ins and outs. You can find both free softwares or free libraries for autocad and paid softwares that allow you to design, simulate, plot, draft projects on paper. If your stage calls for the hardedged, focused beam of a traditional theater spot. It can be used as an output to control lights, or as input to allow dmx data from. Dmx stage lighting systems stage lighting tutorials.

Hi we have two 16 channel multiplex dimmers for our lighting setup at church. The sweetlight dmx controller system includes powerful lighting control software available as a free download and a set of dmx interfaces to suit your requirements. I am pushing that we go to led lighting since it is more cost effective, ie. Our other lighting guy said hed have to check out if the venuemagic dmx software. Stage lighting systems have, until a few years ago, relied on relatively. Leprecon lp612 microplex dmx and analog lighting console. Available in 12 or 24 channels, the lp612 and lp624 consoles come equipped with dmx and microplex and are an industry standard for rental houses, small theatres, houses of worship, a v companies, and schools. There are hundreds of exciting new apps coming out each daywhich is especially good news for people in theater tech, who could always use some extra help when it comes to stage management. Despite the advance in use of ethernet networking at the top of the professional lighting industry, dmx is still the best answer for most lighting control applications. Perfect for an afterwork outing, bavaria hof wont require you to change. Harnessing the power of the latest vista 3 lighting and media control software, the vista ex features 12 customizable playback faders, 60 assignable buttons, and eight encoders.

Using these free software, you can design and simulate stage lightings for various performance, theatre, dance, and live shows. Dmx 512 is the united states institute of theater technology usitt standard for the digital control of dimmers. Etc theatre, film, studio and architectural lighting. Here is a list of best free stage lighting software for windows. Andas you look around for stage lighting equipment, you realize that most of the swimmers in the pond are using dmx, not microplex. These days almost any lighting or stage effect equipment may be controlled using these protocols including moving lights, led screens, fog machines and laser displays. These products are so easy to program and operate, the instructions are. We design an event, load it in, have the show, and strike it to make room for the next event. How do i plan my stage wash and specials for theatre lighting. The eos software, by etc electronic theatre controls, can run on windows or mac. If you have a microplex lighting system, you may notice that it uses the same 3pin xlr plug as many dmx devices. As long as the lights keep fading up and down, the racks will stay put. Multiple cues running simultaneously, fully programmable, very easy to use, has become the industry standard for multimedia.

Combining high performance with an intelligent layout allows users to operate the lighting console in manual or memory mode. We have converted our nsi microplex system to dmx and are using light factory software and love it. You can view some sample screenshots of horizon here. The microplex mpx project is a collection of the interface and supporting software. The interface allows light designers to set up the different components of the light show in advance. This page describes the stages that a theatre lighting designer should go through when taking on the role.

Nsi microplex is a proprietary control protocol made by the nsi company now owned by leviton lighting. These products are so easy to program and operate, the instructions are silkscreened on the back of the units. Convert across many popular signals, including analog, dmx, nsis microplex and lumanet. The compact lp624 stage lighting console is fully featured, easy to operate, and. Leprecon lp624 24 channel microplex dmx lighting console. So im one of us unfortunates in the corporate event world. In addition to merging protocols, this interface device is capable of converting computer protocols to lighting protocols. A version of cue player is in use in well over theaters, schools, and churches. Coincidentally, they use a 2wire scheme much like strands d54, that is, dimmer levels and sync signals on one. To the home of cue player software for better theater the cue player family of software has been helping theaters around the world give better, more consistent performances for over 10 years. The dmx usb pro2 is light weight, portable, and ready for the next generation of software applications. Is there something affordable out there that i could use for this. The compact lp600 series stage lighting consoles are fully featured, easy to.

Now that we are in the digital age of lighting control the software has become one of the most important aspects of your lighting rig. So off everything and run cue 1 now add fixture 1 at 50% in your programmer. I was interested in purchasing some software and a dongle from venuemagic to automate this years lights were only using par cans. This system uses a single three conductor cable to transmit. Version 4 can be used for lighting control too with additional hardware rather than using fade cues, you can use the automation function with qlab to fade out. These software let you setup a stage floor plan and then add various lighting fixtures according to your requirements. Dmx512 digital multiplex is a standard for digital communication networks that are commonly used to control stage lighting and effects. So now hes sitting talking with the set designer about this change. Lighting control protocols part 2 pathway connectivity. The braceworks addon module for vectorworks spotlight provides design, production, and rigging professionals with an easy way to gauge the performance of temporary structures under load. Sweetlight is a powerful multiplatform controller offering users unparalleled capabilities to manage and control dmx lighting. Probably the best lighting 3d visualisation software at the moment is capture it allows you to fully map the venue in a cad style and.

This site does not sell or endorse any of the products listed. Question of the day or week provided by the senior staff of if you have suggestions for future questions, please pm a moderator or senior team member. Microplex is the control protocol used on most nsi lighting consoles. But you really want to add the hex7s with an orange glow in cue 3. It is recommended that you have a microplex based lighting control system or knowledge of it before reading the following articles. Microplex and dmx are both multiplex protocols, but. Nsi microplex is a proprietary protocol for communication between lighting equipment. In our theater the designer is considering to add fixture 1 at 50% in the first cue. Pathway connectivity lighting control protocols part 2.

I currently operate the audio booth at our local theater and recently our lighting system has been on the fritz, it only about 20 years old. All of this is programmed using a simple but sophisticated graphical editor. The lighting design process is broken down into a number of stages, which require different types of engagement with the project, from completely creative reading the script and coming up with ideas with. Nsi dimmers the complete guide learn stage lighting. The bar at this restaurant is fully stocked, so pair your meal with a glass of wine or beer. Today i just want to write a quick post outlining nsi microplex a popular type of lighting control that many small churches have. Venuemagic is computer software for programming and controlling dmx lighting, music, sound effects, video, props, animatronics and more. It is a good, reliable, easy protocol for running simple lighting systems. It was originally intended as a standardized method for controlling light dimmers, which, prior to dmx512, had employed various incompatible proprietary protocols.

This video is a ui design concept for stage lighting control for light designers. Quite simply, this is what the professionals use, and although this is by far the most expensive suite on this list, this is the only. While it is true that microplex is different from dmx. Theatremac is a collection of macintosh software used in theatre and the performing arts. Now that we are in the digital age of lighting control the software has become one of the most important aspects of your lighting. Stage lighting design cad software is a collection reguarding useful softwares for the planning of lighting shows. Local theatre volunteer found open source software was the star of the show when he needed to control the lighting for a production of les mis. Economical feature rich dimmer pack microplex and dmx 512 protocols available with dmx on 3pin or 5pin xlr receptacles possible standalone operation circuit breakers on each circuit 1200w max per channel.